Lewis Hamilton believes that Mercedes will have a more successful performance at the upcoming Monaco Grand Prix compared to previous seasons under the current Formula 1 regulations. Despite not reaching the podium at the venue since 2019 due to challenges presented by the ground effect cars, three-time winner in Monte Carlo Hamilton remains optimistic. Mercedes, which has dropped to fourth place in the championship this season, has found encouragement in recent upgrades and believes they have found a clear direction. Although there are no new developments planned for this weekend, Hamilton hopes that the Mercedes W15 will perform better in Monaco than its predecessors.
Monaco is considered an anomaly in the calendar, where a driver can compensate for a vehicle’s deficiencies to a greater extent than on traditional tracks elsewhere.
Hamilton emphasized the importance of establishing a pace from practice sessions and reaffirmed his belief that Mercedes should have a stronger foundation to build on this time.
“I mean, we are using simulation tools and determining the level of grip on the surface, its roughness, the ideal car position, the balance between high and low speeds, the mechanical balance, weight distribution, aerodynamics, and drafting, among countless other factors,” he explained. “There are numerous elements that come into play in this journey.
“You can train on the simulator, but it’s only when you get to the actual track that you encounter potential issues.
“But yes, ideally, you start strong and never look back. However, that hasn’t been the case in recent years.
“But as I said, I have more confidence going into this weekend.
“This car is much more predictable and enjoyable to drive. It’s not perfect yet, but it’s progressing in the right direction.”
However, with Mercedes still struggling to find a balance between high and low-speed corners, Hamilton admitted that there is no guarantee that the team will be competitive.
When it was suggested that the 2024 Mercedes car tends to perform better in low-speed sections, Hamilton replied: “Again, that’s not really the situation. If you look at Suzuka, we were very slow in low-speed, and if you look at Jeddah, we were fast in low-speed, but terrible in high-speed.
“So, when I dare to go out there tomorrow, I believe we should be a little better here. I think the performance window of the car between high and low-speed is starting to open up, so I’m really hoping that we have found an ideal point and can be a little closer.
“Actually, in last year’s qualifying, we weren’t that far off even with a much worse car. I hope that speaks volumes for this weekend.”
