2024 Bahrain Grand Prix, Friday – Sam Bloxham
The reigning Formula 1 Constructors champions unveiled a new vehicle for the 2024 season, abandoning the unsuccessful “zeropod” concept that was introduced in 2022 during the current era of regulation.
While Mercedes, along with their drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, initially believed the W15 was a solid foundation to build on, their confidence waned after qualifying. Russell managed the third fastest time, but it became evident that the car lacked speed and suffered cooling issues due to incorrect setup. As a result, Russell finished the race in fifth in Bahrain, while Hamilton came in seventh after qualifying ninth.
Reflecting on his team’s performance in the first grand prix of 2024, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff expressed disappointment, stating: “Our race in Bahrain was quite disappointing. We expected a stronger performance based on our practice and qualifying sessions. Both drivers were happy with the balance of the car early in the weekend and enjoyed the stability provided by the W15. Unfortunately, our cooling system did not meet our expectations, forcing us to manage the situation from early on. This had the unintended consequence of lowering tire temperatures below optimal levels. As a result, we were not able to show our true potential. It was a frustrating start to the season, but one that will serve as a valuable learning experience.”
Despite the setbacks, Wolff sees the consecutive races in Jeddah and Bahrain as an opportunity for Mercedes to redeem itself and progress immediately. He stated: “We have the chance to take a step forward immediately. Jeddah is a street circuit with significant high-speed sections. It will be beneficial to continue our familiarization with the new car on a completely different track compared to Bahrain. Our goal is to have a more consistent weekend and gain a better understanding of our true performance compared to the rest of the field.”
Mercedes concluded the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix with a fourth place, courtesy of Russell and Hamilton, respectively.
