Lewis Hamilton, the British driver for Mercedes AMG, believes he has identified the areas in which the team needs to improve its Formula 1 W15 car. Despite some optimism surrounding the updated car for the 2024 season, Mercedes has faced difficulties in the early races. Hamilton has been frustrated with the narrow performance window of the car, leading to unpredictable fluctuations. However, in the qualifying session for the Japanese Grand Prix, Hamilton was pleased with the drivability of the W15 and outperformed his teammate George Russell to secure sixth place on the grid. Hamilton attributes his improved performance to a more conservative approach to setup changes, focusing on sensible adjustments rather than extreme measures. He feels the car is in a good place but acknowledges there is still room for improvement.
Hamilton expressed surprise when he was informed of the five-tenths difference between him and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who secured his fourth consecutive pole position. Hamilton believed his lap was excellent but expected to be behind Red Bull. Last season, Mercedes struggled in the opening sector at Suzuka, and they anticipated the same challenges this weekend. However, Mercedes performed better than expected, and Hamilton was optimistic about understanding the weaknesses of the W15. He found the first sector of the track exceptional and believed it exposed the limitations of the car, providing valuable insights for improvements. Hamilton was eager to discuss these findings with his engineers to determine the areas that needed work.
