During the Bahrain Tests, it can be said that the 2024 Mercedes is an improvement compared to its problematic predecessors, the W14 and W13. This means that Hamilton, who holds the record for the most Grand Prix wins with 103 victories, has not won a race since the implementation of the new F1 rules in 2022.
After completing 123 laps and finishing third on the second day of the F1 Tests in Sakhir, Hamilton expressed his satisfaction with this year’s car. He acknowledged the efforts of the team in Brackley and Brixworth in delivering a greatly improved car. Hamilton sees this as a solid foundation for future progress.
The W15 will be Hamilton’s last drive for Mercedes before moving to Ferrari in 2025. These current cars will continue to evolve over the next two seasons before the new rules come into effect in 2026.
During the press conference in Bahrain, George Russell, who drives for Mercedes’ sister team, also shared his positive impressions of the car. He acknowledged the improvements made by all the other teams but emphasized that performance is what matters in the end. Russell believes they have a long way to go to catch up with Red Bull, who were far ahead of everyone else last year. However, he is confident that they now have a better platform to build on and that the car is no longer as difficult to control as it was in previous years.
Despite Hamilton’s imminent move to Ferrari at the end of this season, it seems that the seven-time F1 world champion is dedicated to the mission of returning the German team to consistent success. This will also mark the end of his two-season winless streak.
However, as the year progresses, it will not be surprising if things become uncomfortable for Hamilton, Russell, and Mercedes. How much involvement will Lewis have in improving the car’s performance for George next year? And what about team orders and the determination of the new number one driver?
These are all subplots that will likely generate questions as the year unfolds. But for now, within the Mercedes team, it seems that everything is proceeding as usual in the garage. The focus remains on maximizing the potential of the W15 package.
In the upcoming Bahrain Grand Prix, Mercedes will be seeking a victory that eluded them last year. Although they secured second place in the 2023 F1 Constructors’ World Championship, their points total was less than half of what reigning champions Red Bull accumulated.
The success of the Mercedes W15 will play a crucial role in giving Hamilton a proper farewell and establishing Russell as the team leader once Sir Lewis departs for Maranello.
According to the source grandprix247.com
