Mercedes had the fastest car on certain weekends in 2024—but only on a select few circuits. While dominating at tracks like Spa and Las Vegas, the Silver Arrows were nowhere in places like Singapore and Mexico, suffering extreme fluctuations in performance.
Now, as Formula 1 enters the 2025 season, Mercedes is focused on fixing its biggest weakness—consistency. The W16 is being designed to be a true all-rounder, capable of competing for wins every weekend, not just under specific conditions.
“We’re optimistic it will be a good step in the right direction,” said George Russell.
“You obviously never know what your rivals are going to have done.”
The Biggest Problem: Rear-Tyre Overheating
One of Mercedes’ biggest downfalls in 2024 was its struggle with rear-tyre overheating.
- In cooler races, the W15 was a force to be reckoned with.
- In hotter conditions, like Singapore, the car fell off a cliff, finishing over a minute behind race winner Lando Norris.
Mercedes trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin admitted that McLaren, Red Bull, and Ferrari all managed their tyres better, especially in high-heat races.
“We’re looking at what we can do to get temperature out of the rear tyres. Any work in that area is two-fold: Can we put less temperature in? And can we take more temperature out?”
How Mercedes Plans to Fix It
Mercedes has identified two major areas where its 2024 car fell short, leading to inconsistent performances:
- Heat Extraction from the Wheel Rims
- Caused by braking, leading to excess heat in the tyres.
- Fixing this involves material technology and design improvements.
- Excessive Sliding and Tyre Stress
- Rear tyre overheating caused by too much sliding (lack of downforce or unstable traction).
- Could be related to suspension geometry, requiring new chassis or gearbox pick-up points.
The fact that Singapore was a disaster for Mercedes suggests that the issue lies with tread overheating, rather than structural core overheating.
“That’s an area where I don’t think we are as good as McLaren, Red Bull, or Ferrari,” Shovlin admitted.
The W16’s Mission: From Unpredictable to Unstoppable
For Mercedes to fight for the 2025 title, the W16 needs to be a more consistent machine—one that doesn’t just shine on a handful of tracks.
- Fixing rear-tyre overheating is priority number one.
- Refining suspension geometry could be the secret weapon.
- Becoming an all-weather, all-track contender is the only way back to title contention.
With Red Bull, Ferrari, and McLaren all improving, Mercedes can’t afford another inconsistent season. The W16’s success or failure will decide if the team returns to championship glory—or continues to play catch-up.
