Lewis Hamilton faced one of the most brutal weekends of his illustrious career at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA), with a Q1 exit and a disastrous first-lap crash that left him out of the race. For the seven-time world champion, soon headed to Ferrari, it was a frustrating chapter in a season already filled with disappointments.
George Russell, Hamilton’s teammate, fared slightly better but still faced his own set of challenges in Austin. After crashing out during qualifying, Russell was forced to start from the pit lane, eventually clawing his way back to a respectable P6 finish. Despite this recovery, the glaring performance gap between Mercedes and the top teams—Ferrari, Red Bull, and McLaren—was painfully clear.
Mercedes, while still managing a few wins this season, has struggled mightily with the W15 chassis, which has been a source of endless frustration for the team. Their issues are not engine-related, as McLaren, equipped with the same Mercedes power unit, has frequently outpaced the works team in 2024. The real problem lies in the car’s aerodynamics and mechanical setup, which have been inconsistent and unpredictable all season.
As the team heads to Mexico for Round 20 of the 2024 F1 World Championship, they face a crucial test. The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez has been a stronghold for Mercedes in the past, with Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg both claiming victories. However, with their current form, replicating that success seems far from guaranteed.
Team principal Toto Wolff addressed the team’s difficulties ahead of the Mexican Grand Prix, saying: “After a difficult weekend in Austin, we have the opportunity to bounce back immediately in Mexico. Our performance in Texas showed that there is inherent potential in the car, but our challenge is extracting it consistently.”
Wolff highlighted the complexity of the problem: “It’s not just one issue—it’s a combination of factors across both the aero and mechanical sides of the car. We’ve got five more races to fix this, and we need to do it not just for 2024 but to set ourselves up for 2025.”
Mexico’s high-altitude circuit poses a unique challenge for Mercedes, especially given the power unit’s additional strain in the thin air. Wolff expressed hope that the team’s latest updates would be put to the test in these demanding conditions.
Adding to the weekend’s storyline is the return of Kimi Antonelli, the teenage prodigy and Mercedes’ 2025 driver, who will take part in his second FP1 session. The team is banking on Antonelli to be a key part of their future, despite his underwhelming debut in Monza.
As Mercedes gears up for the Mexican GP, the pressure is mounting. Their disappointing season has left them trailing far behind the top three teams in the Constructors’ Championship, with little hope of catching up. Currently sitting fourth, Mercedes finds itself over 150 points adrift from Ferrari, Red Bull, and McLaren, all of which have outperformed the Silver Arrows throughout 2024.
In the Drivers’ Championship, the numbers are equally grim. Hamilton is languishing in P6 with 177 points, exactly half of championship leader Max Verstappen’s tally. Meanwhile, Russell sits in P8 with 167 points, highlighting the extent of Mercedes’ struggles this season.
The Mexican Grand Prix will be a critical juncture for Mercedes, as they aim to turn around a faltering campaign and find some consistency in their car’s performance. If they fail to do so, it could be another long, painful weekend for the once-dominant team.
