Mercedes is grappling with persistent overheating issues that have plagued its 2024 Formula 1 car, particularly when track temperatures soar. The German team’s struggles continued at the Singapore Grand Prix, where George Russell finished fourth and Lewis Hamilton sixth, falling short of their high expectations.
Despite a promising qualifying session that saw both drivers lock out the second row after set-up tweaks overnight, race day exposed the W15’s vulnerabilities. Mercedes’ strategic call to start Hamilton on Soft tyres backfired, leaving the seven-time champion struggling with tyre degradation, while Russell, who started on Mediums, could not hold off McLaren’s Oscar Piastri for third place.
Overheating Woes: A Persistent Problem for Mercedes
Mercedes Technical Director James Allison admitted that the Marina Bay Circuit’s demanding traction zones highlighted the car’s overheating issues. “Once again, we suffered from something that has been problematic for us,” Allison said. “With the softer compounds and on tracks where the tyre temperatures are sky high, we lose competitiveness compared to our opponents. Singapore is extreme from this point of view, and for us, it was something quite difficult to manage.”
Searching for Solutions Ahead of Key Upgrades
To combat these issues, Mercedes is exploring ways to mitigate the tyre overheating problem as it gears up for a significant upgrade package next month. “We will try to understand how to make the tyres work better on circuits that are prone to overheating,” Allison explained. He confirmed that a major aerodynamic package is set for Austin, aimed at boosting Mercedes’ performance.
The team’s current struggles have coincided with a decline in form since the summer break, after a promising start to the season. Mercedes’ competitive edge has waned since a revised floor introduced in Belgium failed to deliver the expected results, prompting a return to the old specification in Baku. Despite extensive testing, Mercedes has yet to determine whether the updated floor is to blame for the inconsistencies.
Hope on the Horizon: Final Push for the Season
With its sights set on addressing the W15’s overheating issues, Mercedes is banking on the upcoming updates to revive its season. Head of Track Engineering Andrew Shovlin acknowledged the challenges posed by the car’s variable performance across different circuits: “On some circuits, it behaved very well, while on others we struggled with the balance, regardless of the aerodynamic package.”
As Mercedes prepares for the final stretch of the 2024 season, the team’s ability to rectify its overheating woes and make the most of its planned upgrades will be crucial in regaining the momentum it lost after a promising first half of the year. With a major aero package on the way, Mercedes hopes to put its tyre troubles behind and reclaim its place at the front of the grid.
