Lewis Hamilton, representing Great Britain, drove the Mercedes AMG F1 W15 car during the Formula 1 World Championship in Saudi Arabia on March 8, 2024. Despite facing difficulties in the race, Mercedes is not willing to compromise the strengths of their 2024 Formula 1 car to improve their performance at high speeds. The team finished as the fifth best team on track, with George Russell in sixth place and Lewis Hamilton in ninth. Mercedes consistently faced difficulties in the high-speed sections of the track, especially in the opening sector, which resulted in Hamilton getting stuck behind McLaren’s Lando Norris. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff acknowledged that there was a correlation problem between simulation suggestions and the actual race track. Mercedes Track Engineering Director Andrew Shovlin also highlighted that the team has a “fundamental” problem with their challenging W15. According to Shovlin, the limitations faced in both qualifying and the race were not minor differences, but rather a more fundamental problem that needs to be understood. Despite trying a more loaded rear wing during the final practice session, both Mercedes drivers chose to use a lower downforce configuration. Shovlin stated that Mercedes will not sacrifice straight-line speed to address their weakness at high speeds, even if they are losing time in those areas. Instead, they aim to find ways to improve the first sector without compromising their speed in other sectors.
Shovlin identified three factors contributing to Mercedes’ recent issue, but emphasized that the main deficiency compared to their rivals lies in the overall lack of traction.
“One of the reasons was that the balance was not ideal,” he noted. “So, in these high-speed corners, where the walls are close, the drivers need a significant amount of confidence. However, we often experience a sudden loss of grip when they exceed the limits of the tires. It is easy to imagine how disturbing this is for the drivers. This played a role in both qualifying and the race.
“In qualifying, we also encountered some oscillation issues. However, this problem was less prominent in the race. With more fuel in the car and a slower pace, it seemed to decrease and was not as problematic.
“Lastly, the major issue lies in the lack of grip. This is something we are diligently working on this week, as the corners in Melbourne have a similar nature. We are putting considerable effort into understanding why we do not have the same level of grip as some of our closest competitors.”
With a two-week break before the next race in Australia, Shovlin explained that Mercedes is fully committed to meticulously analyzing the data to find solutions.
“We are thoroughly examining the data from Jeddah,” Shovlin stated.
“We are also reviewing the data from the Bahrain race and the Bahrain test, and we will formulate a plan on how we will approach the free practices in Melbourne.
“However, our approach is not solely based on our performance in Jeddah. There is extensive work being done in the aerodynamics department and the vehicle dynamics department. We are devising experiments that will hopefully provide us with a performance-oriented direction.”
© 2024
The 2024 Formula 1 season promises to be one of the most exciting in recent years. With significant changes in rules and regulations, teams are preparing for a fierce competition on the tracks.
One of the main novelties for this year is the introduction of the new hybrid engine, which promises to bring more power and efficiency to the cars. In addition, drivers will have to deal with a new scoring system, which will give more emphasis to victories and podium finishes.
Among the favorite teams for the 2024 season are Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull. Mercedes, the current champion, is confident in maintaining its dominance on the tracks. Ferrari, which fell short of expectations in recent seasons, is determined to return to the top. And Red Bull, with its young talent Max Verstappen, promises to give competitors a run for their money.
Another highlight of this season is the debut of new drivers. Young talents like Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris, and George Russell are ready to show their potential and fight for good results. In addition, veterans like Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel are also aiming for more titles in their careers.
With all these changes and expectations, Formula 1 fans are eager to see the cars on the track and follow the exciting races. The 2024 season promises to be one of the most competitive and unpredictable in recent times.
Stay tuned for more news and updates on the 2024 Formula 1 season. Don’t miss any details of this exciting competition!
