Lewis Hamilton and George Russell expressed positive opinions about the W15 after the tests in Bahrain.
Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen (via IMAGO).
The Formula 1 pre-season tests were concluded with a three-day event at the Bahrain International Circuit. Although it is still too early to make predictions about this season’s championship, a Red Bull consultant believes that Mercedes may have downplayed their performance during the testing period.
During interactions with the media before the season, both Mercedes drivers provided positive feedback about their W-15 car. Mercedes completed a total of 361 laps during the tests. Hamilton even mentioned that the new car is an improvement over its predecessors and that they gained valuable knowledge during the pre-season tests, which will contribute to a solid foundation for the upcoming season. The Red Bull consultant suggested that Mercedes may be hiding their true performance when discussing the rankings after the 2024 pre-season tests.
According to Marko Helmut’s analysis, Ferrari seems to be facing more issues with tire performance compared to Red Bull once again. McLaren also appears somewhat uncertain. Despite Mercedes’ performance in the pre-season tests, Marko believes they can still have confidence in their abilities.
Lewis Hamilton praised the efforts of the Mercedes staff during the winter and the pre-season tests in Bahrain, describing them as highly encouraging. Mercedes is currently behind Red Bull by a significant margin after two challenging seasons. Both Mercedes drivers expressed their satisfaction with this year’s W-15 during media interviews at the pre-season tests. Hamilton stated that the car seemed even better than before. Although he acknowledged that they had not yet achieved their desired goal, Hamilton mentioned that they were aware of this during the test and established a solid foundation for growth. He expressed his anticipation for the upcoming season and his determination to review all the test data to ensure they are well-prepared.
