Mercedes recently shared a meme on their Instagram page comparing the performance of their disappointing W15 car to the iconic W11 car from the 2020 F1 season. Despite the exciting races in the current 2024 season, Mercedes has struggled to reach the podium so far. Faced with their weak start, Mercedes criticized their current challenger W15 while reminiscing about the success of the W11 chassis.
Before the start of pre-season testing, there was a lot of anticipation surrounding the challenger W15. It was expected to show significant improvement and compete with the Red Bulls for victory. The team had expressed their intention to follow a more traditional approach. However, as evidenced in the first four races, Mercedes has been struggling to find the right balance in their challenger.
Mercedes’ Instagram page shared a photo with the W15 and W11 cars. The image conveyed the message that one cannot appreciate the best, represented by the W11 chassis, without acknowledging the worst, referring to the disappointing performance of the W15 challenger. The W11 chassis had an exceptional performance, helping Lewis Hamilton secure his seventh world title, equaling a record.
The Red Bull Instagram page quickly responded to this fun meme. They asked if the people at Mercedes were okay and affectionately referred to the Mercedes administrator as ‘dear’, adding insult to injury. Fans found the lighthearted banter between the administrators amusing.
Mercedes has been candid about its shortcomings with the challenging W15 on Instagram. The team acknowledged that the car was complex in terms of aerodynamics and mechanical balance. Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolff, mentioned that they followed a specific development trajectory, but reached a point where they needed to take a different approach.
Wolff also stated that, according to the data, the challenging W15 had 70 more points of downforce compared to the previous car. However, this did not translate into speed on the track. He admitted that the car did not make sense for the team.
Brackley, home of the Mercedes F1 team, needs to work diligently on the challenging W15 and introduce significant updates soon. If the current situation persists, Mercedes will fall far behind in the competition. The team will analyze their data once again to understand the underlying issues with their car.
