Mercedes did not have the desired start they were hoping for, but they believe they can improve the situation at the Australian GP. Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff (Via IMAGO) are optimistic and satisfied with their new challenger W15 for the 2024 season. However, their expectations were too high after the pre-season tests. Both Mercedes drivers were pleased with the car’s performance during testing, but their disappointment continued in the first two races of the season.
Problems began to arise at the season opener. Both Hamilton and Russell had difficulties in the race, and the cars had cooling issues. The following weekend in Saudi Arabia, the cars were slow in high-speed corners, requiring a lot of effort from the drivers to finish in the top-10. This prompted the Team Principal to change their approach for the Australian GP, as they have not yet identified the underlying issue with the car.
According to Toto Wolff, the car’s problems are more related to physics than the team’s mentality. The team has been struggling on track, causing frustration for the drivers. They are lacking the necessary downforce in certain areas to achieve the desired speed.
During pre-season testing in Bahrain, George Russell felt confident with the new challenger W15. He believed it was a significant improvement over its predecessors. However, after the Saudi Arabian GP, Russell expressed his confusion with the car and admitted he still does not fully understand it.
For Hamilton and the team, the start of the season is far from ideal. The confusion surrounding the car’s issues continues, especially regarding the impact on handling and speed in corners. They have one more weekend before the Australian GP to address these problems and get back on track.
