George Russell, the Mercedes driver, secured first place in the qualifying for the 2024 Canadian Grand Prix, which is the ninth race out of the 24 in the season. This achievement marked the team’s first podium of the campaign, signaling a return to form for the once dominant team.
In an interview with the F1 podcast Beyond the Grid, Mercedes representative Allison expressed confidence in the team’s improved performance and their ability to compete in the upcoming races. He highlighted the challenges they faced earlier in the year, where the car’s performance was compromised in slow or fast corners. However, recent modifications to the car have achieved a more balanced performance in both types of corners, leading to a breakthrough moment for the team.
Allison described this breakthrough as an accomplishment of something that was previously unknown, contributing to the advancement of knowledge in the field. He acknowledged that the team should have recognized the solution earlier, but now they have a clear path ahead.
The pursuit of downforce and improvements in mechanical areas had diverted Mercedes’ attention from addressing the fundamental aerodynamic issue. However, the introduction of a new front wing has been a crucial element in correcting this problem.
Looking towards the future, Allison expressed optimism about the team’s competitiveness for the rest of the season. While he didn’t expect them to secure pole position in the next race, he believed they could have a strong performance and keep up with the pace of their competitors.
Une Mercedes, dirigée par le sept fois champion du monde de F1 Lewis Hamilton, a remporté sa dernière victoire en 2022. La saison 2023 a été la première fois depuis 2011 qu’ils n’ont pas remporté une course. Actuellement, Mercedes occupe la quatrième place au classement des constructeurs de F1 de 2024, derrière les champions en titre de Red Bull de 177 points.
Red Bull a été dominante cette saison, remportant six des neuf courses, tandis que Ferrari et McLaren ont remporté deux et une victoire respectivement. Le prochain Grand Prix d’Espagne, sur le Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, sera un test crucial pour Mercedes, déterminant s’ils peuvent mettre fin à leur série sans victoire. L’équipe espère retrouver son élan et revenir à la victoire à Barcelone. (Rapporté par Alan Baldwin)
