Lewis Hamilton, the British driver of the Mercedes AMG F1 W15, expressed the need for improvement in cornering balance for Mercedes to compete with the leading teams in the 2024 Formula 1 season. Currently, Mercedes is struggling in fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship and has yet to achieve a podium in eight races. However, recent updates to the car have given the team new hope. Hamilton, who will move to Ferrari in 2025, praised the hard work and determination of the Mercedes team, stating that they are closing the gap to the Red Bulls. He is optimistic about the team’s chances of moving closer to the front and securing a place among the top three. Hamilton also revealed that he will use an updated front wing in the next race, which he believes will contribute to the team’s progress.
Mercedes has been playing catch-up since the unexpected rise of ground effect cars, which has caused their « zeropod » concept to fall short of expectations. However, with significant changes in 2024, Hamilton is pleased to report that the W15 has been more cooperative than its predecessor. Despite this progress, the seven-time champion admits that achieving consistent balance in all phases of corners is still a challenge for Mercedes, unlike their competitors.
According to Hamilton, the most notable improvement this year has been in the quality of driving and lowering the car’s height, something that other teams have managed to achieve. He also highlights the increased stability and predictability of the car during corner entry. However, Mercedes still struggles to maintain balance throughout corners, an area where other teams have made significant advances. This is the aspect they are currently working on to improve.
En attendant, Russell voit sa cinquième place à Monaco comme un possible tournant pour l’équipe. Il croit que la compétition serrée sur une piste lente a démontré leurs progrès. Russell reste optimiste que, si les conditions météorologiques sont en sa faveur, tout peut arriver lors de la prochaine course. Cependant, il reconnaît que Mercedes n’a pas encore eu de moment de percée majeure et souligne l’importance de l’amélioration continue pour combler l’écart de performance.
Bien que Russell croie que l’équipe a récemment trouvé une direction plus claire, il ne peut pas prédire quand ces changements se refléteront dans leurs résultats. L’équipe reste engagée à rechercher des gains incrémentiels et à libérer son potentiel maximum.
