Later, the issue was clarified by team leader Toto Wolff as an experimental configuration that “unfortunately failed” and demonstrated a lack of comprehension of their W15.
The seven-time F1 World Champion visibly struggled with an unpredictable car, which caused him to veer off the track multiple times today. This included a detour through Albert Park’s gravel trap, resulting in damage to the underside of the #44 Mercedes. Hamilton communicated over the radio: “Something is amiss…”
So amiss that in FP2, Hamilton only managed to secure P18 (with only Kevin Magnussen in the Haas being slower) and was a significant 1.5 seconds behind Charles Leclerc’s fastest time in the Ferrari.
Hamilton was also nearly a full second behind teammate George Russell, who found a more favorable setup in the Mercedes W15, which appears to be the worst car produced by the former World Champions since their return to F1 in 2010.
According to Wolff, the reason for this is: “We attempted an experiment, but we did not achieve the desired performance. In the second session, we made a significant setup change for Lewis, and unfortunately, it had a detrimental effect. However, this is why we have these sessions.”
Regarding Russell’s performance on the day, Wolff added: “On the other hand, it was slightly better [with Russell], but our overall performance is lacking. On a single lap, if he completes that lap, we are slightly better, but it was not a good day overall.”
When asked about any frustration within the team, Wolff acknowledged: “If I were to say I am not frustrated, it would not be truthful. Certainly, we are frustrated because we are trying various approaches, but we have yet to find the solution that will lead us in the right direction. However, we must continue to persevere.”
Wolff insisted, “We have seen impressive performances from this car before, and I do not want to believe that we are incapable of excelling under these regulations. We have all the necessary resources to overcome this challenge, and we will.”
Hamilton summarized his Friday in Australia: “It was not a great experience out there. We started the day on a positive note, and in FP1, the car felt good overall. The first run was actually the best the car has felt this year so far.
“To further our understanding, we made significant changes for FP2, but unfortunately, they made the car worse. It was a tough day, but there are some positives we can take from the first session. We will work hard overnight to make improvements for Saturday,” added the British driver.
Whether intentional or not, Hamilton identified the problem at Mercedes. The setup changes made between FP1 and FP2, which were expected to bring improvements, backfired as acknowledged by the team leader above.
This suggests that, much like in previous years, Mercedes engineers have no idea how to develop the W15 or even determine what makes it fast or slow. The trial-and-error approach during today’s sessions in Melbourne proved to be a futile exercise. They missed the mark completely, so forget about hitting the bullseye.
Mercedes’ trackside engineer leader, Andrew Shovlin, provided further evidence of their limited understanding of the W15. He expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance in the first practice session, stating that the changes made to enhance their high-speed cornering and reduce bouncing after the Saudi Arabia race were a positive step. Overall, the car felt quite promising.
However, the adjustments made for the second session at Albert Park had a negative impact on Hamilton’s performance. Shovlin admitted that they had taken a wrong turn with their setup changes, and unfortunately, they were not able to rectify the situation during the session. George Russell also faced challenges in the windier conditions of FP2 compared to earlier in the day. Despite these setbacks, Shovlin acknowledged that there is still room for improvement and they need to work on the car overnight.
Although Aston Martin’s customers were faster than Mercedes, Russell outperformed Hamilton and finished in sixth place at the end of the day. Russell himself acknowledged that they were pushing the limits and had a few moments on the track. He believed that without some minor damage to his front wing, he could have secured a higher position. The team is focused on further understanding the car and making necessary changes to optimize its performance. Russell concluded by emphasizing the unpredictability of each day in the sport.
Mercedes now has the third practice session to address their issues before the qualifying session for the Australian GP on Saturday. They face a significant challenge and will need to make substantial improvements if Hamilton hopes to secure his ninth pole position at the iconic Melbourne venue. (Reported by Agnes Carlier)