There has been much discussion surrounding the new front wing that Mercedes introduced as part of its upgrade package for the W15. This upgrade seemed to unlock the potential that had been hyped up, but Hamilton emphasized the importance of managing the tires in the team’s turnaround.
In the Spanish GP last weekend, Hamilton qualified in third place, which was a positive step for Mercedes. In previous races this year, the team had shown good pace in practice, only for it to disappear during qualifying.
During a media session in Spielberg on Thursday, Hamilton explained that the team had conducted extensive analysis and requested information on how to improve their performance. He stated that the key area for improvement was with the tires, and the team was focused on refining their processes from one session to the next. Hamilton acknowledged that things changed during qualifying, with the car becoming lighter and experiencing more DRS usage.
Hamilton expressed confidence that the team had made progress, but acknowledged the challenges posed by the current ground effect F1 cars. He highlighted the difficulty in achieving the right balance between the mechanical and aerodynamic aspects of the car, particularly at different speeds. Tire temperature and out laps were identified as crucial factors, with every team striving to find the optimal solution. Hamilton cited the example of Ferrari’s struggles in Montreal, where they failed to progress beyond Q2, attributing it to tire temperature issues.
According to Hamilton, this season’s tires are more sensitive than any he has experienced before. In conclusion, Hamilton remains optimistic about the team’s performance and aims to build on the progress they have made.
Following his third-place finish in Spain, Hamilton is now preparing for the Austrian GP. This comes after a race that exposed the mistakes made by Mercedes since 2022, prompting the team’s technical boss to question their decision-making.
(Reported by Agnes Carlier from Spielberg)