Mercedes Technical Director James Allison has acknowledged that the decision to revamp the chassis and gearbox on their 2024 Formula 1 car required a significant amount of resources. The German team is aiming to bounce back after two disappointing seasons under the sport’s latest aero regulations. Despite finishing second in the Constructors’ Championship in 2023, Mercedes was a distant 451 points behind Red Bull, who dominated with 21 wins out of 22 races. Mercedes’ performance was hindered by the ‘zeropod’ solution, which they ultimately abandoned halfway through the previous season. In order to address the limitations of their W14 car, Mercedes has implemented a new car concept for this season.
According to Allison, the design of a car is a continuous process that spans over a long period of time. The decisions to make significant changes are usually made during the previous summer. The main objective is to address the weaknesses of the current car, which become more apparent during competition. By balancing improvements on these weaknesses and building on what has worked well, the team aims to optimize their resources and gradually shift their focus towards the next car.
One of Mercedes’ main development goals was to eliminate the rear-end instability that plagued their previous W14 car. The drivers often described it as unpredictable and difficult to handle. The team has worked extensively to create a more stable and responsive car, ensuring that the rear feels solid during braking and turning, while also being nimble and eager to turn towards the apex. Additionally, efforts have been made to reduce drag and enhance cornering performance.
Allison also emphasized the team’s commitment to improving pit stop performance, echoing the sentiments of Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff. While the team has been consistently delivering pit stops in a repeatable time, they acknowledge that there is room for improvement. The goal is to close the gap with the best teams, who currently have a three to four-tenths advantage in terms of pit stop speed.
Overall, Mercedes has made significant changes to their car in order to address weaknesses and enhance performance. The team is determined to regain their race-winning form and has allocated their available resources accordingly.
Allison acknowledges that opting to start anew with its chassis and gearbox this season has required it to be more cautious in other areas due to financial restrictions imposed by the cost cap.
“A fresh chassis and gearbox were customary every year before the cost cap,” he admitted. “And there will be other teams who have undertaken both endeavors in a single year.
“However, the cost cap compels you to carefully select your battles, and there is no denying that introducing a new outer casing alongside a new chassis simultaneously are two substantial undertakings that will consume a significant portion of our available resources. This is what we have done this year.
“It does mean that in other aspects of the car, we have not attempted to revolutionize the design. However, it has enabled us to embark on a couple of major projects without incurring excessive costs, and we believe that this is a valuable and crucial allocation of our efforts.”
Allison, who resumed his current position in April of last year, explains that Mercedes has accomplished its objectives with the W15 but concedes that its progress is contingent upon the performance of its competitors.
“I feel that we have achieved everything we set out to do,” he declared.
“Some aspects are boundless, and thus, complete satisfaction is unattainable. We will only know for certain once we have tested the car thoroughly.
“But I believe we can confidently say that we have performed admirably. Formula One is a comparative sport. Whether our performance is strong enough to be competitive remains to be seen. We are unaware of the actions taken by other teams.”
According to the Source motorsportweek.com