Mercedes did not have the desired start they were hoping for, but they believe they can improve the situation at the Australian GP. Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff (Via IMAGO) are optimistic and satisfied with their new challenger W15 for the 2024 season. However, their expectations were proven to be too high after the preseason tests. The two Mercedes drivers were pleased with the car’s performance during testing, but their disappointment continued into the first two races of the season.
Problems began to arise at the season opener. Both Hamilton and Russell struggled in the race, and the cars experienced cooling issues. The following weekend in Saudi Arabia, the cars were slow in high-speed corners, requiring the drivers to work hard for top-10 finishes. This has prompted the Team Principal to change their approach for the Australian GP, as they have yet to identify the underlying problem with the car.
According to Toto Wolff, the car’s issues are more related to physics rather than the team’s mindset. The team has been facing difficulties on the track, leading to frustration from the drivers. They lack the necessary downforce in certain areas to achieve the desired speed.
During preseason testing in Bahrain, George Russell felt confident about the new challenger W15. He believed it was a significant improvement compared to its predecessors. However, after the Saudi Arabian GP, Russell expressed his confusion about the car and admitted that he has yet to fully understand it.
For Hamilton and the team, the start of the season has been far from ideal. The confusion surrounding the car’s issues remains, particularly with regards to the car’s bumping and corner-speed affecting performance. They have one more weekend before the Australian GP to address and resolve these problems in order to get back on track.