Lewis Hamilton, the British driver for Mercedes AMG F1 W15, participated in the Formula 1 World Championship at the Australian Grand Prix in Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia on March 22, 2024, during the practice day.
According to Toto Wolff, the head of Mercedes, the team’s Formula 1 car for 2024 should be considered the “best of the worst” among their recent ground effect cars. Mercedes had a dominant run from 2014 to 2021, winning eight consecutive Constructors’ Championships and achieving 111 victories. However, since the reintroduction of ground effect aerodynamics in F1, Mercedes has struggled to replicate its previous success, with only one victory at the 2022 Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
The main issue behind Mercedes’ lack of success was identified as the “zeropod” solution, which did not deliver the expected results on track despite positive data simulations. Despite making significant changes with the W15 this season, Mercedes has had its worst start to a season since 2011 and currently sits in fourth place in the championship.
Wolff believes that the progress Mercedes has made with its car has been overshadowed by the convergence of technical rules. He stated during an interview with Fox Sports Australia in Melbourne, “It’s been a similar situation for the past two years. I think this car is the best among the underperforming ones. It provides a better foundation to work on, but it still doesn’t give the driver the confidence to push it to the limit at 200 miles per hour in the corners.”
After the second round in Saudi Arabia, Wolff admitted that Mercedes had a fundamental issue with the correlation between the wind tunnel testing and the performance on the race track. Despite making changes to various components, the team has not been able to solve the central problem that has hindered their progress.
Wolff acknowledged that Mercedes lost its way at the beginning of the 2022 season when the new regulations focused heavily on ground effect aerodynamics. He stated, “Our tools and systems had consistently produced championship-winning cars, but the new regulations shifted the emphasis to ground effect.”
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Mercedes F1 Boss Admits Ongoing Struggles with Car Performance
In a recent interview, Mercedes Formula 1 team principal Toto Wolff acknowledged the persistent challenges his team faces with their car’s performance. Despite making significant changes to various aspects of the vehicle, including its layout, suspension, and driver’s position, the team has been unable to overcome the core issue affecting their performance.
Wolff candidly admitted that the team’s efforts to solve these problems will take time. However, he remains hopeful that Mercedes can regain its competitive edge and once again contend for championship titles.
Looking ahead, Wolff emphasized the importance of maintaining a long-term perspective. As a coach and co-shareholder of the team, he wants to see Mercedes achieve numerous championships in the years to come. Nevertheless, he acknowledged the need for realism, recognizing that immediate success cannot be guaranteed.
While Mercedes is currently falling short of their desired performance level, Wolff urged his team to persevere and continue working diligently to improve. He acknowledged that progress may not come overnight, but expressed optimism that they will eventually become more competitive in the future.