The Brackley-based team concluded the previous season in second place in the Constructors’ Championship, trailing behind Oracle Red Bull Racing. However, they were significantly behind the dominant Champions, earning less than half of their total points.
Mercedes’ most notable drawback was their flawed aerodynamic design, known as the “zero-pod,” which resulted in an unpredictable car that performed optimally only within a narrow range.
Improvements were made in 2023 after a frustrating season where they finished third in the standings. However, a complete overhaul in design philosophy was necessary in 2024 to bridge the gap to the dominant Red Bull.
With veteran driver Lewis Hamilton entering his final season with the German team, there is added motivation to strive for victories and championships to give the 39-year-old a positive farewell. The seven-time World Champion is confident that he will end his career with Mercedes on a high note.
Teammate George Russell is expected to take over as the more experienced driver from 2025 onwards and will therefore aim to impress after a disappointing 2023.
Toto Wolff, CEO and Team Principal of Mercedes, has provided valuable insights into the overall atmosphere in the paddock and initial expectations for the upcoming Bahrain Grand Prix.
The Mercedes boss reflected on the difficulties faced with the W13 and W14 in 2022 and 2023 respectively, and expressed his belief that this year’s W15 will not encounter the same issues.
He stated, “In the past two seasons, we have started the year at a disadvantage. The W13 and W14 had their strengths, but they were often challenging to unlock. They lacked consistency. Our main goal for 2024 was clear: to create a stable and consistent platform.”
By having a more predictable car, the drivers can push its limits without fear of exceeding them. Wolff added, “We wanted a car that would react as expected, one that the drivers could consistently push. And one that we can continuously develop throughout the year, knowing that we are bringing real-world performance to the track.”
Mercedes had a relatively successful pre-season testing, completing a total of 361 laps over three days. While it is difficult to determine their relative pace compared to other teams at this stage, Wolff is optimistic about the upcoming season.
Wolf stated that after the pre-season testing, some initial conclusions can be drawn. The drivers are much more satisfied with the overall equilibrium. The fundamental framework is functioning as anticipated. The correlation to their simulations appears to be accurate, which is encouraging. It provides a solid foundation to build upon.
In terms of the hierarchy, Wolff anticipated that Red Bull would be leading the pack, as expected. The competition among the chasing group seems close. Soon, they will have a better understanding of their position in the pecking order and the task of narrowing the gap to the front.
Despite this, the team remains optimistic as they approach the opening round of the 24-race campaign. Wolff concluded that regardless of the outcome, the entire team is excited about the upcoming challenge. There is a noticeable sense of enthusiasm within the factories and among those on the track. The year ahead will be lengthy, filled with both highs and lows. However, this is what makes racing so beloved. They are eager to get started.
The first race of the 2024 F1 World Championship is scheduled to take place at the Bahrain International Circuit on Saturday, March 2, at 18:00 local time.