Hungarian Mercedes GP (motorsportweek.com)
The Upcoming W15 Model May Herald Mercedes’ Return to Peak Performance
Mercedes Formula 1 team principal Toto Wolff has expressed optimism as simulator tests for the team’s 2024 charger show promising signs of improvement. The upcoming W15 model is anticipated to address the challenges faced by the team in the first two years of F1’s latest ground effect era. Simulator driver Anthony Davidson’s feedback indicated a positive shift, stating that the car “feels like a car for the first time in two years.”
Mercedes’ pursuit of Red Bull in the previous season was hindered by the decision to retain the ‘zeropod’ concept from the 2022 W13 car. Despite introducing changes to converge on the downwash sidepod solution pioneered by Red Bull, the W14’s launch-spec chassis posed limitations under cost cap restraints. The team, winless for the first time since 2011, finished second, trailing Red Bull by 454 points.
To mount a title challenge in the upcoming season, Mercedes is adopting a revamped philosophy for the W15, set to be unveiled on February 14 at Silverstone. Wolff acknowledges the significant challenge of catching Red Bull before the 2026 regulations overhaul, likening it to climbing “Mount Everest.” However, he remains optimistic, citing McLaren’s mid-season progress in the previous year as evidence that remarkable strides are achievable.
Wolff emphasized the importance of maintaining a belief in the team’s ability to win and highlighted a two-year deal with drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell. He pledged full attention to the 2024 and 2025 seasons, expressing confidence in the team’s potential for success.
Additionally, Wolff revealed that Mercedes has identified areas for improvement beyond car performance, specifically in pit stop equipment and processes. Acknowledging the team’s conservative interpretation of regulations in the past, he teased that Mercedes will present a “very different” approach, hinting at positive changes in the upcoming season.