Since the summer break, Mercedes drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton have struggled to keep pace with competitors. Russell's podium at the Japanese Grand Prix in September remains the team's only top-three finish over the last seven races, despite introducing significant upgrades to the W15, most recently at the United States Grand Prix in Austin.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In the race debrief following the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Andrew Shovlin, Mercedes' trackside engineering director, highlighted the issue. \"Where we tend to be weak is in the slow-speed corners, particularly where there are interconnected turns. It\u2019s in these corners, which require a lot of car rotation, that we struggle most,\" Shovlin was quoted by Sky Sports as saying.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"This update was expected to elevate our base performance, and it has, but it didn\u2019t address our specific issues with cornering. We\u2019re confident there are fundamental elements we need to work on, and that\u2019s what we\u2019re focused on now, so the W16 can tackle these areas effectively,\" he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Mercedes' performance since the summer break has placed them in a unique position in the Constructors' Championship. They currently sit in fourth place, unable to challenge the top three teams, Red Bull, McLaren, and Ferrari, yet comfortably ahead of Aston Martin. This unusual \"no man\u2019s land\" in the standings has given the team an opportunity to shift its focus earlier than usual toward learning what they need to improve for next season.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThe main takeaway from these recent races is that our weak spots remain consistent, particularly in those tricky, interconnected corners,\u201d Shovlin said. \u201cThis is normally where we trip up. With our position in the championship pretty much fixed, we\u2019re now concentrating on what we can learn to strengthen next year\u2019s car.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The remaining races in Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi present a valuable chance for Mercedes to experiment with different track configurations. Shovlin outlined the benefits of each remaining circuit in aiding their understanding of the W15's limitations and evaluating areas for improvement.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"Las Vegas has long straights and low-speed corners, Qatar is high-speed, and Abu Dhabi is a mixture of both,\" he said. \"These tracks allow us to see where we stand and compare performance to our rivals, whether it\u2019s Red Bull, McLaren, or Ferrari. We\u2019re using these races to help measure the gap we need to close over the winter.\"<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Ahead of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, George Russell voiced his frustrations with the W15, calling it the \"most inconsistent\" car he\u2019s driven in his three seasons with the team. Since joining in 2022, Russell has seen Mercedes' dominance wane following significant design regulation changes that have challenged the team\u2019s development strategy.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Reflecting on the 2022 season\u2019s \u201cporpoising era\u201d when cars were bouncing due to aerodynamic oscillations, Russell said, \u201cBack then, it was unpleasant and hard to push because you knew the car was going to bite. This season is different. You think you\u2019re close to the limit, and sometimes it all comes together, but the next lap, it\u2019s like you\u2019ve lost all performance. This year has been the most inconsistent I\u2019ve ever seen the team.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The unpredictable nature of the W15's performance has complicated Mercedes\u2019 efforts to develop a consistently competitive package. While the upgrades have shown promise on some tracks, they have struggled to deliver the hoped-for results consistently, leaving the drivers and team with more questions than answers as they look to 2025.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
With the Las Vegas Grand Prix approaching, Mercedes\u2019 priority is maximising the learning opportunity each race provides. Their aim is to carry insights from each corner and track layout into their winter development program, which is expected to play a crucial role in designing a W16 that addresses the weaknesses of the W15.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"Every race now is about confirmation and understanding,\" Shovlin explained. \"These remaining races will allow us to test our theories and ensure that we\u2019re on the right path for next year.\"<\/p>\r\n\r\n
With the Las Vegas Grand Prix approaching, Mercedes\u2019 priority is maximising the learning opportunity each race provides. Their aim is to carry insights from each corner and track layout into their winter development program, which is expected to play a crucial role in designing a W16 that addresses the weaknesses of the W15.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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