The Silver Arrows contingent arrived in Melbourne brimming with optimism, aiming to make significant strides forward. Lewis Hamilton, in particular, lauded the W15 as an exceptional car, dispelling any notions of it being a problematic counterpart.
This upbeat outlook contrasted with previous concerns voiced by drivers regarding the team’s performance in the initial races of the season. Despite promising starts in free practice sessions, Mercedes faced setbacks during qualifying and the races.
Toto Wolff, the head of Mercedes motorsport, acknowledged the team’s challenging Friday in Melbourne. The drivers, George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, experienced a notable drop in performance from the first practice session, where Russell secured third and Hamilton ninth, to the subsequent sessions, finishing sixth and 18th respectively.
Wolff attributed this decline to radical setup changes between sessions that had a detrimental effect. He admitted to experimenting but expressed disappointment at the lack of performance gains. However, he remained resolute, emphasizing Mercedes’ capability to reclaim competitiveness within the current regulatory framework.
Despite the setbacks, Andrew Shovlin, Mercedes’ trackside engineering director, highlighted positive strides made in addressing performance issues. Changes aimed at enhancing high-speed cornering and minimizing bouncing, particularly following challenges in Saudi Arabia, showed promise during the initial practice session.
However, the optimism was tempered by FP2 struggles, with Lewis Hamilton feeling the team had veered off course with their adjustments. George Russell also encountered difficulties in windier conditions, compounded by minor damage to his car. Shovlin acknowledged the need for overnight improvements to rectify these issues.
While the Silver Arrows arrived in Melbourne with high hopes, challenges persisted, underscoring the ongoing efforts required to optimize performance in the competitive realm of Formula 1.
