The car has been troubled by bouncing, notably evident during qualifying with low fuel, while its struggle in high-speed corners relative to rivals was unmistakable in Saudi Arabia.
Shovlin indicates that the team will explore different approaches at the upcoming Australian Grand Prix to refine the car’s performance.
“We’re analyzing data from Jeddah, Bahrain race, Bahrain test, and formulating a plan for Melbourne,” he said. “But our approach isn’t solely based on Jeddah data.
“Our aerodynamics and vehicle dynamics departments are actively working on experiments to guide us towards improved performance.”
Shovlin confirms that addressing high-speed corner performance is a primary focus for the team leading up to Australia. He explains that the deficiencies witnessed in Bahrain were influenced by multiple factors.
“It’s multifaceted,” he said. “Firstly, the balance wasn’t optimal. In those high-speed corners, where driver confidence is crucial, we experienced snap oversteer when pushing the tires.
“This instability affected both qualifying and the race.
“Qualifying was further complicated by bouncing issues. However, this was less problematic during the race due to the added fuel weight and reduced speeds.
“Moreover, we lacked the necessary grip compared to our rivals, a significant concern we’re addressing this week, given Melbourne’s similar cornering demands.
Shovlin highlights that Lewis Hamilton and George Russell pursued different setup paths during the Jeddah weekend.
“They both addressed bouncing concerns through setup adjustments,” he noted. “This involved tweaking ride heights and stiffness levels, proving effective.
“They also fine-tuned the car’s balance across varying speeds.
“While their setups eventually converged, valuable insights were gained. Analyzing individual changes allowed us to understand performance variations run by run.
“Ultimately, the challenges faced in qualifying and the race were consistent across both cars, indicating underlying issues requiring deeper investigation.”
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