Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell say a wider operating window on the team’s latest Formula 1 car will prove vital to achieving its ambitions in 2024.
Mercedes embarked upon F1’s return to ground effect machinery in 2022 having dominated the sport with a run of eight consecutive Constructors’ Championships.
However, the German marque has become unstuck under the latest regulation cycle and logged just one victory in the last two years.
Mercedes has elected to pursue a revamped car concept for 2024 as it attempts to return to race-winning form, with Technical James Allison overseeing the wholesale changes.
Both Hamilton and Russell believe that the harsh lessons endured over the past two campaigns have stood Mercedes in good stead to be more competitive this term.
“We’ve learnt and grown as a team over the past two seasons,” Russell said. “It’s not been plain sailing, but I truly believe the journey we’ve been on will make us stronger in the long run.
“The whole team has been working incredibly hard and we hope to have made a step with the W15.”
Hamilton added: “The learnings of the past two years have helped us find our direction. It’s enabled us to find our north star.
“It’s still going to be a work in progress, but we will face whatever challenges present themselves with our heads up, with open minds, and work through diligently.”
The two drivers struggled to produce consistent results throughout last season as the pair struggled to tame the “spiteful” rear end characteristics of a capricious W14 car.
“If you’re not comfortable with the car, you’re not able to extract the maximum performance,” Hamilton, who will leave Mercedes for Ferrari in 2025, addressed.
“A more stable, more predictable car will enable us to extract the potential from not only the car, but ourselves as drivers.”
Russell asserts that Mercedes ensuring it has a challenger that is easier to nurse into its sweet spot will be pivotal to its chances.
“We made progress with some of the nastier characteristics of the W14 throughout last year,” Russell highlighted. “But we still had a narrow operating window and, once we were outside of that, the car was difficult to drive.
“If we can continue to widen the operating window of the car, that will provide confidence for us as a drivers and from there, lap time is easier to find.”
Ahead of getting behind the wheel of the W15 for the first time today at the Silverstone circuit, Hamilton and Russell reserved praise for the work of Mercedes’ engineers.
“I know what this team is capable of. I am incredibly grateful for the work of every single person in this team,” Hamilton commented. “Every time you’re in the factory, you can see the sheer drive and determination of everyone.
“We are all mega-motivated for the year ahead and will be giving it everything we’ve got on the journey ahead.”
Russell concluded: “F1 is an incredibly difficult sport. It’s very hard to win. And that’s why we love it.
“Every woman and man at Brackley and Brixworth is so focused on getting to the top. We continue with that focus and dedication into 2024 and I’m excited to see where that takes us.”
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