Lewis Hamilton has highlighted balance through corners as the greatest area Mercedes must address with its 2024 Formula 1 car to contend with the teams ahead.
Mercedes has endured an underwhelming start to the current season as it lies a distant fourth in the Constructors’ Championship with zero podiums in eight rounds.
The German marque had experienced trouble getting to grips with an inconsistent W15, but updates to its revised car in recent races have issued renewed optimism.
Hamilton, who will leave to move to Ferrari in 2025, has commended the relentless work ethic on show that is enabling Mercedes to edge closer to the leading three.
“The car’s continuing to improve, I think everyone’s taking a step closer to the Red Bulls and I think that’s been really positive,” Hamilton said.
“Increasingly proud of everyone back at the factory, resilient, everyone focused and head down, morale’s great, hoping we can get closer to these guys and compete at the front.”
Hamilton is convinced a first top-three finish this term is within touching distance, as he revealed he will have the upgraded front wing he opted not to use in Monaco.
Asked whether a podium was a realistic target, Hamilton, who boasts a record-equalling seven wins at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, replied: “I don’t think it’s far away.
“So we’ve got the upgrade, both cars have it this weekend, looking forward to how that is on track.”
Mercedes has been in catch-up mode since the unexpected bouncing prevalent with ground effect cars saw its ‘zeropod’ concept unable to deliver the expected pace.
But having reverted to a more conventional solution with radical changes in 2024, Hamilton has beamed that the W15 has been more compliant than its predecessor.
However, the seven-time champion conceded that having a consistent balance during each corner phase is still an area that Mercedes has not mastered like its rivals.
“The biggest improvement for this year has been ride quality and get the car lower, which is what others have been able to do,” he explained.
“Then stability on entry of corners the car is far more predictable than it ever was, and more stable.
“But through corner balance is where we’ve been lacking, where others have taken a big step, so that’s what we’re trying to work on.”
Meanwhile, Russell is hoping his run to fifth in Monaco last time provided a “small turning point” and has pinpointed potential wet weather this weekend as an opening.
“We saw in Monaco how close it is on a slow track,” he said. “I hope that Monaco was a small turning point for us.
“At the end of the day, we were only a tenth away from the first row. So if the weather plays along, anything can happen.”
However, Russell is also mindful that Mercedes hasn’t enacted a “breakthrough” moment to date and must keep striving to unlock incremental gains to slash the gap.
Although he is convinced the squad has discovered a clearer direction in recent weeks, the Briton admitted that he can’t predict “when that will be reflected in results”.
