Mercedes has endured a tough stretch over the past two and a half years, grappling with persistent issues from problematic upgrades. Every time the technical team rolls out a significant update—be it aimed at balance, controlling oversteer, or enhancing aerodynamics—it tends to introduce fresh challenges without providing lasting improvements.
Earlier in the season, a newly designed floor concept, launched during the Belgian Grand Prix, had to be set aside due to unexpected handling problems. Despite experimenting with numerous setups, the Brackley-based squad has yet to achieve the desired results, leading them to shift their focus forward to the 2025 season.
Mercedes Aims To Eliminate “Slow-Speed Corner” Issue
Andrew Shovlin has identified low-speed cornering as a critical area where Mercedes consistently loses lap time to its closest competitors. These sections, particularly those involving consecutive turns, highlight a vulnerability in the car’s handling—one that demands focused improvement. While Shovlin clarified that addressing this specific shortcoming isn’t expected until next season, he emphasized that Mercedes is using insights from the current W15 model to aid their development process.
According to Shovlin, the recent upgrade kit was aimed at boosting the car’s base performance rather than specifically tackling the low-speed corner issue. Encouragingly, the team has observed that the update is delivering as anticipated, but the fundamental issues with low-speed turns remain unresolved. Mercedes is now actively working on adjustments to address these weaknesses for the W16, with significant changes being planned for the winter months. Shovlin expressed optimism that these efforts will enable the team to start the next season without being hampered by the same limitations.
Mercedes Continues Experiments As ‘Ground Effect’ Remains A Challenge
Mercedes’ struggles since the summer break have left them grappling with limited results, as the team secured only one podium in the last seven races. This downturn in competitiveness has positioned the team to finish the season in fourth place, marking their lowest championship standing since 2012. However, according to Andrew Shovlin, this has also created an opportunity to prioritize efforts for the 2025 season earlier than expected.
Shovlin emphasized that Mercedes’ primary challenges remain unchanged, particularly in slow, interconnected corners, where the car tends to falter. For instance, in Brazil, they identified sector two, filled with these tricky corners, as an area where the car could struggle. Their focus for the remaining races has shifted towards gathering insights they can apply to improve next year’s performance, as they’re currently unable to challenge higher positions in the standings and unlikely to face pressure from teams behind them.
The recent wet sessions in Brazil provided valuable data for Mercedes, allowing the team to assess the car’s capabilities in difficult weather conditions. Shovlin noted it was encouraging to see competitive pace in the wet, given that rainy conditions often occur in qualifying and race sessions throughout the season.
