Mercedes, a brand that once symbolized success in the 2010s, is currently facing a tough time, struggling to win a single race. Since 2022, the German team has been in a slump. Despite high expectations for the 2024 project, it has fallen short. The frustration of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton with the W15’s speed is not to be underestimated; their dissatisfaction is evident in their failure to secure a podium finish in the current season. Moreover, after the recent Monaco GP, the team looks vulnerable in the car development war.
All the challenges Mercedes faces can be traced back to one factor: the vehicle’s design. The Mercedes F1 project, known as W15, has been underwhelming due to a multitude of issues that engineers are grappling with. As a result, the team finds itself in fourth place, trailing behind its customer, McLaren. However, the engineers at Brackley are not the ones to back down from a challenge. They are working tirelessly, day and night, to address the underlying issues. Despite the unique issues that the W15 presents every weekend, the team remains steadfast in their pursuit of solutions.
Recent Upgrade Couldn’t Save Mercedes From A Flop Show
The eight-time constructors’ world champions are grappling with creating a race-winning F1 prospect. In the hybrid V6 era, Mercedes was a force to be reckoned with, clinching every constructor and driver world championship from 2014 to 2020. Even in 2021, the team was among the elites of F1 but narrowly missed out on the title due to a contentious judgment in Abu Dhabi. However, the 2022 regulatory revamp proved to be a game-changer, and not in a good way for the Silver Arrows.
The ground effect was one of the most significant challenges they faced, and they are still in the process of overcoming it. The team was enthusiastic about the modification in 2024, but it had no noteworthy outcomes. After the Miami Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton revealed his discontent with the W15, claiming that it is ‘slow.’ Furthermore, Mercedes’ client McLaren and competitor Ferrari improve every weekend as they prepare to challenge the Red Bull squad. Meanwhile, Mercedes is battling for its position as the technological war continues.
Earlier, Toto Wolff explained the F1 upgrades. He believes the W15 can’t rely on ‘quick fixes,’ and major changes will take several weeks to implement. Further, the team is not expecting any ‘overnight’ miracle. Instead, the focus is on solving the underlying issues, which improves performance. Moreover, Lewis Hamilton would get the new front wings George Russell used in Monaco. The Briton was skeptical of any changes in Monaco and thus opted for a conserved setup. While the team is not introducing any major upgrades for Canada GP, minor tweaks will be needed to get favorable results.
Lewis Hamilton Equals Michael Schumacher’s Record
Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher were the only two top names on every record list. However, this was until Max Verstappen started rewriting the record books. However, Schumacher had his name in front of ‘fastest laps.’ Hamilton went past the record by clicking his 54th fastest lap, outsourcing Schumacher’s 53.
Also, Hamilton equaled the ‘fastest lap in every season’ record. This was Briton’s 15th consecutive season, scoring an extra point with the ‘fastest lap.’ Thus, amid a chaotic season, Hamilton would cherish such triumphs.
