The Mercedes team was a happy camp just two races ago. However, it has slightly lost its charm after the summer break. As a result, the team has failed to enter the top five in Zandvoort and Monza. While the W15 is grappling with some balance issues, the floor upgrade is considered the main culprit.
The new floor, introduced in Spa, had to be scrapped after it messed up the car’s dynamics. However, the technical team wanted to give it another shot post-summer break. Thus, it was re-instated during the Dutch GP, and the team failed miserably. The Mercedes drivers have shared their thoughts about the floor setup ahead of the Baku showdown.
Mercedes Set To Abandon Controversial Floor Upgrade Amid Diverging Driver Opinions
The Mercedes team has introduced no upgrades for the Azerbaijan GP. However, the talk concerned the problematic floor setup the team is not using for the Baku race. Instead, the Silver Arrows will collect the data to understand the key issue with the W15.
In Baku, Hamilton expressed his uncertainty about the cause of Mercedes’ struggles, acknowledging several possible factors, including the track conditions and the recent upgrades. However, his instincts suggested the upgrade could be the root of the issue. Moreover, the Briton also pointed out that sometimes it’s better to rely on a known quantity, like the pre-Spa floor. Despite understanding that the upgrade wasn’t expected to bring a massive leap forward, Mercedes has observed a drop in performance, which could indicate that the new floor isn’t performing as intended. Hamilton emphasized that the older floor offers a better understanding of setup and performance, whereas new upgrades often require time to adapt and fully optimize.
George Russell, meanwhile, remained cautious about pinpointing the floor as the sole cause of Mercedes’ recent form dip. He stressed that it would be hard to definitively say whether the floor upgrade was to blame for their struggles even after the upcoming race. Russell also mentioned that the team has more upgrades planned soon, which could further alter the car’s performance. He also added context to Mercedes’ current competitive landscape, noting that Formula 1 is more fiercely contested than it has been in a decade. This heightened competition means small gaps in performance can lead to vastly different results. Russell pointed out that even though the team had two weekends where they underperformed, slight changes in race dynamics could have yielded better outcomes, such as his near-podium finish at Zandvoort. He emphasized that in such a competitive environment, failing to execute a perfect weekend can result in being punished by the competition.
Lewis Hamilton Kickstarts Azerbaijan GP With Strong Performance
Lewis Hamilton returned to the form with a flawless performance during the FP1 & FP2 sessions. While the Briton was second quickest during teh first session, he slipped to third during the next session. However, the seven-time world champion would be focused on delivering during the qualifiers, which has been a weak point.