When the first quarter of the F1 season came to an end at the Monaco Grand Prix, Mercedes had gained 96 points, indicating a peculiar era for the team. Lewis Hamilton’s unexpected transfer to Ferrari in 2025 added to Mercedes’ troubles, which have escalated since 2022. Mercedes’ success in the 2010s has waned despite great hopes for its 2024 project. Both George Russell and Lewis Hamilton are disappointed with the W15’s lack of speed, as seen by their failure to finish first this season.
However, the team is making slight progress after every weekend. While their best outcome remains a P5, Lewis Hamilton believes they’ll soon be in the front. While the technical team has collected limited data after a rain-affected FP, Hamilton remains confident.
Mercedes Gaining Momentum As They Fight For The Top Spot
The Mercedes technical staff is speedrunning all the upgrades. The team is desperate for a turnaround after hitting the bottom. Recently, the team opted for a new front suspension similar to Red Bull’s RB20. Moreover, these front suspensions are supposed to improve W15’s balance. Also, the team entered Canada FP with a new pair of front wings for both drivers. Although the first two practice sessions were hindered by rain, the technical team would extract maximum data to improve the W15 front and rear. Both the drivers were running for the top spot during the FP. However, the Silver Arrows have been consistently struggling during the long runs. Thus, the FP1 & FP2 positions barely matter.
However, Lewis Hamilton was upbeat with the practice. Albeit it’s too early to comment on Sunday’s outcome, Hamilton is confident of bagging a top spot. Moreover, Hamilton has won the Canada GP seven times; thus, his track record might push him to perform better. Earlier, the seven-time world champion was not looking excited for the Canada weekend. However, a decent FP on a wet track reignited the fire. Further, he constantly urged his team to get on the track as soon as possible, emphasizing the importance of maximizing track time regardless of the conditions. He highlighted that the track requires building blocks of experience, making it crucial to gain as much time as possible to understand the weather conditions and the recent changes to the surface and run-off areas. Hamilton concluded by noting that it was a highly productive session and that the W15’s performance was strong.
Toto Wolff And George Russell Point Out Ferrari’s World Championship Drought
During a media conversation, Wolff pointed out that Ferrari had not won a world championship since 2008. On the other hand, Red Bull did not win a championship in eight years when Mercedes dominated the circuit. Withal remarked that eight and sixteen years are far longer than three years. It demonstrates that the team’s management fully trusts its players as they try a comeback.
Similarly, Mercedes driver Russell defended his team principal while questioning the opponents. He stated that the Silver Arrows had received a great deal of criticism during their downturn. Furthermore, every team has a patchy phase when obstacles arise. Moreover, the Briton focused on the competitors, highlighting Ferrari’s incapacity to contend for the World Championship crown.