The 2014 to 2020 period is considered the Mercedes era due to the German Marque’s ruthless on-track performance. The team won every single trophy in this period, leaving no space for rivals. The turbo-hybrid era saw the rise of Silver Arrows. However, in 2021, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen dethroned Lewis Hamilton from WDC, while Mercedes still won the Constructors Cup.
In the following year, the FIA introduced a new regulation– the ground effect. It completely changed the direction of the tides, and Mercedes was no longer competitive. The paradigm shifted in favor of Red Bull, while the Three Pointed-Star were utterly clueless. In the 2022-23 season, the Brackley-based outfit was unable to solve the ground effect puzzle, having disastrous seasons. While the team had huge expectations from the 2024 F1 project, it has been inconsistent up until now. Therefore, the Ferrari-bound Hamilton has picked ground effect regulations as the real antagonist for Mercedes and every F1 team.
Hamilton Dubs Ground Effect As “Frustrating” But Still “Loves” The Grind
The James Allison-led technical team designed a well-balanced W15 for the 2024 season. While Toto Wolff was assured of a better outcome, the team started the season on a sour note. However, things started to change after George Russell showered the winless drought plateau of Brackley by winning the Austrian GP. Soon, the team was back on track, and Lewis Hamilton also won several races in Silverstone and Belgium. The upbeat Mercedes team was elated as they finally broke through the ground effect. However, the celebrations were cut short as the team returned to its old slump after the summer break. The Silver Arrows have clinched just one podium finish since the Belgium GP.
Following a disappointing Singapore GP, Hamilton was questioned about the challenges posed by a lackluster W15. The Briton replied, “The last three years, yeah!” He claimed the W15 to be better than its predecessors, but the last two years have made everyone’s “life tough.” He then explained the duality of the Mercedes F1 car, as the W15 always performs contrary to expectations. The seven-time world champion compared the current situation to a ‘game of golf,’ as one good hit motivates the team, but then it’s a string of foul shots. Moreover, despite the entire conundrum being excessively frustrating, Hamilton and his team have not given up. He concluded that the team is trying to recapture Silverstone or Spa’s feelings.
How Mercedes Got The Current F1 Era So Wrong
The problems started with a complex design of W13, where the undercut was not big, unlike Red Bull. The team tried to narrow the side pods to compensate for the undercut but failed miserably. The absence of bulky side pods forced the Mercedes to use a big floor area, countering the balance. All these concepts performed well in simulators but were nowhere near the competitors during the weekend race.
This has been the problem with the German Marque, as the squad has failed to understand the car’s aerodynamics. In return, the team has an ill-fitted car with plenty of underlying issues. The Silver Arrows are preparing a mega floor upgrade ahead of the Las Vegas showdown. This could be an interesting move as the F1 season enters the penultimate rounds.