Formula 1 Pre-Season Test
Mercedes focused on improving F1 qualifying pace with W15
Mercedes acknowledges it has "more work to do" to get single-lap pace out of its new Formula 1 car after dialling out the vices of its predecessors.
Filip Cleeren
Edited: Feb 26, 2024, 11:21 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The Brackley squad focused on long stints rather than glory runs across the three-day winter test in Bahrain, with George Russell taking third on the final day using softer C4 tyres after he and team-mate Lewis Hamilton had stayed well clear of the top of the leaderboard earlier in the week.
Read Also:
Trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin explained that his team still had "more work to do on a single lap" when F1 returns to Sakhir on Thursday for Bahrain Grand Prix free practice.
"We're still trying to fine-tune the set-up, there will definitely be more to come," Shovlin said in a Mercedes social media debrief.
"Overall we're happy, we definitely made progress. In terms of pace, the long run probably looks like our strength at the moment.
"There's more work to do on a single lap, but we should be in a position to hopefully put in a good showing when we get back on track."
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W15
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
Ever since F1 moved to 2022's all-new regulations, Hamilton and Russell have struggled with the unpredictable and "vicious" behaviour of Mercedes' cars.
Consistent and compliant car handling therefore became a key priority for the W15 project and Mercedes' long-run prowess seems to back up Russell's comments that his car is "no longer a diva".
"It's really encouraging that a lot of the problems that the drivers have been talking about the last 12 and even 24 months with W13 and W14, we seem to have got to grips with," Shovlin added.
While Hamilton was pleased with the team's efforts on the 2024 car, he cautioned that Red Bull will still be "out in the distance" with its bold RB20, which caught the eye in Bahrain with exceptional long runs in the hands of Max Verstappen.
"It's much more enjoyable to drive," Hamilton added. "We still also have time to find, but I think Red Bull clearly are out in the distance. But I think it's a good platform to work from this year."
Read Also:
Formula 1F1 testing results: Full 2024 Bahrain pre-season lap times
Formula 1The Ferrari race sim offering clues to its Red Bull-beating potential
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article 2024 F1 Bahrain GP: How to watch, TV times on ESPN
Next article What is the difference between F1 push-rod and pull-rod suspension?
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Filip Cleeren
Winners and losers from F1's record-breaking Mexico Grand Prix
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
22 h
Winners and losers from F1's record-breaking Mexico Grand Prix
Emotional Kimi Antonelli left "speechless" by maiden F1 world title in Mexico
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
23 h
Emotional Kimi Antonelli left "speechless" by maiden F1 world title in Mexico
More from
Mercedes
What was Kimi Antonelli’s best moment of his F1 title-winning campaign? Our writers have their say
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
6 h
What was Kimi Antonelli’s best moment of his F1 title-winning campaign? Our writers have their say
Mercedes fined for George Russell skipping F1 Mexico GP media duties
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
8 h
Mercedes fined for George Russell skipping F1 Mexico GP media duties
Latest news
NASCAR Cup Homestead finale to feature full field of 40 cars
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Martinsville II
30 min
NASCAR Cup Homestead finale to feature full field of 40 cars
Data reveals severity of Carson Hocevar's brake-check: "There's no denying it"
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Martinsville II
1 h
Data reveals severity of Carson Hocevar's brake-check: "There's no denying it"
Honda Racing US echoes Porsche urgency over unified 2030 rules framework
IMSA
IMSA IMSA 4 h
Honda Racing US echoes Porsche urgency over unified 2030 rules framework
Toto Wolff: Two sponsors left Mercedes after promoting Kimi Antonelli into F1
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
4 h
Toto Wolff: Two sponsors left Mercedes after promoting Kimi Antonelli into F1
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe