In the high-speed world of Formula 1, teams are always looking for an edge, and Mercedes is no exception. Andrew Shovlin, trackside engineering director at Mercedes, has given a glimpse into the team’s top-secret upgrade plans for the W15, aimed at taking their 2024 rivals by surprise.
The Mercedes team has been working tirelessly to enhance the performance of their W15 car, especially after a less than stellar start to the season. The recent improvement in their race outcomes is attributed to a series of strategic upgrades. Mercedes driver, Lewis Hamilton, shared that the focus has shifted to making consistent incremental improvements. Hamilton expressed his excitement, noting that the W15 feels increasingly like a true race car and is becoming more enjoyable to drive. He hopes these upgrades will soon place them within striking distance of top competitors like Red Bull and McLaren.
Mercedes team-mate George Russell has also experienced the benefits of these enhancements, securing the team’s first pole position and podium of the 2024 season in Canada. Hamilton mirrored this achievement with a podium finish in Montreal, finishing third behind Max Verstappen’s Red Bull at the Spanish Grand Prix. The evident progress is partly due to a series of minor yet impactful developments.
Shovlin, on the team’s post-Spanish GP Race Debrief show, emphasized their focus on small developments aimed at improving the car’s performance. Although he refrained from divulging the exact timeline for these upgrades, the aim is to prevent rivals from countering them swiftly. Mercedes is keen to reduce the gap with competitors and sees these upgrades as crucial. Shovlin remarked on the motivating effect of seeing the performance gap narrow, pushing the team to bring even small developments that could prove decisive in tight qualifying rounds.
Mercedes is not resting on its laurels after recent podium successes. Shovlin confirmed that the team is determined to surpass third-place finishes and has plans in place to achieve this. The upcoming sprint weekend in Austria presents an opportunity to gauge the W15’s ease of setup under constrained circumstances. Shovlin explained that the limited practice time will test their recent modifications, but so far, both drivers have found the setup process smoother, requiring fewer adjustments.
The unpredictable Austrian weather, fluctuating between intense heat and rain, adds another layer of complexity to the race preparations. Despite these challenges, the team is optimistic. The camaraderie within the team is palpable as they relish the renewed competitiveness of the W15, eager to chase bigger points in upcoming races.
Mercedes’ dedication to advancing their W15’s performance remains steadfast as they aim to challenge the top spots in F1 2024. With their strategic focus on incremental upgrades and a measured approach to race preparation, the team is poised to surprise their rivals while keeping exact plans under wraps. The upcoming races promise to be a thrilling testament to their hard work and engineering ingenuity.
