Mercedes asserts that it still has work to do to be competitive in qualifying trim with its 2024 Formula 1 car once the season commences in Bahrain next week.
Mercedes has committed to a complete revamp with its W15 challenger as it bids to rebound from a challenging past two years under the latest ground effect regulations.
Amid the German marque’s struggles with its problematic W14 charger, both Mercedes drivers struggled to be consistent when it came to delivering in qualifying last term.
Aside from a late dash from George Russell on the C4 compound that elevated him to second in the final session, Mercedes fixated on long runs throughout pre-season testing.
But despite Russell’s run in the closing hours, Mercedes Trackside Engineering Director Andrew Shovlin admitted that the team is still lagging behind its main rivals on one lap.
“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.”
Mercedes had outlined that its primary ambition with its latest machine was to iron out the “spiteful” rear end tendencies of its predecessor to have a more compliant base.
With Russell and Lewis Hamilton relaying that the W15 feels “nicer to drive”, Shovlin is optimistic that Mercedes has now addressed the behavioural limitations that had stifled it.
“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,” he added.
While Hamilton is satisfied with the progress Mercedes has made with its revised car concept, the seven-time champion concedes that Red Bull remains ahead of its rivals.
“It’s much more enjoyable to drive,” he said. “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.”
