Mercedes’ challenges persist in the ground-effect aerodynamic era of F1.
Lamenting yet another “hair-tearing” day, such was Toto Wolff’s mood he feels “even the greatest magician” in Adrian Newey would “have a hard time” solving Mercedes’ problems.
Mercedes had expected a stronger performance in qualifying, but unfortunately, they were unable to secure any points in the Sprint race at the Miami Grand Prix. Both George Russell and Lewis Hamilton finished in 12th and 16th place respectively, with Hamilton also receiving a penalty for speeding in the pit lane.
‘No explanations, no excuses. It’s just not good enough’
However, despite both drivers qualifying for the pole position shoot-out, which they were unable to do during Friday’s Sprint qualifying, they lacked the speed to compete at the top and will start in seventh and eighth place on Sunday, with Russell taking the lead over his teammate.
It was just the latest disappointment for the once-dominant Mercedes team.
“Hamilton puts out a lap that is a tenth away from everyone else at the same time in Q3. And then in the next run, nothing worked,” Wolff rued to Sky Deutschland.
“We currently lack comprehension of the scientific aspects related to tires. Although this is not a valid justification, others possess a superior understanding of the subject.”
Wolff acknowledges that the performance of the extensively modified W15 is unsatisfactory, stating that Mercedes’ speed, or rather the lack thereof, results in severe consequences for any minor errors.
He went on to say that when you possess an exceptionally speedy car, the minor errors tend to go unnoticed. However, if a mere fraction of a second can determine the difference between being viewed as respectable or not, it undoubtedly amplifies the severity of every mistake.
“Our pit stops used to be highly regarded, but it seems like nobody acknowledges that anymore. Despite changing the car, its performance still falls short of expectations. While others consistently make progress, our progress feels excruciatingly slow and unsatisfactory.”
“It’s incredibly frustrating! We can’t deny it, but it’s exasperating how we constantly find ourselves in situations where the same issue persists – overheating the rear tires.”
“There are no explanations or excuses; the current state is simply inadequate. However, persist in arguing, evolving, and hopefully following McLaren’s example from last year to eventually find the right path.”
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‘Even the greatest magician would have difficulty solving the problems’
After three years of adopting ground-effect aerodynamics in Formula 1, Mercedes has only secured a single victory with George Russell emerging triumphant at the Brazilian Grand Prix in 2022. In stark contrast, Red Bull has amassed an impressive total of 42 wins during this period.
The question arises, will Mercedes attempt to recruit Red Bull design icon Newey once he becomes accessible next season?
On Wednesday, it was announced by Newey and Red Bull that they will be ending their long-standing partnership after an impressive 19-year journey, which included a remarkable 12 championship titles. The separation is set to take place in the first quarter of 2025.
According to Wolff, it is not advisable to underestimate the 65-year-old, who has achieved a remarkable 25 championship titles with his cars. However, he is currently concerned that even the most skilled magician would find it difficult to rescue Mercedes from their current slump.
When questioned about whether he posed a problem for Mercedes, Wolff responded by saying, “One should never underestimate his abilities as an exceptional engineer.”
Currently, our problems seem to be quite challenging, so much so that even the most skilled magician would likely struggle to solve them.
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