Twelve months ago, Mercedes made a bold move in Formula 1, abandoning their initial car concept with a significant upgrade package at the Monaco Grand Prix. The distinctive zero-sidepods were replaced with a more conventional design, signaling a major shift in approach for the team. However, a year later, Mercedes is still facing considerable challenges. While they addressed some previous issues, new problems have emerged, preventing them from consistently competing at the front and even seeing them outpaced by customer teams.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff openly acknowledges McLaren’s impressive turnaround, noting their “fantastic recovery story” using the same Mercedes engine. McLaren has transformed from a midfield contender to a regular podium finisher and race winner. This raises the crucial question: if McLaren can achieve such a dramatic improvement, why is Mercedes, a team with far greater resources and history, still struggling with the 2024 Mercedes F1 Car?
Misleading Sidepod Changes and the Real Issues with the 2024 Mercedes F1 Car
The visual change to the sidepods on the 2024 Mercedes F1 car in Monaco 2023 drew considerable attention, leading many to believe this was the primary factor in their performance shift. However, Mercedes has consistently clarified that the sidepod change was not the core of the upgrade. Technical director James Allison emphasized that the significant changes were focused on the underfloor, rear brake drums/ducts, and front wing. Adjustments to the front suspension were also implemented to enhance platform control.
Alt text: Detailed view of the Mercedes F1 car with Monaco upgrade package highlighting changes beyond just the sidepods.
The aim of these modifications was to guide Mercedes towards a car setup that could operate at lower ride heights, crucial for generating necessary downforce without encountering bouncing or porpoising issues. The 2024 Mercedes F1 car, known as the W15, represents the full realization of this revised design philosophy. Despite these efforts, the team currently sits fourth in the constructors’ championship in 2024, reflecting their average pace which places them behind Red Bull, Ferrari, and McLaren, although ahead of Aston Martin.
While the 2024 Mercedes F1 car showed flashes of competitiveness at Monaco, a track with unique characteristics, the Imola race the previous weekend offered a more representative picture of their current standing. Lewis Hamilton, after finishing sixth at Imola, pointed out a race-pace deficit of three to four tenths per lap, a gap he believes is not currently bridgeable with their existing wind tunnel development trajectory.
However, analyzing Imola further reveals tangible progress. Wolff described Mercedes’ previous visit to Imola as “horrendous,” recalling the severe bouncing problems that plagued the team in the early 2022 season. While the 2024 Mercedes F1 car demonstrates Mercedes is still grappling with the repercussions of initial missteps in car design, there are indications they are beginning to close the gap.
Progress Evident, But Pace of Development Lags for the 2024 Mercedes F1 Car
Alt text: Graph illustrating Mercedes’ improved pace in 2024 compared to previous F1 seasons at similar race circuits.
In absolute terms, the 2024 Mercedes F1 car represents progress. At five of the six circuits that have hosted Formula 1 races in both 2023 and 2024, Mercedes has recorded faster lap times, Miami being the exception. This indicates the 2024 Mercedes F1 car is fundamentally quicker than its predecessor.
However, in relative terms, Mercedes has slightly regressed. At the end of last season, their average pace deficit to the front was just over 0.5 percent. So far in 2024, this gap has widened to just under 0.7 percent.
Alt text: Supertimes chart comparing team performances at the Emilia Romagna F1 race in 2024, highlighting Mercedes’ position.
The previous Mercedes F1 car, the W14, was fundamentally limited by its core architecture. Expectations were high that changes to the monocoque, gearbox, and crucially, the suspension design in the 2024 Mercedes F1 car would unlock greater development potential. Despite the results not yet reflecting a major leap forward, the steady improvements with the W15 suggest this potential is being realized, albeit at a pace that is not rapid enough to significantly climb the competitive order.
Allison believes that the major structural changes to the 2024 Mercedes F1 car are now complete. The focus now shifts to relentless hard work and consistent development to restore Mercedes to a position of competitiveness.
Unveiling the Source of Performance Gains in the 2024 Mercedes F1 Car
Alt text: Detailed shot of the front wing of the 2024 Mercedes F1 car, showcasing recent design modifications.
While the sidepods were not the primary focus of change, their redesign on the 2024 Mercedes F1 car did create more space to manage airflow around the car’s body, similar to other teams’ approaches. However, conceptually, the significant shift revolves around ride heights and ensuring the car performs consistently across varying corner speeds and track conditions.
Allison admitted that the design of the previous car aimed for a slightly higher ride height, carrying over the 2022 concept and underestimating the benefits of subtle changes in floor height regulations. Mercedes advocated for these regulation tweaks but did not fully capitalize on them initially.
The 2024 Mercedes F1 car addresses this. Enhanced anti-lift on the front suspension and anti-squat on the rear suspension are designed to enable the car to run lower, maximizing downforce without triggering bouncing or porpoising. Upgrades for the 2024 Mercedes F1 car have been consistently introduced throughout the season. Miami saw a revised front wing with chord-length adjustments and floor edge modifications. In Monaco, George Russell tested a new front wing, which both drivers are now using, described by trackside engineering chief Andrew Shovlin as “a step in the right direction.”
Similar to the 2023 sidepod change, the 2024 front wing represents a departure from a visually distinct innovation. The new wing abandons the unique design Mercedes debuted at the start of the year, which connected the narrowed top flap to the nose with a carbon fiber strip to comply with regulations. This original design aimed to streamline airflow to the underfloor’s front, but it seems to have compromised front aerodynamic load. These front wing adjustments highlight a key challenge still facing the 2024 Mercedes F1 car.
Addressing Slow-Corner Struggles in the 2024 Mercedes F1 Car
Alt text: Lewis Hamilton maneuvering the 2024 Mercedes F1 car through a slow corner, illustrating the handling challenges.
A major issue with the previous Mercedes F1 car was rear-end instability in high-speed corners. While this was prioritized and improved, Russell indicates that this focus might have led to over-compensation in the 2024 Mercedes F1 car. Having gained a better understanding of the car, it now performs stronger in high-speed sections, but struggles with turn-in in slower corners. Hamilton notes that “the slower you go the less the car wants to turn.”
This issue is particularly detrimental for Hamilton, whose driving style relies on late braking and quick car rotation into slow corners. The result is a 2024 Mercedes F1 car that excels in fast corners but suffers from understeer in slow corners. Setup adjustments to improve slow-corner turn-in compromise the car’s high-speed performance, creating a challenging balancing act.
Wolff, using Allison’s analogy, describes this problem as having a duvet that’s too small – optimizing for either fast or slow corners leaves the other exposed. The ongoing development program for the 2024 Mercedes F1 car is dedicated to resolving this performance trade-off. Allison anticipates significant progress by the summer break. Currently, Mercedes is not seeking radical transformations or “magic bullets” to suddenly return to winning races and championships. The focus is on consistent, incremental improvements for the 2024 Mercedes F1 car.
Moving Away from ‘Zig-Zagging’ Development with the 2024 Mercedes F1 Car
Alt text: Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff discussing the development direction for the 2024 F1 season.
Wolff characterizes Mercedes’ current development philosophy as a departure from past “zig-zagging,” which led to repeated false dawns followed by performance dips. He asserts that Mercedes has identified a fundamental direction that inspires confidence in their ongoing development of the 2024 Mercedes F1 car.
This sentiment echoes the confidence McLaren team principal Andrea Stella expressed before the Austrian Grand Prix upgrade last year, which dramatically improved McLaren’s performance. Unlike McLaren’s expectation of a sudden leap, Mercedes anticipates a gradual climb. However, if they are indeed on the right path, sustained, steady development should progressively elevate the 2024 Mercedes F1 car into the leading group. They are not there yet, but the gap is not insurmountable.
Alt text: Comparative performance graph of Mercedes against McLaren in Formula 1 over the past year, highlighting relative gains.
Mercedes still needs to demonstrate sustained development and prove they have finally established the fundamental understanding of ground effect aerodynamics necessary for consistent success. However, they are now in a phase where gradual development, rather than radical concept shifts, is the required approach for the 2024 Mercedes F1 car.
Eyeing 2026: The Long-Term Vision for Mercedes F1
Alt text: Illustration depicting the engine setup and regulatory changes expected for the 2026 Formula 1 season.
The progress Mercedes makes with the 2024 Mercedes F1 car is crucial for their competitiveness in 2026, when new engine and chassis regulations are introduced. The chassis regulations are nearing finalization, and although aerodynamic testing for 2026 cars is restricted until next January, all teams are already investing heavily in research and development. The 2026 cars will continue to utilize powerful venturi underfloors, making current knowledge directly applicable.
Rumors within the paddock suggest Mercedes may be leading in power unit development for 2026. While it is early to draw definitive conclusions, and comparisons are speculative until the new cars debut on track, Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains is widely expected to produce a competitive engine. Wolff affirms that Mercedes possesses an engine department of the highest caliber.
Despite claims of a “brain drain” at Mercedes, with Red Bull’s Christian Horner alleging the poaching of 220 staff for their powertrains division, Wolff countered that the actual number of engineers was 19. The total number, including non-engineering staff, is understood to be higher but significantly less than 220. Regardless of these public disputes, Mercedes remains confident in their Brixworth engine division’s ability to deliver a top-tier engine.
The critical question is whether this engine will be paired with a chassis that is equally competitive. The ongoing work on the 2024 Mercedes F1 car is therefore pivotal in determining if Mercedes can realistically reclaim their position at the front of the grid in 2026 and beyond.
