The Brackley crew has struggled for consistency with its usually ill-handling W15, discovering it laborious to supply a automotive that works throughout all nook varieties and speeds, with its limitations seemingly shifting from circuit to circuit.
Additional updates to make the automotive extra benign to deal with for Lewis Hamilton and George Russell are nonetheless within the works, nevertheless it has fast-tracked a brand new ground that was initially meant for Imola so as to add aerodynamic load to the automotive.
“That is primarily simply common growth,” stated Mercedes trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin.
“We would initially deliberate to deliver this to Imola, which additionally has some revisions across the rear wing and beam wing space.
“However we have completed job to tug it ahead and managed to get two right here. We have one on every automotive, which is an affordable step.
“We have had the identical automotive for the reason that begin of the season roughly, so it is good that we are able to begin to deliver some extra efficiency.
“Over the subsequent 4 or 5 races, there are different developments that we’re taking a look at to try to get the automotive dealing with a bit extra constantly, and a bit much less tough to work with. However that is all coming within the subsequent few [races].”
Mercedes F1 W15 entrance wing element
Picture by: Giorgio Piola
He added: “We’re simply behind on growth, which is likely one of the areas we have to enhance. But additionally simply getting the automotive to be a bit extra versatile throughout a variety of tracks can be a vital focus for us.”
Mercedes’ upgrades, which additionally embody a brand new entrance wing spec to offer extra automotive steadiness choices, a revised entrance monitor rod in addition to Miami-specific cooling slots, are rolled out throughout F1 2024’s second dash weekend.
Whereas the shortage of apply and the additional aggressive periods carry extra danger, Shovlin stated the adjustments to the format that permit groups to work on the automobiles after Saturday morning’s dash are making them much less reluctant to deliver upgrades to this kind of weekend.
“If we lose one [floor], then we’re rolling again. However the rules within the dash make it simpler to take care of a scarcity of elements,” Shovlin defined.
“You’ve got bought the break in parc ferme, which is useful, but additionally you’ll be able to record elements that you could be roll again to, which was a relic of the unique dash race rules. I feel that is why more and more individuals really goal the sprints for updates.
“It isn’t so good for studying, so if in case you have an issue with it, you are type of locked in. However actually from a elements viewpoint, you may make do with fewer.”