“Always a few races late…” Mercedes criticise design team – Mercedes criticises its own design development: “Always a few races later” as there is a changing of the guard in Formula 1 – The 2021 Formula 1 season marked a pivotal moment in the sport’s history, as Red Bull Racing won the Drivers’ Championship with Max Verstappen, ending Mercedes’ dominant run that began in 2014.
The following year saw the introduction of ground-effect cars that reshaped the competitive landscape. Since then, Red Bull has maintained a firm grip on the championship, leaving Mercedes struggling to recapture its former glory. At the end of the 2024 season, Mercedes find themselves trailing not only Red Bull but also Ferrari and McLaren, effectively playing fourth fiddle in the championship hierarchy.
Andrew Shovlin, Mercedes’ Chief Engineer, sheds light on the team’s struggles, highlighting a development process that lags behind the competition and hinders their ability to deliver consistent performance throughout the season.
Big update on Cadillac F1 project
New designs, new challenges
The Mercedes W15 introduced for the 2024 season was a step away from the team’s previous design philosophy. It featured a more conventional sidepod layout and a pushrod rear suspension – choices that signalled a change in approach. However, the transition to this new design philosophy came with a steep learning curve.
Shovlin explains that the team’s understanding of the car took time to mature, delaying the integration of new developments. As a result, Mercedes often found itself a few steps behind its rivals when it came to introducing upgrades.
“Development is a big part of it,” says Shovlin.
“If you look at when our developments came compared to the competition, we were always a few races later with the big packages. If we were earlier, it was with the smaller packages. On average we were not fast enough during the season to get the developments on track. There were only a few races where we were able to keep up and beat the competition.”
Alpine half price price fee for Colapinto revealed
A difficult start and a slow climb
Mercedes’ sluggish start to the 2024 season underlined its wider challenges. Drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, despite their immense talent, managed just four race wins between them. Shovlin identified a key problem: the W15 lacked balance and was unable to perform consistently across a range of track conditions.
“The car didn’t have the right balance,” admitted Shovlin.
“It didn’t work on all types of track. It took us about seven races to get the problems under control. After that it was just a normal development race for the rest of the year.”
This shaky start to the year severely hampered the team’s ability to focus on improving performance. While rivals such as Red Bull and McLaren made timely improvements, Mercedes was still struggling with fundamental issues that left it playing catch-up.
Verstappen clarifies ‘abuse’ claims
The tyre problems
One of the W15’s most glaring weaknesses was its tyre handling, particularly at the rear. Mercedes engineers found that while the car excelled at bringing the tyres up to temperature in cold conditions, it struggled in warmer environments, leading to excessive wear. This inconsistency proved to be a significant handicap, especially on high temperature circuits.
“Rear tyre overheating was a persistent problem,” explained Shovlin.
“The competition was much better in this area. It was a critical factor in why we couldn’t match their performance on warmer tracks.”
These tyre problems were compounded by the car’s struggles with ground clearance. The W15 fared poorly on bumpy tracks, further limiting its versatility and competitiveness.
Why Aston Martin sacked their team boss
Optimism for the future
Despite the setbacks of 2024, Mercedes remains optimistic about the road ahead. Shovlin insisted that the team had made significant progress over the course of the season, refining the W15 and addressing some of its most pressing issues.
“In F1, development is about solving problems. It’s about solving them faster than the competition, then you get to the top,” he said.
Looking ahead to 2025, Mercedes has already identified key areas for improvement. Improving rear tyre performance and optimising ground clearance are high on the to-do list. The team is determined to regain its competitive edge and consistently challenge for victories.
Perez breaks silence after Red Bull sacking
Lessons learned and a new approach
Mercedes’ self-criticism reflects a broader understanding of what it takes to succeed in F1’s ever-evolving landscape. While their dominance in the turbo-hybrid era was built on a near-perfect combination of engineering excellence and operational efficiency, the team has struggled to adapt to the new ground effect regulations. The W15’s journey underlines the importance of flexibility, rapid development and the ability to respond to challenges in real time.
The delays in introducing competitive upgrades and the lengthy process of understanding their new car philosophy highlighted a critical area for improvement.
As the team prepares for the 2025 season, its focus will be on ensuring that its development pipeline operates with greater efficiency and precision.
Vasseur over-eggs his certainly in Hamilton
A challenging season with hopes of redemption
The 2024 season has been a humbling experience for Mercedes. Once the undisputed leader of the grid, the team has been forced to confront the reality of its position in a fiercely competitive field. As Red Bull continue to dominate and Ferrari and McLaren make significant strides, Mercedes are left to grapple with the complexities of their W15 and the challenges of staying ahead in the development race.
However, with a clear understanding of its weaknesses and a renewed commitment to improvement, Mercedes is poised for a potential resurgence. The lessons learned this season could form the basis of a comeback as the team looks to re-establish itself as a force to be reckoned with in the years to come.
READ MORE – Crazy accusation: Alpine copies Red Bull
MORE F1 NEWS – Doohan’s contract clause that locks Colapinto out
Jack Doohan is one of six new Formula One drivers who will start the 2025 season for the first time with a full time drive. He was appointed as Esteban Ocon’s replacement following the summer break and during a year where the French owned squad has been in turmoil.
Alpine began the 2024 campaign with a car that was hugely over weight and despite having drivers who are both Grand Prix winners, the team failed to score a single point over the first five rounds of the year.
Having scored their first point in Miami, the team rolled into Monaco with its first performance upgrades, but the weekend was not to end well as Esteban Ocon collided with his team mate on the red flagged opening lap of the Grand Prix…READ MORE ON THIS STORY
With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
