Mercedes Attributes Lewis Hamilton’s Resurgence to In-Depth Understanding of W15 Formula 1 Car
As the 2024 Formula 1 season unfolds, the Mercedes team has made significant strides in unlocking the potential of its W15 challenger. With three wins in the last four races, the German manufacturer has reason to celebrate its progress. According to Mercedes trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin, Lewis Hamilton’s recent form is a direct result of the team’s improvements to the car, which initially posed challenges for the seven-time champion.
Speaking exclusively to Formula 1 news outlets, Shovlin revealed that Hamilton struggled to cope with the car’s characteristics early on, particularly with its narrow performance window. “I think early on, perhaps Lewis was finding the car more difficult to deal with,” Shovlin explained. “One of the areas that we’ve improved with the car is being able to land with a set-up in first practice that is a good foundation to start building on performance, and then fine-tuning it. That helps your weekend enormously.“
The British driver’s difficulties were compounded by the fact that the current generation of ground effect cars and tyres are not ideal for his driving style, limiting his ability to exploit his full potential in braking. However, as Mercedes continued to refine its W15, Hamilton was able to adapt and find more speed.
Shovlin emphasized that both Hamilton and teammate George Russell are now demanding similar things from the car, with the drivers working together to find the optimal set-up. “There’s a certain driving style that suits these tyres,” he said. “You tend to find that the two drivers are never that far apart on set-up now. So once the car’s in a good window, the same thing’s working pretty well for both of them.“
The Mercedes duo has been instrumental in helping the team progress, experimenting with different set-ups and driving styles to unlock the W15’s full potential. While the early races were marked by frustration, Shovlin believes that the team’s perseverance has paid off, with the W15 now regularly finishing on the podium.
As Formula 1 news continues to focus on the intense competition at the top of the championship standings, Mercedes’ resurgence serves as a timely reminder of the importance of teamwork and adaptability in the high-stakes world of Formula 1. With the Formula 1 calendar heating up, fans are eager to see if Hamilton and Russell can maintain their momentum and challenge for the top spot in the Formula 1 standings.
🔗 Source