Mercedes plans major 2024 F1 car overhaul
Mercedes plans major 2024 F1 car overhaul to fix instability and downforce deficit plaguing 2022 challenger.
Mercedes has endured persistent struggles with its W14 car throughout the 2022 Formula 1 season, prompting the team to pursue an extensive overhaul for next year’s 2024 challenger.
A mammoth one-second deficit to Max Verstappen's pole time at the recent Japanese Grand Prix laid bare the substantial downforce deficit and balance issues faced by Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.
Drivers demanding change
With the Brits urgently calling for major improvements, Mercedes is taking their feedback on board to catalyze a substantial leap in performance for 2024.
As trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin explained, “Lewis and George together are always giving us feedback on where the weakness is.”
While their comments may differ, both drivers are aligned on the car’s instability and lack of rear downforce.
Extensive 2024 car overhaul underway
Shovlin stated that Mercedes is fully open to abandoning current concepts and will considerably alter the W15 for 2024.
Work is already well underway, although it remains premature to determine if handling issues can be fully resolved.
Numerous projects are ongoing to boost stability, with the team exploring promising directions.
As Shovlin clarified, “We’re certainly not clinging on to any concepts that we have had before."
The extent of Mercedes' gains remains an unknown, as even previous championship-winning cars missed internal targets.
But the team is fixated on maximizing performance through tireless work.
"We are changing the car quite considerably for next year, but whether or not we can solve all the issues that we've got on the handling, that will depend on a number of projects delivering," noted Shovlin.
Mercedes is focused on rectifying weaknesses through an extensive overhaul of the W15, spurred by dissatisfaction with their unstable 2022 challenger.
Drivers and team are united in demanding improved downforce and stability, with a raft of changes slated for 2024.
Though absolute gains are uncertain, Mercedes is fully committed to clawing back their deficit next season.
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