For the return of floor impact in 2022, Mercedes pioneered its distinctive size-zero sidepod automobile idea however concluded its defence of the constructors’ title with just one grand prix victory.
Having run the automobile too low that 12 months, Mercedes raised the platform for 2023 however hit an aerodynamic efficiency ceiling to immediate main bodywork design modifications from Monaco.
For this 12 months’s W15 challenger, Mercedes has from the beginning adopted a extra typical downwash sidepod structure to remedy lingering rear-end instability however enters this weekend’s Australian GP solely fourth within the factors, having fallen behind Ferrari and McLaren.
However Hamilton insists that the elemental automobile platform nonetheless has lots to supply and that it’s not an “evil sister” – with group boss Toto Wolff having beforehand described ground-effect Mercedes as a “diva”, “depressing factor” and “nasty piece of labor”.
Hamilton mentioned: “It is undoubtedly not that evil sister or something like that. I do suppose now we have an incredible automobile; it has a number of potential in it. We simply have not maximised it in the meanwhile by set-up.
“We’re clearly not pleased with the efficiency in these first couple of races. However I believe there’s much more potential in it that we simply have not fairly extracted but.
“So, that is what everybody’s focus is on, simply attempting to know the automobile. We’re hoping this weekend is a step ahead.
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG F1 Group
Picture by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Photos
“An enormous quantity of labor has gone on – everybody’s heads are down within the numbers. I really feel optimistic this weekend. We have had two not such nice races, however there is a good distance forward.
Group-mate George Russell has beforehand complained that Mercedes seems to be regressing as race weekends put on on, with the group falling again from the first rate tempo proven within the opening follow classes. However he reckoned this was a case of Mercedes affected by an absence of testing.
“We solely executed three days of follow and two races,” he mentioned. “For those who examine that to a soccer group, if they’ve executed three days of coaching collectively, within the first two video games of the season, they will nonetheless be understanding easy methods to get probably the most out of one another and maximise the group…
“We have realized a lot from the primary two races. I believe we’re all undoubtedly going out [in Melbourne] to check a number of issues on the automobile to get a greater deal with on easy methods to get probably the most out of this.”
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