Mercedes unveiled their 2024 F1 contender dubbed W15 E PERFORMANCE, aiming to improve on their performance following two challenging seasons.
The Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team debuted the highly anticipated W15 E PERFORMANCE, charting a daring route for the 2024 FIA Formula 1 World Championship.
The launch underscored the team’s unwavering quest to return to the pinnacle of motorsport along with unveiling a car that capitalizes on the lessons learnt over the two previous challenging campaigns.
This will be Lewis Hamilton’s farewell Mercedes F1 car as the seven-time world champion switches to Ferrari in 2025. Once again, Hamilton will be driving alongside George Russell, with Mick Schumacher and Fred Vesti as reserve drivers.
The first obvious difference with the latest model is the re-introduction of silver that blends with the team’s regular black underpinning. The shimmering colour is perhaps not much of a surprise given that the Silver Arrows are celebrating their 90th anniversary this year.
Mercedes has failed to deliver a competitive car since the 2021 season, therefore high expectations are placed on the W15. Although the design specifications are essentially the same as last year’s W14, the W15 has undergone significant changes.
“We know we have a mountain to climb to fight at the very front,” Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team Principal & CEO Toto Wolff commented. “There are no miracles in this sport but our ambition and determination are strong.
“Since charting this new course, development has progressed well. We had several items on our priority list for this car.
“We will soon see if we’ve made the step we’ve aimed for.”
Speaking on the W15’s livery and the return of silver, Wolff claims that the design perfectly reflects “who we are.”
“Performance was always at the forefront of our minds with the black livery last year,” Wolff explained. “Weight is a crucial factor in this current generation of cars.
“We knew that, once we were in position to do so, we would bring back the Mercedes silver to accompany the black that has become a pillar of our team identity.
“The livery truly reflects who we are as a team with the distinctive colours of INEOS and PETRONAS providing important highlights.”
Some of the changes include a new gearbox housing and chassis. As always, effective performance remains the top priority in aerodynamics: finding ways to reduce drag and increase downforce while running on the track in a way that enhances the agility of the suspension and rubber.
The previous car’s unreliable rear axle has been a major area of improvement. A lot of effort has been put in by the team to make sure that both axles—especially the rear axle—maintain superior tyre control compared to the W14.
James Allison emphasized the importance of the car’s underfloor aerodynamics, which is one of the key elements that sets the current generation of F1 cars apart.
This emphasis, combined with developments to the DRS effect and pit stop performance, sums up Mercedes’ approach to rectify previous errors and innovate while adhering to the regulations.
“A big focus has been on improving the previous car’s unpredictable rear axle,” Allison said. “We have worked hard to ensure that both axles, but particularly the rear axle, retain better control of the tyre than on the W14.
“There’s also been some housekeeping on areas in which we had room for improvement, including the DRS effect, and pit stop performance.”
Regarding the W15’s potential, Hamilton and Russell were upbeat and emphasized how crucial a more consistent and reliable car would be to their performance.
“We’ve learnt and grown as a team over the past two seasons,” Russell said. “It’s not been plain sailing, but I truly believe the journey we’ve been on will make us stronger in the long run.
“The whole team has been working incredibly hard and we hope to have made a step with the W15.”
One of the main technical priorities has been to iron out the W14’s erratic performance and occasionally vindictive rear end. The Mercedes duo understands the potential benefits that might come about if the team is successful in doing so.
“The learnings of the past two years have helped us find our direction,” Lewis added. “It’s enabled us to find our north star.
“It’s still going to be a work in progress, but we will face whatever challenges present themselves with our heads up, with open minds, and work through diligently.”
While Mercedes will test their 2024 F1 challenger today at Silverstone, the real work begins next week in Bahrain, where teams will meet up for three days of preseason testing before the first round of the 2024 F1 World Championship at Sakhir comes on March 2.
