Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has admitted that his team still does not have a complete understanding of the car that has been struggling for performance so far in 2022.
The return of ground effect aerodynamics under the new technical regulations, and the resulting “porpoising” as the car’s floor bounces off the track surface has been a recurrent thorn in the Silver Arrows’ side.
Both Ferrari and Red Bull have dominated the opening five races, with Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen winning all of them while Mercedes’ best finish of the season has been third, which Hamilton scored in Bahrain before teammate George Russell did the same in Australia.
They appeared to handle the bouncing better in Miami after introducing upgrades that helped streamline the car and make it more effective in a straight line, but circuits that require more downforce and faster corners, such as the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, will require a more fundamentally balanced car.
This is something the Brackley team will try to do with another update before the Spanish Grand Prix this weekend, but creating a car is much easier when you know what’s wrong with it, which Mercedes does not.
“We still don’t understand our car. We had a really good day at Friday practice in Miami and were among the fastest,” Wolff told Sport24 Auto.
“On Saturday everything was suddenly different again. Minimal changes in the set-up have a big impact.”
The chemistry between Hamilton and Russell has been one of Wolff’s “few positives” of the season so far, and he has liked seeing them work together to assist the club get out of their current bind.
“I enjoy seeing them working together, the level is high from both of them, and that has put us in a decent situation in the Constructors’ Championship, so I couldn’t wish for any better pairing,” Wolff said.
“I’m really happy about the two of them, how they interact, how respectful they are with each other.”
In the Constructors’ Standings, Mercedes is 62 points behind leaders Ferrari, the most they’ve been since 2013.
