Mercedes arrived in Melbourne with high hopes of making significant progress with their W15 car. However, they faced difficulties right from the start of the weekend. Despite a strong showing in free practice, the team suffered setbacks in qualifying and the race. Both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell experienced a drop in performance from FP1 to FP2, with Hamilton slipping from ninth to 18th on the grid. Team principal Toto Wolff attributed this decline to extreme setup changes that backfired, leading to frustration within the team.
Wolff expressed his disappointment with the team’s performance in Melbourne, particularly highlighting the trouble with setup changes between practice sessions. He admitted that the experiments the team had conducted did not yield the desired results, and they were still searching for the right setup to unlock the car’s potential. Despite the frustrations, Wolff remained optimistic that Mercedes had the tools and capabilities to overcome their current challenges and return to the front of the grid.
The trackside engineering director, Andrew Shovlin, echoed Wolff’s sentiments regarding the struggles faced by the team. He acknowledged the positive changes made to improve high-speed cornering and reduce bouncing issues but noted that these adjustments did not translate into a strong performance in FP2. Both Hamilton and Russell faced difficulties with the changes, leading to suboptimal performance during the session. Shovlin recognized the need to fine-tune the setup further to maximize the car’s potential.
Despite the setbacks in Melbourne, Mercedes remains determined to bounce back and regain competitiveness in the current rules era. Wolff emphasized the team’s commitment to continuous improvement and the belief that they have the capabilities to succeed. Shovlin highlighted the need for further adjustments and refinements to the car’s setup to address the challenges faced in Melbourne. With a relentless focus on performance improvements, Mercedes is poised to overcome their struggles and return to their winning ways in future races.
Mercedes’ performance in Melbourne was marred by setup changes that did not yield the desired results. The team faced challenges in translating positive developments in practice into a strong showing in qualifying and the race. However, with a dedicated and skilled team behind them, Mercedes remains confident in their ability to overcome these obstacles and return to form in the upcoming races.