New in 2024
The Mercedes-AMG F1 W15 E PERFORMANCE builds on the learnings from the previous two seasons and a new car enables the team to make bigger alterations that are not possible during the season.
These changes include a new chassis, and new gearbox casing. Aerodynamically, as ever, the focus has been on efficiency, the endless quest for finding more downforce with less drag and delivering it to the tack in a manner that complements the function of the suspension and tyres.
A big focus has been on improving the previous car’s unpredictable rear axle. The team 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.
However, it is the underside of the car where the main differentiating factors lie. James Allison said: “With this current generation of cars, so much of the performance comes from how the floor interacts with the road. Whether or not a car is effective is down to how well that floor is permitted to behave aerodynamically.
Dialling out the inconsistent performance of the W14 and its sometimes spiteful rear-end has been a key technical focus. Both George and Lewis are clear on the rewards that could bring if the team has been able to do so.
The work the team has put in over the past two years has been an inspiration for both George and Lewis.