Source: REUTERS/MARK PETERSON
[Saba Sports News] After the first four races of
the 2024 F1 season, the Mercedes team has encountered difficulties, leading to
concerns about their performance. The W15 car has come under scrutiny from the
public. Toto Wolff, the CEO of the Mercedes team, has acknowledged that they
are facing a peculiar situation. Despite the team’s technicians measuring
increased downforce at a specific corner in Melbourne using sensors and
pressure tubes, the lap speed has not seen a significant improvement, not even
by 1 kilometer per hour. The exact cause of this issue remains unknown.
Interestingly, this discovery has shifted the team’s focus towards mechanics
rather than aerodynamics. As a result, Mercedes has attempted different setup
approaches at the recent Japanese Grand Prix. Toto Wolff believes that to
unleash the car’s performance, Mercedes must achieve a better mechanical and
aerodynamic balance. However, it is uncertain when this problem will be
resolved. Some fans have drawn comparisons to last year when the CFD
(Computational Fluid Dynamics) and wind tunnel data for the Mercedes car did
not align with the actual measured downforce on the track. Media outlets
attributed this inconsistency to an aerodynamic problem. However, the current
situation is different. While downforce has indeed increased, the speed has not
improved accordingly. It is estimated that winning the championship this year
may prove challenging for the Mercedes team.