Mercedes Finds Confidence in Aston Martin and McLaren's Advancements for the 2024 F1 Season
The significant strides achieved by Aston Martin and McLaren in their Formula 1 cars during the 2023 season have convinced Mercedes that it can narrow the distance to Red Bull during the upcoming winter.
Mercedes has faced a challenging season, falling behind Red Bull despite its initial expectations for progress with the W14. It became apparent early in the season that their overall car concept was flawed, with an excessively high aero platform that compromised performance compared to competitors running closer to the ground.
The team believes that a complete overhaul of their approach for the 2024 season will yield positive results, enabling Lewis Hamilton and George Russell to genuinely compete with the dominant Red Bull.
Nonetheless, the task ahead seems daunting, with Red Bull's RB19 car commanding absolute dominance, winning every race this F1 season. Red Bull also likely enjoyed an early head start in developing the RB20, thanks to their comfortable lead in the current campaign, allowing them to avoid introducing significant updates.
Formula 1 history demonstrates that dominant teams can maintain their superiority for extended periods, often requiring regulatory changes to disrupt the order, such as the 2021 floor changes that favored Red Bull and disadvantaged Mercedes.
Given that the rules remain stable for 2024, closing the gap to Red Bull appears extremely challenging. Nevertheless, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff remains optimistic, pointing out that the current generation of cars has shown that dramatic turnarounds are possible once teams grasp the necessary adjustments and improvements.
He believes that the success stories of Aston Martin, which made a significant leap during the winter, and McLaren, which dramatically improved its performance throughout the 2023 season, serve as evidence of what's achievable and why Mercedes can mount a challenge against Red Bull in the upcoming year.
When asked by Motorsport.com about the feasibility of closing the gap to the front by 2024, he expressed, "I believe that where we stand, we need a leap like the ones McLaren and Aston Martin accomplished in a single stride. It's not about making a minor two-tenths improvement but a substantial five-tenths jump, and then you're back in contention. So yes, I think it's doable."
Mercedes now has a better understanding of the car concepts essential for success in the new ground-effect era, and Wolff mentioned that they are making numerous changes to the W15 design. However, he acknowledged that Mercedes doesn't have all the solutions required and is still exploring various avenues to determine the most effective development path.
He explained, "I believe we have several directions to consider. It would be much simpler if we had all the answers, but the car is inherently unpredictable and lacks grip. So, there are multiple aspects that need attention. In Formula 1, there's often a belief in a magical solution that can unlock everything. I think our task is to piece together components and make them work harmoniously within the car. There isn't one specific issue I can pinpoint."
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