F1 News: Toto Wolff Positive About W15 - "Good Foundation That We Can Build On”

The Mercedes chief indicates that the 2024 car has met expectations, but the actual assessment will come to light after the conclusion of the first two Grands Prix.
F1 News: Toto Wolff Positive About W15 - "Good Foundation That We Can Build On”
F1 News: Toto Wolff Positive About W15 - "Good Foundation That We Can Build On” /

Mercedes embarked on the journey to build an entirely new car after two difficult seasons in the ground effect era since 2022. Team principal Toto Wolff has highlighted that the new car is a "good foundation" that the team can build upon since the basic platform is "working as expected". 

Key Takeaways:

  • New Car Development: Mercedes created a new car after two difficult seasons, with Toto Wolff highlighting the 2024 car as a solid foundation that meets expectations.
  • Improved Performance: The 2024 car shows better behavior than its predecessors, receiving positive feedback from drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton.
  • Season Anticipation: Ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix, Wolff expresses optimism for Mercedes, anticipates a challenging season with Red Bull as the main contender, and emphasizes the team's readiness for the upcoming campaign.

Drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton have also offered positive feedback about the car. However, the real picture of where the team stands on the grid can only be known once a few initial Grands Prix have concluded.

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Formula 1 is set to make its official comeback this weekend with the Bahrain Grand Prix. Wolff, in anticipation of the first race, elaborated on why the initial indications are promising for Mercedes. Speaking to the media, he said:

“A new season brings new opportunity and it's exciting to be heading into a new campaign with all the drama it will inevitably bring.

“Each of the last two seasons, we've headed to the first race of the year on the back foot.

“There was inherent goodness in the W13 and W14, but it often proved too difficult to unlock. They were inconsistent machines. Our main aim going into 2024 therefore was clear: create a consistent and stable platform. A car that would react as we expected. One that the drivers could consistently push. And one that we can develop throughout the year, in the knowledge that we are bringing real-world performance to the track.

“Over these first two races, we will get a much better understanding of the job we have done. After pre-season testing though, we can draw some initial conclusions. The drivers are much happier with the overall balance. The basic platform is working as we expected. The correlation to our simulations looks to be accurate. This is all encouraging. It's a good foundation that we can build on.” 

Wolff added that 2024 seems like a long season ahead, but Mercedes is ready to take on the challenge in what appears to be a race for the lead, with Red Bull being the main contender. He added:

“Our focus at the test was on learning about the car we have.

“Our attention can now turn to tuning performance for the Bahrain race weekend.

“Red Bull, as is to be expected, look to be at the head of the field. The chasing pack looks tight. We will soon get an idea of where we stack up in that. And the task that is ahead of us to close the gap to the front.

“Wherever we net out though, the whole team is relishing the challenge ahead. There is a palpable sense of energy running through the factories and those trackside. The year ahead is long. There will be many ups, along with the inevitable downs. But this is why we love racing. And now, we can't wait to get going.”

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