F1 Bahrain Pre-season Test: Mercedes W15 is Nicer to Drive, Says George Russell

Mercedes' new Formula 1 car is "nicer" than last year's problematic W14, according to George Russell, who was pleased with the new W15. Russell had the sole chance to try the car during the opening day of pre-season testing in Bahrain. Even though he was 12th in the standings and 2.765 seconds behind Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, Russell had nothing but praise for his car. Russell spent the whole first day behind the wheel with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, completing 122 laps despite some minor delays caused by Mercedes team adjustments. For the 2024 Formula 1 season, Mercedes unveiled an entirely new car, the W15. In comparison to the W14, this model has a new layout. It is worth mentioning that Mercedes has completely abandoned the Zeropod concept for the current season. In addition to moving the radiators and upper side impact spars to different locations, the floor of the vehicle has been reinforced internally to prevent excessive flexing.

Speaking after stepping out of the car, Russell said: “It was great to drive the W15 for the first time in anger today. From hitting the ground, it felt like we had a good foundation to start from. We completed lots of laps and have plenty of data to go through tonight. We ended the day in a reasonably good spot, and we can build from here over the next two days. We will be focused on maximising mileage for learning rather than chasing an optimum sweet spot with the car. Comparing it to the W14 predecessor, which failed to win a race, he added: “Overall, the W15 does feel nicer to drive than last year’s car.”

F1: Mercedes-AMG W15

Mercedes has had a tough go of it in Formula 1 over the past two seasons, trying to regain their former glory. Mercedes has made several adjustments to their new W15 F1 car. One of these alterations is the driver's position in relation to the front wheels. After finishing second in 2021 to Max Verstappen for the world championship, Hamilton failed to win a race in 2022 and will now enter his last season with the Mercedes before making an unexpected move to Ferrari in 2025.

New regulations in 2022 emphasised under-car airflow for enhanced downforce, which caused problems for Mercedes. Converting success in the wind tunnel to on-track performance was a challenge due to unpredictable aerodynamics, which made adapting to these changes even more difficult. Because of this unpredictability, Mercedes shifted their emphasis to downforce at higher ride heights, while rivals, notably Red Bull, thrived at lower ones. During the 2023 Monaco Grand Prix, Mercedes made midseason adjustments to the floor and front suspension geometry to decrease the ride heights, in response to criticism for their conservative strategy. Unfortunately, the suspension setup was stiff and the handling was subpar due to midseason component restrictions.

To address these issues, Mercedes has made changes to its new 2024 W15 F1 car, including a reworked monocoque and an improved rear suspension, since Austin and Monaco. The squad is hell-bent on winning Formula 1 races again this season, and they intend to do it by making massive performance improvements.