P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has admitted the cool weather at pre-season testing has shrouded whether the team has resolved its F1 car’s sensitivity to hot conditions.
In 2024, Mercedes faced challenges with their W15 challenger, which performed well in colder temperatures, resulting in victories at Silverstone, Spa, and Las Vegas led by George Russell. However, the car struggled with overheating in warmer conditions, prompting Mercedes to address this issue with the W16. Unusual cool temperatures in Bahrain made it difficult for Mercedes to assess if the overheating problem has been resolved. Team boss Toto Wolff expressed concerns about the team’s performance in abnormal temperatures, questioning if they have maintained their competitive edge. Aston Martin’s Andy Cowell emphasized the importance of utilizing data to account for variables like wind gusts, which can impact drivers’ experiences. Russell mentioned Mercedes’ focus on evaluating performance under different climate conditions to determine potential improvements.
