P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes believe it has a fundamental issue to resolve that is causing its drivers to struggle with the balance of the car, after an inconsistent start to the Formula 1 season. Both George Russell …
Mercedes acknowledges a fundamental issue causing their drivers to struggle with car balance in the current Formula 1 season, with George Russell and Lewis Hamilton facing inconsistency in performance despite occasional promising practice runs. Trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin reveals that differing setups used by the drivers in Jeddah have provided valuable insights into the car’s limitations, prompting ongoing efforts to identify and rectify deficiencies ahead of the Australian Grand Prix. The team is meticulously analyzing data from Jeddah, Bahrain race, and test to create a comprehensive plan for the upcoming Melbourne practice sessions, emphasizing collaborative efforts across aerodynamics and vehicle dynamics departments to enhance performance. Despite recognizing balance as a concern in the last race, Shovlin highlights that challenges extended beyond mere handling issues, with inadequate grip posing a significant obstacle against competitors like McLaren, Aston Martin, and Ferrari. Intensive work is underway to unravel the core issues affecting the car’s performance and address them effectively before the next grand prix to optimize Mercedes’ competitiveness on track.
