P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes has endured another challenging start to a Formula 1 campaign having determined that there is a fundamental issue with the W15 car.
Mercedes is facing a significant challenge with a persistent issue affecting its performance at the beginning of the current Formula 1 season. Despite new technical regulations introduced in 2022, the team has struggled to field a competitive car for the third year in a row. The recent race weekend in Saudi Arabia highlighted divergent setup approaches by Lewis Hamilton and George Russell after the first practice session, though both drivers encountered similar problems during the race. The team’s Trackside Engineering Director, Andrew Shovlin, acknowledged the need to address a fundamental issue that hindered their qualifying and race performance. With a focus on analyzing data from recent races and tests, Mercedes aims to implement strategic changes and experiments across departments to improve its performance and results moving forward. Their upcoming goal is to refine their approach for the next race in Australia and seek solutions that will enhance the team’s competitiveness in the highly competitive field of Formula 1.
