“In 2023, Mercedes acknowledged their performance lag behind Red Bull, yet it didn’t deter the Silver Arrows from challenging.
A significant moment occurred at the Hungarian GP, where Lewis Hamilton, securing pole position, deemed it Mercedes’ standout achievement of the season, as reported by Soy Motor.”
“Despite qualifying just 0.011 seconds ahead of Max Verstappen, the seven-time world champion couldn’t maintain enough race pace to resist the Dutchman’s challenge.
Ultimately, Hamilton secured 4th place in the race, with George Russell finishing 6th. Meanwhile, Verstappen clinched victory with a 33-second lead to second place, and Sergio Perez claimed the 3rd-place trophy, concluding another triumphant week for the constructors’ champions.”
“Throughout the season, Mercedes consistently tried to catch up with Red Bull on the tracks but consistently fell short. Despite securing multiple second-place finishes, the team couldn’t deliver the decisive blow to Verstappen’s dominance, largely due to various inconsistencies with their car.
After two years of the current concept proving ineffective, the team opted to discard it and is now focused on introducing an entirely new concept for the 2024 season.With James Allison reassuming the role of Mercedes’ CTO in the second half of 2023 after swapping roles with Mike Elliott in 2021, the Silver Arrows achieved multiple constructors’ titles, while Lewis Hamilton continued to secure drivers’ titles. Eager to return to winning ways, the team, under Allison’s leadership, is actively developing a new concept for the W15, aiming for a resurgence.”
“To address issues like porpoising and downforce, as well as a notable lack of pace, the Silver Arrows have opted for a comprehensive overhaul, intending to ‘change every component’ on their W15.
This encompasses alterations to the chassis layout, weight distribution, and airflow. The team is also introducing an upgraded sidepods concept, part of an ambitious project for the 2024 season, as highlighted by James Allison.Recognizing the challenging task ahead, Mercedes acknowledges the formidable competition from Red Bull, McLaren, and Ferrari, especially considering their strong end-of-season performances. Lewis Hamilton expresses confidence in his team for the upcoming season, emphasizing the W15 as their ‘north star.’ Despite optimism, Hamilton acknowledges that the path to competitiveness is not a straightforward journey.”