F1 News
Mercedes down on rivals: "Not as good as McLaren, Red Bull or Ferrari"
Mercedes' 2024 F1 season did not go as well as it could have. After coming from being on the backfoot in with failed concepts in 2022 and 2023, and although 2024 was a year marked by inconsistencies at the front, it was more evident at Mercedes with the team's performance fluctuating through high peaks involving unexpected wins, and deep lows, steming from a shocking lack of pace. Andrew Shovlin, Mercedes' Trackside Engineering Director, explains what the focus will be on in 2025 to push the team forward.
While the case can be made that Mercedes' 2024 season was not as difficult the two previous ones, if one digs deeper into the context in which the German team's wins took place, it is clear that it came from making the best of the opportunities provided to them by the races' -like Austria and Great Britain- or the weekends' -like Las Vegas' unusual temperatures- circumstances.
What held Mercedes back from fighting for titles in 2024?
Shovlin admits to the fluctuation in performance, but also pins it to the development battle at the front, stating the team was not quick enough in its development, which meant it often lagged behind its rivals, but highlights that when they did bring an update they would be competitive for a "few races".
Quoted by Motorsport.com, the British engineer states an area where in his opinion, Mercedes are trailing McLaren, Red Bull Racing and Ferrari: "Rear overheating. That's an area where I don't think we are as good as McLaren, Red Bull or Ferrari," said Shovlin, adding that at the moment, 'putting less temperature in and taking temperature out' are the team's focus in that area presently as they prepare for 2025.
Does Mercedes know how to find its way back to the top?
However, the Briton does seem to indicate that Mercedes' rear tyre issues are twofold, since, according to the Briton, ride height may be a factor. "It's very fair to say on those [bumpier] tracks, we do suffer more often. You can do analysis on how high people are running, and I don't think we're wildly different to anyone else, but ride is an area that we've been focusing on with these regulations.
"In general, we've made progress. But the whole thing of development in Formula 1 is fixing problems, and can you fix them quicker than your competitors. And that's how you get to the front," Shovlin concluded highlighting a clear path back to the front for Mercedes.
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