[ad_1]
The German manufacturer is faced with reality: it still has not mastered its understanding of the latest regulations on ground effect, its W15 not producing the shape Red Bull hoped for.
In fact, Mercedes has admitted that its 2024 Challenger has features that “make no sense”, with increased downforce levels not translating into additional on-track performance.
He suspects his problems might have more to do with mechanics than pure aerodynamics.
Wolff said he had no doubt that Max Verstappen and Red Bull already appeared well on their way to world championship glory and that finishing best of the rest was his team’s main goal at the moment.
But as it searches for answers to what it’s missing with its W15, a scenario is emerging in which Mercedes might decide it’s not worth devoting endless resources to the current rules – because it might be better if she commits early to her 2026 challenger to ensure that. is quick out of the blocks.
Such a call is not necessary at the moment, with the FIA not allowing teams to start work on the aerodynamics of the new cars until early 2025.
But when asked by Autosport whether there might come a time later this year when Mercedes would have to ask for the current rules cycle to be abandoned, Wolff was adamant about his team’s position.
Photo by: Steve Etherington / Motorsport Images
“We are Mercedes,” he said. “We cannot completely abandon the current regulations and continue to perform at the level we are currently at.
“This is not the ambition of the brand, nor ours or that of our partners. So no. I think you have to keep pushing, keep growing your understanding.
“But eventually, when the FIA comes up with some kind of regulation, we, like all the other teams, will start looking at it, and probably sooner.”
Wolff believes Mercedes is locked in the chasing pack behind Red Bull with Ferrari and McLaren – which ultimately was not what his F1 ambition was.
“If your goal is ultimately to race for wins and championships, then you can say we’re in a bit of a no-man’s land because Max and Red Bull are far ahead,” he explained.
“We are in this pack, but it is not satisfactory for any of the teams fighting for P2, P3 or P4. I have always said that if I were to look from a purely sporting point of view, it is P1 that counts and not P2/P3/P4.
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15 Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24 and George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
“But this is a reality that we are facing right now and we are trying to make the best of this new reality.
“That [our aim] is to beat our direct competitors, while recognizing that someone is simply doing a better job, and setting a benchmark that we will eventually have to set again to see if we are capable of winning races this year, and I would not want to not let this ambition disappear. And certainly not next year.
“For 2026 there is a big reset, which certainly offers the most realistic opportunity for any other team to beat Red Bull. But there’s a season and three quarters before that, and I don’t want to go through much more pain over the next 18 months. I’m just hoping for highlights and an upward trajectory.
[ad_2]
