Russell: Mercedes' 2024 F1 Car Won't Be as Rushed as Last Year

Mercedes' Car Design Mistakes

George Russell is optimistic that Mercedes will avoid falling into the same car design traps as they did with the W14 in 2023. The team initially continued with the 'zeropod' sidepod design from the W13, believing it could compete with Red Bull. However, they quickly realized their mistake after the car proved to be uncompetitive in testing and races.

The W14 was ultimately updated with Red Bull's downwash sidepod concept, with significant changes made in various areas such as chassis layout, weight distribution, and airflow. Russell believes that these changes were necessary and that the team has thoroughly analyzed the consequences of their design choices for the upcoming W15.

Unlike the rushed approach taken with the W14, Russell states that the new car concept has been in development for a long time, with extensive due diligence carried out. Mercedes has gained valuable experience and understanding of the car's performance over the past year, and Russell is confident that they won't repeat the same mistakes.

Closing the Gap

Russell acknowledges the challenge posed by Red Bull's dominant performance in the previous year. He recognizes that Mercedes, along with McLaren, Aston Martin, and Ferrari, may not immediately make significant gains in performance. However, he enters the new season with an open mind and is determined not to fall into the same design traps as before.

While Russell acknowledges the huge task at hand, he is confident in the team's ability to make progress. He believes that Mercedes has learned from the W14's shortcomings and will approach the design of the W15 with a more informed and cautious mindset.