Mercedes hopes the work it has executed to enhance tire administration following its Singapore Grand Prix victory will make it extra aggressive on a wider vary of circuits.
George Russell had a powerful weekend in Singapore, taking pole place and successful the race, his second win of the season. Mercedes has historically struggled with excessive temperatures below its present set of technical rules, however the win on the road circuit, the place tires can overheat, is an indication of progress it hopes to proceed all through the remainder of the season.
“We have executed quite a lot of work on caring for our rear tires, particularly on the monitor the place they report actually robust occasions,” mentioned Trackside Engineering Director Andrew Shovlin. “The air in Singapore may be very sizzling. There may be additionally quite a lot of traction. If we glance again ultimately 12 months, 2024, we struggled within the races.
“It is good to see among the work that is been executed right here on the manufacturing facility benefiting within the growth of this automobile, and hopefully we’ll see a progressive development the place we begin to be aggressive when the solar is shining and it is actually sizzling, or once we’re driving on circuits the place there’s quite a lot of traction.”
Regardless of the robust efficiency, Shovlin identified similarities within the monitor’s traits to Canada (the place Russell additionally received this 12 months) and careworn that he doesn’t anticipate Mercedes to be the successful group on the subsequent COTA.
“We’re simply making an attempt to handle expectations right here,” he mentioned. “If you happen to take a look at the circuits that we have been good at, particularly the races we have received this 12 months, Montreal and Singapore, they’re comparatively gradual circuits and there is no query that the automobile is working effectively within the gradual nook areas the place the grip appears to be superb. The drivers have very excessive confidence within the large braking zones.”
“What we’ve not executed as a lot on these tracks is the high-speed cornering content material and that is in all probability an space the place we’re struggling somewhat bit. We’re nonetheless engaged on that and looking for all of the little items which can be in our setup, nevertheless it’s undoubtedly coming. While you take a look at a monitor like Austin, now we have a really, very quick sector one, so we have to verify we will carry out in that space.”
“It was reassuring to know that the automobile may nonetheless win races, and we noticed an amazing efficiency from George, and it actually motivated the entire group and gave us quite a lot of vitality for the remaining six races. We have now a really totally different circuit forward of us (developing) so now we have to do rather a lot to adapt the automobile, however we’re undoubtedly not going to surrender the struggle.”
