Ralf Schumacher is ‘a bit disappointed’ with Mercedes, so fears Lewis Hamilton and George Russell will have another frustrating year during the 2024 Formula 1 season.
The Silver Arrows left a sour taste in Schumacher’s mouth with their efforts through the only pre-season test in Bahrain. Mercedes flew to the Middle East having unveiled a new concept with the W15. Going winless last year tempted the Brackley team to axe their zero-pod idea.
Last year was Mercedes’ first Formula 1 season since 2011 to not feature a single Grand Prix victory. Russell at least won the Sao Paulo GP in 2022 after the Silver Arrows first explored a zero-pod concept. But they would not recover their year after taking the concept into 2023.
George Russell set Mercedes’ fastest lap on day three of F1’s Bahrain test
Mercedes’ first winless season since before he joined in 2013 also tempted Hamilton to walk away and sign for Ferrari. The 39-year-old will switch to Maranello after the 2024 season. He triggered an escape clause in the deal that Hamilton only signed in August to quit Mercedes.
Hamilton believes after testing their W15 in Bahrain that Mercedes have ‘a much better car’ to start the season with. He also feels the Silver Arrows have ‘done a great job’ designing an entirely different concept. The car is also ‘much more enjoyable to drive’ than the W14 was.
Russell, meanwhile, set Mercedes’ fastest lap of the pre-season test with a 1:30.368 on the C4 Pirelli tyres. The 26-year-old achieved his time on the third and final day of the test. The Briton also completed a combined 189 laps across the test, while Hamilton completed 172.
Mercedes unveiled an interesting front wing with the W15 for 2024
Mercedes simply focused on racking up the laps during days one with Russell and two with Hamilton. So, Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko suggested after the first day that the Silver Arrows were ‘certainly’ hiding their true pace during Formula 1’s only winter test.
But Mercedes left former Jordan, Williams and Toyota driver Schumacher ‘disappointed’ in Bahrain. Even if Red Bull technical director Pierre Wache finds Mercedes’ car for the 2024 Formula 1 season ‘surprising’. Wache finds the W15’s front wing design ‘very interesting’.
“I’m a bit disappointed with Mercedes,” Schumacher told Sky Germany “I have the feeling that things will continue like last year. That could also be a reason why Lewis Hamilton lost faith in it, and followed Fred Vasseur’s call.”
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