Toto Wolff says that further W15 updates are on the way – but they can’t be rushed
Mercedes Formula 1 boss Toto Wolff is adamant that the team knows how to improve the difficult W15 and is waiting for parts to come through the system.
The team currently lies fourth in the World Championship having scored just 64 points thus far this season.
Early optimism about the potential of the W15 quickly evaporated, and as in 2022 and 2023 the team has faced a huge challenge as it attempts to improve a tricky car.
“I think we understand much more what is needed to get the car in a better space, because it’s so clear now what it does, and why we struggle, and where we struggle,” said Wolff.
“The design offices is all in, the production and operations are flat out, the race team has been doing a good job. So all of the factory is really sixth gear in order to bring stuff to the car that we believe can be very helpful.
“I think we know what we do, and in terms of what we’re bringing to the car, you can’t really rush it, because you’ve got to develop to the point where you say now it’s good to be released into production.
“And once that part comes, or once these bits come, they need to be solid. So this is a matter of many weeks.”
Wolff reiterated that low-speed performance remains a key weakness of the W15.
“I think the car is not bouncing anymore, which is good, it was really bad the last few years [in Miami],” he said. “The car is very strong in high-speed, the ride has been better, although not on the level of the other ones.
“The car just doesn’t turn in low-speed, and you don’t want to have a car that is either good in low-speed or in high-speed, you need the two of them, and that’s why it points in points us in some of the right directions.
“It’s been a painful learning curve, and it’s still not satisfactory, but the situation is more encouraging now.”
Wolff noted that there was some good news in Miami, although he wasn’t happy with the overall outcome.
“In terms of the positives for the team, we were quicker than [Sergio] Perez at the end on the same tyre, probably quicker than the bunch ahead, but they were on the hards, so you need to see that in a relative way. On the hard, we struggled a lot.
“I wasn’t happy on Friday at all and with the sprint race, and then we put in some solid work, very structured, for the Grand Prix qualifying, accepting that this is the base level at the moment, and then just carrying it over into the race.
“And finishing sixth and eighth is not something to be proud of. But it’s a step in the right direction.”