Why did Mercedes struggle to keep pace during the Dutch GP? According to Technical Director James Allison, the primary reason was that the W15 was not well “balanced” over the weekend in the dunes. The German team is still unsure whether this was due to the new floor of the Mercedes.
Mercedes first introduced their new floor in Spa, but immediately removed this upgrade from the W15 following disappointing results on Friday. However, the team did not completely abandon the floor, and reinstalled it during the Grand Prix weekend in Zandvoort. The outcome was disappointing, with only a seventh and eighth place for George Russell and Lewis Hamilton respectively.
Mercedes Technical Director Discusses Performance Issues
James Allison, the technical director of Mercedes, candidly admits in the Mercedes Debrief that the team is still puzzled about the car’s floor. “You can do a few simple measurements and say that the downforce it was supposed to deliver seemed to be there. So, on one level, you can be reassured that it worked as expected,” explains Allison.
Why Were Lap Times Slower Than Expected?
So, why were the lap times in Zandvoort slower than expected? Allison has pondered this as well. “The speed of the cars this year largely depends on how well they steer. So it’s not just a matter of: does your aero package deliver downforce? But also: does it give you the balanced car you need in the corners? Does it deliver the balanced car you need from high speed to low speed?” he says.
Lack of a Balanced Car
In Zandvoort, the balance was far from ideal, according to Allison, and the W15 lost speed. “We are certain that we did not have a balanced car in Zandvoort. That’s where we lost most of our speed. Whether this was due to the new floor or the new aero package, we will have to re-examine in future races. At this moment, we know that it has measured the downforce, but we are not sure that it has delivered a good balance,” he states.
