Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team’s Technical Director, James Allison, has openly discussed the bittersweet nature of their recent race in China. While acknowledging a “competently executed” weekend, Allison admitted that the team finds “no pleasure” in simply performing adequately when the underlying pace of the Mercedes-amg F1 W15 E Performance car is not where they aspire it to be.
Alt: James Allison, Mercedes Technical Director, explains Mercedes-AMG F1 W15 E performance challenges and upgrade plans.
In the Chinese Grand Prix, George Russell secured a sixth-place finish, and Lewis Hamilton, despite a challenging Q1 exit, recovered to score points, adding to his P2 finish in the Sprint. However, the race exposed a persistent issue: the significant performance gap separating the W15 from front-runners Ferrari and Red Bull. This gap underscores the urgent need for improvement in the Mercedes-AMG F1 W15 E Performance.
Allison revealed in Mercedes’ post-race debrief that upgrades are on their way for the W15. These aren’t just performance enhancements; they are specifically designed to tackle what Allison described as the “underlying balance that is causing us difficulty.” The Shanghai International Circuit, known for being particularly demanding on front tires, further highlighted a weakness in the Mercedes-AMG F1 W15 E Performance. The car struggled to find grip, making the drivers’ efforts, despite being well-executed, less rewarding in terms of final results.
Alt: George Russell driving the Mercedes-AMG F1 W15 E Formula 1 car during the Chinese Grand Prix, highlighting the team’s performance focus.
“It’s obviously a pleasure to talk about things when you’ve had a great race, and it’s lovely to see your car do well,” Allison stated, contrasting it with the current situation. He emphasized the team’s commitment to honesty, whether results are positive or negative. He lauded the race execution in China, pointing out Hamilton’s recovery drive from a low grid position and Russell’s solid, error-free race to sixth. However, he reiterated that the Shanghai track’s front-limited nature heavily impacted the Mercedes-AMG F1 W15 E Performance.
Allison elaborated on the front-limited characteristic of the W15, particularly noticeable in slower corners throughout the season and amplified in Shanghai. He explained, “So [it’s] one where when you ask the car to go around a corner, it will generally be the front tyres that go ‘no thank you, I don’t want to turn’.” This issue forces drivers to wait longer to apply power on corner exit, leading to significant lap time losses. To compensate and turn the car, drivers are compelled to use the throttle to induce rear-end rotation, which, in turn, overheats the rear tires. This intricate balance problem is a core focus for the upcoming Mercedes-AMG F1 W15 E Performance upgrades.
Alt: Lewis Hamilton in action with the Mercedes-AMG F1 W15 E during the race, showcasing the car’s on-track performance.
“It’s no pleasure at all to be taken from a weekend which even though competently executed and well driven by both guys, no pleasure at all when the hardware itself is not where it needs to be or should be,” Allison concluded. He stressed that the immediate challenge is to improve both the car’s setup and introduce new components through upgrade packages. These upgrades are specifically aimed at rectifying the fundamental balance issues plaguing the Mercedes-AMG F1 W15 E Performance.
Despite the current challenges and the “painful” discussions after races like China, Allison remains optimistic. He looks forward to future races where these improvements will translate to better on-track performance, allowing the team to compete at the front again and rediscover the “massive pleasure” of discussing success. The focus remains firmly on enhancing the Mercedes-AMG F1 W15 E Performance and returning to a winning form.
