Toto Wolff looks forward to seeing the W15 in action in 2024

After a complicated 2023 season, Mercedes will be arriving in 2024 with a rather different single-seater from the previous season.

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Mercedes has not had great successes in the development of its last two single-seaters. In two seasons, only one victory and two pole positions have been achieved. 2023 was supposed to mark a turning point for the Silvers after a tricky first season with the introduction of the floor.

However, from the Bahrain Grand Prix, as in the previous season, the German garage took a cold shower, noting the limits of the single-seater. If no victories were achieved at Mercedes in 2023, at the end of the season, especially in Austin, the stable seemed to be in a good position.

A very different single-seater for 2024

After two seasons of difficulties, setting tests and a redesign, Mercedes believes it is on the right track for the 2024 season. The single-seater to be unveiled in February is expected to differ from that of the previous season. “We have a gap to the leaders,” Toto Wolff told Sky F1. « But the two teams, at Brixworth and Brackley, are very motivated. We have so many good things in preparation, so many novelties, and with all the learning we have had, we are really well positioned to notice an evolution. We now need to build momentum from P2 in the championship and pass on the excitement to the factories. »

Despite the return of a positive and encouraging attitude, Mercedes is aware of the current gap with Red Bull. The two-time defending champions have won almost all of the races in 2023. Only Singapore slipped away from them, however the two drivers started in the middle of the grid due to penalties, on a track with very few overtakes. Despite these differences, Mercedes hopes that Red Bull’s rapid development has already made them hit the glass ceiling.

“Let’s be honest, Red Bull has a gap because they started off well with the new regulation,” said the Austrian director. « Catching up is a monumental effort. At a certain stage, hopefully, their development speed will stabilize and we will be able to catch up to them. It’s not just about adding about a tenth of support, our car had a fundamental problem. It’s unstable, the drivers have no confidence in the car and, if we can solve this problem, then I think we can make this step forward like other teams have done. »

In the columns of AutoSport, Toto Wolff also expressed his renewed positivity and the desire for competition within his team. However, the director tempered his statements by estimating that Mercedes would struggle to return to the top of Formula 1 before the reset of 2026.

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