Mercedes performed well enough in Australia, but it’s not enough in F1. A third and fourth place is satisfying, but at the same time, it shows the team the gap it still suffers from the front-runners. One of the most positive aspects is the maturity of Andrea Kimi Antonelli, alongside the consistency of George Russell. As for the rest, there are still unanswered questions that didn’t get addressed in Melbourne.
The Shanghai Grand Prix will take place on the famous circuit of the same name, a track that combines fast straights with a variety of technical corners, many of which are very difficult to interpret. The circuit is known for its relatively smooth asphalt surface, but it has some irregularities at specific points that require precise suspension setup to ensure optimal stability and grip with the correct ground clearance.
Work on the rear of the W16
The total length of the track is 5.451 meters, with 16 corners that test both engine power, especially in T3, and the aerodynamic efficiency of the various cars. For Mercedes, the Chinese circuit represents a much more important challenge than we might think. The characteristics of the Eastern track, with long straights, wide-radius corners, and slower turns, require the right aerodynamic compromise to ensure stability and cornering speed.
The W16 has shown better vertical downforce generation compared to 2024, but it’s still not on the level of Red Bull and McLaren, making setup optimization crucial for this F1 weekend. The Brackley team will have to work hard to find, as mentioned, a balance that maximizes grip without compromising top speed on the faster sections. It will be tough to find a setup that satisfies the drivers, as the operating window is good, but not as large as the team thought.
A technical aspect to monitor will be the handling, especially on corner exits. The front of the car, extremely solid, has sometimes caused an imbalance and made the rear end more prone to excessive rotation. It will be interesting to see what technical solutions and setups will be adopted to mitigate this behavior and, in turn, ensure traction, which is still not up to par.
In fact, in the second half of the track, from the apex of the corner onwards, for example, the rear of the W16 didn’t always seem stable. This is a variable that absolutely needs to be addressed, while waiting for the first updates the team has already in production, through the car’s balance. We always say it, but we emphasize it once again: the importance of achieving the perfect setup radically changes the car’s performance over the course of the weekend.
Interaction with the tires
Another critical area where Mercedes has focused its efforts is the management of rear tire degradation. During the 2024 F1 season, we’ll remember how the W15 often suffered from excessive rear tire overheating, limiting performance in traction. This issue has pushed Mercedes to work hard on improving thermal management of the tires and ensuring greater consistency of performance in races.
However, this situation still doesn’t satisfy the German team. Just think about the Melbourne weekend, where the grey and black-liveried cars couldn’t push the tires as McLaren did. The Woking car, on the other hand, was able to maintain constant lap times, lowering them as fuel levels dropped, without “cooking” the tires, given the low consumption. The interaction with the W16’s tires is under examination, and Shanghai will be the perfect test bench.
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