Mercedes W16: the front is solid, but the rear is fragile, updates scheduled for Australia. F1, Mercedes: The W16 to Feature Some Updates in Australia.

Mercedes leaves F1 pre-season testing with some certainties. It appears that the British team’s car performs on track as expected from simulations. Over the three-day test, the Brackley squad worked intensely. One of the key positives is the lack of issues, despite the car being a relatively young project still in development. Over the past weeks, we reported that Mercedes had resolved the inconsistent performance issues with the W16, and now track data confirms it.

Heading in the wrong direction is a major risk in modern Formula 1. The regulations governing ground-effect cars are highly complex, and in past years, perhaps in an attempt to innovate, the German team has taken some challenging paths. Mercedes completed a high mileage program, allowing both drivers to gather crucial data for the project. The goal is to arrive in Melbourne in top form and then assess the W16’s full potential. The car appears predictable and “easy to manage.”

F1, Mercedes: The W16 to Feature Some Updates in Australia
George Russell is satisfied and reiterates the key points. He now carries the burden of leading the team after the departure of Lewis Hamilton, a fundamental reference for the squad. However, according to team principal and co-owner Toto Wolff, Mercedes has immense confidence in George, believing he can take on the same role as his former British teammate. While we may have some doubts, Wolff remains certain.

Then there’s Kimi Antonelli, a rising talent and a source of pride for Italy given his youth and skill. In the Sakhir tests, the young Bologna-born driver displayed remarkable maturity, executing instructions with impressive ease. This could be the long-awaited breakthrough for an Italian talent in F1—perhaps even a future winner. Mercedes’ support for him is significant, and from what we’ve heard, there is no undue pressure on his performance.

Before diving into technical details about the W16, let’s consider the short-term future. Some updates are expected for Melbourne. The technical department, led by James Allison, has outlined an upgrade plan featuring several small developments in the first third of the season. The strategy is simple: push hard from the start to assess the car’s true performance. This approach is also linked to 2026 planning, as Mercedes balances 2024 development with the major regulatory shift ahead.

F1, Mercedes W16: Working to Improve Axle Synchronization
The German team performed exceptionally well in pre-season testing. Andrew Shovlin acknowledged the difficulty of ranking teams based on performance but confirmed significant progress in key areas targeted over the winter. Notably, Mercedes completed the most laps over the three-day Bahrain test—demonstrating both performance and reliability, which is always valuable in F1. The W16 represents a true evolution of its predecessor.

This contrasts with Ferrari, for example, which opted for a completely new front suspension design, featuring a different kinematic approach from last season. Ferrari is taking a calculated risk, according to team principal Frédéric Vasseur, based on the engineering direction chosen. Mercedes switched to a rear push-rod suspension with the W15, and early tests last year showed adaptation challenges in optimizing its performance. However, beyond the team’s internal assessments, what truly matters is how the car behaves on track.

Analyzing onboard footage, the W16 displays a strong front end, facilitating turn-in and apex control. The baseline balance leans toward the front, which results in more oversteer on corner exits, particularly at low speeds—an indication of limited pure traction. At higher speeds, the balance improves, allowing the W16 to maintain a solid minimum cornering speed. It’s not quite on the level of Red Bull or McLaren, but generally superior to Ferrari.

At medium speeds, in corners like Turns 13 and 14 in Bahrain, the car appears front-loaded. In some instances, front-end grip caused an imbalance, shifting the car’s weight forward. This trait helps with turn-in and saves meters on entry. However, when transferring load mid-corner, the rear tended to destabilize. The rear end appears fragile—an issue shared by other teams struggling to balance the two axles effectively.