After the Austin race, Formula 1 is straight back on track in Mexico. Mercedes sees this Grand Prix as a chance to gain more insight into the new upgrade package that debuted in the U.S., a package that still raises several questions. Only Lewis Hamilton will run the new setup this weekend, while George Russell will remain on the previous specification as there wasn’t enough time to repair his kit, damaged in Austin.
According to Mercedes engineers, the initial data from the new package aligned with wind tunnel predictions, but the unstable performance in Austin has tempered expectations. The W15 continues to have a narrow operating window, which not only tests the drivers’ limits but also makes the car extremely sensitive to tire wear, wind, and track conditions.
This “window” refers not only to tire management but also to a critical range for aerodynamic and mechanical performance. In Austin, for example, the engineers lowered the car to increase downforce, leading to bottoming and bouncing, which resulted in spins and errors from the very first practice sessions.
George Russell collided with the barriers in qualifying, while Lewis Hamilton spun in the same spot during the race, both incidents worsened by this troublesome bouncing effect.
“We saw from the data that we were essentially running on three wheels, with the left tire starting to move,” Lewis Hamilton explained about the Austin incident. “We could see the right rear height was fluctuating, with a 12-15 mm difference in the corners, and there was a tailwind of 40 km/h. You can imagine there’s a very narrow window where the downforce is ideal, but as soon as you step out of that, it becomes excessive. So, I think it was a combination of factors. If you watch the video, the car bounces, the left tire begins to skip, and then I believe we lost downforce. I think the new floor might be a bit more sensitive than the previous one,” the seven-time champion noted.
Nevertheless, Lewis Hamilton chose, along with the team, to run the new package again in Mexico, given the track’s much smoother surface compared to Austin. While the U.S. circuit remains bumpy despite resurfacing, exacerbating issues for a car setup so low and stiff, the smoother asphalt in Mexico should allow the new package to perform closer to its potential.
“I chose to use the new package this weekend because it’s a circuit with far fewer bumps, and that’s good because we need more data on this floor,” Lewis Hamilton stated.
In contrast, George Russell will continue with the older package, mainly due to the lack of time to repair his damaged kit from Austin’s qualifying crash. The package was sent back to Brackley for repairs, and the goal is to have it ready for the next race in Brazil. This setup split will at least allow the team to gather data from both packages.
George Russell also believes the Austin difficulties were likely more related to an overly aggressive setup rather than the new package itself. “After having a few days to review everything that happened in Austin, I think it’s fair to say we may have pushed the setup too far. We ran a very aggressive setup, very close to the track surface, which clearly affected both Lewis and me on Saturday and Sunday. But when we managed a clean lap, we showed good performance potential.”
“This weekend in Mexico will be a good opportunity to see both cars running with two different packages. Obviously, we only have one kit with the upgrades this weekend, and since I damaged it last week, Lewis got the choice and decided to use the new one.” – the British driver concluded.
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