Karun Chandhok believes Mercedes’ performance trajectory is “hard
to read” given the Brackley team’s inconsistent results since F1
introduced the latest era of regulations at the start of 2022. The
contemporary ground effects rules have not been kind to the
eight-time constructors’ champions, which has struggled to marry
conventional aerodynamics with the requirements from the floor of
modern F1 cars. A considerable amount of downforce is now derived
from ground effects and the floor, with striking the right balance
across the car often the key to extracting the most lap time.
Mercedes initially took a developmental wrong turn, which set it
back against benchmark of Red Bull. It look over a year for the
team to unwind the flawed philosophy and adopt a new concept – in
part due to an anomalous one-two finish at the 2022 Sao Paulo Grand
Prix. However, since falling in line with the prevailing wisdom of
the current rules slate, it has failed to consistently yield better
results. After going winless through 2023 and various false dawns
of improved performance, the team has claimed three victories this
season, but the pace of the W15 has since taken a step back again.
“It’s very hard to read their situation because I feel like in the
last three years on so many occasions, you hear them say that they
have finally understood the issues and could crack it,” said
Chandhok to Betway when discussing the unusual performance arc of
the Brackley squad. “A good example was the front wing which
unlocked some performance and we then see a temporary boost and
results this year like Canada, Spain or Silverstone, the car looked
good and competitive. “But it’s then just gone away again, and
they’ve gone back to being the fourth best team. It’s been the case
since these set of regulations came in.” It leaves Mercedes in a
difficult position, trapped between trying to correct the issues it
has endured – and build on the promise it has shown – during the
current rules, and turning its attention to the next slate of
regulations. That era begins in 2026, meaning most teams will do
little to develop their ‘carry-over’ cars during the winter between
this season and next. Chandhok has questioned the virtue of
Mercedes addressing its existing problems, instead suggesting the
team may opt to be “fully focused” on 2026 and beyond. “On recent
form you would have to say they are the fourth best team,” the
40-year-old added. “Are they going to go completely back to the
drawing board and do a whole new car for 2025 ahead of the new
regulations in 2026? I don’t think so. “The 2025 car is going to be
an evolution of 2024 so maybe their effort is fully focused on 2026
and getting the best car for the new regulations.” Do you think F1
should re-introduce the controversial double-points season finale
concept from 2014? Let us know what you think by voting below in
the latest poll by RacingNews365 .
to read” given the Brackley team’s inconsistent results since F1
introduced the latest era of regulations at the start of 2022. The
contemporary ground effects rules have not been kind to the
eight-time constructors’ champions, which has struggled to marry
conventional aerodynamics with the requirements from the floor of
modern F1 cars. A considerable amount of downforce is now derived
from ground effects and the floor, with striking the right balance
across the car often the key to extracting the most lap time.
Mercedes initially took a developmental wrong turn, which set it
back against benchmark of Red Bull. It look over a year for the
team to unwind the flawed philosophy and adopt a new concept – in
part due to an anomalous one-two finish at the 2022 Sao Paulo Grand
Prix. However, since falling in line with the prevailing wisdom of
the current rules slate, it has failed to consistently yield better
results. After going winless through 2023 and various false dawns
of improved performance, the team has claimed three victories this
season, but the pace of the W15 has since taken a step back again.
“It’s very hard to read their situation because I feel like in the
last three years on so many occasions, you hear them say that they
have finally understood the issues and could crack it,” said
Chandhok to Betway when discussing the unusual performance arc of
the Brackley squad. “A good example was the front wing which
unlocked some performance and we then see a temporary boost and
results this year like Canada, Spain or Silverstone, the car looked
good and competitive. “But it’s then just gone away again, and
they’ve gone back to being the fourth best team. It’s been the case
since these set of regulations came in.” It leaves Mercedes in a
difficult position, trapped between trying to correct the issues it
has endured – and build on the promise it has shown – during the
current rules, and turning its attention to the next slate of
regulations. That era begins in 2026, meaning most teams will do
little to develop their ‘carry-over’ cars during the winter between
this season and next. Chandhok has questioned the virtue of
Mercedes addressing its existing problems, instead suggesting the
team may opt to be “fully focused” on 2026 and beyond. “On recent
form you would have to say they are the fourth best team,” the
40-year-old added. “Are they going to go completely back to the
drawing board and do a whole new car for 2025 ahead of the new
regulations in 2026? I don’t think so. “The 2025 car is going to be
an evolution of 2024 so maybe their effort is fully focused on 2026
and getting the best car for the new regulations.” Do you think F1
should re-introduce the controversial double-points season finale
concept from 2014? Let us know what you think by voting below in
the latest poll by RacingNews365 .