Just In: Andrew Shovlin on W15’s Development and… Read More.
Andrew Shovlin on W15’s Development and… Read More.
Andrew Shovlin, Trackside Engineering Director at Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team, shared insights on the 2024 F1 season’s progress and the development of the W15 car. Reflecting on the first half of the season, Shovlin highlighted the team’s journey from early struggles to significant advancements.
Initially, the W15 faced challenges in finding the right balance on track, especially during the opening races in Bahrain and Jeddah. The car showed promise but also had notable weaknesses.
The focus during this period was on understanding the car’s platform and ensuring consistent performance before introducing major developments.
As the season progressed, the teams at Brackley and Brixworth worked tirelessly to unlock the car’s potential.
This effort has paid off with three wins in the last four races, six consecutive podiums, and a strong accumulation of points, signaling a shift in the season’s trajectory.
Shovlin emphasized that the main theme of the season has been progress. The team’s initial goal was to understand the car’s strengths and weaknesses and to set a clear path towards winning races and qualifying on pole by the end of the season.
This strategy involved bringing forward developments, such as a new floor in Miami and a front wing upgrade in Monaco, which significantly improved the car’s performance.
The team has become more confident as the season has advanced, with each update delivering noticeable improvements.
The challenges faced earlier in the year, such as handling issues and sensitivity to track conditions, have become easier to address as the car’s behavior stabilized.
Despite the progress, Shovlin acknowledged that there are still areas for improvement, particularly on rear-limited circuits and in hot conditions, where the car is not yet as competitive as McLaren or Max Verstappen. However, the team is optimistic about continuing to develop the car and closing the gap to the front-runners.
Looking ahead, Shovlin noted that the team is focused on maintaining a strong development pace to stay competitive.
While the horizon for updates is only about six weeks, the team is working hard to turn ideas into physical upgrades that can further enhance the car’s performance in the latter part of the season.
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