F1 News: Mercedes W15 Over “Half a Second” Faster but Red Bull’s Prediction Plays Spoilsport

It is safe to say that Mercedes’ car in 2023 was not up to the mark, with neither of the drivers managing to bag a win. The team’s performance has been disappointing, to say the least, and Lewis Hamilton’s exit speaks volumes. While Formula 1 is a sport of steady progress, it looks like Mercedes has outdone themselves. But will it be enough?

There has been a recent report that showcases the simulator data of the Silver Arrows, and it looks like the vehicle will be faster than its predecessor. With Red Bull as its primary competition, Mercedes’ target must be to take back the lead that it lost after 2020.

Mercedes W15’s simulator data results

In the race with progress, Mercedes is stuck in the middle zone and the list of problems is just piling up. The news of Lewis Hamilton leaving the team has shaken up the team and while recovering, Mercedes has made some progress with the car, but things don’t look too promising. Recently, a report stated that according to simulator data, the W15’s increase in performance is “more than half a second” compared to its last-gen spec W14.

Although half a second does not seem much faster, considering that things go down to the third decimal of a second, that’s a huge lead. However, according to what Red Bull simulator driver Jake Dennis previously said, the team would have to find 1 second to be on par with the RB20. Dennis is known to be the development driver for Red Bull and knows the team’s engine really well. His claims imply that Mercedes is still lagging by half a second.

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Mercedes has a long way to go if they want to be able to beat Max Verstappen in his prime. Red Bull has been going through some controversies around Christian Horner and regarding being the owner of two teams instead of one. Although the Bulls have raced with 4 cars on the track for years now, other teams have been talking to the FIA to make sure the game is played on equal footing.

What was showcased during the W15 car launch?

Valentine’s Day 2024 is when Mercedes decided to showcase their new car and it’s safe to say that fans are falling in love with it. The new car has taken a step back from the Carbon Fiber trend and has decided to showcase the iconic colors from the past making a return.

The team that displayed an entirely black car has started to include the iconic Silver that gave the team its nickname. Today the Silver Arrows is back and the team has also opted for red highlights to showcase their new partnership with Snapdragon. The car has proven itself to be faster than the W15 in the simulation tests, but what really matters is how will it fare in the hands of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.

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Do you think the W15 will be able to give Hamilton the send-off he deserves? Or will it be just another disappointing season for the British driver?