“We’re Having a Hard Time…” – Mercedes F1 Rationalise W13 Struggles at Australian GP

The 2022 season marked the dawn of a new era in F1. It was beneficial for some teams while a detriment for others. Unfortunately for Mercedes, they are now behind after the shuffling of the pack. Their troubles have not come to an end even as we enter the 3rd round of the season in Australia this weekend.

Mercedes struggles on the street of Melbourne

The 2022 season has not been kind to Mercedes with the team dropping down the pecking order due to the new regulations. The team has been off the pace of Ferrari and Red Bull and has majorly been fighting the midfield with Haas, Alpine, and Alfa Romeo. This weekend’s Australian GP seems to be more of the same as Mercedes seem to struggle with tire temperature issues.

Mercedes trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin commented on their struggles on day 1. He said, “We’re having a hard time getting the tires up to temperature here.”  

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Shovlin further went ahead to elaborate the issue “we were more competitive compared to the cooler conditions in the afternoon. In short, it’s not an easy day for us, but we’re getting used to it this year.”

This is not the only issue with the car, as the Mercedes W-13 has also faced a major porpoising problem in the early parts of the season.

Day 1 in Melbourne

The Australian GP was finally back on the calendar after a 2-year absence. The first day saw the usual Ferrari and Red Bull at the top of the charts. Carlos Sainz, Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez making up the top 3 for FP1. Meanwhile, FP2 saw Charles Leclerc top the charts with Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz rounding out the top 3.

Alpine had a very good showing as well, with Esteban Ocon sitting P6 in both practice sessions, while Fernando Alonso managed a P4 in FP2. Mercedes struggled once again with the team managing the best position of 7th in FP1 with Lewis Hamilton.

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McLaren also looked to have made some developments as they look more competitive this weekend. Lando Norris’s best time in FP1 was even good for P5 in the session.

The Australian GP is shaping up to be an exhilarating affair. With qualifying set to take place tomorrow, who are you backing to secure pole? Let us know in the comments below.