Mercedes have transformed their season in a matter of months. After a disappointing start, a series of upgrades have put the W15 in a far better place. With podiums now achievable, the next objective at Brackley is to fight for wins. The team’s next phase of upgrades could achieve this.
The Spanish GP is typically a venue where many teams introduce upgrades. Not only is the track relatively close to where most F1 teams are based, but engineers across the field have ample data on the Catalunya circuit.
However, only two of the front-runners brought upgrades to Spain. These were Ferrari and Red Bull, who both continued their development programme last weekend.
In the case of Ferrari, these updates were initially intended for Silverstone. Following their poor showing in Canada, the Italian squad decided to accelerate their upgrade production.
There has been no such change in plans for Mercedes. Although regular upgrades will arrive from Brackley, a more significant package is anticipated in Silverstone.
Mercedes confident, more upgrades on the way
Speaking after the Spanish GP, Trackside Engineering Director Andrew Shovlin reviewed the team’s position:
“We’re encouraged by the fact the car has worked well at Montreal, and here in Barcelona.
“We need to find more speed to get right to the front.
“But we are working hard on that and should be able to continue to close that gap with further developments to come.”
Prior to last weekend’s action, Barcelona was described as a litmus test for the W15. The circuit’s characteristics are far more traditional than Montreal’s, making it a more accurate reflection of an F1 car’s potential.
Because of this, the Silver Arrows can be encouraged by their performance. They were firmly in the mix with Red Bull and McLaren, even outperforming Ferrari – who brought an extensive package of updates
Mercedes will work to build upon this momentum over the next few weeks. Provided they can maintain this trajectory, they will be genuine contenders at the front.
Moreover, with the 2025 cars set to be a continuation of this year, the German constructor is positioning itself well for next season.
