© Jiri Krenek for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
Mercedes’ Trackside Engineering Director Andrew Shovlin says the team’s car in Bahrain is “already feeling very different to the last two years that we have been here”.
After a surprising 1-2 in Bahrain Grand Prix Free Practice 2, Mercedes’ Trackside Engineering Director Andrew Shovlin said the team is encouraged by the pace shown.
“Following the test we were most concerned about our single lap pace,” the Briton said.
“We had both drivers in the simulator before returning here. From the running today, it looks like we have improved.
“We’re certainly not getting carried away, as there is plenty of scope within power unit modes and fuel loads for several cars to find a chunk of time before tomorrow.
“It’s encouraging though that the picture we had last week seems to have improved.”
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While Shovlin still expects Max Verstappen to dominate the race on Saturday, he says the W15 is definitely an improvement over its predecessors.
“The long run data also looks close. Verstappen is still comfortably out front, as we saw last week, but behind him it’s going to be a tight battle for the remaining podium spots.
“We know we’ve got plenty to fine tune on the balance. It’s still early days with the W15, and we’re learning how to get lap-time out of it with each run.
“It’s already feeling very different to the last two years that we have been here,” Shovlin concluded.
