Mercedes have identified the issues they need to iron out after securing an unlikely podium at the Bahrain GP. Lewis Hamilton benefited from late retirements from Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez to finish third, when he seemed to be heading for a fifth-place finish.
The Silver Arrows struggled throughout pre-season testing and the opening race weekend, as they lacked straight-line pace, which has been a hallmark of their dominance over the last several years. The challenges stem from issues that are both aerodynamic and engine-based.
The W13 has to run too high off the ground to offset the problems with porpoising or bouncing at high speeds. This affects the car’s ability to punch a clean hole through the air, which produces excessive drag and lack of grip.
