Mercedes: Performance Was Not the Goal in Jerez
Aldo Costa, the chief engineer of the Mercedes team, specified that performance was not the main focus for the Silver Arrows during the first days of testing in Jerez earlier in the month. He also confirmed that the new German hybrid unit was indeed used during these tests with the W06.
If Ferrari impressed during the first winter tests held in Jerez earlier this month by setting the fastest times, the reliability and track time of the new Mercedes also caught attention.
Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg have remained fairly discreet about the on-track performance. This is quite logical for Aldo Costa, the creator of the new W06, as the objectives in Jerez were focused on reliability: « These tests were positive in all respects. The improvements compared to 2014 are in line with our expectations. We did not go to Spain to check our performance but rather to verify the reliability and behavior of the car. »
Even though the new Mercedes looks very much like its predecessor, the reigning world champion, Costa insists that it includes a host of new features, not necessarily visible to the naked eye: « The car is an evolution. But in reality, it is very different [from the 2014 model] in many areas that are not necessarily visible from the outside. I can also confirm that we have used our new 2015 power unit, which is very different from the previous one. »
Mercedes’ expectations are high for this new season, and the team has not yet revealed its full potential: “We will only understand the situation during the first race in Melbourne. Or maybe not… we’ll probably have to wait four or five more races. We have set much higher goals than last year,” stated the Italian engineer to the Gazetta Dello Sport, before clarifying that “very little” of the true potential of the car had been glimpsed in Jerez: “But I think the situation is the same for all the other teams.”
