Stuttgart, March 19 -- Mercedes confessed that they are seeking to resolve "fundamental issues" with its W15 car following a dismal start to the 2024 Formula One season.

Mercedes, who entered the 2024 season hoping to be Red Bull's closest competitors, failed to place a car in the top four in Bahrain or Saudi Arabia, as Max Verstappen and his teammate Sergio Perez won convincing one-two finishes.

Lewis Hamilton, who has been outpaced by teammate George Russell in both races, remarked after placing eighth in Jeddah that "big changes" are still needed beyond the makeover that was supposed to improve their failing cars from the previous two years.

In the team's live race debrief, Mercedes trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin reve...