2022 Mercedes-AMG | Petronas F1 Team

[chrisc90]

Lewis's hands aren't that big either, his current steering wheel is smaller than many others. Others have longer fingers who probably don't need to hold their wheel from the top during race starts, for instance.

He does that to avoid any possible accidental downshifts (by blocking the space that the paddle would go with his fingers).

Confuses me that accidental downshifts thing. Why doesn't he just tuck his fingers behind the paddle for downshift? What's stopping a accidental upshift?

[RZS10]

The shifter has its pivot point in the center and is both up/down on both sides i believe, so a pull on the left and a push on the right are a downshift and putting the hand there would block any possibility of an accidental one.

[Zynerji]

What's the possibility that the rear wing, floor edge and front wing brings 1s improvement?

I feel the Mercedes will make a huge jump when they solve the intrinsic drag issue.

[F1Krof]

What's the possibility that the rear wing, floor edge and front wing brings 1s improvement?

I feel the Mercedes will make a huge jump when they solve the intrinsic drag issue.

1 sec improvement? That's a typical season's worth of updates.

[DGP123]

No chance of a second, more like .2 or .3 at max. Did catch Anthony Davidson though earlier, seemed quietly confident about next year, and the direction Merc will be going. I think they will be in the mix, especially if RB are hindered with this impending punishment.

[Zynerji]

What's the possibility that the rear wing, floor edge and front wing brings 1s improvement?

I feel the Mercedes will make a huge jump when they solve the intrinsic drag issue.

1 sec improvement? That's a typical season's worth of updates.

Yeah, but cutting the parachute off the back could be huge. It's not a slow car as much as it's a draggy car. That normally means it's a correlation issue. If this update is a result of solving that problem, it could be huge.

I understand the normal flow of things, but that is starting from a sound base and moving forward. Merc didn't start with that base, so they can make up lots more than normal with a problem fix compared to an iterative refinement.

[chrisc90]

How there can still be a correlation issue 18+ races plus testing is beyond me. Those issues should be dialled out within 3-4 race weekends.

[214270]

Donkey-work being done by HAM…again

[chrisc90]

Donkey-work being done by HAM…again

Theres a joke in there about that statement haha.

Wonder if we will see any meaningful running from them in FP1. I guess they'll have to really.

[cplchanb]

How there can still be a correlation issue 18+ races plus testing is beyond me. Those issues should be dialled out within 3-4 race weekends.

unless theres a fundamental issue that unexpectedly came up. As they said earlier, they think they zeroed it down to 1 design direction early in the design phase that caused all the issues. Unfortunately it took a long time to figure out unsurprisingly. Not to mention they dont have unlimited resources to troubleshoot. Had it been 2020 they wouldve figured it out by Spain.

[Henri]

Lewis kindda exposes they lost most power from biofuels.. i.m guessing they down 10-12 bhp to red bull and ferrari. That why they get destroyed on the straights

[GrizzleBoy]

Oops, I think he said the quiet part out loud.

[mendis]

Lewis kindda exposes they lost most power from biofuels.. i.m guessing they down 10-12 bhp to red bull and ferrari. That why they get destroyed on the straights

The drag part was always a facade, like Ferrari did in 2020. Being behind on power is not a good thing for 2023. They have to gain loads of downforce without adding an ounce of drag as that donkey at the back is already struggling to pull the current levels.

I don't see how Lewis is going to renew his contract unless there is a miracle next year. The miracle was conceivable if it was only Ferrari that was the competition, but a Red Bull with a better engine, it's just not happening.

[tpe]

The loss of power could be from the wrong blend in the fuel, isn't it?
If and only if this is the case, then maybe they can gain those 10bhps next year with a better fuel.

[214270]