zibby43 wrote: ↑20 Nov 2022, 02:03
AR3-GP wrote: ↑20 Nov 2022, 01:34
zibby43 wrote: ↑19 Nov 2022, 23:38
The most important thing is that Merc understands the issues and that their correlation is back on track - both realities that have been publicly confirmed.
Their simulations today correctly predicted the gap based on their wing choice. That wasn’t happening earlier this season.
Hamilton this weekend:
"We thought that this would be a difficult race, but through the weekend so far we weren't looking like we were eight tenths down," Hamilton told Sky Sports F1.
"So it's a bit of a surprise in qualifying to be so far behind them."
-
https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433 ... raight.%22
Wolff on Brazil:
Mercedes F1 chief Wolff said he thought the team “had the quickest package all through this weekend”, but said it was unsure why there was such a big advantage over Red Bull and Ferrari.
“Do we know why we were so far ahead of everyone this weekend? We don’t.”
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/merce ... /10399798/
Mike Elliott on Brazil and general improvement:
“And then in Austin we came with an upgrade kit, that took that understanding and took the first steps to what we needed to do for next year. And since then we’ve seen a good performance level from the car.”
How’d you miss this piece? Right up your alley.
https://the-race.com/formula-1/mercedes ... -a-second/
Wolff on AD:
Toto Wolff: “We get the job done, I think we went backwards and [Ferrari] went forwards.”
“We tried a high drag (downforce) concept and it didn’t work.” Toto says they have the believe that more downforce is better to protect the tyres tomorrow so “let’s see.”
There’s a quote out there from him saying there more or less hit what the sims predicted this weekend. I’m confident you can find it.
Formu1a:
“However, an important technical feature was missing which often created problems during the race weekend for the technicians of the Anglo-German team, namely the ability to have a wider setup window , to adapt to the different characteristics of the tracks, also in terms of asphalt, and environmental. This work took a long time and has been resolved, although there are still some limitations in the Mercedes 2022 concept that can only be solved on the W14 (an example: too much drag), with the package brought between Austin and Mexico. A package which also allowed the W13 to lose a lot of weight, with very important indirect consequences, as happened with the packages introduced between Imola and Spain for Red Bull.A work of understanding and developments (not only aerodynamic but also mechanical) that lasted eight months which produced tangible growth and gains compared to rivals, especially Ferrari.”
None of what you linked refutes what Hamilton said after qualy today or what Toto said in Brazil. They generally still have to wait and see what happens at the circuit. They don't know exactly where they will be, but that goes for any team. Red Bull certainly didn't expect to be getting beat down by two Ferraris last weekend...
And none of what I said in what you quoted suggest I don't think the car hasn't gotten better (which seems to be your sticking point?). The car has obviously improved from a weight standpoint which is free lap time that is irrefutable. As for everything else, the aero stuff is always going to be more tricky. The only way to know if you are doing the aero well is to go out and win multiple races and a championship. Maybe that will happen next season.
As to whether Mercedes improved "especially" relative to Ferrari rather than Red Bull? Well I think Mercedes have obviously stepped forward given the former 2 teams have stopped development since the summer break, but one has to include Ferrari's own woes to complete the picture. They turned the engine down for reliability and their car was broken by the higher ride heights. A similar dive in their issues reveals they have lost something like 7 tenths in sacrifice after the summer to prepare for next year.
Again I'm not saying Mercedes didn't obviously make their car faster and make their drivers happier, because they did (even though Hamilton never wants to see this car again...)...but there's much more required before one can really pat one self on the back.
2023 is the litmus test. We're only guessing at best today how the twist and turns of the final part of 2022 will pay toward 2023.
To use a different team as an example, there's another team which need not be named that had a so-so beginning of the year, and made progress all year. They'll finish top 5 in the WCC. I'm under no expectation that they will be winning a race, let alone a title anytime soon just because they understand their car better and were able to make it faster during the season.
With that said, I do note that you said:
. And as I said after Brazil, the RB is still the strongest overall package until consistently proven otherwise.
So I don't think we're that far apart on interpretations of the season and the challenges ahead. My opinion is just that making everything sound easier than it really is, is quite dangerous (figuratively...).
A lion must kill its prey.
](./images/smilies/eusa_wall.gif "Brick wall"){kind=small}
