2023 Mercedes-AMG | Petronas F1 Team

[AR3-GP]

.4 or .6 it just paints a very similar picture to last year. Merc might have a better platform to work from, but RB are no mugs, and will have taken a step themselves.

The only change, is Merc’s new foundation to work from, which should see them easily out develop Ferrari, and eventually leapfrog them this season. That was the general feeling of what would happen this year, with RB depressingly still with a margin out in front

Unfortunately, I don’t see much hope of a championship fight until 24’, when Merc have a real grip on this concept, and RB’s advantage begins to be eroded and they feel the pain of the reduced wind tunnel.

Not meaning to be doom and gloom here and such a knee jerk reaction. But I can really only see Ferrari or RB being competitive until 2026. Merc may give it a go and the midfield teams in the later years may think to sacrifice 24 or 25 for more development into the new gen

I can envision Mercedes doing what Ferrari did between 2021 and 22 when the regs changed. Ferrari profited from focusing entirely on the next season while Mercedes and Red Bull duked it out for '21.

[mendis]

Unfortunately, I don’t see much hope of a championship fight until 24’, when Merc have a real grip on this concept, and RB’s advantage begins to be eroded and they feel the pain of the reduced wind tunnel.

RB getting impacted by wind tunnel time is a non starter. Anyone that fully understands the deeper explanation of rules around capping on wind tunnel and CFD and then the penalty on RB, you would see it's a very small impact. It would only force higher efficiency for RB. It doesn't stop them from creating designs outside of CFD and Windtunnel.

Only Mercedes can help Mercedes. They will have to come out with an overall better car concept, creative ideas and efficiencies where they can make big steps forward. Otherwise, they should focus on 2026.

[Venturiation]

Something is going on

[pursue_one's]

Something is going on

That’s not ideal.
https://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/for ... -bestzeit/

[McG]

Armchair journalist moment here... But the car just doesn't even look good. It looks about as aerodynamically efficient as a leather couch. Hope I'm wrong.

[DGP123]

Elliott giving them the bad news. It’s an evolved dud, lads.

Can’t see any other outcome than Max walking it again this year.

[organic]

Has the full quote from AMuS been posted?

A big question mark still hangs over Mercedes. Apart from the breakdown, there was not much to report about the works team. George Russell and Lewis Hamilton were once again stingy with fast laps and ended up in the bottom quarter of the standings. Toto Wolff revealed that the data showed a massive loss of downforce on the front axle. However, the mechanics could not find the reason for this during the day.

To make matters worse, a crucial sensor that would have been helpful in this matter had also failed. During the night, the Silver Arrow will now be completely disassembled to get to the bottom of the problem. "We feel a bit lost because we don't know where we stand," Toto Wolff admitted contritely.

https://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/for ... -bestzeit/

Still in rumour phase but clear something is wrong.

[basti313]

Something is going on

That’s not ideal.
https://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/for ... -bestzeit/

Or maybe they just discuss how much sand bags they will load into the car tomorrow?

All the assumptions now are a bit strange to be honest given the past....but ok...

[organic]

here's the full quote from Toto. Doesn't seem like they're in 2022 issues. Just that there is something causing loss of front downforce and they can't find it.

Orrr.. as they push the car it doesn't respond the way they expect

[De Jokke]

https://www.gptoday.com/full_story/view ... n_retires/

I really feel sorry for Horner, he is (like Wolff said) obsessed with Wolff.

[Sofa King]

Red Bull and any team who lose a generational driver still in their prime would be in the same position

This is all about entertainment

[chrisc90]

https://www.gptoday.com/full_story/view ... n_retires/

I really feel sorry for Horner, he is (like Wolff said) obsessed with Wolff.

Toto will walk out the door the moment Lewis does IMHO.

There aint no reason they sent Vowles to Williams to get experience on running the team for nothing.

And they lost De Vries to Red Bull, who was probably the rising star coming into F1 for Merc.

[AR3-GP]

https://www.gptoday.com/full_story/view ... n_retires/

I really feel sorry for Horner, he is (like Wolff said) obsessed with Wolff.

Toto will walk out the door the moment Lewis does IMHO.

There aint no reason they sent Vowles to Williams to get experience on running the team for nothing.

And they lost De Vries to Red Bull, who was probably the rising star coming into F1 for Merc.

The chatter on Sky was that Jerome D'Ambrosio may be getting lined up to replace Toto.

[organic]

Antonelli is merc's next rising star. He is going to come through junior formulae in a very strong fashion judging by how quick he is so far.

De Vries is 28 - Merc didn't consider him a prospect for the future, but rather a stable and reliable reserve who gave good feedback & was very keen on his job.

[Redragon]

Antonelli is merc's next rising star. He is going to come through junior formulae in a very strong fashion judging by how quick he is so far.

De Vries is 28 - Merc didn't consider him a prospect for the future, but rather a stable and reliable reserve who gave good feedback & was very keen on his job.

If Toto is not cocky and having a smirky smile on interviews while playing down Mercedes performance, it means the team is in big trouble. What a year ahead because if they are not at the top, the team will fall quickly with Hamilton contract finishing, not getting the results, Russell being annoyed by coming late to the winning trend and the presure from Merceds HQ, etc... i hope I am wrong but it feels storms are ahead