NL_Fer wrote: ↑26 Sep 2023, 07:36
Current team performance is astonishing. But knowing how long it takes in f1, to take an idea to a functional part of the car, I cannot imagine that James isn’t a little bit responsible for current performance. I mean I was leading all the development from 2022 in the car, than even after he left, a team cannot create an upgrade package in such short time. Some ideas of the upgrade must already been on the table, while Key was still there.
I don't believe James Key has any significant part, if any, for the current form of the team. At the start of the season, Stella was very clear that the last thing thing signed off by the previous structure (Key) was the Baku upgrade, which was basically a new floor that would open up a new avenue of performance upgrades and concept. If you remember, AMR's resurgence actually started 2nd half of 2022, Dan Fallows joined in April of same year.
Besides, Key had admitted that the various philosophies seen on the grid at the start of the ground effect era were also considered by the team, but they ended up going the conservative route. Obviously, that would have been his decision. They later saw those concepts were the right way to go, but were already far behind. So they probably had a good idea how they worked and the only factors now were time and budget.
Q: (Stefano Mancini – La Stampa) Kimi, will you help Vettel to win his championship this year?
Kimi Raikkonen: I can only drive one car, obviously.
@2018 Singapore Grand Prix drivers press conference.