2024 Mercedes-AMG | Petronas F1 Team

[AR3-GP]

I’m expecting a lot from Mercedes as the year goes on. Something I noticed is that they typically undersell the good upgrades.

[CjC]

I’m keen to see what Merc manage to acheive as well.

The impression from them and the media in particular (who speak to the team behind the camera) is of real confidence that they’ll find a lot of laptime.

I’m curious to see if they can do so because Horner reckons Red Bull are close to the performance ceiling for this rule set, Stella has mentioned this season that laptime is becoming harder to find but Allison seems confident that Merc will find it. Just doesn’t quite make sense to me as Merc are let’s say 0.25ths per lap away from the top 2, the top 2 still should be able to find themselves 0.25ths even if it’s a struggle- so are Merc confident they will find 0.5ths to be in the fight right at the front or are they confident that they’ll out develop the top 2 and find 0.75ths to start dominating Grand Prix weekends again?
I’m interpretation is the latter but is that just me being a pessimistic McLaren fan?

*note the laptime gaps are just for discussion purposes*

[SKYnRacing24]

Just watching the Silverstone 22 race. Yes we got the epic " Through goes Hamilton " overtake but without that safety car from Ocon he would of been on for the win. Lap 27 he was gapping the Ferrari's on worn mediums. Hards weren't working that well but the W13 would of worked them better than the Ferraris as he would of had a tyre advantage (7+ laps) What a shame.

[Matt2725]

Just watching the Silverstone 22 race. Yes we got the epic " Through goes Hamilton " overtake but without that safety car from Ocon he would of been on for the win. Lap 27 he was gapping the Ferrari's on worn mediums. Hards weren't working that well but the W13 would of worked them better than the Ferraris as he would of had a tyre advantage (7+ laps) What a shame.

I always remember the bit after that, when Checo forced him off track and didn't even get a sniff from the stewards room.

[mkay]

Just watching the Silverstone 22 race. Yes we got the epic " Through goes Hamilton " overtake but without that safety car from Ocon he would of been on for the win. Lap 27 he was gapping the Ferrari's on worn mediums. Hards weren't working that well but the W13 would of worked them better than the Ferraris as he would of had a tyre advantage (7+ laps) What a shame.

I always remember the bit after that, when Checo forced him off track and didn't even get a sniff from the stewards room.

Hamilton was behind at the apex. Hamilton should have covered off the inside instead. Rookie mistake.

[Lasssept]

medium downforce rear wing

[AR3-GP]

I saw a stat posted that Merc scored more points in the last 3 races, than the first 8 races of the season. Crazy.

[Emag]

I saw a stat posted that Merc scored more points in the last 3 races, than the first 8 races of the season. Crazy.

If you're the fourth fastest team, it would normally leave you p7-p8 as the best possible positions if the teams in front always deliver.

Hardly surprising that they score substantially more points when they finally can mix with Ferrari and McLaren.

[214270]

I guess maybe he wasn’t as quick as reported in those private sessions. Another poor quali in F2 as well - at least compared to BEA who’s beginning to assert dominance.

[mkay]

I guess maybe he wasn’t as quick as reported in those private sessions. Another poor quali in F2 as well - at least compared to BEA who’s beginning to assert dominance.

Didn't Antonelli have engine issues last weekend?

Either way I genuinely haven't been impressed with either Bearman and Antonelli in a relatively weak F2 field.

[214270]

I guess maybe he wasn’t as quick as reported in those private sessions. Another poor quali in F2 as well - at least compared to BEA who’s beginning to assert dominance.

Didn't Antonelli have engine issues last weekend?

Either way I genuinely haven't been impressed with either Bearman and Antonelli in a relatively weak F2 field.

I don’t think it’s worth comparing amongst the rest of the field such is the problems at Prema but between the 2 there is some insight to be garnered. BEA has at least shown a flash; he won the sprint last round. Also, situations like this weekend for BEA - home race, announced as a Haas driver, doing an FP1 session & yet hops back into the F2 car and bests his teammate, its promising behaviour IMO

[AR3-GP]

I guess maybe he wasn’t as quick as reported in those private sessions.

Oliver Bearman said that the F1 car was more natural to drive than the F2 car so I don't think you can translate performance this way. Mercedes have no reason to lie about the private test.

[214270]

[AR3-GP]

Russell had a really good race sim on the softs. Most others didn't make that tire work on higher fuel. Interesting.

[Lasssept]