2026 Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team

[Matt2725]

Positive for the sprint session at least. I'd say the race, but who knows with that weather.

[F1Krof]

5 tenths slower than McLaren. Seems like they're already been outdeveloped by a customer team :/

[Matt2725]

Not sure why they didn't bring their upgrades earlier. I'm not sure what saving them for Canada is going to do for them really.

As it stands, their race pace may save them somewhat in the sprint/race but otherwise they're going to struggle to make the podium.

[zibby43]

Wow their single lap pace isn’t looking too good.

[F1Krof]

If they lose the lead, then it suggest that 2022 was not the rules that caught them, it was because they really were incapable of building a solid car with philosphy of a solid development path.

[Lasssept]

[AR3-GP]

What's the excuse for Russell this time?

[zibby43]

Nice recovery by Kimi but those upgrades in Canada better work

[search]

Lord just said that Russell lost time due to oversteer in the fast corners, still needing to optimize the setup. Compared to McLaren, they are a good bit behind in regards to energy management so far.

[zibby43]

Lord just said that Russell lost time due to oversteer in the fast corners, still needing to optimize the setup. Compared to McLaren, they are a good bit behind in regards to energy management so far.

Plenty of racing still left to do this weekend.

[Y-250.A]

I think they will recover during the sprint and also during the qualifying and race , the Ferraris and McLaren's indeed look strong , but the Mercedes they messed up with setups and I think everything will be back in order tmw for qualifying ...

[f1isgood]

What's the excuse for Russell this time?

Skill.

[f1isgood]

If they lose the lead, then it suggest that 2022 was not the rules that caught them, it was because they really were incapable of building a solid car with philosphy of a solid development path.

With an engine advantage your chassis didn't need to be as good. They of course had fantastic chassis multiple times during their dominant era but most of the credit goes to HPP. As usual HPP delivered a banger but they no longer can nerf their customers.

[Lasssept]

[Emag]

Mercedes should not have been in this position on the fourth race of the season. I will give it the benefit of the doubt because it's just sprint quali of a rather long weekend, so perhaps we're overplaying the result a bit. It could still be that Merc just blasts past everyone on the races. They were definitely the fastest in FP long runs at least.
Makes no sense for them to be beat so early even when accounting for McLaren's upgrades. Kimi was almost a second per lap faster than Oscar in free air in Japan.