2021 AMG Mercedes F1 Team

[Hammerfist]

Both drivers speaking to SkyF1 on the F1 show sounded like they expect to not be top team in Bahrain, but will be improving in future. Maybe they just don't have the Token updates ready in time.

Token parts has to be on the car for the weekend as far asI understand and generally you can't just swap such parts that easily. But the general picture that Mercedes and tech journalists want to paint is that Mercedes low-rake concept is affected more by the new regulations than high-rake concepts. Peak performance might be there but the rear end is more suceptible to wind and other factors. Though Mercedes won't be able to shift rake-concept mid-season they should be able to get updates that limit the damage the new regulations have had on their performance. Mercedes already realised this in pre-season testing so they should have upgrades in a few weeks.

This comes with the caveat that Mercedes is struggling a bit more tha Red Bull.

There must be something to that low rake problem because the Aston Martin is also suffering a lot from these new regs.

[lio007]

OK, I didn't know Toto can speak French so well.

[f1rules]

So pics of merc with more rake emerging, first sign to me not all is well

[El Scorchio]

So pics of merc with more rake emerging, first sign to me not all is well
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ExaPfTxWEA ... name=large

Or that we finally know what they spent their tokens on? (If increasing the rake requires that)

It's certainly an 'obvious' change, as they said it would be.

[Hoffman900]

“All is not well”...

Are some of you aiming for an Oscar in drama?

[DarthPlagueisTheVise]

Bottas struggling with tyre temps ?

[Morteza]

[Femi]

So pics of merc with more rake emerging, first sign to me not all is well
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ExaPfTxWEA ... name=large

I don't think they can just transition away from LR just as easily as that, if indeed that's what we are looking at. It's a comparison test which perhaps they wanted to look at during testing but couldn't for obvious reasons.
They didn't do as bad as feared, they could even be ahead!

[Juzh]

hamilton fp2 lap
https://streamable.com/zy3grz

[dans79]

hamilton fp2 lap
https://streamable.com/zy3grz

Still looks like it has a decent amount understeer, so it either has a decent amount of fuel onboard, or they don't have the set-up right yet. If I had to guess, I'd say a little of both.

[DarthPlagueisTheVise]

hamilton fp2 lap
https://streamable.com/zy3grz

Looks really bad through turn 6 7 and especially 8

[djones]

Looks bad, all is not well etc??

Most publications have said Hamilton showed the best pace of all the drivers in the FP2 session.

If this is when all is bad, imagine what it will be like when they sort the car out.

[jamzy44]

hamilton fp2 lap
https://streamable.com/zy3grz

Couple of things to note, on this lap Lewis hits 312 kph before T1 whereas on the harder tyres (his green s1) he was doing 319. Also on the back straight before the final corner watch him hold it on the revs in 6th for longer than you'd expect, he also didn't have a green S3. Merc know they're hiding performance.

[nevill3]

Toto has also said they left Valteri out a long time on his final stint in FP2 which made the car almost undriveable

[El Scorchio]

hamilton fp2 lap
https://streamable.com/zy3grz

Couple of things to note, on this lap Lewis hits 312 kph before T1 whereas on the harder tyres (his green s1) he was doing 319. Also on the back straight before the final corner watch him hold it on the revs in 6th for longer than you'd expect, he also didn't have a green S3. Merc know they're hiding performance.

I thought I saw that in FP1 from an onboard too. Taking it quite easy in s3 and braking rather early for the last corner(s)
The constant yellows in s1 and 3 on the soft tyres (from some other teams as well) indicate something left in the tank.