2024 Mercedes-AMG | Petronas F1 Team

[DGP123]

Hamilton decided to leave this team. That tells you all you need to know. Mercedes are an irrelevance now, and 25’ will be no different. The entire situation has actually become quite tiresome now. Unfortunately, it won’t be until 26’, at the earliest, for a resurgence.

[DRS]

Hamilton decided to leave this team. That tells you all you need to know. Mercedes are an irrelevance now, and 25’ will be no different. The entire situation has actually become quite tiresome now. Unfortunately, it won’t be until 26’, at the earliest, for a resurgence.

He decided because he had no other choice really, they just didn't want to commit to him. I have a feeling Toto has had his sights on Max for a few years now.

[PlatinumZealot]

Are they hell better prepared than the days of Hamilton! Lol

100% they’re better prepared now, don’t be silly. It’s a honed, articulate, media-trained, professional athlete they’re pumping out now. That alongside the drop in physical threshold reqd to drive these cars makes it all easier to navigate.

Hogwash! Hamilton had thousands of kilometres of testing before the opening race of the season, it's not even comparable.

Sigh here we go again.. He did all of four tests before formula 1. And one of them was washed out. The evidence has been brought up hundreds of times. His testing mileage was nothing remarkable. Max's own actually compares well to it.

[Jdn1327]

Yeah that hunt for max to come in 2026 is BS. Russell and Antonelli have come from there development program ffs, they need to worry and invest in making a good car for next year and the new regs than to be chasing Max like some weird boyband groupie. The fact Toto and Bradley have made blatant interviews to entice this doesn't sit right with me.

Totally agree with Emags comments aswell. I thought they would be pressing on by now. The talks of learning from there mistakes. James Alison coming back. The requirements from Lewis to address the cockpit issues etc its been disappointing. Yes there technically a year behind because they changed the philosophy for this year but the fact were having correlation issues and the car has become " undrivable " in many respects must be really hard for everyone involved. Mick will be on the sim tonight doing some setup work but i don't know how they will turn this around for qualy.

It's a little poetic actually. Max could end up going to AMR. Mercedes really need to get their act together. No high quality driver would desire to come to a team that doesn't even know what the problem is with the car. Hamilton and Russell's comments about changing the car and nothing worked were very worrying.

[deadhead]

What is the take on Russel vs. Antonelli around here?

I think RUS might be in a bit of trouble by mid season next year

[Jurgen von Diaz]

What is the take on Russel vs. Antonelli around here?

I think RUS might be in a bit of trouble by mid season next year

I think Antonelli will have a difficult season, with many errors like rookies tend to make (except Piastri). So much pressure in the spotlight.

[Dunlay]

What is the take on Russel vs. Antonelli around here?

I think RUS might be in a bit of trouble by mid season next year

Pirelli disagrees.

[SKYnRacing24]

What is the take on Russel vs. Antonelli around here?

I think RUS might be in a bit of trouble by mid season next year

I think Antonelli will have a difficult season, with many errors like rookies tend to make (except Piastri). So much pressure in the spotlight.

Yeah i personally agree he will have a tough one with flashes of potential. I know these youngers are better prepared these days, they have the coaches, the sims etc but real world track driving can never be replicated. Russell should have the legs on him just due to the fact his more imbedded and the mostly because this generation of merc cars have been a pain to get descent performance out of. The thing is most of us don't really know his driving traits .even following him in F2 you can't really gauge where he is. I do feel the pressure on the lad will make or break him. JV said something about how " You shouldn't really coddle these drivers too much as it can take some of that ruthlessness to survive in F1 away" and i agree. Anyway its great to have a Rookie come into a top team like this so there will be fireworks at some point.

Russell will be keen to stamp his authority and i expect the pressure to be on him just as much with all this talk about Max coming. A part of me think its some psychological ploy to do better and the other part is " Well he's been good and actually mercs reliability with peaky to undrivable cars is where the main issue lies "

[DGP123]

Anyway it’s great to have a Rookie come into a top team like this so there will be fireworks at some point

I agree with most of what you said, bar this. Mercedes aren’t a top team anymore. They’re an irrelevant force in this regulation, with no light at the end of the tunnel. Toto should have gone, with new leadership and ideas brought forward. Instead, it’s a stale team, going nowhere, or more accurately, backwards.

Yes, Antonelli should be exciting, but the saddest part, is that the only interesting thing about this team, is the inter-team battles. Judging by the thread, that will be the case again next season, instead of discussing what Mercedes should be doing, and challenging for both championships.

[Matt2725]

Anyway it’s great to have a Rookie come into a top team like this so there will be fireworks at some point

I agree with most of what you said, bar this. Mercedes aren’t a top team anymore. They’re an irrelevant force in this regulation, with no light at the end of the tunnel. Toto should have gone, with new leadership and ideas brought forward. Instead, it’s a stale team, going nowhere, or more accurately, backwards.

Yes, Antonelli should be exciting, but the saddest part, is that the only interesting thing about this team, is the inter-team battles. Judging by the thread, that will be the case again next season, instead of discussing what Mercedes should be doing, and challenging for both championships.

The team thread will become a lot more peaceful next season. The fireworks will be under the Ferrari thread.

Antonelli will either try and prove himself too early or he'll be sensible. Remains to be seen.

[Jdn1327]

It's so hard to see Hamilton so far off his team mate. Truly washed up hey...unfortunately this will taint his legacy forever now. He should have called it quits in 2021.

[DRS]

It's so hard to see Hamilton so far off his team mate. Truly washed up hey...unfortunately this will taint his legacy forever now. He should have called it quits in 2021.

This is becoming painful as a fan, I fully agree.

[SKYnRacing24]

Nah these tyres are fked mate, look at these ridiculous gaps between team mates,

[Jurgen von Diaz]

Antonelli will either try and prove himself too early or he'll be sensible. Remains to be seen.

This is my hunch too; Antonelli wants to put on a show like he did in Monza. Trying too hard and we could see him in the barriers every now and then. He seems like the Max type of guy who can't take it easy behind the wheel.

[DRS]

Nah these tyres are fked mate, look at these ridiculous gaps between team mates,

Russell must constantly get the best tyres then....