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Just reading that RB have won 22 out of the last 27 races (81%) If you compare that with the start of the hybrid era and Mercedes domination where at this point were at 84% of all races won...why does this feel different? I don't remember the Merc prancing off into the distance so easily, were they really so dominant?
were they really so dominant?
Yes, from the moment the teams fired up* for the very first practice session of the hybrid era. What is different is that Merc nailed those regs from the off but things didn't get worse from that moment.
RB started a bit better than the rest last year but, rather than holding steady or being caught as you might imagine, they've found another massive leap in season 2. Also probably feels worse as Verstappen and the senior management repeatedly come across as ****s, at least Merc were likeable (and I've never been a Merc or Hamilton fan). There was also more competition for the championship during the Merc era as the drivers were possibly more evenly matched, or at least ended up going head to head more often than we're currently seeing
*or didn't, which was just as likely
I remember the different engine modes available to mercedes which basically tore through the grid whenever they qualified outside the top 10. Seems they can really mess around with mappings too much intra race so if its fast I guess it will be fast all the time. 84% of all races over the championship years is a lot so I imagine we shall review it once Max gets to 7 WDC
but, rather than holding steady or being caught as you might imagine, they’ve found another massive leap in season 2
yes, I think you've nailed it, RB have leapt so far ahead this season, if you look at the 2nd year of Hybrids (2015) I think both RB and Ferrari had won a race apiece
I think the various limits - budget, wind tunnel, CFD, sandwiches etc aren't helping matters as previously the big teams could put huge resources into catching up. It'll be interesting to see how much has changed on the "new concept" Merc - reports of sidepods, floor, all sorts which is a big gamble to take when they probably don't have the capacity left to develop a V3.0 if the new one doesn't work on track.
It’ll be interesting to see how much has changed on the “new concept” Merc
They are introducing it for the next round, aren't they?
<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, 'Noto Sans', sans-serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; background-color: #eeeeee;"> I don’t remember the Merc prancing off into the distance so easily, were they really so dominant?</span>
It's pretty close, but as others have said the main difference is the massive leap forward Red Bull have made this season. It's hard to imagine another team winning this year, it may well be a Red Bull clean sweep without an intra-team battle to look forward to
All I can add is this will never happen between Max and Checo - just won’t be allowed by ‘the management’ of Red Bull - the rivalry between Nico and Lewis was up there with Senna and Prost at times…
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ixmGVL4dedI
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xEbhO7qZyK8
johndohFree Member
It’ll be interesting to see how much has changed on the “new concept” Merc
They are introducing it for the next round, aren’t they?
Yeah, I've read different things as to the extent of the changes which will be in place at Imola, anywhere from steering and front suspension to steering, front suspension, floor, and bodywork. George tested the new steering system at Miami I think.
Red Bull and Aston have anti-dive geometry on their front suspension, so will be interesting to see if it is possible to Merc to adopt that within the confines of their current chassis (I assume there is no hope of having budget to homologate another one?)
Spyshot of Mercedes B-Spec car concepts...
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...now then Toto - Triple Bananas or Bullet Bill!?
the-muffin-manFull Member
Spyshot of Mercedes B-Spec car concepts…
yuki in the middle there
Saw this doing the rounds on Twitter – story has gone mainstream now though…
I don’t think you take on a driver of Ricciardo’s calibre to just stick him in the simulator so I’ve always assumed they were lining him up for a race seat. I initially thought that they were going to ditch Perez, but he’s really stepped up this year, so I guess an Alpha Tauri seat makes sense if de Vries doesn’t cut Franz and Marko’s mustard.
I don’t think you take on a driver of Ricciardo’s calibre to just stick him in the simulator so I’ve always assumed they were lining him up for a race seat.
I don't normally have much nice to say about Horner and Helmut, but I suspect they like DR and respect him as a driver. I think they were genuinely shocked and disappointed to lose him and they've struggled to find a replacement in the same league. They've seen how good he is when he has a car that he's comfortable with, plus their pool of developmental drivers seems to have dried up. My money is on Devries not lasting the season, he reminds me of Brendan Hartley - an obviously accomplished driver who you want to see do well, but just doesn't seem to be up to the job of F1.
Re the Imola upgrades, there's a nice article here about what Gary Anderson thinks is wrong with the Merc.
The comments around the centre of pressure sound quite plausible, I think somebody on STW had commented on Mercs front wing being flexible before. It is quite visible in the onboards.
https://the-race.com/formula-1/gary-anderson-what-mercedes-must-prove-with-its-imola-upgrade/
I reckon there's a chance they will cancel this race. There's serious flooding around Imola, and more rainfall predicted.
A lot of talk on Twitter about the flooding, but nothing at all on mainstream F1 sites.
Surely they'd have cancelled by now as kit will already have arrived and set-up will be well under way.
I would think they'll leave it as late as possible now due to the financial implications of cancelling the race at this late stage.
Planet F1 have articles on it now. Given the debacle of the Spa race a couple of years back, I think if there's any chance of heavy rain all weekend, they'll just cancel it
Apparently, the rain is expected to ease as the week progresses, and the race is still scheduled to go ahead.
nickc
Full Member
Planet F1 have articles on it now. Given the debacle of the Spa race a couple of years back, I think if there’s any chance of heavy rain all weekend, they’ll just cancel it
Only if they can find a way to hold on to all the money
Apparent tweet from the compound (unverified)
🟡 This is how the TV compound is today at the Enzo e Dino Ferrari Autodrome (headquarters of the Emilia-Romagna GP).
https://twitter.com/Armandrums86/status/1658480869542367236
Heavy rain and risk of flooding in Imola. The circuit is evacuated
https://twitter.com/LaurentDupin_f1/status/1658467631110799360
There's a meeting this morning apparently to decide what they're going to do.
But looking at the latest videos on Twitter there's no way this race should run. It would drag resources away from rescue efforts and bring 1000's into the area when they need to be keeping people away.
My thoughts are with those in the area, it looks dreadful. 5 missing so far. 😔
Re. the race, even if they ran it would fans, the logistics of setting up the race for the teams will be difficult, they've missed a day of setup, plus they need to repair whatever damage has occurred in the pit boxes.
Not to mention the helicopter needs to be available and have good enough weather conditions to take off and land (presuming the roads are still impassable).
I've just read a couple of articles – I don't see how they can possibly justify allowing it to go ahead given the situation over there.
https://twitter.com/FastestPitStop/status/1658762472013152260
If F1/Liberty have the tiniest bit of conscience they'll call this off. I have my doubts though. Can see it being a Sat/Sun event.
Cancelled!...
I bet all the big car updates will be held over till Spain now. No point trotting them out at Monaco.
Well, that is a sensible decision.
Good, right decision.
Gutted not to see all the updates though!
Just heard it announced on the Giro coverage. I hope that's going to be OK for the big climbs next week.
slowoldman
Full MemberJust heard it announced on the Giro coverage. I hope that’s going to be OK for the big climbs next week.
Given the sheer volumes of water involved, I'd be surprised if there aren't any major landslides.
Looking at the latest videos it seems many peoples homes and cars will have been destroyed. 🙁
https://twitter.com/veroisonf1/status/1658723285356494849
This must please Merc, more time to install and test those upgrades.
I wonder what the implications are to the F1 teams cost cap of this? Not sure whether the teams has already arrived - if so, was stuff damaged by the floods?
I guess any extra cost maybe offset against less mileage the cars and components would have logged...
I wonder what the implications are to the F1 teams cost cap of this?
As this is unprecedented, I would like to think that the costs incurred by the teams would be waived by the FIA.
I wonder what the implications are to the F1 teams cost cap of this?
They won't need to provide any sandwiches for their vips this weekend, so big impact for Redbull.
(though seriously I hope any food and drink they have already got on site finds its way to those in need in the area)
Definitely the right call. As others have said I’m far more interested in the plight of the locals than the impact on the F1 circus
Mercedes are running their new car in Monaco. Suppose it's the only option as all the spares they have with them will be to the new spec. They've already said there will be no side-by-side comparison with original car as they are too different.
Ferrari donated about €700k as well.
I read on Twitter that F1 has donated a million euros to the relief fund.
(though seriously I hope any food and drink they have already got on site finds its way to those in need in the area)
Yes they have said they are donating all the food locally.
F1 has also arranged for food that would have been used in hospitality to be distributed to those in need.
It has been donated to a group organising food banks and distribution for those affected by the floods.
The onboards from N24 are epic and scary!! 😬😳
Live on YouTube for those who are interested.
So the Hamilton to Ferrari rumours are doing the rounds again!
As much as I'd love to see him there I can't see it happening. He's probably only going to do 2 or 3 more seasons and that isn't enough time to mould a team like Ferrari to his way of working.
...if this weekends Merc update is a dog though, we may see him having a drink of the Ferrari yacht! 🙂
He’s probably only going to do 2 or 3 more seasons and that isn’t enough time to mould a team like Ferrari to his way of working.
Does that really matter though? Worst case, he finishes at Ferrari and absolutely coins it in with little real pressure as they aren't currently winning. Best case, he finishes at Ferrari as an absolute hero if he manages to win a championship, and absolutely coins it in. Or the sensible middle, wins a few races, hero to the Tifosi for having a crack, absolutely coins it in.
He’s probably only going to do 2 or 3 more seasons and that isn’t enough time to mould a team like Ferrari to his way of working.
I think the question Ferrari are asking Hamilton is
How much would it take for you to drive with us for a bit so so that we can say "Hamilton; 7times world champion the Ferrari driver" in our advertising?
I would've thought that "X" amount of money is going to be enough at some point.