Merc are lost, totally lost.
They're currently second in the constructor's championship. At the start of the year, Aston Martin looked like the nearest competitor to Red Bull and McLaren looked utterly lost. Now things are the other way around. No, Merc aren't dominating the way they used to, but their bad season is still better than everyone else except Red Bull.
Last weekend in Mexico and in Austin Mercs floor was declared amazing, "we have sorted the car", this weekend "the floor is the issue". Which one is it? Thats a team still struggling to understand the new cars after almost 2 years! They spent 18 months flip flopping on car concept, claiming that the zero pod car was looking good and it was setup changes they needed. Toto said the new design of car after they dropped the zero pod showed better results and they had struck a rich vein of development. I have yet to see any of it materialise.
Merc were picking up points well in the first half of the season, since the midpoint they would have been 3rd or 4th with Ferrari. On yesterdays showing they aren't even as fast as Aston again who rolled back the development of the car a few steps. Hell even Alpine who lack 20bhp apparently passed them on the straight!
Merc are lost, totally lost
I think that's maybe a bit OTT but I think it does highlight that on a sprint weekend, Merc really struggle to get the car performing well without the 3 hours of practice they'd normally get, and that the W14 although an improvement on the W13 is still a very hard car to set up and drive to the limit, even for drivers as talented as Hamilton and Russel.
Thats a team still struggling to understand the new cars after almost 2 years!
Thing is, it's more like 4 years if you add the time they were working on the concept before the 2022 season.
Only McLaren seem to have a handle on ground effect now, the others are all inconsistent.
Hamilton - do an Alonso and take a sabatical? Pop Albon in that seat and let him take the pain for the next 2 seasons.
Russell - just looks gaunt and shell-shocked in interviews. 2 seasons in Williams with promise of Jam Tomorrow - now looking like the pot of jam has been put on the top shelf out of reach.
Well – Mercedes are going to be slaughtered in Vegas with that long straight. 😬😬
It might depend on the degradation - they compromised everything to get the tyres to not fall apart this weekend. Next weekend will be cooler, lower and with a smoother surface.
Complaints about Mercedes performance have to seen against Verstappens ability. If it was two drivers of Perez's skill driving the red Bulls then both Hamilton and Russell would have a lot more points and the gap in both drivers and constructors championships would be much closer.
Did anyone see the Channel 4 coverage yesterday? They did it all from a studio in the UK somewhere, I’m guessing saving the money it takes to fly everyone to Brazil?<br /><br />
They were only going from Mexico.
He’s the master defender isn’t he! And then a send on the last lap to ruin Perez’s day again!
So not just a master defender. Alonso is a great racer.
Hamilton – do an Alonso and take a sabatical
According to various media sites (and here) there have been reports that Hamilton was on the cusp of retirement for about the past 5 years. There have been a few key staff changes at merc since the zero sidepod concept was shown to be a dud (twice) so I think toto is doing his bit to enable the team to start closing the gap to rbr. Now those new appointments need to do their job to deliver the car that the team has been wanting for over the past couple of years.
As for C4 broadcasting from a shed in biggin hill, at least it makes a change from red bull HQ where they've been in the past. I was wondering if the well known personal security issues in Sao Paulo meant it's not worth the hassle of sending a full crew for a late night highlights show with all the titles wrapped up.
was wondering if the well known personal security issues in Sao Paulo meant it’s not worth the hassle of sending a full crew
Ahh, I'd forgotten about that! Do you think that's the reason?
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Fingers crossed that this lives up to the potential.
Red Bull academy driver in "bullying other cars off the track" shocker
That surely needs a lengthy ban
P20
Full MemberThat surely needs a lengthy ban
Yeah, ignoring black flags as well, what a prat. Sounds like Ticktum mk 2.
Video of the initial move on here https://www.reddit.com/r/F1FeederSeries/comments/17tm647/spanish_f4_rbj_enzo_deligny_forcing_his/
Hard to see Red Bull keeping him on.
If he has the money it doesn't matter, Maldonado was banned for his antics at Monaco, he still got to F1 and raced there.
It would be interesting to know what his team was telling him to do
It reminds me of when Jean Alesi ran out of fuel after ignoring his team's instructions to pit. I guess their emotions just get the better of them and they ignore the guy on the radio screaming, "Pit now, pit now!"
"That surely needs a lengthy ban"
That's a bit harsh, he's only saying he despises Red Bull's driver development programme! There's plenty more hate for all things Red Bull shown on here. Bet there's some nice people benefitted from the various stuff Red Bull do. 🥴
I think the ‘lengthy ban’ comment relates to the F4 driver’s dangerous move and subsequent ignoring of penalty and black flags! It was crazy dangerous…
🙄. I missed off the 🥴 face. FFS.
Renderings of 2026 car revealed...
https://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/formel-1/f1-auto-2026-reglement-technik-bilder/
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Summary of the changes from Tobi
Looks nice a nice evolution, the focus on in-wash should improve ability to follow.
Smaller wheels is an interesting change.
I'd really like to see the detail on active aero too.
richmtb
Full MemberSmaller wheels is an interesting change.
I’d really like to see the detail on active aero too.
earlier in the year they were saying it would be increased downforce outside DRS zones for following cars (so they don't chew their tyres up)
Smaller wheels is an interesting change.
It will save some weight and probably have less effect on the aerodynamics.
@richmtb i found the article i mentioned which explains it a lot better than i do!
In addition it'd be good if they removed DRS entirely, seeing as the cars can now & even more so with the above, follow each other close enough.
I don't mind DRS - sure some of the overtakes are easy, but it at least changes the order. What I'd like is more battery deployment to allow tactical racing. When these two are used well (Alonso vs Perez) it's really exciting.
But it could have been even better without DRS maybe. Some photos show the Redbull pushes more airflow outside its rear tyres than other cars, making its wake wide, it might make it one of the easiest cars to overtake if there were no DRS. But as per the tweet it looks like there's more moveable aero, the FIA clearly aren't listening to me. 🙂
Anyone watch the Brawn Docu? Admittedly I was tired and perhaps not on top form, but the 1st episode was a bit crap? Just all over the place, trying to stuff as much drama in as possible, all at once? And whilst Keanu is obviously enthusiastic, his career as an interviewer isn’t gonna take off on the back of this.
A lot of this
Not watching the Brawn doc, but not watching anything this week. Feels like F1 is even more of a circus this week in Vegas ☹️
Just all over the place, trying to stuff as much drama in as possible, all at once? And whilst Keanu is obviously enthusiastic, his career as an interviewer isn’t gonna take off on the back of this.
Remember, we all already know the story. Its made for Americans to understand.
(Tongue in cheek comment... or is it?!)
Really enjoyed episode 1 of the Brawn docu. It is a bit scattergun at the start but it's trying to capture the whole thing to pull people in to the story that don't have any previous interest in F1. I'd forgotten most of what I did know and so it's a great reminder as well as offering a load of new insight - and this is only the first episode. Looking forward to watching the rest.
Oh and on the subject of DRS - the sooner that **** leaves he sport the better. This isn't Mariokart.
Feels like F1 is even more of a circus this week in Vegas
I've seen Max's comments on this (and the double header logistics) and for once I applaud him for talking straight and not pandering to the "show".
I quite enjoyed it, they've managed to hook up an impressive list of people for interviews. Like everyone here though, we're not the target audience. Although I had forgotten that they weren't the only team a double diffuser on the go
mashr
Although I had forgotten that they weren’t the only team a double diffuser on the go
I'm not sure I ever knew that anyone else had a double diffuser. It was always called THE double diffuser as if Brawn were unique - they obviously had got more right than just that.
Although I had forgotten that they weren’t the only team a double diffuser on the go
Toyota & Williams also iirc?
