2023 Mercedes-AMG | Petronas F1 Team

[ValeVida46]

PU division is still spending company cash. Toto, Horner said PU business isnt really profitable anymore.

Engines cost money, this has always been the case.
But Mercedes very easily spent more as an exclusive supplier to McLaren between 1995 and 2008, with free engines and an extra 70m+ (up to 100m) for the team. At least today there's nothing like the outgoings as there was back then and it can run with a fraction of the budget as before, even to the point of turning profit.

[AR3-GP]

PU division is still spending company cash. Toto, Horner said PU business isnt really profitable anymore.

Engines cost money, this has always been the case.
But Mercedes very easily spent more as an exclusive supplier to McLaren between 1995 and 2008, with free engines and an extra 70m+ (up to 100m) for the team. At least today there's nothing like the outgoings as there was back then and it can run with a fraction of the budget as before, even to the point of turning profit.

Since '22-'25 is frozen, the money is being spent on the 2026 development. However I agree with you it's cheaper since there's a budget cap now. I don't think anyone is turning a profit because the FIA put a cap on the leasing agreements which completely ignores the economic chaos of the last 3 years.

[ValeVida46]

Since '22-'25 is frozen, the money is being spent on the 2026 development. However I agree with you it's cheaper since there's a budget cap now. I don't think anyone is turning a profit because the FIA put a cap on the leasing agreements which completely ignores the economic chaos of the last 3 years.

Sure, as it's capped...costs will not be anywhere near those days, especially as back then you could build qualifying engines which blow up after 60kms
But yes, engine programmes cost cash, the only difference is now it will cost less cash.

[Wouter]

From an article in a Dutch Magazine a few quotes from an interview with Russell. Translated by DeepL.

He won his first Grand Prix. Mercedes' only one, last year. It was an emotional moment. Just for a moment. After all: "I am not here to win races. But to become world champion." Read and hear how George Russell wants to go full steam ahead in 2023.

Until the end of 2021, his final season at Williams, the paddock was divided into two camps. The believers and the sceptics. The first camp was mainly populated by Toto Wolff and his ilk. His faith in George Russell's ability seemed unshakeable. In the other camp, it was repeatedly heard: 'Still, just wait until he drives in a top team, with a top driver next to him'.

We are a fat year later and the 24-year-old Briton has had a season in a top team, with a top driver alongside him. The sceptics' camp is already much smaller. Almost deserted, even. Because for that oh-so-important 2022 season, he has passed. Maxima cum laude. George Russell did not just stand tall alongside Lewis Hamilton. He was his equal. At times his superior. And notably won the only Grand Prix Mercedes could bring in this season, in Brazil.

"Yes, then you do get very emotional for a moment," he says when we remind him. "Like your whole life between four wheels lightning through your head in a few seconds. I thought of that time when my mum and dad took me to the kart races. Of those years after. Of the people I could count on. I now know why that first win is a moment you will always cherish as a driver."

Without that puncture, you could have won your first two years ago in Bahrain, when you replaced an ailing Lewis Hamilton. The biggest disappointment of your career, perhaps?

"Actually no. Yes, okay: you are disappointed for a while. But I deserved to win that race and, most importantly, everyone had seen that too. My statement had been made. The way I took Bottas down then: it undoubtedly did my reputation more good than if I had won that race alone up front and easily, because the Mercedes was clearly the best machine in the field at that time."

Formula 1 is a team sport, you always hear. But did it matter to you that you won that first one for Mercedes in 2022, and not Hamilton?

"Of course. You always want to win yourself. On the other hand: I'm not here to win one race. I'm here to win as many as possible. And above all: to become world champion. That's my ambition."

There is a picture of you as a child with your great idol, one Lewis Hamilton. Was it difficult being a teammate of someone you used to look up to?



"No. As soon as you put on that helmet you don't think about things like that anymore. Then you are only concerned with yourself and your machine, it doesn't matter if your teammate has been world champion seven times, or used to be your idol. Nor should it, otherwise you are doing the wrong thing. That picture tells me two things when I look at it. One: that you should always keep believing in your dreams. And two: that life flashes by. That the clock is ticking very fast. That photo was taken in 2009. Thirteen years ago, but it feels like yesterday. I still remember that day perfectly. And lo and behold, meanwhile, I will soon start my fifth season in Formula 1. I have been driving Formula 1 longer than in any other category before it. It makes me realise that I have to get what I can out of every day."

Is Hamilton the best teammate ever?

"By far. You notice in everything that Lewis still has that holy fire. I definitely see him driving here for a few more years. That last season was a bit off, that was a new challenge for him. It motivated him. But it doesn't take away from the fact that I want to beat him. I believe in myself, I am convinced that on a good day I can beat anyone. That self-confidence pushes boundaries."

Do you still have a margin for growth as a driver?

"You always have that. But with someone like Hamilton next to you, that learning process goes much
faster. Until last season, I had never experienced that, being pushed like that by
my teammate. Then the bar is suddenly much higher. But then you also learn a lot about
yourself. That makes you better, stronger and faster."

In Barcelona, you performed a great duel with Verstappen. Did you ever kart against him back then?

"Yes, in 2011 I think. Max won one European championship and I won another. The level was very high then, as Charles Leclerc and Esteban Ocon were also competing. Or Lando Norris and Alex Albon, they were also part of that generation. Yes, we've known each other for a while. Great anyway, that we are in Formula 1 together today."

The duel between Verstappen and Leclerc in 2022 was a lot less toxic than Verstappen contra Hamilton a season earlier. Is that a matter of generation, because you knew each other from in karting?

"I don't think so. The situation was different. Last season, Max and Red Bull were actually driving not against the others but against themselves, especially then in the second half of the season: just trying not to make mistakes. I know that from experience. In an exciting title race, you only think about one thing: beating your great rival. Because every point counts. But when you have a wide lead in the standings, it's quite okay if you come second once. That's a completely different dynamic. Max didn't have to go deep into duels at all in the second half of the season. It worked out that way too, he had it that easy."

You always walk very neatly. Well dressed, neatly coiffed. Is that your upbringing?

"It's not down to my time at school." Laughs: "I quit school when I was 14. It's also not something that was crammed in by my parents. I'm just like that, want to look neat. Call it my personality, as everyone has it. You always have to know what kind of person you want to be, and try to radiate that. And then maybe you unconsciously try to imitate someone, yes. David Beckham is a role model for many Brits, but I look up more to someone like Roger Federer."

Curious about the rest of this story? Buy ..............

[avantman]

"I don't think so. The situation was different. Last season, Max and Red Bull were actually driving not against the others but against themselves, especially then in the second half of the season: just trying not to make mistakes."

Just silly. Such bitterness.

"Max didn't have to go deep into duels at all in the second half of the season. It worked out that way too, he had it that easy."

Is that why he fought against you so hard in Brazil, I wonder?

[organic]

[De Jokke]

"I don't think so. The situation was different. Last season, Max and Red Bull were actually driving not against the others but against themselves, especially then in the second half of the season: just trying not to make mistakes."

Just silly. Such bitterness.

"Max didn't have to go deep into duels at all in the second half of the season. It worked out that way too, he had it that easy."

Is that why he fought against you so hard in Brazil, I wonder?

Just because the man speaks the truth, he's bitter? 2022 was a one-man show, just like '23 will be. No need to beat around the bush. You should praise George for calling it what it is instead of all those journalist trying to hype something boring into something exciting

[AR3-GP]

"I don't think so. The situation was different. Last season, Max and Red Bull were actually driving not against the others but against themselves, especially then in the second half of the season: just trying not to make mistakes."

Just silly. Such bitterness.

"Max didn't have to go deep into duels at all in the second half of the season. It worked out that way too, he had it that easy."

Is that why he fought against you so hard in Brazil, I wonder?

Just because the man speaks the truth, he's bitter? 2022 was a one-man show, just like '23 will be. No need to beat around the bush. You should praise George for calling it what it is instead of all those journalist trying to hype something boring into something exciting

Verstappen and Leclerc didn't battle much in the last half of the season so that's not what George was asked. The only battle they had after the summer break was USA.

It's the first half of the season when the titles were still on the line where they battled and managed to do it respectfully. Bahrain. Miami. Imola. Saudi Arabia. Spain. France when the championships were on the line. George failed to address this.

Starting to get off topic but we should always strive for accuracy.

[ringo]

The RB18 eas still the best race car. Ferrari only showed potential on Saturday.
So Russell's comments still hold for most of 2022 apart fron the first 3 or so races where teams were learning to setup their cars and iron out kinks. The top speed advantange 9f the rb18 put aside any concerns for losing pole to Leclerc.

[Jdn1327]

Interesting article about the side pods from different teams. There is an overlay of the AMR side pods over the W14

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/the- ... /10444056/

[ValeVida46]

The RB18 eas still the best race car. Ferrari only showed potential on Saturday.
So Russell's comments still hold for most of 2022 apart fron the first 3 or so races where teams were learning to setup their cars and iron out kinks. The top speed advantange of the rb18 put aside any concerns for losing pole to Leclerc.

Agree, personally don't see anything wrong or controversial with what Russell said.

Interesting article about the side pods from different teams. There is an overlay of the AMR side pods over the W14

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/the- ... /10444056/

From this image it certainly doesn't look like Mercedes would have a big issue moving toward the Aston Martin design.
Other teams like Williams and Aston Martin themselves made huge changes last year in readapting their side pod designs, and seems logical that Mercedes can apply this reasonably quickly.

[organic]

Aston Martin had developed the wider sidepod idea well in advance of the season and had built their car with the plan to have its concept easily changed.

Williams is the most comparable situation I'd say since they essentially started working on a B-spec car at the beginning of the season and it was only ready in time for Silverstone which was about a 5 month gap. That seems about right in terms of lead time that you would expect for an update of that size.

Maybe 5 months isn't terrible though as they could use the second half of the season learning and gaining understanding and they can take a proper step forward for 2024 with the new geometries.

One further caveat to that is that Williams and AMR made those changes in the 1st year of the regs which meant that their aerodynamic concept was immature: it was easier to change and immediately find a step forward in performance with the new downwashing approach. Merc have already said they have looked at the other ideas and it didn't seem to offer them any performance increase; it is possible that they have developed down their current route so far (12 months of development) such that it may take a while before the downwashing sidepods offer more performance, whilst the potential may always be higher. It's hard to say.

[ValeVida46]

Aston Martin had developed the wider sidepod idea well in advance of the season and had built their car with the plan to have its concept easily changed

But we have direct quotes from Mercedes saying they have another sidepod design already being evaluated from as far back as late last year. And this was from Wolff back in February. Not unlike Aston Martin.

We kept staying with the narrow sidepod as it is, but you could well see some development from now on that could be coming with the upgrades and the sidepods will change – not very soon, but we are looking at solutions.

One further caveat to that is that Williams and AMR did those changes in the 1st year of the regs which meant that their aerodynamic concept was not mature, so it was easier to change and immediately find a step forward in performance with the new downwashing approach. Merc have already said they have looked at the other ideas and it didn't seem to offer them any performance increase - potentially because they have developed down their current route so far (12 months of development) such that it'll take a while before the downwashing sidepods offer more performance, but the potential is always higher. It's hard to say.

There are solutions that have been presented which can easily be mimicked, as is the F1 way. I don't believe that changing the sidepod concept automatically means they're 12 months behind. Learning curves will be steep and solutions that work for other teams are obviously open to the team to try.

[organic]

If it is the case then they may be able to do it earlier than I predict.

They are bringing the new sidepods for imola(?) that Mike Elliott said were an evolution of their current mid-wing idea I believe in his interview with Ted, saying it wouldn't be similar to anyone else's sidepod. Would they bin this update to rush in a downwashing sidepod that wouldn't even offer as much performance given they've said they don't find as much performance with other approaches? I'm not convinced that they would do that yet..

I'm not saying they're going to be 12 months behind. I'm saying that it's harder to switch the approach and find instant performance from a concept change now than at the start of the regulations. So if they go down that route, it may take longer before they want to put the downwashing sidepods into production as otherwise it might cost too much laptime in the short term. Mimicry will help certainly

[chrisc90]

Question is whether the mid-wing will be beneficial for the airflow.