2023 Mercedes-AMG | Petronas F1 Team

[rifrafs2kees]

It's 3-0 for George against Lewis!

Still gonna be celebrating when George is beating a 40 year old in qualifying?

It will happen naturally.

I was observing how Zhao has been beating Bottas recently and Bottas was a stern challenge for Hamilton in qualifying. Doesn't make Zhao the greatest qualifier on the grid but it shows guys like Hamitlon and Alonso aren't immune to the effects of age.

Lewis chose not to retire. So that's his problem. No one forced him to stay. Bottas was always a crap driver and it's being shown now by Zhou. There is no other inference there. May be Zhou is infact the greatest qualifier, who knows? He doesn't have those dominant Mercedes cars, otherwise we would have witnessed the dominance of The Great Zhou of China on the F1 stage.

Dude, what's your problem? You have it out for the guy. Merc's goal is to field the best driver pairing possible, which the points split this and last year prove they have achieved. One would think Hamilton bins the car every week/comes last reading your no-value add posts. Russell is faster right now, and so what?

I saw Hamilton fix Russell's forgotten headrest back onto his car and express joy at 2nd and 3rd qualifying posts...juxtapose that against the tone of your dialog...the nerve.

[uchihaigor1701]

It has nothing to do with the topic, but most of you seem to have the wish that Lewis retires, ah it's 3-0 for George only what matters is points at the end of the race. If ham is bothering with the car because it doesn't match his driving style and his obligation to adapt and make the best of it if the update comes to make him comfortable then we'll see two drivers who are ok with the car then just enjoy the show

[rifrafs2kees]

It has nothing to do with the topic, but most of you seem to have the wish that Lewis retires, ah it's 3-0 for George only what matters is points at the end of the race. If ham is bothering with the car because it doesn't match his driving style and his obligation to adapt and make the best of it if the update comes to make him comfortable then we'll see two drivers who are ok with the car then just enjoy the show

You are right...it's personal with these guys. He's 7x champion, rich and still quick, and still here!

[ringo]

I have just accepted that every chance to promote Russel and Bash Lewis some posters will jump to it with each session. So far Hamilton ahead on points and may well still be ahead on points after Melbourne's race.
So far Russel is fast, which we all expected.
Firs race a few hundreths in qualy, second about 4 tenths, third a tenth. While Hamilton better in the race. It's a healthy partnership, both taking their own approach to racing and performing nicely. None have made any big mistakes like Perez have this weekend.

[wogx]

Russell almost crying in his car...

[mkay]

Russell played himself with the VSC call, especially if he had any input on the call.

For once, Russell's VSC / SC good karma vanished.

[zubster]

So what setup changes have they done to be more competitive against Aston Martin and Ferrari. Redbull still out of reach but not by a second a lap.

[cplchanb]

Wow first spectacular merc engine explosion since Malaysia 2016...ham looked in solid control over Alonso to but they are clearly at least half a second behind rb

[KimiRai]

Not so bad of a car, 2nd fastest in Melbourne

[mkay]

Not so bad of a car, 2nd fastest in Melbourne

2nd fastest car but was at least 0.5s/lap slower when everyone pushed. On a 75-80s lap with very few corners, that's quite a lot.

Positive for Merc in that they were best of the rest but track conditions probably helped them.

[Juzh]

Wow first spectacular merc engine explosion since Malaysia 2016...ham looked in solid control over Alonso to but they are clearly at least half a second behind rb

Looked like exhaust caught fire, maybe pu itself is fine.

[wogx]

The exhaust is made of metal and fireproof materials, if there was a fire was there no oil/fuel leakage?

[chrisc90]

Looked like it dropped a cylinder to be fair. Would explain the pulsing flames out the back rather than continuous fire

[toraabe]

Could be a turbo failure since the engine was running fine. I remember myself driving a bus when the seal to the turbine failed and oil poured into it. Just massive flames out of the exhaust. No danger

[Sevach]

Wow first spectacular merc engine explosion since Malaysia 2016...ham looked in solid control over Alonso to but they are clearly at least half a second behind rb

Looked like exhaust caught fire, maybe pu itself is fine.

It lost a significant amount of power and was smoking before igniting.
No sound of metal eating itself though...