2023 Mercedes-AMG | Petronas F1 Team

[mkay]

My guess is they probably messed up the setup and probably went too light on downforce. Lewis had massive understeer in the corners (hence his comment about the car not turning) and a loose backend on corner exit (the latter of which is a direct consequence of their lack of rear downforce).

The Monaco package wasn’t meant to be bringing a huge performance boost but rather make the car more compliant and predictable.

The Silverstone package (based on early season development) should hopefully bring actual performance gains. They haven’t really upgraded the underbody all season (only floor edges), and they desperately need a more efficient rear wing and probably new front wing as well. Assuming the upcoming package will focus on those areas.

I do wonder whether they’ll bring new sidepods too. Always got the impression that the Monaco sidepods were simply a stopgap.

[zibby43]

My guess is they probably messed up the setup and probably went too light on downforce. Lewis had massive understeer in the corners (hence his comment about the car not turning) and a loose backend on corner exit (the latter of which is a direct consequence of their lack of rear downforce).

The Monaco package wasn’t meant to be bringing a huge performance boost but rather make the car more compliant and predictable.

The Silverstone package (based on early season development) should hopefully bring actual performance gains. They haven’t really upgraded the underbody all season (only floor edges), and they desperately need a more efficient rear wing and probably new front wing as well. Assuming the upcoming package will focus on those areas.

I do wonder whether they’ll bring new sidepods too. Always got the impression that the Monaco sidepods were simply a stopgap.

Agree with all of this.

[denyall]

My guess is they probably messed up the setup and probably went too light on downforce.

The Monaco package wasn’t meant to be bringing a huge performance boost but rather make the car more compliant and predictable.

The Silverstone package (based on early season development) should hopefully bring actual performance gains. They haven’t really upgraded the underbody all season (only floor edges), and they desperately need a more efficient rear wing and probably new front wing as well. Assuming the upcoming package will focus on those areas.

I do wonder whether they’ll bring new sidepods too. Always got the impression that the Monaco sidepods were simply a stopgap.

JA interview with AMUS seemed to indicate that the Silverstone package is going to be big for Merc.

He also seemed to indicate that the side pods/engine cover of today aren't the final form, and that we'd all be "surprised" when they are out on the car.

Hamilton said he took front wing out today to try and strengthen the rear and get the balance right. This didn't work obviously. I think Merc tried to make the best of --- sandwich from FP1.

Redbull definitely had reserve race pace in Canada, despite the thoughts here to the contrary. I had guessed a half second at least and I can't see how it could be less than that.

[zibby43]

Well today showed Lewis still has good reactions. His starts are consistently good.
The car just doesnt have good grip.
The monaco upgrade seems like it wae overhyped now. Everyone else made steps and we are back at square 1. 3rd to 5th best fighting aston and now mclaren. Ferrari have made a good step since 3 races now but were just able to have a clean weekend.
I fear silverstone will be a fight with ferrari and mclaren with ferrari being way better. I think Aston will be a little weaker.
Did the team indicate what will be upgraded?

People are either getting too high or low based on track characteristics, which will always have the most consistent and noticeable effect on the relative pecking order.

[zibby43]

My guess is they probably messed up the setup and probably went too light on downforce.

The Monaco package wasn’t meant to be bringing a huge performance boost but rather make the car more compliant and predictable.

The Silverstone package (based on early season development) should hopefully bring actual performance gains. They haven’t really upgraded the underbody all season (only floor edges), and they desperately need a more efficient rear wing and probably new front wing as well. Assuming the upcoming package will focus on those areas.

I do wonder whether they’ll bring new sidepods too. Always got the impression that the Monaco sidepods were simply a stopgap.

JA interview with AMUS seemed to indicate that the Silverstone package is going to be big for Merc.

He also seemed to indicate that the side pods/engine cover of today aren't the final form, and that we'd all be "surprised" when they are out on the car.

Hamilton said he took front wing out today to try and strengthen the rear and get the balance right. This didn't work obviously. I think Merc tried to make the best of --- sandwich from FP1.

Redbull definitely had reserve race pace in Canada, despite the thoughts here to the contrary. I had guessed a half second at least and I can't see how it could be less than that.

I don’t think they had any reserve race pace in Canada. I just think this circuit suited them more and they got the setup right.

The track matters.

[AR3-GP]

My guess is they probably messed up the setup and probably went too light on downforce.

The Monaco package wasn’t meant to be bringing a huge performance boost but rather make the car more compliant and predictable.

The Silverstone package (based on early season development) should hopefully bring actual performance gains. They haven’t really upgraded the underbody all season (only floor edges), and they desperately need a more efficient rear wing and probably new front wing as well. Assuming the upcoming package will focus on those areas.

I do wonder whether they’ll bring new sidepods too. Always got the impression that the Monaco sidepods were simply a stopgap.

JA interview with AMUS seemed to indicate that the Silverstone package is going to be big for Merc.

He also seemed to indicate that the side pods/engine cover of today aren't the final form, and that we'd all be "surprised" when they are out on the car.

Hamilton said he took front wing out today to try and strengthen the rear and get the balance right. This didn't work obviously. I think Merc tried to make the best of --- sandwich from FP1.

Redbull definitely had reserve race pace in Canada, despite the thoughts here to the contrary. I had guessed a half second at least and I can't see how it could be less than that.

I don’t think they had any reserve race pace in Canada. I just think this circuit suited them more and they got the setup right.

The track matters.

Merc thought they would be better here than Canada. You also suggested that a few days ago when we were discussing it.

[ringo]

Perez was slicing through. Mighty under braking, not affected by drs trains. And Max was just cruising and was not threatened by losing the lead to the ferraris. Easy fly by.
Someone once posted this car isnt dominant because it didnt have 1 second per lap advantages and didnt finish 20 seconds up the road. I think as the season has settled we have seen both Max and Perez easily 1 second per lap faster when they need to.
Merc haven't improved on a net basis to Redbull. Things seem about the same or worse.
Canada i feel was just down to tyre temps not suiting Max. The true gap that Mercedes need to close is about 2 seconds per lap. If we account for Max pushing and turning up the engine.
As for upgrades to close that gap.. going by the other cars... i think there are no more silver bullets to try. Anti dive, new floor, new sidepods, floor edge, wings etc. There doesnt seem to be one thing to cut off chunks off the gap.

[Vanja #66]

Seems Russell finished ahead of Hamilton in the end

[ValeVida46]

As for upgrades to close that gap.. going by the other cars... i think there are no more silver bullets to try. Anti dive, new floor, new sidepods, floor edge, wings etc. There doesnt seem to be one thing to cut off chunks off the gap.

New floor?

[dans79]

Seems Russell finished ahead of Hamilton in the end

Don't count your chickens yet, I expect more protests.

[denyall]

Seems Russell finished ahead of Hamilton in the end

Masterfully kept it in the lines . According to the race he's not even proud!

Interestingly Hamilton backed off quite a bit in the final laps. Wondering if he and other could have kept the gap if they'd known they would be investigated.

[Alex_Z]

"The situation with track limits was difficult; the notifications were coming in after the fact, so Lewis ended up with a penalty before we could do anything about it." - Shovlin

The stewards couldn't keep up with the track limits, sounds like Shov is saying the first time LH hears of it he's given the B&W flag, is this true?

[denyall]

"The situation with track limits was difficult; the notifications were coming in after the fact, so Lewis ended up with a penalty before we could do anything about it." - Shovlin

The stewards couldn't keep up with the track limits, sounds like Shov is saying the first time LH hears of it he's given the B&W flag, is this true?

Wouldn't be surprised, yesterday I was all for the strict enforcement because it seemed like they were letting teams know within minutes but looks like during the race they had over 1000 violations to handle so makes sense that it would be a cluster.. I'm still for track limits btw, but they need to automate or otherwise speed up notifications to the teams.

[DGP123]

They would have been inundated and overwhelmed with the TL violations. Just goes to show they are unfit for purpose. Total mess.

[PlatinumZealot]

The track limits cab be easily policed by video software. I'm surprized that the FIA doesnt use any for that.