Ok where do I start?
Saw this coming from a mile away. And it will happen again at Hungary.
The W02 eats its rear tyres badly, regardless of any small advantage they get from the shorter wheelbase around the principality.
It was fast enough in qualifying trim, but that is not indicative of the tyre degrdation the car inevitably has to go through during the race. Jersey Tom will probably have a list of solutions Mercedes will be considering.
Is there a crisis?
No.
I posted on Wednesday that Mercedes would have a shocker. And they did.
Come Monza, Suzuka and maybe Spa we will see the car looking much more competitive we will be commending them on a job well done.
It's a track issue.
As for Mercedes updates, I have heard nothing. I expect them to drop the excessive cooling vents and the Mclaren style shadowed airbox as their cooling requirements will be less at a more open track.
Talk of incompetance is slowly creeping back onto this thread, I dont think we should be jumping the gun when all the indicators telegraphed us the fact that Mercedes GP would struggle with the W02 at Monaco....excessive rear tyre wear AND added cooling requirements.