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Lewis Hamilton had a race to forget at Singapore, where after a difficult qualifying session for the entire Mercedes team, he encountered a power unit issue that forced him into retirement halfway into the race.
Your theory doesn't make sense because teams would have exploited tyre pressures in the same way while they've been free to do so if it gives Mercedes such a big advantage.DCM wrote:Just throwing this out there. And please I don't pretend to know. Just speculating over a pint.
I don't want to support "conspiracy theories" but could it be possible that the Mercs really are struggling with tire pressures?
We could have a situation similar to the Ferrari flexi wings dilemma. Where the Merc's pressures pass the "test" but fail in actuality? Then the testing method changes and now they no longer pass where they used to?
Help me out here. Could it be possible that these Pirelli pressure issues are simply putting more spotlight on their oversight and enforcement of tire pressures? As such, there is less room for teams to play (abuse, get away with, loophole, whatever you want to call it) with the pressure's based on when they are measured? Before the race, after the race, during the race etc.
Otherwise, how can Mercedes pundits suggest that they are running the normal (intended) pressures while at the same time also say they can't "activate" their tires.
Perhaps mercedes could/got away with running lower actual pressures in the past GP's but can no longer do so? They wouldn't suggest they got away with it in the past and risk everything THAT would involve.
Hence the idea that they running "normal" pressure but still can't heat the tires. So to spare themselves and the sport a lot of headache they are just keeping their mouths shut now that the sport is actually measuring?
Their new PU was evidently fine in Monza and it's not even important here, it's clearly not that.atanatizante wrote:Guys, what has changed since Spa for Merc?
Tyre pressures, cambers and a new PU.
Which one is responsible for this disaster? Or maybe there is a combination of those all above?
But most of all what is very strange to me is the fact that there are tones of brains in their team and suddenly they don't have a clue why they can't heat up the tyres (in fact it's mostly about the rears) ... too fair fetched, IMHO ...
Judging by their chassis all the other Mercedes teams are where I would expect them to be this weekend. It simply can't be down to the new engine when it performed so well in Monza. Even if the new spec engine has more power at higher RPM, it is unlikely their lack of power here is causing a 1.5 second loss, because you don't need power anyway. Look at Red Bull.atanatizante wrote:Two questions doesn't go out of my mind :
1) why all Merc customer teams including the factory team have such a poor weekend?
2) why both sides can't figure it out?
So there is something to do with the engine after all, although in the spee traps they sit on top ...
Maybe :
a. the new spec engine has a more power at higher RPM but less power at lower ones?
b. this circuit is a low power one, therefore no high power figures hence their new ersH is less efficient giving less electrical juice?
c. this doesn't come along with topping the speed traps, so maybe they went with a lower DF setup and caught out having poor traction in slow speed corners and afterwards went in FP3 with a softer suspension setup didn't do much thing in conjunction with lower pressures, smaller camber angles and also cooler track temperatures ...
I'm not suggesting they all don't do it. I'm sure they all get away with what they can. But what if Mercedes exploited it even more. Better even. It's just that it's that much more unsafe but 1.5seconds faster lol.J0rd4n wrote: Your theory doesn't make sense because teams would have exploited tyre pressures in the same way while they've been free to do so if it gives Mercedes such a big advantage.
Just kidding. I don't really know what's going on. If going that low is worth 1.5 seconds, the other teams would have been doing it by now knowing they are free to do it. Not like you're suggesting something complicated to exploit. Just a case of less tyre inflation.DCM wrote:I'm not suggesting they all don't do it. I'm sure they all get away with what they can. But what if Mercedes exploited it even more. Better even. It's just that it's that much more unsafe but 1.5seconds faster lol.J0rd4n wrote: Your theory doesn't make sense because teams would have exploited tyre pressures in the same way while they've been free to do so if it gives Mercedes such a big advantage.
It's got to be tire pressures. When are the PSI on the Quali set of tires actually measured? I can't see anything, besides that which actually contacts the road making that much of a difference over a single GP weekend.
Maybe the Merc's feel that they can't under-inflate as much as they would like to now that there is more scruiteny regarding tire pressures. What if the drivers don't even know about it. And if that's their whole approach to the weekend... quail..race...it could hurt.
And if we're looking at the low end of the PSI range (the unsafe side) just a few PSI can be quite significant when looking at something like the size of the contact patch. It could make a huge difference in Quali trim over a single lap.
Somebody is going to have to talk to the guy that actually fills the tires. Deflategate 2.0v
Who's to say that's not exactly what we're seeing this weekend? What if Mercedes didn't go backwards but rather everyone went forward?J0rd4n wrote:If going that low is worth 1.5 seconds, the other teams would have been doing it by now knowing they are free to do it. Not like you're suggesting something complicated to exploit. Just a case of less tyre inflation.
So you're saying Mercedes are the only ones following the regulation?DCM wrote:Who's to say that's not exactly what we're seeing this weekend?J0rd4n wrote:If going that low is worth 1.5 seconds, the other teams would have been doing it by now knowing they are free to do it. Not like you're suggesting something complicated to exploit. Just a case of less tyre inflation.
No. What I'm saying is that other teams may have withheld exploring lower PSI on grounds of safety and instead (alone, together or in unison) sought clarification from the FIA on weather running arguably unsafe pressures as Mercedes (assuming Mercedes are even doing this) was ok even if not specifically disallowed by the rules. If the FIA clarified that it is OK as written, safety aside, then everyone else could be compelled to exploit where they otherwise may not have. Ferrari for example or Red Bull. Check out the quail results.J0rd4n wrote:So you're saying Mercedes are the only ones following the regulation?DCM wrote:Who's to say that's not exactly what we're seeing this weekend?J0rd4n wrote:If going that low is worth 1.5 seconds, the other teams would have been doing it by now knowing they are free to do it. Not like you're suggesting something complicated to exploit. Just a case of less tyre inflation.
They are not allowed to run unsafe pressures though. The procedure has been updated so you are required to have the pressure above or on the minimum value when sat on the grid at tyre warmer temperature within the window they have confirmed. This limit will ensure all teams are firmly above that in the races when the tyres get up to optimum temperature.No. What I'm saying is that other teams may have withheld exploring lower PSI on grounds of safety and instead sought clarification from the FIA on weather running arguably unsafe pressures as Mercedes (assuming Mercedes are even doing this) was ok even if not specifically disallowed by the rules. If the FIA clarified that it is OK as written, safety aside, then everyone else could be compelled to exploit. Ferrari for example or Red Bull. Check out the quail results.