2016 Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team - Mercedes

[SiLo]

He will take all the penalties at Spa and that will be it. Will likely just make sure he does a 107% time in quali and just focus on the best race setup possible.

[dans79]

Mercedes already said that their final update of the year will be in Spa, those things are planned months ahead. Plus he's "only" down on the turbo and MHGU-H, not the ICE or CE

We don't know for sure that none of the other components weren't damaged when he had reliability issues, just that the team hasn't used new ones.

He needs 2 of each for a total of 4 new components minimum. if memory serves, that means 20 place penalty, so not matter what he does, he is starting from the back. I think its a far wiser & safer strategy, to take two completely new engines. Take the safer start from the pit-lane, and get on with the rest of the season knowing baring a tragedy Lewis is good to go for the rest of the season.

[Jolle]

Mercedes already said that their final update of the year will be in Spa, those things are planned months ahead. Plus he's "only" down on the turbo and MHGU-H, not the ICE or CE

We don't know for sure that none of the other components weren't damaged when he had reliability issues, just that the team hasn't used new ones.

He needs 2 of each for a total of 4 new components minimum. if memory serves, that means 20 place penalty, so not matter what he does, he is starting from the back. I think its a far wiser & safer strategy, to take two completely new engines. Take the safer start from the pit-lane, and get on with the rest of the season knowing baring a tragedy Lewis is good to go for the rest of the season.

Not very sure, but both Rosberg and Hamilton have 2 fresh engines for 9 races and his current one is at least good for about 4 or 5 Friday practices so that wouldn't be a problem.

If he wants to take up more ICE's he wouldn't be saving his right now and they would made sure he would be fully loaded on all components now, which he isn't.

[TAG]

The only issue with taking the entire PU times two, he's get around the issue of not having the components available but he's miss out on any tokens Mercedes introduces for the remainder of the year, they'd only be going to Nico. It's a lose/lose situation regardless.

[dans79]

If he wants to take up more ICE's he wouldn't be saving his right now and they would made sure he would be fully loaded on all components now, which he isn't.

Turning the power down, isn't just about reducing wear/load on the ICE. Turning the power down like Lewis did yesterday, makes all the components last longer.

The only issue with taking the entire PU times two, he's get around the issue of not having the components available but he's miss out on any tokens Mercedes introduces for the remainder of the year, they'd only be going to Nico.

As Jolle said earlier, people at Merc have already said Spa or Monza is where they would introduce their final upgrade.

[simieski]

I believe hamiltons current component usage stands at:

Tc 5
ice 3
Es 4
Ce 4
Mgu h 5
Mgu k 3

I don't know if I am interpreting the rules wrong but I think merc have really missed out by not using more of the other components. A penalty is received once usage of any component exceeds 5. So if they go ahead with the double power unit change he will still only be at 5 ice and 5 mgu k. Surely it would have been better to have stuck in a new ice and mgu k sooner so when they do the double power unit swap and incur the penalty they would have increased the pool of all components to 7.

[Tom145145]

I believe hamiltons current component usage stands at:

Tc 5
ice 3
Es 4
Ce 4
Mgu h 5
Mgu k 3

I don't know if I am interpreting the rules wrong but I think merc have really missed out by not using more of the other components. A penalty is received once usage of any component exceeds 5. So if they go ahead with the double power unit change he will still only be at 5 ice and 5 mgu k. Surely it would have been better to have stuck in a new ice and mgu k sooner so when they do the double power unit swap and incur the penalty they would have increased the pool of all components to 7.

It was my understanding that ICE and Mgu k usage was inline with the plan. Also remember that the limit was upped to 5 because of the 21st race, I had read somewhere Merc had planned for 5 races per PU.

[Jolle]

I believe hamiltons current component usage stands at:

Tc 5
ice 3
Es 4
Ce 4
Mgu h 5
Mgu k 3

I don't know if I am interpreting the rules wrong but I think merc have really missed out by not using more of the other components. A penalty is received once usage of any component exceeds 5. So if they go ahead with the double power unit change he will still only be at 5 ice and 5 mgu k. Surely it would have been better to have stuck in a new ice and mgu k sooner so when they do the double power unit swap and incur the penalty they would have increased the pool of all components to 7.

It was my understanding that ICE and Mgu k usage was inline with the plan. Also remember that the limit was upped to 5 because of the 21st race, I had read somewhere Merc had planned for 5 races per PU.

The first plan was prob to have a brand new PU for both drivers in Germany, but because of the (last) upgrade planned for Belgium, they gave the drivers just a new ES and CE, the rest follows in Belgium (ICE, TC and MGH-K/H).

I suspect he will take a normal fresh ICE and K unit in Belgium (no penalties) and 3 H and TC units (two he would have used under normal conditions and one spare). This would give him a very small advantage over Rosberg, because his H and TC can run a few less races.

[dans79]

One thing is for sure, Merc cannot afford any more reliability problems for either car, or the fan base will eat them alive.

[De Jokke]

Guys, jumping fast forward. What are you expecting of the 2017 season for Mercedes?

1)still the dominant car
2)still the best car but close with RBR and possibly Ferrari
3)top 3 car
4)non top 3 car

I think Merc managed to keep their staff intact for the new regulations so that's a good sign but can they eke out another advantage or will they lose everything due to the new regs??
I'm thinking it'll be option 2: still the best but by only a small margin.
Your thoughts?

[skoop]

I think it's 1, but I hope for 2

[Jolle]

Guys, jumping fast forward. What are you expecting of the 2017 season for Mercedes?

1)still the dominant car
2)still the best car but close with RBR and possibly Ferrari
3)top 3 car
4)non top 3 car

I think Merc managed to keep their staff intact for the new regulations so that's a good sign but can they eke out another advantage or will they lose everything due to the new regs??
I'm thinking it'll be option 2: still the best but by only a small margin.
Your thoughts?

Slightly ahead of RBR, then a small gap to Ferrari, McLaren closing in and then a midfield where Renault is making the best progress.

Hamilton towards his fifth, Rosberg battling for second with Verstappen and Ricciardo. Vettel frustrated and Alonso happy because of his bank account and he's in front of VanDoorne without much trouble. Kimi has its moments, some good but generally not.

[FoxHound]

Guys, jumping fast forward. What are you expecting of the 2017 season for Mercedes?

1)still the dominant car
2)still the best car but close with RBR and possibly Ferrari
3)top 3 car
4)non top 3 car

I think Merc managed to keep their staff intact for the new regulations so that's a good sign but can they eke out another advantage or will they lose everything due to the new regs??
I'm thinking it'll be option 2: still the best but by only a small margin.
Your thoughts?

The scale of the changes are significant.

Mercedes have long been said to have the best engine in the sport, and this hid other strengths which we are currently seeing.
If it only boiled down to the engine, we'd see Williams and Force India killing it too, but they don't.
Their ability to use the tyres longer and harder than anyone else is the key to their dominance. The team have an understanding on tyres which used to be an Achilles heal previously. They can run longer, switch tyres on faster, and get more out of them when needed than the competition. It's an area they don't get much credit for, but one they really should.

But next year, this will be neutralised by the wider, grippier and more durable tyres. In a nutshell, Mercedes advantage on tyres would be nullified.

Then we have the wider chassis with more aero possibilities. This has implications for the complete philosophy of the F1 car. The clock will reset, and advantages gained will need to be hard earned once more.

And finally, the engines will be opened to unlimited development(a good if expensive thing).
With Honda and Renault showing huge progress this year, it is not unforeseeable for either or both to match Mercedes in 2017. Laws of diminished returns will have started with Merc, and eventually the others will also reach that glass ceiling.

With this in mind, I see Mercedes competitive with the possibility to win races, if not as dominant as they are now.

[Juzh]

Their ability to use the tyres longer and harder than anyone else is the key to their dominance. The team have an understanding on tyres which used to be an Achilles heal previously. They can run longer, switch tyres on faster, and get more out of them when needed than the competition. It's an area they don't get much credit for, but one they really should.

It's quite obvious they've got tires worked out the best.

[ClarkBT11]

Their ability to use the tyres longer and harder than anyone else is the key to their dominance. The team have an understanding on tyres which used to be an Achilles heal previously. They can run longer, switch tyres on faster, and get more out of them when needed than the competition. It's an area they don't get much credit for, but one they really should.

It's quite obvious they've got tires worked out the best.

Thanks to the private Pirelli test. Part of Brawns master plan.