2018 Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team

[Phil]

Not really. Hamilton just killed his tires with the lock-up. If he hadnt, he could have stayed out just as long. What you were seeing is just that the soft tire didnt work at all (Kimi showed it first, then Hamilton and then Vettel). Bottas (as did both Redbulls) had nothing to lose by staying out, waiting for a safety car. Since that came quite late, it allowed them to avoid that soft tire and go directly onto the Ultra for a very short last stint.

Nothing really extraordinary. Just worked out well through circumstance. It also helped that RedBull wasnt performing initially, so the top 3 were in their own race and not hussled into stops by cars behind.

It was also peculiar that all tires suffered to an extent in getting temperature into the tire meaning no undercut. Thus why and how Max came out ahead of Ricciardo despite stopping later.

[Fulcrum]

Not really. Hamilton just killed his tires with the lock-up. If he hadnt, he could have stayed out just as long. What you were seeing is just that the soft tire didnt work at all (Kimi showed it first, then Hamilton and then Vettel). Bottas (as did both Redbulls) had nothing to lose by staying out, waiting for a safety car. Since that came quite late, it allowed them to avoid that soft tire and go directly onto the Ultra for a very short last stint.

Nothing really extraordinary. Just worked out well through circumstance. It also helped that RedBull wasnt performing initially, so the top 3 were in their own race and not hussled into stops by cars behind.

It was also peculiar that all tires suffered to an extent in getting temperature into the tire meaning no undercut. Thus why and how Max came out ahead of Ricciardo despite stopping later.

Didn't Ricciardo have traffic on his in/out laps as well?

[Phil]

AFAIR no, he came out just ahead of a lapped car. Not sure if he had any more traffic after that, but it was a general trend that at least CH4 picked up on in that most cars were struggling to get their new tires into the best working temperature range. When Max came out on new ultras ahead of Dan, you could immediately tell he was struggling too, relative to Dan who was already used to the tires.

[iotar__]

A question: did Mercedes or Hamilton only had "tyre problems" in Baku? Not even widely made up "soft tyres problem" since they (again) didn't use the softest tyre in the race . I'm eagerly awaiting expert analysis and promise treat of 1 internet point for it.

Looked to me like he was completely outclassed by Bottas in that department.

[GPR-A duplicate2]

Very interesting season so far. Exactly what the world wanted. 3 teams and 3 different winners. Unexpected finishes to the races. Brilliant!

[iotar__]

Very interesting season so far. Exactly what the world wanted. 3 teams and 3 different winners. Unexpected finishes to the races. Brilliant!

From (ahem) team perspective it was just about the worst race for Mercedes:
- one: it extended China, Bahrain trend
- two: Ferrari were comfortably quicker in Q AND in the race and should have won easily.

The only part missing from '18 season picture is purely fast corners performance (GB, Spain) and (less important) odd low speed tracks.

[dans79]

It was also peculiar that all tires suffered to an extent in getting temperature into the tire meaning no undercut. Thus why and how Max came out ahead of Ricciardo despite stopping later.

Pirealli is going to fix this aren't they bringing thinner tires that heat up easier or something like that aren't they?

[Phil]

Yeah, AMuS reported something along those lines... but I am not sure when the new tires will come (and if they still will).

[dans79]

Yeah, AMuS reported something along those lines... but I am not sure when the new tires will come (and if they still will).

I found it.
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/head ... ul-ri.html

Formula 1’s governing body the FIA has given F1 tyre suppliers Pirelli the green light to reduce the tread depth on their slick tyres by 0.4 millimetres at three races this year in a bid to combat overheating issues.

This was a recommendation that we ourselves brought to the FIA – as we have done in the past at some races – because it is less disruptive than nominating harder compounds, which was the alternative,” said Pirelli’s Head of Car Racing, Mario Isola.

[PhillipM]

Pirealli is going to fix this aren't they bringing thinner tires that heat up easier or something like that aren't they?

Thinner tyres are harder to keep the heat in, not easier.

[Phil]

The issue is about the overheating and blistering that they discovered in Barcelona during testing. Looks like it will only be for 3 races though...

[siskue2005]

A question: did Mercedes or Hamilton only had "tyre problems" in Baku? Not even widely made up "soft tyres problem" since they (again) didn't use the softest tyre in the race . I'm eagerly awaiting expert analysis and promise treat of 1 internet point for it.

Looked to me like he was completely outclassed by Bottas in that department.

No the soft tyre was problem for everyone... Kimi and Vettel had problems.
After the pit stop Vettel was losing nearly 0.5 sec a lap to Lewis when both were on softs

[dans79]

Does anyone think the team learned anything about their tire issues this weekend?

[George-Jung]

Does anyone think the team learned anything about their tire issues this weekend?

I don't think there are on top of it.

[GPR-A duplicate2]

Does anyone think the team learned anything about their tire issues this weekend?

Yes, that they are still not on top of it.

Sure as hell someone is going to give me -1 for this ..

When did this thread became "Ferrari Team" thread? Negative voting here? Unbelievable?

It's a fact that the team is not on top of it. Sure, they understood some things and could improve from Friday to Sunday. But seems like work is really cut out for them. The optimism should be, that they have seen it happen and have fixed it before.