2023 Mercedes-AMG | Petronas F1 Team

[AR3-GP]

I can't remember where I originally posted this without providing the source, but the-race has corroborated it:

This is standard practice for all teams, with Mercedes known to have experimented with a more Red Bull-esque geometry of sidepods in CFD and the windtunnel but without generating the numbers needed to commit to a change of direction.

https://the-race.com/formula-1/mercedes ... s-saviour/

[f1jcw]

George Russell wants to do the experiments this year : https://us.motorsport.com/f1/news/russe ... /10440989/

Now that Hamilton isn’t experimenting, Russell knows he will be bent over, similar to last summer, and last week in, Bahrain. He’s just getting the excuses in early, of why he will lose the h2h this season.

As for Hamilton, he’ll just keep his head down, perform, and look for a drive elsewhere. There’s no amount of experimenting that will save this sinking ship. Allison being bought back is utter desperation. His mind has been on boats, so this is a half hearted return, with none of the structure around him that he was used to a few years back

Not really, James is a engineer and suspension. He isn’t a aero guy.

[Venturiation]

mercedes knew before the testing that they were behind

[AR3-GP]

George Russell wants to do the experiments this year : https://us.motorsport.com/f1/news/russe ... /10440989/

Now that Hamilton isn’t experimenting, Russell knows he will be bent over, similar to last summer, and last week in, Bahrain. He’s just getting the excuses in early, of why he will lose the h2h this season.

As for Hamilton, he’ll just keep his head down, perform, and look for a drive elsewhere. There’s no amount of experimenting that will save this sinking ship. Allison being bought back is utter desperation. His mind has been on boats, so this is a half hearted return, with none of the structure around him that he was used to a few years back

Not really, James is a engineer and suspension. He isn’t a aero guy.

Allison was head of aerodynamics at Benneton.

[mendis]

George Russell wants to do the experiments this year : https://us.motorsport.com/f1/news/russe ... /10440989/

Now that Hamilton isn’t experimenting, Russell knows he will be bent over, similar to last summer, and last week in, Bahrain. He’s just getting the excuses in early, of why he will lose the h2h this season.

As for Hamilton, he’ll just keep his head down, perform, and look for a drive elsewhere. There’s no amount of experimenting that will save this sinking ship. Allison being bought back is utter desperation. His mind has been on boats, so this is a half hearted return, with none of the structure around him that he was used to a few years back

Not really, James is a engineer and suspension. He isn’t a aero guy.

He has engineering in aeronautics and started as as part of aerodynamics team of Benetton.

[CHT]

Competition at the front is now so competitive and unforgiving and if any team makes a fundamental car design mistake at the start of the new regulation cycle, the team will most likely to suffer for many years to come. This happens to Mclaren, Williams and Ferrari despite them being regular championship contenders with massive budget (before any budget cap)

For Merc case, the existing design concept is already in its 2nd year, and the pace has fallen too far behind, so it will be unrealistic for the team to think or talk about winning the championship in 2023 regardless if they run a zero sidepod or RBR design concept.

My guess is that Merc will likely finish in 3rd or 4th in the constructors in 2023 regardless of which design concept they run. If the team is convinced RBR design is the way forward then the factory will gradually have to scale down development on the existing car and switch to the new design.

How soon can or should they bring out the new car? It depends.

Can they win the championship in 2023?
Is race win important in 2023?
Does it matter if Merc finishes 3rd or 4th?

If Merc target is only winning the championship, then I think it may be better for Merc to delay their new car till next year. To bring out a car that is incomplete, poorly designed/copied without innovation, Merc may slide even further down and draw negative publicity. On the other hand, if Merc introduces a new car with new innovations that will also help competitors to improve.

There is no easy solution for Merc and here are my guesses

2014 to 2020 - 7 years of unbroken success (First 7 years of V6 engine era)
2021 - a shocking year for Hamilton
2022 - a year of confusion and denial (the start of V6 E10 engine era)
2023 - a year of anger, disappointment & acceptance.
2024 - a year of testing & lobbying for change
2025 - a year of fighting back and hope for 2026

[Hammerfist]

No race debrief video from Merc so far. Are things so bad they can’t even talk about them openly anymore? Sheesh…

[AR3-GP]

No race debrief video from Merc so far. Are things so bad they can’t even talk about them openly anymore? Sheesh…

Maybe they are cutting back because of the budget cap.

[georgekyr]

Competition at the front is now so competitive and unforgiving and if any team makes a fundamental car design mistake at the start of the new regulation cycle, the team will most likely to suffer for many years to come. This happens to Mclaren, Williams and Ferrari despite them being regular championship contenders with massive budget (before any budget cap)

For Merc case, the existing design concept is already in its 2nd year, and the pace has fallen too far behind, so it will be unrealistic for the team to think or talk about winning the championship in 2023 regardless if they run a zero sidepod or RBR design concept.

My guess is that Merc will likely finish in 3rd or 4th in the constructors in 2023 regardless of which design concept they run. If the team is convinced RBR design is the way forward then the factory will gradually have to scale down development on the existing car and switch to the new design.

How soon can or should they bring out the new car? It depends.

Can they win the championship in 2023?
Is race win important in 2023?
Does it matter if Merc finishes 3rd or 4th?

If Merc target is only winning the championship, then I think it may be better for Merc to delay their new car till next year. To bring out a car that is incomplete, poorly designed/copied without innovation, Merc may slide even further down and draw negative publicity. On the other hand, if Merc introduces a new car with new innovations that will also help competitors to improve.

There is no easy solution for Merc and here are my guesses

2014 to 2020 - 7 years of unbroken success (First 7 years of V6 engine era)
2021 - a shocking year for Hamilton
2022 - a year of confusion and denial (the start of V6 E10 engine era)
2023 - a year of anger, disappointment & acceptance.
2024 - a year of testing & lobbying for change
2025 - a year of fighting back and hope for 2026

I see this happening as well.
And I believe Hamilton will leave next year to go to Ferrari. If he fails there nothing is really wrong with the overall outlook of his career - he would have been fortunate enough to drive for 3 historic teams. If things turn out well for him and win an 8th championship with a Ferrari, then he instantly becomes a legend that even if someone surpasses in championships / wins / etc. will never reach the semantics of that feat.

[Sevach]

No race debrief video from Merc so far. Are things so bad they can’t even talk about them openly anymore? Sheesh…

Maybe they are cutting back because of the budget cap.

Marketing and promotional material don't count for the budget cap, a YouTube channel has to be included in those.

[mstar]

Now that Hamilton isn’t experimenting, Russell knows he will be bent over, similar to last summer, and last week in, Bahrain. He’s just getting the excuses in early, of why he will lose the h2h this season.

As for Hamilton, he’ll just keep his head down, perform, and look for a drive elsewhere. There’s no amount of experimenting that will save this sinking ship. Allison being bought back is utter desperation. His mind has been on boats, so this is a half hearted return, with none of the structure around him that he was used to a few years back

Not really, James is a engineer and suspension. He isn’t a aero guy.

Allison was head of aerodynamics at Benneton.

james is one of the most respected people in the F1 paddock. Did you ever see any cars during the mercedes reign to be seriously off the pace and the drivers complaining "lacks df, underivable etc"? Even at ferrari he worked magic on that car. TBH they need him now. As much as Mike is good he has had 2 shots at this and the drivers feedback and stopwatch are not showing improvements. It wouldnt surprise me if lewis asked toto we need james back.

The telling line was lewis when he said "as soon as i first drove the car i knew instantly -this car needs work[its not going to beat RB/Ferrari]"

[Goblin42]

[rijtuig]

He brings much more experience than Lecler. Alonso really is the best example this year - 41 years old but still can beat the majority of the grid.

[CHT]

It's going to be a long and grueling season with 23 races, possibly no wins, and a pay cut.
To make things worst, he still has got a young and talented teammate with a strong desire to drive and beat him this season. To be fair to Merc, what Hamilton said about the team performance end of 2022 and pre-season is so different to what he is saying now.

[RonMexico]

Why would Hamilton go at Ferrari?

They haven’t won a championship since 2008 and they don’t seem capable of doing it anytime soon! If there’s a team that can turn it around it’s only Mercedes and now Aston Martin! But there’s a certain guy at Aston Martin called Alonso! So Lewis can’t go there!

The only other seat that can give him a chance is…yes Red Bull! But guess what…

So just stay were you are Lewis for one more season and then bye bye! And I’ve been a Lewis fan since 2007…battling for 5th and 6th places for 3 seasons straight isn’t that great! Same happened to Schumacher during 2010-2012!

Would he beat Verstappen in the same car?