Mercedes AMG F1 Team 2012

[zyphro]

Are Merc going to pursue the exhausts at all? Surely there is time to be gained?!

[Mr.S]

I think the Sauber/RBR & Mclaren are pretty similar with a bit of modification.

Sauber had great exhausts & very good tyre wear. There was always an issue with the Mclaren exhaust over-heating the rear tyres. But still they went for it abandoning their own idea. I think its clear that there's a 2 tenths odd to be found if a limited budget team like Sauber goes for this is such a big way so early in the season. And I think the Sauber/Red Bull exhaust do have a 2 tenths odd atleast over Mercedes.

I think Mercedes should evaluate both the designs. Newey says it takes 6 weeks proper R & D & to manufacture a SOLID update & get it ready to race. I hope to see a new exhaust in Silverstone. Tyre Wear is very important this year so if they want they can leave that 1 or 2 tenths extra the Mclaren exhaust is giving.

But I feel 2-3 tenths with a new exhaust & a new floor is possible even with a Sauber/Red Bull type exhausts. Look at the huge step Force India have taken with their new exhausts. In such a closely stacked field 2-3 tenths can mean making MANY positions in Q3 & possibly can resulting in a Race Win or Podiums.

2 tenths over a 60 Lap race is 12 seconds & 3 tenths is 18 seconds. That is HUGE.

[marcush.]

Two quick cars do not exploit this area ..and two spend a lot of money exactly there...I´d think the ferrari sidepod is very closer to the ultimate ,considering RBs version is way too busy and elaborate.

[zyphro]

Two quick cars do not exploit this area ..and two spend a lot of money exactly there...I´d think the ferrari sidepod is very closer to the ultimate ,considering RBs version is way too busy and elaborate.

Yes, but, imagine there is a gain to be made? Merc could be seeking podiums every race.

[Raptor22]

Indeed. If not for those reliability gremlins He would be right in the fight.

I'm still waiting for that first comeback win. I also hope that when it comes the flood gates open and he grades 3 or 4 on trot

here's to dreaming

[samstre]

Today I read an article about Daimler leaving F1. It's only speculation but it is about Daimlers articles of corporation that forbid Daimler "tolerating unethical or corrupt practices by employees or by business partners".

As we all heard before the Daimler board (or at least Daimlers shareholders) tried to stop Daimlers F1 commitment.
That (in combination with the fact that Daimler is under surveillance by the SEC - because of an corruption scandal in 2010) might be their chance "to pull the plug".

This might be pure speculation (as the source is motorsport-total) but the fact that Mercedes hasn't signed the concorde-agreement could be part of the whole game. (Either to put Bernie under pressure or to leave F1)

Here is the article:
[German] http://www.motorsport-total.com/f1/news ... 62609.html
[English Google-Translation] http://translate.google.com/translate?h ... CCQQ7gEwAA

And here is an Article about Mr. Gribkowsky on autosport:
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/100527

[Gerhardsa]

So our conspiracy regarding MSC's side of the garage might not be that far fetched afterall.

Thats now if the source is reliable?

Not good at all.

[Ganxxta]

Well the article says nothing about a conspiracy within the team, but about Bernie paying Gribkowski.

But its sure a perfect timing to use that as excuse to leave F1, they can just say that they don't want to be associated with corruption and it has nothing to do with them being 5th in the Championship...

[Raptor22]

this also explains Merc and Schumacher not wanting to talk about contract extension till the review is completed.

[xpensive]

If Daimler, after one rather lucky win and a handful of podiums from 40-some races as "Mercedes" in F1, is looking for a reason to leave, the I wouldn't find it too surprising?

[marcush.]

the compliance thing is a very seríous threat and it is not like Brawn and Haug are existing in a vacuum ..but on the other hand ..the same comliance directive exist in all big companies .
So one can expect that Bernie has to take his hat sooner than later to avoid a big crash -If Daimler would pull the plug ,Santander ,Renault ,Nissan etc would have to follow suit and from one day to the other Formula 1 would be back to Square 1 .
The question is -is Bernie realising that is era is coming to an end quickly now or will he try to sitout the bad weather ?

[zyphro]

Does anyone else think that the pace wasn't bad in Valencia?

It only looked bad due to them trying a one-stop (which clearly wasn't going to work). And then, towards the end of the race both drivers were one of the quickest on track.

[Morteza]

Does anyone else think that the pace wasn't bad in Valencia?

It only looked bad due to them trying a one-stop (which clearly wasn't going to work). And then, towards the end of the race both drivers were one of the quickest on track.

I'd like to think so. They were doing fine, but I don't want to set my expectations high (e.g. Canada) and then get disappointed. Frankly, they did better than I expected them to do, so that's a positive sign.

[marcush.]

the nice thing is they are orientated towards the front not falling back.
I´d think they need to be hungry for wins now ,considering they left Monaco almost empty handed ..,if their result is representative for a race with a less than optimum strategy then we can expect a lot.
But
I´m almost convinced now that there is time to be found in the complicated sidepod transition to the floor and difusser .

Still i think the biggest gain should come from the brakeducts ? but then RedBull has not tapped into that area much as well .

Only Ferrari has exploited both areas already...

[zyphro]

Does anyone know whether new updates will be brought to Silverstone?