2025 Mercedes-AMG | Petronas F1 Team

[f1isgood]

I think the new suspension didn't work but the old one was already decent enough that they could fight for poles. I think we can better assess the effect of the front wing changes.

[Quantum]

Either Sandbagging or we’re cooked, there’s no in-between.

I personally think they've been left scrambling again. Especially with the "new" suspension being shelved, which suggests they saw some awful metrics running it at Imola.

With Williams on the charge this season, Merc will perhaps have to settle for 5th fastest. How embarrassing.

....like 1 data point is your requirement for a trend.

[SB15]

Either Sandbagging or we’re cooked, there’s no in-between.

I personally think they've been left scrambling again. Especially with the "new" suspension being shelved, which suggests they saw some awful metrics running it at Imola.

With Williams on the charge this season, Merc will perhaps have to settle for 5th fastest. How embarrassing.

No it’s more so that the tyres on the Mercedes simply can’t handle such a change. I think Mercedes aero department can’t see that its biggest flaw is its aero wake coming from the front tyres.

You see how good the Williams is that because the tyres isn’t as heated as the Mercedes when the outwash is done properly.

There was nothing wrong with the suspension, tyre grip and tyre temperature plays a massive role.

[OverheatedTurbo]

Either Sandbagging or we’re cooked, there’s no in-between.

I personally think they've been left scrambling again. Especially with the "new" suspension being shelved, which suggests they saw some awful metrics running it at Imola.

With Williams on the charge this season, Merc will perhaps have to settle for 5th fastest. How embarrassing.

Williams? Ain’t no way. At worst 4th fastest. I don’t really care about this season anymore to be honest. I was just thinking that podiums are nice and all of that, but if we are not in contentions for wins this season, I think this season is a failure.

[Quantum]

I'd happily take zero points between now and Austria.

June 30th will be the ATR cut off, and if they're 4th they get far more allocation for 2026 development than the present 2nd.

[OverheatedTurbo]

I'd happily take zero points between now and Austria.

June 30th will be the ATR cut off, and if they're 4th they get far more allocation for 2026 development than the present 2nd.

Yeah, tanking is NOT good for sponsors, my friend.

[Quantum]

I'd happily take zero points between now and Austria.

June 30th will be the ATR cut off, and if they're 4th they get far more allocation for 2026 development than the present 2nd.

Yeah, tanking is NOT good for sponsors, my friend.

Teams tank for decades and still rake in sponsors. Strategically, 4th by June the 30th would be a blessing.
Especially as it's the final year of these rules. There is zero value in chasing now.
Everything should be shifted into 2026 pronto.

[r85]

I'd happily take zero points between now and Austria.

June 30th will be the ATR cut off, and if they're 4th they get far more allocation for 2026 development than the present 2nd.

Yeah, tanking is NOT good for sponsors, my friend.

Teams tank for decades and still rake in sponsors. Strategically, 4th by June the 30th would be a blessing.
Especially as it's the final year of these rules. There is zero value in chasing now.
Everything should be shifted into 2026 pronto.

Yep. Lewis left the team and they were on track to finish P4 early last year but had Adidas join them. Perhaps it would be better to test parts for 2026 like Ferrari are doing.

[OverheatedTurbo]

Yeah, tanking is NOT good for sponsors, my friend.

Teams tank for decades and still rake in sponsors. Strategically, 4th by June the 30th would be a blessing.
Especially as it's the final year of these rules. There is zero value in chasing now.
Everything should be shifted into 2026 pronto.

Yep. Lewis left the team and they were on track to finish P4 early last year but had Adidas join them. Perhaps it would be better to test parts for 2026 like Ferrari are doing.

Testing parts for the current car also helps confirm that their sim tools work. If the sim tools are not working/correlating properly, it could jeopardize 2026 development.

[Space-heat]

Perhaps it would be better to test parts for 2026 like Ferrari are doing.

Your thinking of Aston not Ferrari.

[ringo]

The suspension is probably good learnings. The tyres could not manage the load possibly.
It's a delay to progress, but not really a step back. Mercedes usually fixes their issues during the season. It is quite deflating that they do still struggle with direction however.
Williams will not catch them this year. When Williams find more pace, they will fall into the same conundrum that Mercedes is experiencing with overheating.

[ScuderiaLeo]

I'd happily take zero points between now and Austria.

June 30th will be the ATR cut off, and if they're 4th they get far more allocation for 2026 development than the present 2nd.

That seems like it would be very bad for morale. Especially for Antonelli who's still learning the ropes. Some good results will help him get his mind back on track. Getting a string of terrible ones would do the opposite.

[r85]

The suspension is probably good learnings. The tyres could not manage the load possibly.
It's a delay to progress, but not really a step back. Mercedes usually fixes their issues during the season. It is quite deflating that they do still struggle with direction however.
Williams will not catch them this year. When Williams find more pace, they will fall into the same conundrum that Mercedes is experiencing with overheating.

Yeah they have controlled the bouncing pretty well and can add more downforce to the car without triggering it, but in turn it's putting so much energy into the tires that the overheating becomes excessive very quickly.

[Seanspeed]

I'd happily take zero points between now and Austria.

June 30th will be the ATR cut off, and if they're 4th they get far more allocation for 2026 development than the present 2nd.

That seems like it would be very bad for morale. Especially for Antonelli who's still learning the ropes. Some good results will help him get his mind back on track. Getting a string of terrible ones would do the opposite.

Funny seeing 'tanking' strategies getting talked about in F1 circles these days. lol

Unless losing gives you some undeniably fantastic advantage, there's usually nothing worse you can do than abandoning all effort to create a winning culture. The best teams are almost always the best oiled teams, where everything is just gelling and everybody is confident.

[Lasssept]

old/new ?





Imola