Mercedes AMG F1 W03

[clipsy1H]

Sadly!!! Merc lose to much time on Sec 2 ........ they could be on pole.

[MIKEY_!]

Still a great showing from this car. 3rd fastest in quali and faster than red bull!

[bhall]

I think that scoop in the top of the nose is for driver cooling (unless it's behind the bulkhead), several teams have them. Not sure about the specific wording of the regs but I think it says something like 'holes in the nosecone must be for cooling purposes'. If the air goes over some rads before exiting the wing then it could be legal. They certainly could blow the RW, but only the outside edges (like the multi element designs on some cars). Since the endplate is so thick any exit would have to be on the endplate itself (got that on my model actually).

It is indeed behind the bulkhead.

[Med4224]

Did Michael just qualify third and 0.172 off of pole?

My time machine works!

[ArchAngel]

I thought P3 would be a bit too optimistic, but well done to the old dog! D@mn you, Button! But still, finally back in the post-qualy presscon! Hope they're geared just right so as not to be too vulnerable to DRS overtakes down the straight.

[clipsy1H]

Did Michael just qualify third and 0.172 off of pole?

My time machine works!

yea he do that!!! Best time on sector 1 for him .... but sector 2 was disastrous 32.567 (+0,290) and also sector 3 was bad for him.

Sector #1
Pos Driver Time
1 Michael Schumacher 24.749
2 Nico Rosberg 24.807
3 Lewis Hamilton 24.807

Sector 2
Pos Driver Time
1 Lewis Hamilton 32.277
2 Jenson Button 32.416
3 Mark Webber 32.464
4 Romain Grosjean 32.488
5 Kimi Räikkönen 32.509
6 Sergio Perez 32.509
7 Sebastian Vettel 32.566
8 Michael Schumacher 32.567

Sector #3
Pos Driver Time
1 Mark Webber 38.889
2 Jenson Button 38.947
3 Sebastian Vettel 39.032
4 Michael Schumacher 39.075

[Mr.S]

Did Michael just qualify third and 0.172 off of pole?

My time machine works!

yea he do that!!! Best time on sector 1 for him .... but sector 2 was disastrous 32.567 (+0,290) and also sector 3 was bad for him.

Sector #1
Pos Driver Time
1 Michael Schumacher 24.749
2 Nico Rosberg 24.807
3 Lewis Hamilton 24.807

Sector 2
Pos Driver Time
1 Lewis Hamilton 32.277
2 Jenson Button 32.416
3 Mark Webber 32.464
4 Romain Grosjean 32.488
5 Kimi Räikkönen 32.509
6 Sergio Perez 32.509
7 Sebastian Vettel 32.566
8 Michael Schumacher 32.567

Sector #3
Pos Driver Time
1 Mark Webber 38.889
2 Jenson Button 38.947
3 Sebastian Vettel 39.032
4 Michael Schumacher 39.075

That is fantastic. They were 4-5 tenths off in FP3 in S2. They have sacrificed huge amount of time & straightline in S1 & S3 where they were 3-4 tenths quick ahead of everyone. Their S1 & S3 speeds were just lightning in FP3. They have gone for a more downforce,more race pace set-up which is good.

The car is ultimately mediocre in traction & a bit behind in downforce. It will be atleast half a tenth behind in the race. If MSC can make it within 1s off Top 1-2 by Lap 3 then he will be use DRS & DRS + W-duct will give him 2-3 tenths over a straight so maybe he could hang on.

Besides Michael is only 0.15 off Jenson is S2. The Mclaren looks great in all 3 Sectors. Last year they were no quick on the straight.

[Mestrades]

If the attempt had been made later, probably Michael had been on pole now. But hey, third position and so that we can see him in the press conference again is a dream for me right now. Please W03, take care of your Pirelis...

[VarioR]

I thought P3 would be a bit too optimistic, but well done to the old dog! D@mn you, Button! But still, finally back in the post-qualy presscon! Hope they're geared just right so as not to be too vulnerable to DRS overtakes down the straight.

I think it's better this way

Schumi will leave on the clean side of the track.

[beelsebob]

My prediction for tomorrow, if it's dry:
1. Vet, 2. Ham, 3. But
If it's wet:
1. Ham, 2. Sch, 3. But
If it's changable:
1. But, 2. Sch, 3. Ham

[flickster]

I am hoping for rain tomorrow. Do we think the Merc will be better on Wets in regards to tyre issues?

I would hope they wouldn't have an issue in the wet.

[Med4224]

I am hoping for rain tomorrow. Do we think the Merc will be better on Wets in regards to tyre issues?

I would hope they wouldn't have an issue in the wet.

merc maybe not, but the Regenmeister for sure

unfortunately, we all know that quali pace is irrelevant, tomorrow is a whole other story....

[veYda25]

Michael said on german TV that they worked a lot on the car during the week, and the setup is more of a race setup rather than a qualifying setup. Sounds good. I'm optimistic for tomorrow.

[SchumiSutil]

Judging from the high fuel runs of yesterday, Merc were about 0.5/0.7s off the Mclaren/Red Bull.
But Ross Brawn said to the BBC they were not enterely happy and they had some setup work to improve the car overnight.

Nevertheless, I don't think Merc will be more than the 4th best car on race conditions as the Lotus are extremely fast as well and very consistent on long runs.
So it should be Mclaren/Red Bull and then Lotus.

[Ferraripilot]

I've noticed W03 has what appears to be the softest front end on the grid. It always shows a good amount of roll through medium and high speed turns. Yet the car changes direction well. Any conjecture as to why this is?