2025 Mercedes-AMG | Petronas F1 Team

[Matt2725]

I think you'll be left wanting if you're hoping for Russell to let his ego get the better of him. He couldn't be more calm about the situation if he tried.

The idea that he's secretly seething inside is something I suspect you've made up as part of your head canon, as that's what you wish to be true.

[Mansell89]

Any performance upgrade for Merc at Spa?

[Lasssept]

[WardenOfTheNorth]

My read on the quotes I've seen from Max and Toto yesterday is that one of three things has happened:

A) They've reached an agreement for Max to join Mercedes from 2027 but aren't going to announce it yet
B) They've called off discussions because Max has decided to stick with Red Bull (seems less likely)
C) Max has told Toto that he won't agree anything until he sees where the teams are next year in terms of performance.

The reason I think this is that Toto has been more forthright in his statements that Russell and Kimi are Mercedes' drivers for next year and Max has been talking about Red Bull next year as well.

Of course I could be completely wrong lol

[Lasssept]

The Race

While a meeting between Verstappen and Wolff never took place, it would be wrong to say that dialogue between the four-time world champion's camp and Mercedes has not been ongoing.

Sources have suggested that there have been recent chats between Verstappen's manager Raymond Vermeulen and Wolff – but these very much revolve around laying out a clearer understanding between both parties about what their mindset is for the longer term future.

So this is not about a shock 2026 move – unless a black swan event got the ball rolling on that. Instead this is all about considerations for 2027 and beyond.

link

[Matt2725]

The bit everyone is missing is the performance of those at the team already.

We talk about Max waiting to see who's the best next year. But we forget that if George takes the WDC home next year, the scenario for Max to join changes and likely doesn't materialize.

I would suggest it's unfair on his current drivers mind you and Wolff has his priorities all wrong. He missed the boat with Max in 2014 and he should just live with that and accept what he does have now.
Ultimately him missing Max didn't cost him anything from 2014 onwards.

[Macklaren]

We talk about Max waiting to see who's the best next year. But we forget that if George takes the WDC home next year, the scenario for Max to join changes and likely doesn't materialize.

I disagree. If George wins WDC next year, a Max+George pairing for 2027 is a win-win for all concerned parties except ANT

[Lasssept]

[Matt2725]

I'm convinced this team often have a disaster after being away for a few weeks.

Checked George's onboard, and seems the tyres were overheating....on a track that's only 36C. Shat the setup again.

[SB15]

This is just sad....

[SB15]

I'm convinced this team often have a disaster after being away for a few weeks.

Checked George's onboard, and seems the tyres were overheating....on a track that's only 36C. Shat the setup again.

These ground effect cars punishes drivers who go quickly on the curbing and the risk of floor damage is high, along with the wheel covers that are the biggest culprit in the overheating of the tyres, and how sensitive they are to wind changes?

I can't wait for this era of car to end...

[OverheatedTurbo]

Clown show. I got to see the Spa GP and I am greeted with both SQ1 and SQ2 eliminations. Jeez. Bravooo

[zibby43]

This car is not good.

[Tonino]

Our aero department is an embarrassing parody of itself. Nothing they bring works. Every update is a downgrade.

I can’t listen to Toto anymore. He needs to shut up and actually run a Formula 1 team for once, because right now he’s just a walking PR machine spewing delusion. For a guy whose team has been an aerodynamic disaster for four straight years, he sure spends a lot of time yapping about Lewis’s escort hookups and shaving routines like he’s some kind of celebrity gossip columnist. It’s bizarre, embarrassing, and reeks of a guy who’s clearly let the fame rot his brain.

[Lasssept]

Andrew Shovlin: Unfortunately, Kimi’s spin on his first lap of the session caused damage to the floor and diffuser. He got the car back on track and tried a second effort, but the damage was so bad he couldn't set a competitive time. George was running not too far behind Kimi as he spun and suffered some floor damage and gravel rash himself. That was likely a contributing factor in our disappointing performance in SQ2, although we will look to see if there is anything we could have done differently to extract more pace despite that.

It will be challenging to score any meaningful points in tomorrow’s Sprint so our focus is on ensuring we get the car into a good window for Qualifying and Sunday’s Grand Prix.