Call me a stupid, but I tend to think this is right. Something is very off with center of gravity of that W13. That porpoising and massive understeering is not something those engineers want to see, or is apart of some bigger plan to totally sandbag, or if it is, they're the greatest engineers in F1. These new cars are a mystery to all the teams this year, and Mercedes are no exception. It makes zero sense for them to sandbag so massively, that the data they're getting out of the car is when it's constantly ill handling. They need clean laps like what Ferrari and RBR are getting, to have any idea of the true handling of the car for race trim, and the only ones we saw were before this latest update. The car looks absolutely horrid out there in the corners, and bounces like a pimpmobile on the straights. For people who think it's not possible Mercedes designed a turd and their dominance might be over, consider 2009 winter testing for Ferrari. We'd finished top 2 in the champions for 12 seasons, with 6 WDC and 8 WCC, and 4 runner ups. When the F60 showed problems in winter testing in 09', people thought Ferrari surely weren't showing their full hands, or would have the problems resolved in time for Australia. First race came and ... disaster. Didn't score points until race 4. So it is very possible the W13 problems are exactly what they seem, and Mercedes might be in serious trouble. Obviously this is partly wishful thinking, but there seems to be more visible evidence of Mercedes struggling badly this time around than in previous years. Meanwhile, Ferrari are the only team to have seemingly gotten a good handle on the new regs, getting nothing but clean laps, and the car continuing to handle well every time the team wants to open up more speed. RBR and McLaren also seem to have good handling. Handling issues aside, it's interesting that people have only considered Mercedes deliberate pace reserves, and haven't noticed that Ferrari, RBR, and McLaren keep turning up more and more juice themselves. Just my thoughts.
I think since 2018 Max just made a couple of big steps. Gasly was not slow in 2018 and 2019 when he joined RBR, people actually thought he had a decent chance of beating Max. He was annihilated. Albon comes in and similarly annihilated (although he had less experience in his first year). Perez, lots of They'll need to see IF they're ahead, by how much. If they're as lucky to enjoy a Mercedes-esque advantage, they can pretty much let them race and may the best man win. Max/Lewis close? After 5/6 races make a decision who will be supported.
Good guess but that car never made it to Austria. This was Lotus testing the car at Riverside before the 1981 US GP West where the car only practiced as it was protested and so didn’t race. It never raced that year. That was in the good old days when if a car was illegal it was protested and it got DQ’d or not allowed to race unlike today with the FIA lets Merc run whatever they want, LOL.
I think he needs to really challenge Max as well. His long term viability is the question. Ham and Mercedes do not appear to be real challengers. Perez is not nearly as precise as Max. He has stellar moments but his qualy is so in-consistent. Not a sorted complete package at all. Marko contains the wandering eye. Perez is year to year and has asked for a longer duration. He is under review this season I think. Marko still believes in his driver program overall.
Agree completely. It is true Mercedes are humans lol They have not got this sorted at all. Can they? Possibly but how long and how much pain are they willing to endure for this new konzept or move to something more similar to RedBull or Ferrari. Also we have a budget limit as well. PU is frozen so they need aero and wind tunnel time and parts production to cover off this. No major on track testing so its computation to simulate what is changed. Certainly they can use a race weekend as a test. But if RedBull or Ferrari have 5 straight wins in the interim period - Its O V E R As an observer - with bets at play. Its all Max all the time today for the title.
That comes with the territory when you have a top car and 2 very competent drivers, but it's a position many team managers would envy, I guess. True that titles have been lost because of internal rivalry; Frank Williams could testify to that! Now you understand why some teams prefer to have a designated Number One, and enforce team orders. But this is not alien to Ferrari, no?
I think Ferrari should optimize their package overall. Wasting time on mirrors is RedBull problem to contest LOL
I think now this is what I see: Of all teams not 'showing' full pace - Top 3 RedBull Ferrari Mercedes RedBull with the most pace not showing. Ferrari state not too many upgrades just yet. So RedBull is testing KiNG!
Yes its in order but less interesting than the running on track and new cars overall. The political 'side-show' is too overwhelming at times.
The Mercedes still porpoising and its rear end snappy. Not sorted overall and Russell does not seem confident on throttle overall. Much work to do.
Call me crazy but the Haas doesn't look half bad, especially compared to the other midfield teams who really appear to be struggling.
They do this every year. The cracken is unleashed Q3 and Q3 only. That said, the Merc looks a serious handful out of even mid speed turns. Slow on-throttle and snappy year end, looks very much like W02 did years ago.
