Yes Michael made a bit of that up, but he also figured out what to tell the engineers to make the car faster.
Mercedes could ditch the 'no sidepod" design after the SpanishGP and go to plan b--->an F1 car with sidepods.
It does not seem that Mercedes needs any more cooling--which is why sidepods are like they are. But changing sidepods will likely just move them down grid order......
From what I have heard so far, the Mercedes has so much clean downforce it exacerbates the bouncing more than anyone on the grid. All of their alterations have been to create less downforce (both wings changed) and create more outwash around the wheels. Mercedes have yet to added the ice skate blade solution Ferrari and Red Bull have. They in essence created a laboratory-grade weapon but with no time to test it other than at races. Jumping into the time machine, we remember the W03 which had the genius front/rear interconnected suspension that cooked the tires. They got their hands around that concept and implemented it fully on the W05 with which they qualified a full second ahead of everyone on the field. Merc will figure this configuration and dust everyone, again. The cooling solution that is responsible for their current zero sidepods was first tested last year. No one has their hands around that yet.
Considering that (non official) F1 tests where held on Silverstone, Magny Cours, Imola, Monza, Barcelona and others throughout the season well into the 2000s, I wouldn't hold much hope on that ban. The only ban they had was no testing on tracks in a certain time limit before the race, which i believe was 1 or 2 weeks. Back in 2006 or so Magny Cours was 30-40K and could be arranged within days (so long there wasn't an actual event on, of course). Monza was similar so I expect others not that far off, either. Those testing in South Africa or other warm climates in the winter, Ferrari still had the same issue as well. Fiorano isn't in a micro climate where the sun shines 24/7. In winter especially, quite the opposite.
It´s not about cooling, but that sidepod design also brings drag and a floor that flexes too much. The problem seems quite complex, but I agree in that changing sidepods at this moment of the season probably would be useless.
Between the W03 and a W05 there were two years, an engine change, several tyre redesings (some made purposefully to suit Mercedes) and unlimited funding. Back then they could put that engine in a turd and still would win. They better think faster this time or they won´t be winning anything till 2026.
Mercedes are ****ed and finished for this season. They lost a major force of their brain, people from all areas fled to other teams, even Aldo costa left, so don't expect any miracles.
Wouldn't shout that too loudly just yet...thought I do hope you're right. Massive update coming in Barcelona. Floor, wings, engine (not sure if the engine is coming in barcelona or shortly after).
I understand what you are saying but I’m not sold about the concept of clean downforce. I would prefer a non peaky downforce concept.
Yes, I agree Mercedes are in trouble. The brain drain and budget cap will affect them more other team, because they have been living on a high for many years. Whatever they try this year, it will be wallpapering the cracks.
With or without cheating Benetton would have won anyway. It was the best chassis, it just was lacking on power. In 1994 Williams screwed it up with the rule change and getting a driver killed didn't help either. They often failed at pit strategy too. For 1995 Benetton solved their biggest weakness with the Renault engine and it was a walk in the park. Also: Damon Hill.
FIA investigated McLaren, Benetton and Ferrari for suspected illegal software usage. All three teams were found not guilty.
Since you want to re-open the can of worms, here it is. It's Ayrton Senna who aleted the FIA of his suspicion about Benetton about the legality of their traction control, having witnessed the performance during the 2 first races of 1994. Following the Imola weekend, the FIA decided to check without Benetton being singled out, so the cars of Berger (Ferrari), Hakkinen (McLaren ) and Schum
following post #392 Following the Imola weekend, the FIA dedided to check without Benetton being singled out, so the cars of Berger (Ferrari), Hakkinen (McLaren) and Schumacher (Benetton) were impounded after the race. Their softwares were checked and nothing illegal was found. Schumacher's spectacular start at the French GP raised further suspicion. The FIA decided to have the Benetton software inspected by an outside agency. Liverpool Data Research Associates Ltd went over the software and found an illegal launching control program. Questioned Benetton said that taken by time, they couldn't rewrite the whole software, so simply stopped using the offending program. The wording of the rule say it was illegal to USE a launch control program, not that it was illegal to have one in the software. Rather than dragging the issue in a long court case, the FIA prefered not to take action. But the doubt subsisted. Schumacher was disqualified after the Belgian GP for a ground clearance issue. Schumacher was also suspended from 2 races that year for not respecting a black flag following a warming lap infringement (at the instance of his team apparently!)
Schumacher was left foot braking and manipulating the throttle. Senna meanwhile was pissed off because he was taken out on the first corner by Mika Hakkinen, and remained utterly furious until the flight home, accusing Mika he crashed into him intentionally. Senna was a paranoid dick at the best of times, and it only became worse when he started to get beaten. See here a throttle and brake trace between Michael and Rubens some years later (this paints a very accurate picture. Look at those throttle traces from Michael to Rubens. Michael is constantly manipulating the car with the throttle, Rubens is not using it at all). Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Here's a video that further explains Michaels' throttle application in those years. Schumacher's driving style explainded - YouTube Launch control and traction control are 2 different things. So LDRA found Launch Control software but no traction control then. I've actually gone back and watched all starts until the French GP and if they did use it before France, it didn't really help them all that much as their starts where ****.
They should give up on the 2022 car and start focusing on the 2023 In the meantime 2022 could be a test bed for 2023 development
Not denying any of this. But I am sticking to my initial comment:" Benetton was also using some dubious methods at times" I wasn't questioning Schumacher skill at all.
