The F1 Thread
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t3ch
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Mercedes’ engines not off to a good start
Really?! In the main, I think they're fantastic. Last years were awful looking things.
The Ferrari is a work of art.
Paddingtonwolf
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Brilliant racy stuff between Charles and Max
Tredman
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Beauty is in the eye of the beholder I guess, the wheels and the fussy things over the wheel look a godawful mess.
Fuel is the big change.
Looks like a pretty obvious pecking order of:
Ferrari/Red Bull
Mercedes
Haas/Alpha Tauri
Alpine/Alfa
Aston/McLaren/Williams
On this evidence it could be an incredibly boring season for Mercedes if they can't bridge the gap forward.
I have a feeling Haas (!!!) and Merc will step up for surprise podiums during the season. At the current showing I’d also argue McLaren are in a league of their own at the bottom…
The Alfa is actually probably more on a par with the Alpha Tauri and Haas, just had a shocking start. Their race pace looks decent - Zhou doing a good job in behind Bottas.
KMag coming back in and absolutely destroying Mick isn't a great look.
KMag coming back in and absolutely destroying Mick isn't a great look.
PuntsWolf
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Do we see Mercedes issue as a power issue or an aero issue. Slight change in fuel doesn’t seem a reason to make the care much worse alone?
The aero is clearly a problem, they're suffering more than anyone with the porpoise effect. Ferrari seem to have made a colossal step in their engine performance.
t3ch
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Showed a pretty clear view of Hamilton bouncing down the straight a few laps ago. Still haven’t fixed the porpoise and were affected all through testing.
I mentioned their engines earlier not because of Mercedes (the team), but as a general look at the field.
I wonder what that last group has in common… hmm….
Obviously you back Mercedes (the team) to do a better overall engineering job so aren’t suffering as badly, but clearly not up to their usual spec.
I mentioned their engines earlier not because of Mercedes (the team), but as a general look at the field.
I wonder what that last group has in common… hmm….
Obviously you back Mercedes (the team) to do a better overall engineering job so aren’t suffering as badly, but clearly not up to their usual spec.
t3ch
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Ferrari’s clearly made a big improvement but I think their overall package just seems to be quite good. F1 uploaded a qualifying side by side and IIRC, Max was slightly faster on the straights but was being caught by Leclerc in a lot of the higher speed corners. Might be misrembering but there was definitely a pattern of where he was losing pace.
Edit —
Edit —
Horner said beforehand that they're running a lot less wing than Ferrari, which explains why they're so quick in a straight line. Ferrari seem to have the old Merc bonus of having the ability to run with more downforce as their car isn't very draggy and the engine is savage.
