F1 2022: Australian GP - Melbourne (Apr 10)

[M3WC]

Russell: Porpoising responsible for "99%" of Mercedes' problems


https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/r...blems/9392139/


Good article with insight what Russ thinks about the current status of Merc car.

[GuidoK]

Originally Posted by M3WC

Russell: Porpoising responsible for "99%" of Mercedes' problems

So 1% is that huge gap between Russel and Hamilton?
I mean they have the same cars right?

I mean porpoising is probably their main problem (and a mechanical problem), but I think they have more (pretty big) problems besides that.

[F87source]

Originally Posted by GuidoK

So 1% is that huge gap between Russel and Hamilton?
I mean they have the same cars right?

I mean porpoising is probably their main problem (and a mechanical problem), but I think they have more (pretty big) problems besides that.

The major difference between Russel and George was setup. When I used to do time attack if my dampers were out of tune due to it being disassembled and reinstalled I could not get good lap times because the car was either way too understeery or it would just get snap over steer and I would never be able to push it as hard as I normally could and thus a loss in lap time. So it is 100% feasible Hamilton got a crap setup and couldn't push the car hard. So just because the cars are the same doesn't mean lap times will be the same, setup is important. For example if you drove two identical cars back to back, the car with the damper setup incorrectly would have slower laptimes.



Besides proposing their next issue is downforce, and that is reduced due to porpoising, and the last part is drag due to the larger wings they have to run. So if they fix porpoising theyll fix everything, theyll be able to run the car lower and that increases down force and fixes all their grip issues, and they will be able to reduce drag by running smaller wings as the floor now generates their required downforce and the floor does this more efficently than the wings so more down force with lower drag.

[GuidoK]

Yeah I understand that a different setup greatly affects performance, but howcome they couldn't align those setups more the way they did in Bahrein?

It's pretty rare that from 1 team 1 car qualifies 6th and the other car 16th.
I think HAM also was totally off his (mental) pace, so I think there's also an issue to be solved there. (I imagine a better performing car will do a lot here but he's not his usual self)
And lastly of course the big repeating tactical errors (don't know if it's a coincidence it's both times with HAM). This race they missed a pit window, but last race they went on hards. I don't recall exactly, but had they even tested those hard tyres in FP?!?

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by nyg

prediction:

P1 lec
p2 ver
p3 per
p4 sai
p5 bot

P1 Ver
p2 Per
p3 sai
p4 lec
p5 bot

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

P1 Ver
p2 Per
p3 sai
p4 lec
p5 bot

Spot on !

You can bet on it ..Because the RB18-B gets new upgrades specific for Australia .

The smaller rear wing worked perfectly last weekend to get the higher topspeed.
A. Newey is very busy to make the Redbull faster in the slow corners ..

Overheating of the brakes is also an issue for the Red Bull ..

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by e90335e36m3

Really is shocking especially given that HAM is 777-777-7777. Our dear friend MKSixer used to tell us that it really has little to do with the setup/car. So I wonder how he would rationalize this.

That's why he disappeared completely

[E90SLAM]

Originally Posted by Fliplegend

Been 2 years right? Miss when it was the season opener.

Actually been three years since last time F1 held a race. 2020 all the teams arrived and cancelled just before FP1.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Spot on !

You can bet on it ..Because the RB18-B gets new upgrades specific for Australia .

The smaller rear wing worked perfectly last weekend to get the higher topspeed.
A. Newey is very busy to make the Redbull faster in the slow corners ..

Overheating of the brakes is also an issue for the Red Bull ..

The RB midnight oil needs to burn constantly to keep Ferrari in check...

[M5Rick]

...unlike me, g'nite all.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by NYG

I know - I'm getting used to F1 every weekend.



Is it Australia that they're putting the new floor in? I read that Imola was the big upgrade for them.

Just look where the other teams are with a Mercedes PU for the moment...
Then you/we know what is going on ....

It's pretty simple : Mercedes screwed it completely up with the E-10 fuel and the bigger turbo's!
One or two new floors wont help them ...And the Star-Wars mirrors s@ck too !

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

The RB midnight oil needs to burn constantly to keep Ferrari in check...

Don't be worried my friend ...A. Newey is on our side !

[F87source]

Originally Posted by GuidoK

Yeah I understand that a different setup greatly affects performance, but howcome they couldn't align those setups more the way they did in Bahrein?

It's pretty rare that from 1 team 1 car qualifies 6th and the other car 16th.
I think HAM also was totally off his (mental) pace, so I think there's also an issue to be solved there. (I imagine a better performing car will do a lot here but he's not his usual self)
And lastly of course the big repeating tactical errors (don't know if it's a coincidence it's both times with HAM). This race they missed a pit window, but last race they went on hards. I don't recall exactly, but had they even tested those hard tyres in FP?!?

Because no two drivers share the same driving style and liking. It's like asking why didn't albon just use max's setup.


This is why max qualified high up with the rb16 while albon could never get the setup right. I'm not comparing Lewis to albon, just making an analogy. In the case of Lewis he was probably searching for more performance and eventually it bit him, this will probably not happen again because he likely will just have to accept a compromised setup to avoid changing things so much that he ran out of time to refine.



In terms of the pit window I guess it was confusing because Ric was parked right in front of the pit entrance and Hamilton probably didn't want to risk getting a penalty like last time when he boxed when a car covered the pit entrance. In terms of the hard tires, they performed no so good because the tire blankets are set to a lower temp this year so it takes time for the hard tires to get up to temp and that's why they looked like crap out of the pits.

[F87source]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Just look where the other teams are with a Mercedes PU for the moment...
Then you/we know what is going on ....

It's pretty simple : Mercedes screwed it completely up with the E-10 fuel and the bigger turbo's!
One or two new floors wont help them ...And the Star-Wars mirrors s@ck too !

The trap speeds don't show them being in huge trouble... You're basing this off of emotions not data.


1) Mclaren has over heating issues, and a major lack of downforce, and braking issues. Top speed isn't even their number one concern right now.

2) AMR: has major porpoising issues to the point where they have to run an even higher ride height vs. merc so they also don't have a top speed issue, they have a down force issue.

3) williams is williams.

[GuidoK]

Originally Posted by F87source

Because no two drivers share the same driving style and liking. It's like asking why didn't albon just use max's setup.

Sure but at bahrain that difference wasn't there.

In terms of the pit window I guess it was confusing because Ric was parked right in front of the pit entrance and Hamilton probably didn't want to risk getting a penalty like last time when he boxed when a car covered the pit entrance.

The tactical analysts should have had their things sorted. they said it was ok to come in when HAM was passing the finish line...
If you're not in time to give that info, you fail. how come they know that at the finishline but not know this 5 or 10sec earlier. Nothing changed in the status quo afaik. The pit entry lights didn't just change; all green when HAM was approaching.
Obviously it was a confusing situation, but it's in those situations merc. always fails. Both the pitcrew/team as HAM have difficulty to adapt to the confusing situations. They can win, but only on their conditions.
And VER/RB are very very good at making those split second decisions right at the moment that it counts.

This year: hard tyres in bahrain, missing pit entry in saudi arabia.
Last year: not coming in for slicks in Hungary (consequence: 2nd instead of 1st, so missing 7 points and a race win)
Restart at Bahkoe: Ham leaves brake magic button accedentally on: Looses 2nd place completely.
At the portuguese gp they pulled in BOT 1 lap too early.
And so on.

And the other side of the story is RB. How often have they either closed the gap or passed HAM with an undercut.
Or VER going in at exactly the right time when it starts to rain.
RB hardly makes any tactical mistakes and profits from a lot of tactical decisions.
And last race VER managed each pitstop to manage an undercut and reduce LEC lead with 3 or 4 sec. That reduced the gap every time.
Ferrari currently doesn't make any obvious mistakes but RB still has the edge on the tactical strategy imho.

[F87source]

Originally Posted by GuidoK

Sure but at bahrain that difference wasn't there.



The tactical analysts should have had their things sorted. they said it was ok to come in when HAM was passing the finish line...
If you're not in time to give that info, you fail. how come they know that at the finishline but not know this 5 or 10sec earlier. Nothing changed in the status quo afaik. The pit entry lights didn't just change; all green when HAM was approaching.
Obviously it was a confusing situation, but it's in those situations merc. always fails. Both the pitcrew/team as HAM have difficulty to adapt to the confusing situations. They can win, but only on their conditions.
And VER/RB are very very good at making those split second decisions right at the moment that it counts.

This year: hard tyres in bahrain, missing pit entry in saudi arabia.
Last year: not coming in for slicks in Hungary (consequence: 2nd instead of 1st, so missing 7 points and a race win)
Restart at Bahkoe: Ham leaves brake magic button accedentally on: Looses 2nd place completely.
At the portuguese gp they pulled in BOT 1 lap too early.
And so on.

And the other side of the story is RB. How often have they either closed the gap or passed HAM with an undercut.
Or VER going in at exactly the right time when it starts to rain.
RB hardly makes any tactical mistakes and profits from a lot of tactical decisions.
And last race VER managed each pitstop to manage an undercut and reduce LEC lead with 3 or 4 sec. That reduced the gap every time.
Ferrari currently doesn't make any obvious mistakes but RB still has the edge on the tactical strategy imho.

Because there were 3 test days and 3 free practices in Bahrain...


Strategy still needs to improve.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by NYG

Has anyone clarified the difference between RUS and HAM setups @ Jeddah?

RUS has more strength in his right foot ...

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by F87source

The trap speeds don't show them being in huge trouble... You're basing this off of emotions not data.


1) Mclaren has over heating issues, and a major lack of downforce, and braking issues. Top speed isn't even their number one concern right now.

2) AMR: has major porpoising issues to the point where they have to run an even higher ride height vs. merc so they also don't have a top speed issue, they have a down force issue.

3) williams is williams.

The W13 from RUS is losing every lap 1 sec. Whatever they will do , this season is already over for Mercedes ..
For HAM It's even worse ! Because HAM is scared in the 2022 Mercedes , That's why RUS is faster ...
1 sec. in F1 terms is not a river of time , that's a sea of time !

[NYG]

Originally Posted by Bubbles

Tire pressures and rear spring setup.

Stiffer spring/ride height/compression/rebound? Do they mention anything specific? HAM was a lot more nervous with the car.

[F87source]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

The W13 from RUS is losing every lap 1 sec. Whatever they will do , this season is already over for Mercedes ..
For HAM It's even worse ! Because HAM is scared in the 2022 Mercedes , That's why RUS is faster ...
1 sec. in F1 terms is not a river of time , that's a sea of time !

I guess we will see when the new upgrades come.

So I guess Perez out qualified max because max was scared, it's definitely note tire related just like it's not setup related.

[NYG]

Originally Posted by F87source

I guess we will see when the new upgrades come.

So I guess Perez out qualified max because max was scared, it's definitely note tire related just like it's not setup related.

Perez out qualified Max because he drove a really ideal lap and Max's setup had a lot more understeer. He even uses his brakes for turn in on 9 while Checo just lifts.

[NickyC]

Oh so they finally decided to put their big boy pants on and have a race huh?

Good.