GP Miami 2024. another weekend of “passion” for Mercedes. A team of F1 which exists in living in a truly deficient technical context, especially taking into account the prestige of the team and the recent victorious past. Wolff has undergone an almost definitive transformation, taking on the appearance of Mattia Binotto. It is “binottizando”, in practice. Just listen to his many (too many) sad, surrendering words, through which one understands very well how the solutions towards a recovery are still unknown for the moment. “A terrifying scenario“, this is how the situation is described by team principal Austrian.
Toto they define themselves as somewhat annoyed. Having to always face the same problems doesn’t help. It lowers the morale of the troops, incapable of delving into the most hidden aspects of performance W15 and try to resolve at least some issues. The rear suspension setting, diagram push rod strongly desired for the 2024, it just doesn’t want to know if it’s working properly. A setting that does not allow the drivers to have the right “confidence” in the rear axle which in fact does not know how to manage the tire temperature. Activation and maintenance of correct working range which prohibits access to the maximum grip offered by the tyres Pirelli.
Excuses are zero, obviously. As he himself points out Wolffthe two Mercedes W15compared to the remaining cars that make up the lot F1, they are unable to “deal” the coverages in the right and fruitful way. In general we can say that it is proving very complicated for everyone to do so, even for Ferrari, McLaren And Red Bull. Teams who, however, have found solutions by studying the hysteresis cycle of compoundto adapt the warm-up-strategy and optimize the performance of the compounds in the various official sessions. This element is still missing team Of Brackely.
To conclude the introduction before moving on to the analysis, we can say that more should be present upgrade to Imola. He’s trying, Mercedes. A further acceleration on the work plan is necessary to avoid wasting further time. The target aims at the best management of the flows that cross the W15. A useful correction not only to increase the load but also to make it work correctly. Some tweaks should be coming to the rear suspension systemin an attempt to maximize performance in the slow and driven sections of the circuits.
F1, Mercedes must resolve the tire issue. New updates in sight
For the sixth round of the competitive campaign Mercedes brought some changes to the W15. Visible and invisible changes to the floor of the car. As regards those “easily analysable, it is noted an update on the bottom in the portion that concerns the cutting edge. Looking at the images, it is clear that the design of the lateral extractor has completely changed. The device of this macro component has larger dimensions to generate a “more advanced load” level. Also, regarding the floor area underneath the car there was an increase in overall volume.
Although at the moment no one is in possession of the shots of this area of the Mercedesan area that is always very hidden so as not to give suggestions to your own competitorthere are essentially two areas where the interventions take place: in the volume of the diffuser or in that of the two main Venturi channels that run along the bottom. In the first case, the increased creates a greater expansion of the fluid which consequently increases the downforce produced. In the second, however, the possible measure seeks to improve the accommodation of the vortex structure that develops below this important element for the wing car.
Basic, the aforementioned vortex structures (which detach from the innermost fences) There are two major ones that must be kept intact along the path towards the speaker. At the moment, the results obtained through the calculators and subsequently confirmed on the simulator Mercedeshave only been present in certain contexts, where the W15 he produced very good split times. This is keeping in mind that the 2024 chassis is undoubtedly the best in this generation of cars. Observing the on board you notice some understeer on entry, a factor which consequently “dirties” the exit of the corner with oversteer.
If in Japan there Mercedes had found a good balance between the two axles of the German car, a Miami this equation was not properly centered. In the first sector of Florida there W15 you took at least two tenths from Ferrari And Red Bull. GThe updates aimed to stabilize the aerodynamic load and also make it less sensitive to heights from the ground. The center of pressure was advanced without any particular successes. The set-up it was not optimal in America and as mentioned in the introduction of the article, the biggest problems concern the failure to activate the compounds.
Qualifying Mercedes she couldn’t get it to work Softtrying in the last one stint in Q3 the use of Mediumsimilarly to McLaren, managing this coverage better. But during the race the same delta in favor did not arrive and the “effort” to stabilize the tire temperatures was really great. Between the sprint and during qualifying the technicians reduced the rear load to gain 3/4 km/h. A choice which, however, complicated the management of temperatures. Scenario that resulted in a lower pace with the yellow stripe Pirellis at the start of the raceas we can observe in the graph relating to gap.
The hard times for the German team seem to be prolonged. Lewis Hamilton he announced it about two months ago. A complicated situation from which Mercedes he hopes to be able to go out with the arrival of the European events. The season is still very long and McLaren teach, see season 2023, like the ability to read problems and take successful action to correct them is capable of achieving a great leap in quality. The team multiple champion is trying. The efforts made are maximum. We just have to wait to understand, as he would say Binotto…
Authors: Alessandro Arcari – @berrageiz – Niccolo Arnerich – @niccoloarnerich
Images: Albert Fabrega – @AlbertFabrega –
