The Mercedes team has finally transitioned into an F1 elite. After almost two years of battling the technical woes, the team resolved the issues. As a result, the team won consecutive GPs, with the Silverstone being one of the most impressive outings.
However, the team’s Technical head is unhappy with the delay in the comeback. Earlier, he explained how the W15 felt like a duvet, as the technical team could not cover every aspect. Further, he feels it isn’t a eureka moment but rather a realization of their shortcomings. Thus, he has shared his thoughts about the team’s performance after the British GP.
The Technical Breakdown Of Mercedes’ Two Year’ Slump
The ground effect restrictions delivered a slew of disaster for the Mercedes team. As a result, the squad endured two years of failure and sorrow. However, the technical team eventually broke through the maze of aerodynamics. Furthermore, with the introduction of new flexi front wings, the team’s performance improved significantly. As a result, F1 fans regarded it as a eureka moment, linking the Mercedes revival to the front wing upgrade.
James Allison explained to the F1 channel that Mercedes’ internal processes, which were highly effective under the old set of rules, did not adapt well to the new regulations. He clarified that this was not just about specific technical elements, such as the design of the front wing or handling tire squirt at the rear of the car. Instead, it was about the overall interaction between key engineering groups within the team.
Previously, the collaboration between aerodynamics, vehicle dynamics, and trackside teams was seamless and contributed to their unprecedented success over eight consecutive seasons. However, this same approach proved inadequate under the new regulations. The team failed to be sufficiently self-critical and did not recognize the inherent weaknesses of their old methods in the new context. This oversight ultimately cost them, as they continued to rely on outdated practices that no longer suited the new regulatory environment.
The ‘Ground Effect’ Challenge That Kept Mercedes From Winning
James Allison elaborated on the challenges posed by the new set of rules, emphasizing that the cars are now so close to the ground that suspension and aerodynamics must be intricately linked. In the previous regulatory environment, these two aspects only needed to be somewhat related, like cousins, without requiring deep integration.
In the old system, focusing intensely on the interaction between suspension and aerodynamics would have been inefficient, as they operated largely independently. However, in the current context, these components must be tightly interwoven, with their interaction being crucial to performance. This shift necessitates a much closer collaboration between the respective engineering groups.