The Constructors’ Champions are making adjustments for the Australian Grand Prix in order to improve performance.
Mercedes is aiming for early upgrades after an uncharacteristically poor start to the Formula One season. The team has had a disappointing first two rounds in the championship. Despite a lucky podium in Bahrain, they have been much behind schedule.
Porpoising is one of the team’s most visible concerns. During the initial ground effect period, Mario Andretti invented the term. When there is a break in the continuity of the under-floor aerodynamics, the 2022 automobiles begin to bounce.
Mercedes isn’t sure why their W13s are more susceptible to it than others. When one of their engineers discovered that some of the cures utilized in Bahrain didn’t work in Saudi Arabia.
“We assumed that there would be less shaking at Jeddah because the track is smoother. We were wrong. We still don’t fully understand what factors trigger the phenomenon. It’s an ongoing learning process.”
While using less downforce at the rear of the W13 improved overall balance, it didn’t help much. As a result, the team decided to raise the ride height of their vehicles.
This method lowers total top speed and makes obtaining the maximum performance harder. In Jeddah, George Russell was more successful than Lewis Hamilton. Mercedes, on the other hand, revealed that the configuration modifications were minor.
From 2021 to now, the balance of (engine) power has evolved. The gasoline used is different, despite the fact that the power units are the same. According to one idea, the Mercedes engine is having trouble running on the new E10 fuel. This would explain why the other Mercedes-powered teams are also falling behind in that department.
Mercedes was up to 11 kph slower on the straights in Jeddah than Red Bull. Despite this, the loss is estimated to account for only one or two tenths of a second each lap in genuine performance.
The real issue, according to the team, is drag. The team’s largest stumbling block reaching top speed is believed to be air resistance. Although the Mercedes appears to be the most aerodynamic, the car’s back end is generating serious issues.
“Don’t look at the surface of the car and the rear wing flap. This is misleading. Drag is mainly generated by the skin of the rear wing and the lower wing in the rear. And we’re way up there.”
Mercedes may have to wait to catch up to their normal competitors. The side will have to fight for possession in the midfield. At least for the time being.
Their planned enhancements will be unveiled at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, which takes place the following weekend. The race will take place between April 8th and 10th, 2022, and will be the first in the country since COVID-19.
