Having reverted to an older-spec rear suspension, although happy with the outcomes, Mercedes stays confused as to why new spec did not work.
Following a robust begin to the season the German workforce launched a brand new rear suspension at Imola, solely to search out itself struggling, albeit scoring a win in Montreal.
Kimi Antonelli, specifically, was sad with the upgraded suspension, although teammate George Russell additionally claimed the replace resulted in a scarcity of stability.
“We have to actually perceive what’s going on and why we have taken such a step backwards as a result of these circumstances right now, you’ll argue, are perfect for us and our automobile,” mentioned Russell in Spa, “and as soon as once more, it has been the worst efficiency of the season.
“The automobile is not feeling as good to drive in the intervening time because it as soon as did,” he added. “It is missing rear stability, whereas firstly of the 12 months it was significantly better. I believe Kimi and I are collectively making extra errors as a result of the automobile is more difficult to drive. So we have to sit down as a workforce.
“It could be so simple as reverting again a number of the modifications we have made,” he mentioned. “However, in Components 1, it is by no means that easy. Clearly, we had the change of the entrance wing in Barcelona, we then went in a barely totally different path afterwards to type of deal with the difficulty of the change of entrance wing. And clearly, since that time, we have taken an enormous step backwards. So, it may very well be so simple as simply reverting again to one thing that we had earlier within the season.”
In Hungary, having reverted to the older-spec suspension, Russell claimed his sixth podium of the season whereas Antonelli scored his first level in for races.
“If we make a brand new suspension, we’re doing it to make the automobile go faster,” explains Andrew Shovlin within the workforce’s newest video debrief. “Clearly there’s one thing that wasn’t proper,” he provides.
“There’s areas the place the drivers mentioned the automobile is certainly higher with that suspension, however when it got here to stability within the quick corners, a number of the corners the place they’re having to hold plenty of pace on entry, they did not have confidence to push the automobile like they wish to.
“We all the time attempt to make issues that enhance the tempo of the automobile and this did not,” he admits. “Plenty of the work that has gone on now could be to grasp precisely what’s it that has precipitated that drawback. It is not one thing that is lifeless apparent, in any other case we would not have had that problem within the first place.
“Budapest confirmed that we have a very good automobile after we land it in the correct place,” he provides. “After which hopefully, there will be a possibility to construct on our tally of race wins.
“We had a good time in Montreal, there’s different circuits which might be a bit extra like that developing over the remaining ten races, so hopefully, we’ll have just a few extra highlights.”