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Why is Mercedes so fast in qually?


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#1 genespleen

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Posted 26 May 2013 - 02:03

We all know that Mercedes will tend to fade in the race itself, but I don't think I understand what makes them so fast over a single lap? Where, precisely, are they especially strong?

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#2 Jimisgod

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Posted 26 May 2013 - 02:07

The Mercedes is a fast car, it just uses up tyres very quickly.

See Lewis saying he 'couldn't drive any slower'. The car is quick, it just can't be quick and maintain its tyres.

#3 charly0418

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Posted 26 May 2013 - 02:30

1- They warm the tires really fast
2- Down force, too much for their own good
3- Very quick drivers

Edited by charly0418, 26 May 2013 - 02:31.


#4 F1ultimate

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Posted 26 May 2013 - 04:56

The Mercedes is a fast car, it just uses up tyres very quickly.


Exactly. It's a classic scenario of every positive reaction having a negative reaction. Downforce comes at the expense of top speed and a responsive front results in nervousness.

Red Bull has a fast car too but they are curbing its performance in order for the tyres last. If the team wanted Vettel to be a fast as the Merc drivers over one lap they could make it happen but its pointless if it means the car is too punishing on its tires. Currently Ferrari has the best package which is a car that is decent in qualifying but also fast in race trim.

#5 Jazza

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Posted 26 May 2013 - 08:11

I think the car is just awesome on light fuel and a dog when fully loaded. Right from the first lap they seem to have the other cars on their rear wing. That can't just be tyre wear.

#6 Masenco

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Posted 26 May 2013 - 09:04

Exactly. It's a classic scenario of every positive reaction having a negative reaction. Downforce comes at the expense of top speed and a responsive front results in nervousness.

Red Bull has a fast car too but they are curbing its performance in order for the tyres last. If the team wanted Vettel to be a fast as the Merc drivers over one lap they could make it happen but its pointless if it means the car is too punishing on its tires. Currently Ferrari has the best package which is a car that is decent in qualifying but also fast in race trim.


Has this been confirmed by christian horner or someone who should know?
I read a quote from alex wurtz the other day saying that race setup and qually setup are pretty much identical nowadays.

#7 peroa

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Posted 26 May 2013 - 09:14

Has this been confirmed by christian horner or someone who should know?
I read a quote from alex wurtz the other day saying that race setup and qually setup are pretty much identical nowadays.

amus said it in one of their latest articles.
RBR and Merc follow a similar aero concept, lots of rake, for this to work you have to drive with certain suspension settings in the back, so that the diffuser is properly sealed.
THe ultimate lap time is of course faster with this config but the aero doesn't have a broad working range.
Teams like Ferrari, Lotus and FI don't have that ultimate lap time in their cars but their aero works in a broader range which allows them to set up the car's suspension to take the best care of the tyres.
RBR are working towards this and since it's "their" concept they understand it inside out, Merc on the other hand is a bit lost at sea at the moment.

#8 Sakae

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Posted 26 May 2013 - 10:14

We all know that Mercedes will tend to fade in the race itself, but I don't think I understand what makes them so fast over a single lap? Where, precisely, are they especially strong?


http://forums.autosp...a...t&p=6282447

:rotfl:

#9 ZooL

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Posted 26 May 2013 - 10:21

Exactly. It's a classic scenario of every positive reaction having a negative reaction. Downforce comes at the expense of top speed and a responsive front results in nervousness.

Red Bull has a fast car too but they are curbing its performance in order for the tyres last. If the team wanted Vettel to be a fast as the Merc drivers over one lap they could make it happen but its pointless if it means the car is too punishing on its tires. Currently Ferrari has the best package which is a car that is decent in qualifying but also fast in race trim.


RBR said in one of the recent quali's that they could never have reached Merc's lap time.

Merc advantage comes from slow speed traction. I think it's low speed mechanical performance is so good that the Pirelli tyres can't handle it.

That's why Pirelli are worried about next year too because when the turbo kicks in Pirelli are gonna be stuffed...

#10 Treads

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Posted 26 May 2013 - 11:46

Exactly. It's a classic scenario of every positive reaction having a negative reaction. Downforce comes at the expense of top speed and a responsive front results in nervousness.

Red Bull has a fast car too but they are curbing its performance in order for the tyres last. If the team wanted Vettel to be a fast as the Merc drivers over one lap they could make it happen but its pointless if it means the car is too punishing on its tires. Currently Ferrari has the best package which is a car that is decent in qualifying but also fast in race trim.


Bull.

Red Bull would love people to think that but if they could set up the car in any way to get pole in Monaco, they would have.





#11 dav115

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Posted 26 May 2013 - 12:30

Bull.

Red Bull would love people to think that but if they could set up the car in any way to get pole in Monaco, they would have.

No bull. It's as clear as day from the RB onboards how much understeer they have dialed into that car to preserve the rears.

#12 Kingshark

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Posted 26 May 2013 - 18:10

No bull. It's as clear as day from the RB onboards how much understeer they have dialed into that car to preserve the rears.

Yet they were no better at saving tyres than Mercedes today.

#13 OfficeLinebacker

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Posted 27 May 2013 - 08:08

Currently Ferrari has the best package which is a car that is decent in qualifying but also fast in race trim.

You misspelled "Lotus."

#14 Beamer

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Posted 27 May 2013 - 10:01

My guess is they built a fast car.... :drunk:

#15 Treads

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Posted 27 May 2013 - 10:43

No bull. It's as clear as day from the RB onboards how much understeer they have dialed into that car to preserve the rears.


Frankly I think that theory was disproved comprehensively this weekend. The suggestion that Red Bull could have gained pole position if they wanted to, but set up their car to be slower and protect the tyres for a better race pace in Monaco, is absolute, complete and total nonsense. Why on earth would they do that in MONACO?

Mercedes, after suffering awful race pace all season so far, won from pole in Monaco. In Monaco, POLE IS EVERYTHING. If the Bulls could have got pole, they would have. Hence you have to conclude the Mercedes is the fastest over a single lap.