
2025 Mercedes Team / Technical Thread
#1
Posted 07 January 2025 - 13:24
Black v Silver
Toto smash
Have at it 👍
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#2
Posted 07 January 2025 - 13:35
Antonelli is the new ingredient here, and it will be very interesting to see how he does. That will be affected by the competitiveness of the car and whether one of the drivers is in the fight for the title. Nonetheless, we will learn a lot about him this year. George will do well, I'm sure.
#3
Posted 07 January 2025 - 16:27
#4
Posted 07 January 2025 - 17:48
That should help George to get back to the box quicker!
#5
Posted 07 January 2025 - 18:20
Mercidas
Adides
#6
Posted 07 January 2025 - 18:31
It still amazes me that Adidas and Puma both started in the same little German town. Amazing what two dedicated brothers can accomplish.
#7
Posted 08 January 2025 - 09:01
#8
Posted 08 January 2025 - 09:05
I just have a feeling that they wil be very strong this season, question is if so, are the drivers up for it? Its unfair to expect too much from kimi, but i am curious too see how Russell would fair in a championship fight.
Lando didn't fair too well, but I think George is a bit stronger and assertive and should manage a WDC challenge better.
#9
Posted 08 January 2025 - 09:37
Team and Technical Thread in one thread. How luxurious.
Mercedes are working to improve the rear suspension for the W16 in hope for better overall performance.
https://www.funoanal...1-w16-2025.html
#10
Posted 08 January 2025 - 09:59
Team and Technical Thread in one thread. How luxurious.
Mercedes are working to improve the rear suspension for the W16 in hope for better overall performance.
https://www.funoanal...1-w16-2025.html
Didn’t they say the same last year…
Edited by lewislorenzo, 08 January 2025 - 10:00.
#11
Posted 08 January 2025 - 16:07
The adidas team wear is really nice
Didn’t they say the same last year…
I don’t know. Don't remember.
Have just read rumours that AM was unhappy with the rear suspension and gearbox supplied by Mercedes. So it might be something they have to improve in order to get good performance this year
#13
Posted 08 January 2025 - 23:01
Lando didn't fair too well, but I think George is a bit stronger and assertive and should manage a WDC challenge better.
I think he has a bit more steel and drive about him than Lando does. He has put together a couple of impressive seasons for Merc already, and had one of the better F2 championship winning seasons. I suspect he'd be fine in a WDC fight.
#14
Posted 09 January 2025 - 06:03
#15
Posted 09 January 2025 - 09:33
#16
Posted 09 January 2025 - 12:43
Aye George is up for a scrap and willing to be disliked if need be to achieve his goals. Lando is quick and impressive in quali but got over excited last year and was easy prey for Verstappen.
The way Max was smirking and grinning at little Lando sometimes... Lando looked like a kid, tbh. Quick driver, but sometimes capitulated mentally when he was in big Max's shadow.
George v Max should provide a few more fireworks this season.
#17
Posted 09 January 2025 - 14:11
but it seems they didn't manage to identify the source of the problem. Which seems to be the rear suspension and gearbox
#18
Posted 09 January 2025 - 16:11
George will be fine. He will do anything to win. Will be interesting to see how he races Max this year
It's going to be interesting to see how he races Lewis - given the radio comms from him whenever they raced each other in '24. It always seemed to be if he was behind, he was asking to get Lewis out of the way, if he was in front he was asking that Lewis not to attack him
#19
Posted 11 January 2025 - 11:42
It's going to be interesting to see how he races Lewis - given the radio comms from him whenever they raced each other in '24. It always seemed to be if he was behind, he was asking to get Lewis out of the way, if he was in front he was asking that Lewis not to attack him
That is probably not going to work in 2025 😉
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#20
Posted 11 January 2025 - 12:12
I see Bottas taking over Kimi's seat early in the season and Kimi being given more time to practice in tests outside the GPs until later in the year.
#21
Posted 11 January 2025 - 12:43
I see Bottas taking over Kimi's seat early in the season and Kimi being given more time to practice in tests outside the GPs until later in the year.
Why? Is that going to be the same for all the other rookies on the grid? I'm sure the team are aware that he will need a bit of time to settle in. They have had him doing a lot of testing in older cars already. The Monza free practice was a good lesson for them, which was as much on the team as the driver.
#22
Posted 11 January 2025 - 14:42
I see Bottas taking over Kimi's seat early in the season and Kimi being given more time to practice in tests outside the GPs until later in the year.
That would be a huge loss of face for Wolff if he had to do that - Kimi is supposed to be the 2nd coming etc etc - being stood down to get more practice and then being brought back is not going to happen.
#23
Posted 11 January 2025 - 16:13
That would be a huge loss of face for Wolff if he had to do that - Kimi is supposed to be the 2nd coming etc etc - being stood down to get more practice and then being brought back is not going to happen.
Exactly, like what else would be better practice than actually being in the car.
#24
Posted 11 January 2025 - 16:22
That would be a huge loss of face for Wolff if he had to do that - Kimi is supposed to be the 2nd coming etc etc - being stood down to get more practice and then being brought back is not going to happen.
I agree. They have to stick with Kimi in the car no matter what happens. If it takes time to reach his potential, then they have to give him that time. Switching him in and out would not work and would be an absolute mess. Also, Bottas is not really a competitor for a long term Merc seat so there is no extra upside to giving him time in the car. Kimi will probably be fine anyway, or else mega, but all Merc can really do is shield him from any negative pressure and give him enough time.
#25
Posted 11 January 2025 - 16:39
Why? Is that going to be the same for all the other rookies on the grid? I'm sure the team are aware that he will need a bit of time to settle in. They have had him doing a lot of testing in older cars already. The Monza free practice was a good lesson for them, which was as much on the team as the driver.
Hopium is a phrase I learnt on these boards.
#26
Posted 11 January 2025 - 16:45
George will be fine. He will do anything to win. Will be interesting to see how he races Max this year
I guess it depends how Kimi fares.
We've seen more seasoned drivers than George be surprised by the rookie on the other side of the garage.
I won't name names.
#27
Posted 11 January 2025 - 16:50
I guess it depends how Kimi fares.
We've seen more seasoned drivers than George be surprised by the rookie on the other side of the garage.
I won't name names.
Well, we can rule out Fernando Alonso anyway. I'm not immediately thinking of an example more seasoned than George, though.
#28
Posted 12 January 2025 - 05:11
I just have a feeling that they wil be very strong this season, question is if so, are the drivers up for it? Its unfair to expect too much from kimi, but i am curious too see how Russell would fair in a championship fight.
There will certainly be some crossing of lines back if Max goes dirty. Russell is no Lando.
Max crying foul in Baku:
Edited by gillesfan76, 12 January 2025 - 05:20.
#30
Posted 12 January 2025 - 12:44
Surely praise by the assumption that any WDC fight will involve Max. I'd guess George wouldn't have the same hangup of preserving an off-track friendship, and there's already been some needle there. But GR can get his elbows out when required.
#31
Posted 13 January 2025 - 02:59
It's going to be interesting to see how he races Lewis - given the radio comms from him whenever they raced each other in '24. It always seemed to be if he was behind, he was asking to get Lewis out of the way, if he was in front he was asking that Lewis not to attack him
A pair of quotes you can attribute to pretty much every driver on the grid.. behind and unable to easily pass 'he is holding me up' ahead and being pressured 'what is he doing??'
Shaun
#32
Posted 13 January 2025 - 10:01
A pair of quotes you can attribute to pretty much every driver on the grid.. behind and unable to easily pass 'he is holding me up' ahead and being pressured 'what is he doing??'
Shaun
It has never been an issue either way for Max as regards his team-mates.
#33
Posted 13 January 2025 - 10:57
Kimi v George
Black v Silver
Toto smash
Have at it
Gotta say I am excited at this one. I was a bit underwhelmed by Antonelli in F2 but hey the kid is clearly gifted and I'm looking forward to this team mate battle. My expectation is for Russell to have the measure of him in the first part of the season, but for Antonelli to start matching him in the 2nd part (if he is as good as some people think). Very interested to see how Mercedes present themselves this year in terms of performance, I wouldn't be surprised for them to be all in on 2026 as early as possible.
#34
Posted 13 January 2025 - 11:51
Gotta say I am excited at this one. I was a bit underwhelmed by Antonelli in F2 but hey the kid is clearly gifted and I'm looking forward to this team mate battle. My expectation is for Russell to have the measure of him in the first part of the season, but for Antonelli to start matching him in the 2nd part (if he is as good as some people think). Very interested to see how Mercedes present themselves this year in terms of performance, I wouldn't be surprised for them to be all in on 2026 as early as possible.
A repeat of 2014 is highly unlikely by any team, and sacrificing results in a season and then NOT being the best in the next one can be pretty demoralizing for engineering staff.
This set of regulations has shown us that being the strongest at the start may not lead to sustained success.
#35
Posted 13 January 2025 - 13:08
Gotta say I am excited at this one. I was a bit underwhelmed by Antonelli in F2 but hey the kid is clearly gifted and I'm looking forward to this team mate battle. My expectation is for Russell to have the measure of him in the first part of the season, but for Antonelli to start matching him in the 2nd part (if he is as good as some people think). Very interested to see how Mercedes present themselves this year in terms of performance, I wouldn't be surprised for them to be all in on 2026 as early as possible.
Me too JK, it’s one of the tastier match ups on the grid.
I’m expecting great things if only because we’ve been hearing about this kid since he was like 12. George is decent though, he’s bolstered his reputation this last three years, 2-1 up over an admittedly aging Lewis. I do think he’s got the head to go the distance but if Kimi starts beating him will he lose his composure.
Also Black v Silver put me in the votes for the former!
#36
Posted 13 January 2025 - 13:14
Kimi will be fast out the blocks but comes a cropper semi regularly. He'll then calm down and be a top ten regular.
#38
Posted 13 January 2025 - 17:46
It has never been an issue either way for Max as regards his team-mates.
Lol true that (Not since Ricciardo anyway), but hardly due to his personality ;)
#39
Posted 13 January 2025 - 19:26
Heard a bit of juicy gossip at work today. From a colleague whose other colleague worked at Mercedes for few weeks at the end of this year. Aside from him leaving the team after only a few weeks because of the rather terrible working environment, he also said the team is already focussing most of their aerodynamic work on the floor for 2026, and they have a few “tricks” in the works to get around the new front wing regulations.
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#40
Posted 14 January 2025 - 02:36
Heard a bit of juicy gossip at work today. From a colleague whose other colleague worked at Mercedes for few weeks at the end of this year. Aside from him leaving the team after only a few weeks because of the rather terrible working environment, he also said the team is already focussing most of their aerodynamic work on the floor for 2026, and they have a few “tricks” in the works to get around the new front wing regulations.
#41
Posted 14 January 2025 - 14:41
Heard a bit of juicy gossip at work today. From a colleague whose other colleague worked at Mercedes for few weeks at the end of this year. Aside from him leaving the team after only a few weeks because of the rather terrible working environment, he also said the team is already focussing most of their aerodynamic work on the floor for 2026, and they have a few “tricks” in the works to get around the new front wing regulations.
Is this a bit like "My uncle works at Nintendo"? I'm just kidding.
It sucks that the working environment is so bad. Did this colleague of a colleague happen to add any details on that? Because that doesn't really sound like a recipe for success and it worry's the hell out of me. No matter how many tricks they think they may have up their sleeves, if the staff are not able to focus on their job fully due to working environment, they might not be producing their best work and may lose focus on things that at the time, don't appear critical, but can cause major headaches later on.
I kind of get the feeling that Mercedes are getting a bit like 2009-2011 McLaren where they were looking for all sorts of magic bullets rather than just focusing on making a good race car.
#42
Posted 14 January 2025 - 16:28
Is this a bit like "My uncle works at Nintendo"? I'm just kidding.
It sucks that the working environment is so bad. Did this colleague of a colleague happen to add any details on that? Because that doesn't really sound like a recipe for success and it worry's the hell out of me. No matter how many tricks they think they may have up their sleeves, if the staff are not able to focus on their job fully due to working environment, they might not be producing their best work and may lose focus on things that at the time, don't appear critical, but can cause major headaches later on.
I kind of get the feeling that Mercedes are getting a bit like 2009-2011 McLaren where they were looking for all sorts of magic bullets rather than just focusing on making a good race car.
That's a lot of paint by numbers with very little colours available and very few numbers...
It's one person who joined an organisation and left after three weeks. We don't know them, their current circumstances, their own perspectives, their own biases or likewise any of the conditions they felt were not great. There's then the potential isolation of possible conditions., Someone who lands in an organisation and leaves after three can say as much about the individual as anything else. FAR too many gaps to make any reasonable judgements never mind to start painting a picture of success for the next set of regulations.
"it sucks that the working environment is so bad" from one uncle who works for nin... i mean Mercedes. Pinch of salt bud
That said i'll add into the picture, I worked with someone who provides professional development tools for the team and has been in spaces doing team development with Toto apparently.... pinch of salt, but they said their reflections are that it's very intense on delivering what's needed (in those meetings), it's a rigorous place. Which is no shock, these are teams working to extract 1 thousands of a second (0.001) to make the difference of winning and then coming 2nd, 3rd etc. which history doesn't care about and is no legacy for them.
Edited by Pingu Pi, 14 January 2025 - 16:31.
#43
Posted 14 January 2025 - 17:06
That's a lot of paint by numbers with very little colours available and very few numbers...
It's one person who joined an organisation and left after three weeks. We don't know them, their current circumstances, their own perspectives, their own biases or likewise any of the conditions they felt were not great. There's then the potential isolation of possible conditions., Someone who lands in an organisation and leaves after three can say as much about the individual as anything else. FAR too many gaps to make any reasonable judgements never mind to start painting a picture of success for the next set of regulations.
"it sucks that the working environment is so bad" from one uncle who works for nin... i mean Mercedes. Pinch of salt bud
That said i'll add into the picture, I worked with someone who provides professional development tools for the team and has been in spaces doing team development with Toto apparently.... pinch of salt, but they said their reflections are that it's very intense on delivering what's needed (in those meetings), it's a rigorous place. Which is no shock, these are teams working to extract 1 thousands of a second (0.001) to make the difference of winning and then coming 2nd, 3rd etc. which history doesn't care about and is no legacy for them.
Well...I did ask if there was any specific info about it. I didn't make any analysis other than the impact a bad working environment can have. I didn't say that this was going to be the case, only that those were the implications. I get where you're coming from...but at the same time...I think your response is a wee bit unfair ( although I can see from my wording how you get the idea that I'm making a damming conclusion from no evidence )
But hey...no big deal.
Edited by Huffer, 14 January 2025 - 17:08.
#44
Posted 14 January 2025 - 23:25
Is this a bit like "My uncle works at Nintendo"? I'm just kidding.
It sucks that the working environment is so bad. Did this colleague of a colleague happen to add any details on that? Because that doesn't really sound like a recipe for success and it worry's the hell out of me. No matter how many tricks they think they may have up their sleeves, if the staff are not able to focus on their job fully due to working environment, they might not be producing their best work and may lose focus on things that at the time, don't appear critical, but can cause major headaches later on.
I kind of get the feeling that Mercedes are getting a bit like 2009-2011 McLaren where they were looking for all sorts of magic bullets rather than just focusing on making a good race car.
Well it might not be appropriate to share the few specific details, but it did involve being asked to work about twice his contracted hours per week, unpaid overtime. A very toxic environment. It should also be said that it took a grand total of two posts for people to start inventing their own details on the matter. I never specified the timeframe, and suddenly it's "three weeks". I was told it was a fair bit longer than that.
But that reflects what I've heard about just about anyone working in F1. This applies to all the teams. You've got to be willing to dedicate your entire life to the team. It's not a job for people who desire work-life balance.
As for the snippet about the car, I don't expect anyone to take it without a pinch of salt. I'd imagine all the teams are devoting a lot of resources to 2026 already. But it got my juices going regarding 2026. I love a new set of regulations. This year might be a fantastic season from a competitive standpoint, but next year will be a good one from a technical one. For a fan of the team I'd say it's something to get excited about.
#45
Posted 14 January 2025 - 23:40
It's not a job for people who desire work-life balance.
There is undoubtedly a Christian Horner joke in there.....
#46
Posted 15 January 2025 - 01:40
What has Verstappen have to do with my post you quoted? The hate you have for Verstappen is quite unhealthy.
Pretty obvious but you’re so fixated about my supposed fixation on Verstappen that you missed it.
There are some clear likelihoods:
- Verstappen will fight for the title again. Not a certainty but Red Bull is a strong team, Max is an incredible driver. Do the maths.
- Verstappen is likely to do numerous dirty moves. He’s been as open and clear about this as can be. He’s a straight shooter as his fans keep bleating on about and he’s straight out said that he has and will cross limits and lines and do whatever is necessary to win the championship by any means. He’s THAT guy, love it or loathe it. I loathe it, you love it. Differences in opinions make the world go ‘round. Embrace it.
- Since the context of this sub-discussion was how Russell would fare in a championship fight, then my reply in relation to the two above likelihoods makes perfect sense. I don’t think Russell would wait as long as Lewis did in Silverstone to put Verstappen into the wall. Or maybe it will be the other way around. The likelihood though if both of them are in a close title fight and if Verstappen doesn’t have a dominant car, or in fact a car that’s slightly slower, is he’ll be willing to make contact or bully the other driver and I don’t think Russell is going to back out as often.
Everyone else got it, but you didn’t?
#47
Posted 15 January 2025 - 06:18
Well it might not be appropriate to share the few specific details, but it did involve being asked to work about twice his contracted hours per week, unpaid overtime. A very toxic environment. It should also be said that it took a grand total of two posts for people to start inventing their own details on the matter. I never specified the timeframe, and suddenly it's "three weeks". I was told it was a fair bit longer than that.
But that reflects what I've heard about just about anyone working in F1. This applies to all the teams. You've got to be willing to dedicate your entire life to the team. It's not a job for people who desire work-life balance.
Aye - anybody who works in a competitive industry is going to be asked to do that. Been there, done that. I don't think that in of itself is a toxic or bad working environment. But it's something that would typically be known before taking a position in an industry such as motorsport. The long hours without overtime payment are usually compensated for by bonuses, extra time off etc.
But it's not for everybody. I can fully understand not wanting to be that dedicated to your job and there's nothing wrong with that.
Edited by Huffer, 15 January 2025 - 06:19.
#48
Posted 15 January 2025 - 06:42
Aye - anybody who works in a competitive industry is going to be asked to do that. Been there, done that. I don't think that in of itself is a toxic or bad working environment. But it's something that would typically be known before taking a position in an industry such as motorsport. The long hours without overtime payment are usually compensated for by bonuses, extra time off etc.
But it's not for everybody. I can fully understand not wanting to be that dedicated to your job and there's nothing wrong with that.
It's straight up exploitative.
#49
Posted 15 January 2025 - 08:21
Aye - anybody who works in a competitive industry is going to be asked to do that. Been there, done that. I don't think that in of itself is a toxic or bad working environment. But it's something that would typically be known before taking a position in an industry such as motorsport. The long hours without overtime payment are usually compensated for by bonuses, extra time off etc.
But it's not for everybody. I can fully understand not wanting to be that dedicated to your job and there's nothing wrong with that.
Sorry, that was a poor sentence structure on my part. The toxic environment part was meant as a different point to the extreme hours.
#50
Posted 15 January 2025 - 08:51
It's straight up exploitative.
I sort of agree with you and I sort of don't. If there's some sort of financial reward for your efforts ( along with the achievement of certain results ), then it's a fair trade. It's really up to the individual if that's a sacrifice that they want to make. If it's just constant crunch/overtime with no sort of additional compensation at the end of the fiscal year - then that is definitely exploitive.
Sorry, that was a poor sentence structure on my part. The toxic environment part was meant as a different point to the extreme hours.
Ahh....fair enough. That makes me curious but I'll just have to live without the details. It's a shame if true though.