Mercedes has detected the problem that affected George Russell during the races between Silverstone and Spa, related to the control software of his Formula 1 engine. The team hopes to verify the definitive solution during the upcoming Italian Grand Prix in Monza.
Russell repeatedly expressed a lack of performance in the straights, a feeling corroborated by telemetry data compared with his teammate, Kimi Antonelli. Initial investigations ruled out both a loss of engine power and a decrease in maximum speed.
In the first section of the Spa circuit, from La Source to the braking zone of Les Combes, Russell’s sector times were similar to Antonelli’s, which did not fit a mere power deficit. After qualifying, the team focused on the software as a possible source of anomalies, but Russell’s race ended a few laps after starting, leaving this hypothesis unverified.
Mercedes engineers have found a subtle error in the engine management software code, which caused electrical energy to be used prematurely, leading to an imbalance in energy distribution. This meant that what was gained in the early parts of the lap had to be compensated for in the later sections, where the driver expected to have electrical power available.
A software correction has already been applied at the Brixworth engine facilities, although it still needs to be validated on track. It is believed that there may also be a minor part of the problem related to Russell’s driving style, which could have amplified the effects of the software anomaly, as recently explained by McLaren team principal Andrea Stella regarding the adaptive logic of Mercedes engines.
Although the team believes it has identified the main cause of the problem, it will not be until the Italian Grand Prix that they can confirm whether the solution is effective. The conditions of the Hungaroring and Zandvoort circuits are not sufficiently similar to those of Silverstone and Spa for an accurate assessment of the system under the same circumstances.
For Russell, there is a short-term positive aspect: at the Hungaroring circuit, power in the straights has a much lesser impact on overall performance, allowing him to face the weekend without the constant worry of being at a disadvantage.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
