The Bahrain GP has been a significant challenge for the Mercedes team during its return to the Sepang circuit, where the specific conditions of the track have complicated the interpretation of its recent upgrade package.
In this competition, Mercedes introduced a revised design of the floor and the sidepods, but did not manage to unlock the usual pace throughout the weekend. Nevertheless, it seemed they could achieve a double podium before George Russell suffered a retirement due to a power issue.
During qualifications, the team expressed satisfaction with the update in the fast corners, but the W17 did not fit well with the slower sectors of the circuit. In their usual post-race meeting through social media, the team’s deputy director, Bradley Lord, commented that the drivers had to adopt unconventional entries into these corners to get the car functioning correctly.
Lord analyzed that the interaction between the update, the track temperature, and the characteristics of the circuit resulted in an unknown behavior that prevented the car from operating in its usual state. This complicated the control of tire temperatures, creating a difficult scenario to analyze and resolve.
Problems with the circuit surface
The rough surface of Sepang played a crucial role in the excess heat of the tires, with the interaction between the tire and the ground being a key element. This contact causes the tire to become warmer due to elasticity within the deformation, which is exacerbated by the irregularities of the track.
Additionally, the aerodynamics of the car were also affected by the texture of the circuit, as commented by the director of McLaren, Andrea Stella. This implies that it is necessary not only to consider the aerodynamic load, but also how the roughness of the track affects airflow and downforce generation.
Looking towards Singapore
With more data from the Singapore circuit, the team expects to analyze its performance better, both from the tire and aerodynamic perspectives. Lord also mentioned Russell’s engine failure, indicating that it was a mechanical fault that needs investigation to identify its cause.
This situation has been a hard blow for the team, as they have lost 15 points that could have been decisive in the championship. Despite the difficulties, Mercedes hopes to resolve the issues and face the next GP with a better understanding of their car.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
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