Mercedes has shared details about its secret code system, designed to prepare drivers for situations like race neutralizations. This strategy played a significant role in Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s victory at the Spanish Grand Prix.
During the competition, Antonelli was alerted by the yellow flags due to Lance Stroll’s stopped car. As a result, he significantly reduced his speed in corners 18 to 20, losing more time compared to rivals like Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, who followed a more aggressive line.
The Italian driver not only decreased his speed but also waited before accelerating in the next zone, where the green flags were already displayed. After the race, Antonelli confessed that his race engineer, Peter Bonnington, had warned him about a possible VSC intervention, which motivated him to deliberately slow down to take advantage of this situation during his pit entry.
Secret code tactic
Andrew Shovlin, Mercedes’ track engineering director, explained that for each race, they use secret codes to inform drivers about the strategy to follow in case of a safety car. ‘We cover these codes to prevent other teams from finding out about them. We change them every week,’ clarified Shovlin.
During the race, Antonelli received a warning to slow down, then he was informed that he was in the safety window. Once the VSC was deployed, he received the order to make the pit stop, which was critical and needed precise execution.
A millimetric stop
Antonelli was about to reach the pits just as the VSC was being confirmed. His decision to reduce speed helped him have an additional second, which facilitated both the driver and the team’s reaction to the changing situation.
With only 15 seconds between the establishment of the VSC and the driver’s entry into his pits, Mercedes demonstrated efficiency in its reaction, having the wheels ready for Antonelli and his teammate George Russell. Shovlin emphasized that these strategies are common among teams, but their effective implementation can make the difference between victory and defeat.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
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