Marko tips Mercedes F1 team to change direction 'soon'
Mar.5 - Mercedes is at risk of falling out of Formula 1's top three teams, Dr Helmut Marko has warned.
"(Fernando) Alonso will annoy Mercedes if they don't do something soon," said Red Bull's mercurial sporting boss after qualifying in Bahrain.
Indeed, Alonso's Aston Martin outpaced both George Russell and Lewis Hamilton on Saturday - a huge wake-up call for Mercedes' unique 'no sidepod' car concept.
"They (Aston Martin) gained two seconds in half a year and their car is half ours," said Mercedes F1 team boss Toto Wolff. "Engine, gearbox, rear suspension. And the same wind tunnel.
"I don't think this package is going to be competitive eventually," he added. "We need to get our act together."
Mercedes was already toying with the idea of scrapping its current car concept, with Aston Martin's step forward now proving the precise problem area.
"It's the aero," Wolff said. "I think Aston Martin has shown how it's done. They did a total reset with their concept and found the right way."
Indeed, while the mechanical basis of Aston Martin's car is mainly Mercedes, the aerodynamic concept is much more Red Bull-like.
"If you compare the cars, you can see that the Aston Martin is most similar to Red Bull," Marko said.
"That certainly has its reasons. It wasn't just (Dan) Fallows who went to Aston Martin but also a few other people. And obviously they have a good memory."
Either way, racing away from the unique 'no sidepod' concept now appears to be imminent and obvious for Mercedes.
"Every day counts," said Wolff. "We are losing these days.
"We got it wrong last year, we thought we could fix it by sticking to this concept of car, and it didn't work out.
"Look at the pecking order - catching Red Bull is not realistic. We are relatively competitive against the Ferraris, not against Alonso, and certainly not against the Red Bulls."
Driver George Russell agrees: "We've probably got to a point where we do need to try something different."
In reality, however, the change of direction was almost certainly already in the works by the time the current car hit the track this weekend.
"It will not be a copy of other cars, nor will it look like what we have on the car at the moment," technical director Mike Elliott previewed.
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"It will not be a copy of other cars, nor will it look like what we have on the car at the moment," technical director Mike Elliott previewed.
Well if QueenLewismetalface (now hes permission to wear his nasal jewellery) is the best driver on the grid, rolls eyes and laughs sarcastically , then my advice is copy the Rb 100% then there's nowhere to hide...
My advice is get rid of Elliott, he’s spent over a year going up a blind alley, either won’t admit he’s wrong or very fat brown e v l p e.
Toto, you’ve gone soft, do you really believe one of the country’s supposed top aerodynamics experts can’t fix a bit of bouncing. Clearly according to Stroppy Hamilton can see where the problem lies. Con man or fall guy.
I'd have thought Dame Lucille would be in charge of the re-design by now. After all, she's a clothes designer, actress, business mentor - why not aerodynamics' expert as well. I'm serious - maybe the Dame has some fresh new ideas - it's obvious the engineering team at MB are all out of new ideas.
Gee, Canadian I never thought of that, hell sir Lulu's helping to design the merc along the lines of his fashion wear hence the low slung, flared side pods & probably petticoats underneath causing the drag & false buttocks causing the bouncing, maybe not now though because the bouncing has stopped. All in all, except for Alonsos overtaking you could say "boring"
So that's 3 of us thinking Lulu should design the next car,something for project44 to be involved with I'd say lol
Count me in, Canned is on to something, as he has pointed out in the past , Slew is a master at delegating and the sailor boys can get about 70mph out of a 4 ton yacht with no engine at all! All they use is wind. Order in the beans!!!
Q
If the two oldest drivers retired would the rest finish on the same day as the RB’s and did I hear Dr Strop mention wonderboy running rings round SLew, or was it an echo from the distant past.
Let’s hope Slews brexit mentality can correct Cocos EU we’re all in this together mentality. Georgie looked ready to run home to mummy.