Photo Credit: Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team

Mercedes explains how damage for Hamilton exacerbated their lack of pace at F1 Japanese GP

The Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team found themselves grappling with challenges that left them trailing behind their rivals at the Japanese Grand Prix. George Russell finished P7, with Lewis Hamilton only 9th. In particular, Hamilton seemed to struggle to connect with the W15 at Suzuka on race day.  Mercedes’ Trackside Engineering Director, Andrew Shovlin, has shed…

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Russell says turbulence from modern F1 cars is causing helmet problems in 2024

Following a comment made over team radio during last Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka, Russell explains how dirty air from 2024 Formula 1 cars has created an issue with crash helmets. Dirty air has long been a sticking point in Formula 1, with the current era of regulations introduced in 2022 targeting a significant…

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Photo Credit: Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team

Wolff says the 2024 F1 season can still be “exciting” even as he predicts more Verstappen dominance

After retiring with a brake issue barely three laps into the Australian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen claimed victory from pole position in Japan, remaining unchallenged throughout the race to finish 12 seconds ahead of his Red Bull teammate. Ferrari have established themselves as second-best, with McLaren emerging as the third force behind the front-runners.  It’s…

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Photo Credit: Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team

Russell: “It was a late move from my side” as he “made contact” with Piastri in F1 Japanese GP

Setting off on the second standing start on the white-walled hard compound tyres, George Russell wasted no time in overtaking Yuki Tsunoda after the Japanese driver had got him on the first lap following the resumption. Reporting some degradation, vibrations, and helmet issues throughout the race, Russell finished the Japanese Grand Prix in P7, with…

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Photo Credit: Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team

Wolff seeks answers after F1 Japanese GP: “A poor first stint cost us today and we need to find out why that was”

Mercedes finished Sunday’s F1 Japanese Grand Prix with P7 for George Russell and P9 for Lewis Hamilton. Team Principal Toto Wolff reflected on the strategy and the work ahead for his team saying “this is such a tough fight so we just, we just need to get it done.” When the lights went out in…

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Photo Credit: Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team

Russell: W15 is “inherently missing something in high speed” as he qualifies only P9 for F1 Japanese GP

The start of Mercedes’ 2024 season has been marked by correlation issues and performance varying between sessions throughout the weekend. This trend continued at the Japanese Grand Prix qualifying session, where Mercedes did not deviate from their usual results. With impressive performance throughout final practice, it was expected that both drivers would perform well and…

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Photo Credit: Red Bull Content Pool

F1 Japanese GP | FP3 | Verstappen leads Perez and the two Mercedes drivers in final practice

On a cloudy morning at Suzuka, the drivers quickly took to the track after FP2 was basically written off because of the weather. A 1:30.265 from Max Verstappen kicked things off in FP3 on the mediums, 0.188s ahead of Sergio Perez. The Haas of Kevin Magnussen got it wrong at the hairpin, losing the rear…

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Photo Credit: Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team

F1 drivers divided over Fernando Alonso’s contentious Australian GP penalty

The penalty imposed on Fernando Alonso for “dangerous driving” as he defended against George Russell on the penultimate lap in Melbourne remains a big talking point heading into the Japanese Grand Prix. Alonso was found braking and downshifting about 100 metres earlier than expected, slowing rapidly before accelerating again to make the corner. These defensive…

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Photo Credits: Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team

Alonso says a repeat of his “surprising” F1 Australian GP penalty will “never” be applied again

Fernando Alonso believes such was the “surprising” and “strange” nature of his penalty for “potentially dangerous” driving at the final lap of the 2024 Australian GP – in turn causing George Russell’s massive shunt -, that it will “never” be seen again in the future. He also discussed how it will not change how he…

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