Why Russell and Antonelli each felt “extra assured” in F1 Hungarian GP qualifying

However for a snap of oversteer halfway by the Hungaroring's closing nook, George Russell may have been on pole for Method 1's Hungarian Grand Prix. His final ‘push lap' ended up simply 0.053s slower than shock polesitter Charles Leclerc for Ferrari.

The image of relative efficiency within the closing a part of qualifying was clouded by big swings in observe temperature and wind path – however each Mercedes drivers agreed that reverting to the W16's pre-Imola rear-suspension spec helped them, even when rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli was eradicated in Q2.

“It's kind of of a disgrace that we did not go earlier to the outdated suspension as a result of positively right this moment, this weekend total, I felt way more assured within the automotive than I used to be earlier than,” stated Antonelli.

“And, yeah, it is a disgrace as a result of I believe right this moment the end result may have been a lot better.”

For the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in Could, Mercedes launched a brand new rear suspension geometry geared toward countering the rear's pure tendency to elevate underneath heavy deceleration as the burden transfers forwards.

In idea this could be useful not simply to the aerodynamics, by conserving the automotive at a steady altitude relative to the observe floor, but in addition to rear-tyre efficiency as a result of it might cut back the tendency of these wheels to lock underneath braking.

Floor-effect aerodynamics work at their finest if the automotive's experience top and angle stays constant.

However anti-lift geometry on the rear axle is basically extra sophisticated than it's on the entrance, given the forces performing on that space of the automotive. Even when it really works as anticipated, it usually offers much less suggestions to the driving force which accounts for each Russell and Antonelli reporting a insecurity within the W16's rear finish because the new rear suspension was definitively fitted in Canada.

That will surely account for Antonelli's type throughout the European season, which he admitted was disastrous. However the staff's decision-making was influenced by Russell's win in Canada; after a disappointing weekend in Imola, it went again to the outdated rear suspension for Monaco earlier than choosing the brand new one in Montreal.

The lesson for anybody making use of upgrades whose virtues have solely been confirmed in simulation is that completely different tracks and variable situations can muddle the decision on new elements.

“I believe Method 1 is so advanced as a result of even if in case you have the very same automotive, one circuit you are fast, one circuit you are sluggish, and there is completely different the reason why there's this,” stated Russell after qualifying in Hungary.

“And also you generally want to offer an improve an actual take a look at on several types of circuits, several types of situations, to categorically say ‘that is why we're good or that is why we're dangerous'. Barcelona, Imola, they have been all very popular race weekends.

“We imagine that was our root trigger and it nonetheless is a giant issue of our limitation. However clearly in Spa, we have been very underwhelming and clearly the suspension was not an improve.”

Montreal, the place many of the braking is completed in a straight line and there are few high-speed or mixed corners, didn't expose what proved to be elementary limitations with the later rear-suspension design. The dearth of dynamic suggestions on extra flowing circuits made the W16 really feel extra unpredictable – notably for Antonelli, given his extra flamboyantly aggressive driving type.

However Russell additionally launched a notice of realism, mentioning that the change is probably not as transformative because it seems.

“Q3 was a messy session,” he stated. “We took the smallest step backwards from Q2 – I used to be solely a tenth slower than Q2. Charles was two tenths slower, Fernando was two tenths slower, McLaren was six tenths slower.

“I am not going to get carried away with that Q3 efficiency, as a result of for the remainder of the weekend it hasn't been simple. In fact, Kimi was additionally out in Q2 and it isn't been plain crusing.”