Tag Archives: Lewis Hamilton

Episode 319: Verstappen Masters DRS at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

Though his teammate, Sergio Perez, started from pole, and Ferrari looked strong all weekend, Verstappen took the trophy in a thrilling weekend. Mercedes continues to struggle, Alpine and Alfa Romeo fight in the mid-pack, as does Haas.

Continue reading Episode 319: Verstappen Masters DRS at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

EPISODE 313: Max Verstappen 2021 F1 World Champion

But not without controversy. Bizarre calls from the Race Director throughout the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix dulls the purity and enthusiasm for the way Verstappen won. I also interview Porsche Ambassador and Sports Car Racing Legend, Hurley Haywood.

  • Robin is joined by Christopher Roche and they discuss
    • Max Verstappen wins the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
    • Max Verstappen wins the Formula1 Driver’s World Championship
    • What was Michael Masi thinking?
    • Kimi Raikkonen retires early from his final Grand Prix
  • I interview Porsche Ambassador, Hurley Haywood
  • Robin’s You Tube Channel: Robin Warner
  • Check out Jameypricephoto.com

Episode 312: Slug Fest at the Saudi Arabian GP

After an intense Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, the two title contenders, Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, are tied in points. Also, I speak with Porsche Ambassador Patrick Long.

  • Robin is joined by Christopher Roche and they discuss
    • Lewis Hamilton wins the inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
    • Two red flags, three standing starts, and virtual and actual safety cars, are all part of the weekend
    • Was the racing safe?
    • Where is the line between fair racing and utter nonsense?
    • Tensions between Mercedes F1 and Red Bull Racing boil over
  • I interview long-time Porsche factory driver, Patrick Long
  • Robin’s You Tube Channel: Robin Warner
  • Check out Jameypricephoto.com

Episode 301: The 2021 Italian Grand Prix Was a carbon crushing shoving match

Lando Norris, McLaren, 2nd position, Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, and Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren, 1st position, with their trophies. Image courtesy of McLaren

Lewis Hamilton refuses to give room, Max Verstappen tries to pass anyway. As a result, McLaren returns to its glory days with a 1-2 result at Monza

Continue reading Episode 301: The 2021 Italian Grand Prix Was a carbon crushing shoving match

A Little Rain and a lot of Chaos is all Esteban Ocon and Alpine Needed to Win the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix

Continue reading A Little Rain and a lot of Chaos is all Esteban Ocon and Alpine Needed to Win the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix

Who’s to blame? We analysis lap one contact between Hamilton and Verstappen at the 2021 British Grand Prix

Continue reading Who’s to blame? We analysis lap one contact between Hamilton and Verstappen at the 2021 British Grand Prix

Mercedes F1 – End of an Era?

By Christopher Roche – F1 insight straddling the pond

Since the start of Formula 1’s hybrid era, which began in 2014, the Mercedes-AMG team has dominated the sport, scoring seven consecutive driver’s and constructor’s championships. In the process, the team overcame significant challenges in both 2017 and 2018, fighting off Ferrari and Sebastien Vettel on both occasions.

But by not winning the Styrian GP last Sunday, Mercedes-AMG lost their fourth consecutive F1 race for the first time since 2013. Now, Red Bull Racing leads the constructor’s championship, and Max Verstappen the drivers’ championship, by healthy margins, 40 and 18 points respectively. And the next race is back at the Red Bull Ring in Austria, where we expect Verstappen will win again and extend his lead over Lewis Hamilton.

How has this happened? How did the most dominant team in F1 history lose its mojo? Well, simply put, a perfect storm formed. One built from a multitude of factors that combined to overwhelm the mighty tri-star team. Let’s dig in.

To start, Mercedes decisively won the 2020 season with the W11, which was typically more than half a second quicker than the nearest challenger: Red Bull Racing’s RB16 with Verstappen behind the wheel. And with the regulations staying largely the same for 2021, most expected that Mercedes’ winning ways would continue for at least another season.

But regulations didn’t stay the same. Updates to the rules required changes to the floor, brake ducts, and diffuser. And these new regs tended to aid the high rake cars (all but Mercedes and Aston-Martin Racing teams). Given all that, the 2021 Mercedes W12 chassis proved tricky to set up, thanks to a narrow operating window. And, furthermore, has a distinct dislike of slow corners.

Moreover, Formula 1 outlawed Mercedes’ DAS (Dual axis steering) system for 2021, which allowed the drivers to easily adjust the toe alignment of the front tires while on track with a quick push or pull of the steering wheel. This improved the driver’s ability to rapidly, and evenly, heat the front tires, which, in turn, gave them an advantage prior to qualifying laps, the start of the race and after safety car periods during races. Without that system, Mercedes continues to struggle to warm up its front tires. See the results of Imola, Monaco, and Baku as evidence of my point.

Then there’s the new limitation of wind tunnel testing time based on the team’s finishing order  in the previous season. The better you finish, the less time you get. This means that Williams gets the most time and Mercedes, the least. This obviously limits the amount of time Mercedes can spend assessing parts changes and aero modifications to improve the car’s performance.

Yet another impedance is the new cost cap for 2021: all teams must now spend a maximum of $145 million (excluding driver salaries, top three highest earner salaries and marketing costs) for the season. That’s a serious cut for the larger teams. Mercedes, Red Bull, and Ferrari need to redeploy members of their teams to non-F1 projects to remain compliant. And doing so reduces resources available to find solutions to problems and improve the performance of the car. Additionally, Mercedes lost key personnel, who were either tempted away to other teams or seeking new challenges. Andy Cowell (PU chief) who resigned at the end of 2020 is a good example.

Yet, despite the reduction in resources, the need for development is higher than ever. A new rules package for the 2022 season are the most significant changes Formula 1 made in many years. We’ll see 18-inch wheels, the return of ground effect underbody tunnels, elimination of barge boards, revised front and rear wings, and modified suspension regulations. All of this forced many teams to divert most of their development resources to next year’s cars, limiting the amount of time spent on developing their ‘21 chassis. This includes Mercedes.

Finally, in Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing, Mercedes face the strongest opposition to its championship challenger yet. Honda is in its last year in F1 and determined to atone for those lamentable years with McLaren early in the hybrid era. The Japanese automaker is producing a very competitive, and in some ways, better power unit than Mercedes. With it, Red Bull is more than capable of taking wins as long as the team employs smart racing strategies. And, lest we forget, RBR also has Adrian Newey, probably the greatest F1 chassis designer of all time on their side.

Alas, it’s too early to call the 2021 championship, as the racing has been close most of the time and 15 Grand Prix still remain in 2021. However, it will take all of Mercedes’ undoubted capability, and perhaps a little luck, to overcome all of the new challenges the team faces this year.

Red Bull Racing stretches its lead at the 2021 Styrian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen building a gap to Lewis Hamilton

  • Robin is joined by Christopher Roche and they discuss
    • The results of the 2021 Styrian Grand Prix in Austria
    • Red Bull Racing v. Mercedes F1
    • How are “the teammates” holding up?
    • Daniel Ricciardo’s engine woes
    • George Russell more dire engine woes
    • Robin Latest You Tube video, The 2021 Karma GS-GL
  • Robin’s You Tube Channel: Robin Warner
  • Check out Jameypricephoto.com
  • More Fun with Cars: Website | Facebook | Twitter

2021 French Grand Prix Shows True Red Bull Racing Strength, Alex Palou Wins in Indycar again at Road America, and I Interview Racing Legend: Scott Pruett

  • Robin is joined by Christopher Roche and they discuss
    • The results of the 2021 French Grand Prix
    • Red Bull Racing v. Mercedes F1
    • Pirelli tires and tire wear
    • McLaren’s Performance
    • George Russell v. Valtteri Bottas for second Mercedes F1 seat
    • Indycar Racing and Jimmie Johnson spinning
  • Robin Interviews
    • Scott Pruett
  • Robin Latest You Tube video, The 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited
  • Robin’s You Tube Channel: Robin Warner
  • Check out Jameypricephoto.com
  • More Fun with Cars: Website | Facebook | Twitter

The 2021 Monaco Grand Prix is a very unpassable jewel in the Formula 1 crown

  • Robin is joined by Christopher Roche and they discuss
    • The results of the 2021 Monaco Grand Prix
    • Ferrari’s performance and Charles LeClerc’s DNS
    • McLaren’s fantastic and underwhelming performance between Norris and Ricciardo
    • Red Bull Racing’s phenomenal weekend
    • Mercedes F1 miserable race weekend
    • Coming racing in the next few weeks
    • Robin Warner’s Acura TLX video
    • Robin Warner’s Hyundai Tucson video
  • Robin’s You Tube Channel: Robin Warner
  • Check out Jameypricephoto.com
  • More Fun with Cars: Website | Facebook | Twitter