Mercedes explain shock Abu Dhabi defeat to Red Bull
Mercedes explain shock Abu Dhabi defeat to Red Bull
Mercedes has pinpointed a number of factors across the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend that led to its shock defeat to Red Bull in both qualifying and race.
Chief strategist James Vowles has highlighted that in qualifying there were issues with the tyres, while in the race the cars of Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton suffered from understeer.
Throw in the facts that Red Bull continued to develop its RB16 to the end of the year, while Mercedes stopped work on the W11 a while ago, and the latter also turned down the power on the MGU-K at the Yas Marina Circuit, and the cumulative list played its part in Max Verstappen's victory by 16 seconds over Bottas.
In qualifying, Mercedes was seven-tenths of a second slower compared to last year as Verstappen took pole position by just 0.025s to Bottas. It was the first time in the season the team's cars were slower compared to the same tracks last year.
Vowles explained: "Part of the reason is that we underperformed in qualifying this year. The question is why.
"The C5 compound, the softest compound of the Pirelli range, is what we used in Abu Dhabi, and we used that before in Sochi.
"It is a tricky little tyre to get into the right window and I don’t think we were absolutely spot-on in getting it perfectly aligned with the track and the conditions. I think in part that was the issue, we were a little bit slower.
"In fact, on Friday we did a lap with Lewis that was removed because he went outside of track limits, but it would have been quite a bit faster than what we achieved in qualifying, just evidence that we didn’t have it quite all together for qualifying itself.
"As for why it’s such a big margin, seven-tenths, you will get the odd bit of variability year on year, even taking into account ambient conditions. But ultimately, I just don’t think we performed at our best.”
As for the race, Vowles reiterated the fact the MGU-K was "used sparingly" but that it was "certainly not the reason why we lost the race either in qualifying or actually on Sunday", but rather "it was just a component as to why perhaps Red Bull pulled away a little bit more than we would have liked".
Crucially, however, in the race there was another key element that proved costly, leading to Vowles claiming that "we definitely took a step back relative to the field" at a circuit where Mercedes had won the previous six races.
"Looking at the balance of the car we were just suffering from terrible amounts of understeer and this track punishes you," claimed Vowles.
"In fact, it is the front-right tyre that you need to look after. Most tracks are rear dominated, this one is very much an issue on the front right because of the cornering that you have in Abu Dhabi, and that held us back.
"It certainly meant that we weren’t performing at our best in the race and it wasn’t our intention to have a balance that was oriented that way. Does that explain everything? I am not sure but ultimately that is what the week was all about.”
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Audi agree STAR driver contract as Mercedes driver tipped for new F1 seat THIS season - GPFans F1 Recap
- 1 hour ago
Ferrari show off new-look drivers following HUGE announcement
- 2 hours ago
McLaren leading fight for HUGE cash injection
- 3 hours ago
Newey set to announce STUNNING Red Bull departure
- Yesterday 17:57
Newey Red Bull exit wish CONFIRMED as F1 guru's reasons revealed
- Yesterday 20:57
F1 legend reveals 'FLOOD' of death threats after controversial decision
- Yesterday 19:57
Related news
Mercedes star tipped to replace struggling driver THIS season
Hamilton car camera captures Verstappen's TRUE feelings toward F1 rival
Marko reveals Vettel requirements for stunning F1 comeback
Fierce Hamilton F1 rival raises timing issue for Ferrari move
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860