Mercedes F1 Reveals Varying Wing Configurations During The Belgian GP
Giancarlo Perlas August 3, 2023The highly-anticipated 2023 Belgian Grand Prix witnessed an intriguing twist as the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 team deployed different wing configurations for its drivers, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell. The wet conditions during the opening practice session at Spa-Francorchamps left the teams grappling with uncertainty, prompting Mercedes F1 to take a gamble with divergent approaches. As parc ferme regulations came into effect from Friday afternoon’s qualifying session, the group’s strategic decisions added an element of suspense to the last race weekend before the summer break.
A Daring Game of Guessing
With the weather playing spoilsport and teams lacking vital data, strategists and drivers alike faced a challenging predicament in setting up their W14 cars for the Belgian GP. Lewis Hamilton candidly admitted that the situation was akin to a “complete guessing game.”
With this, the team had to make tough choices to ensure it had all bases covered, taking into account the unpredictable weather forecasts and the impact of different wing levels on race performance according to Motorsport.com.
Divergence in Wing Configurations
In a bold move, Mercedes chose to split the wing configurations for its drivers. The group opted for higher downforce settings for George Russell and a lower downforce configuration for Hamilton.
The objective was to evaluate the pros and cons of each setup and exploit their advantages in varying race conditions.
George Russell Gets the “Barn Door” Configuration
Russell was handed what was humorously referred to as the “barn door” configuration. This higher downforce wing was anticipated to be advantageous if the race was hit by wet weather or tire degradation became a concern.
However, during the dry Q3 session, Russell ended up seven-tenths slower than his teammate, raising questions about the suitability of his wing choice for qualifying. Then during Sunday’s race, it only landed him in sixth place.
Hamilton’s Ideal Grid Slot and Middle Sector Woes
Hamilton, on the other hand, seemed content with his grid slot, but he didn’t shy away from pointing out the challenges he faced with his lower downforce wing. While his overall car performance was commendable, the middle sector of the track proved to be his Achilles heel, costing him precious time.
The reigning champion vowed to analyze the data thoroughly to identify areas for improvement and potentially close the gap in that crucial section. At Sunday’s race, the seven-time world champ finished one position shy of the podium.
Insights From the Mercedes F1 Team Principal
Toto Wolff, the team principal of Mercedes, weighed in on the divergent performances of his drivers. He revealed that the team had indeed run two very different rear wing and configuration setups, accounting for the disparities in speed.
The Mercedes F1 boss emphasized that Hamilton’s ability to extract maximum performance from his configuration played a significant role in his advantage over Russell during qualifying. This was also proven during the Belgian GP race.
The Unknown Factor
Russell was candid about his puzzling lack of pace in the qualifying session, admitting that he couldn’t fathom the reasons behind the struggles. Despite their underwhelming qualifying performance, both drivers acknowledged that qualifying isn’t everything at the challenging Spa-Francorchamps circuit and expressed their determination to capitalize on race-day opportunities.
Despite the results of the race on Sunday, the consistent scoring of the Mercedes F1 drivers allowed their team to maintain its second place at the Constructors’ Championship, which should serve as a nice consolation for them and their fans.
