Mercedes blackouts on track
Two blackouts, two very heavy retirements. Both, moreover, occurred immediately after an overtaking maneuver in which the drivers had probably asked for maximum power from the electrical system. After Montreal and Barcelona, Mercedes is licking its wounds but confirms that there is something wrong with its batteries, especially since McLaren has also experienced similar anomalies a couple of times this year. Speaking is technical director James Allison, who admits that it is precisely on the battery that the Brixworth technicians are focusing their work these weeks.
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James Allison speaks
“I think anyone who follows this sport closely will have noticed – explains the Mercedes engineer – that this problem has sidelined some cars with Mercedes power units during the season. Not all problems are identical, but in a way they originate in the same general area of the battery. I believe most of the risk areas have been identified and, with a bit of luck, when we start gradually introducing new modules during the championship, our situation as a team should improve”.
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Will the changes come with the ADUO?
It remains to be understood whether the modification to the “module” at fault in the battery will fall under changes allowed for reliability reasons or if Mercedes will instead play its development token obtained with the ADUO at 2% in this sector. Meanwhile, as also suggested by Autoracer, it is credible that Mercedes will have to manage a bit avoiding those full-throttle bursts that may have triggered the failures of George Russell in the Canadian GP and Andrea Kimi Antonelli in the Barcelona GP.
Mercedes does not fear Ferrari’s comeback
“It is accepted that there will be failures – added James Allison – but we are trying to ensure that the breakdowns occur during testing or on test benches and that they happen as little as possible when on track trying to gain points for the championship”. There is also a comment on Ferrari, which in Barcelona got quite close with a development package that proved particularly successful: “Ferrari brought a package of updates to the race without us having a ready response, so it is normal that the gap will narrow. But we are not without weapons in this battle and, in due time, the Mercedes W17 will also receive the appropriate updates”.
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