For months Ferrari has consistently flaunted breakthrough after breakthrough thanks to its redesigned power unit and Shell’s impeccable job of regaining the horsepower lost since the introduction of E10 fuel. But now it’s time for Mercedes to jump on the opportunity, barely a day after announcing the W13 launch date.
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Reports are beginning to confirm that, much like Ferrari, Mercedes have made some big strides in terms of developing their 2022 challenger.
Mercedes is building a new turbocharger
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According to Motorsport, Mercedes managed to enlist the services of a German specialist to build a commendable turbocharger. Now, with the new turbocharger, it’s likely that Mercedes will use the freedom to go for extreme strategies.
Formula One F1 – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – December 10, 2021 Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton during practice REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
In addition, the new turbocharger is able to increase the qualities of the six-cylinder engine and hybrid charging. This is a blessing amid the breakthrough of Petronas, Mercedes’ fuel partner. Similar to Shell, Petronas also managed to retrieve around 20 hp, which they initially lost in the dyno test with E10 fuels.
Now, amid such positive news, it seems far more likely that Mercedes’ dominance of the sport will extend into the 2022 season.
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Stronger aggregate in preparation?
Hywel Thomas, chief engineer at Brixworth, is desperate for a powerplant that will eliminate one of Mercedes’ biggest weaknesses in 2021.
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While Red Bull enjoyed tremendous reliability from the Honda engine, heartbreak frequently plagued Mercedes; Hamilton used five PUs while Valtteri Bottas used six PUs last season. Certainly decisive in the championship fight.
Formula One F1 – Brazilian Grand Prix – Jose Carlos Pace Circuit, Sao Paulo, Brazil – November 13, 2021 Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas during sprint qualifying REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli
Yes, it almost paid off in the end as the Brackley team used the error to their advantage by mapping the engine configuration to an extreme. In 2022, however, they hope not to face a similar situation in the second half of the season.
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Overall, the factors that pulled Mercedes into 2021 are finally starting to let go. With the season opener the Bahrain GP just around the corner, can the Silver Arrows post further improvements of this nature to celebrate a dominant start to the season? We’ll know soon enough.
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