Last year, the Applied Science department at Mercedes, an offshoot of the Brackley-based F1 team, began its involvement in Ineos Team UK.
But after the defeat in the Prada Cup final against the Italian Luna Rossa in Auckland, project manager Sir Ben Ainslie revised the renamed Ineos Britannia team and its management for the next attempt.
The new plans envisage a significantly greater involvement of Mercedes F1, which will play a decisive role in the design and development of the new yacht once the new regulations have been passed.
When announcing the team loyalty at the Brackley plant on Monday, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said: “There is not much difference between trying to get the best car on the road or driving against others, and F1 on the water. and that’s the America’s Cup.
“We slowly integrated into the project, quite late in the last campaign, but we loved it. I could see the excitement within the organization that people were starting to watch the America’s Cup and drive it as our own project. Now let’s do it right next time.
“I think we have to say that mindset is about doing the best job possible. hopefully good enough to be right there. “
Ineos Team UK America’s Cup AC75
Photo by: Ineos Team UK
In addition to the Ineos team’s access to the facilities and intelligence of Mercedes, Allison, Chief Technical Officer of the F1 team, will also devote some of his time to the project.
Allison said he had no illusions about the size of the job Mercedes was taking on, but thought the mindset that had helped the team win seven consecutive Formula 1 titles was immensely valuable.
“People talk about the America’s Cup being like Formula 1 on the water,” he said. “Most people immediately think, well, it’s a little hydrodynamic, it’s a little aerodynamic, it’s technological, all of those things.
“But actually the most striking comparison for me is that it’s difficult. The way it worked well for us in Formula One is to admit the humility, admit it’s difficult, and [knowing] that your competitors will eat you up as soon as you stop reminding yourself that it is difficult. This challenge is really difficult. “
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