“If we were trying to draw that pattern together then probably the strongest correlation that we can make at the moment, is that our competitiveness drops when the track is warm, when the day is at its warmest and therefore the tyre temperatures rise with those of the track. […] From FP3 to qualifying in Melbourne there was not a set-up change.”
“That will be that there are underlying characteristics in say the aerodynamic map that you’ve engineered or the suspension characteristic that is aggravating that particular feature.”
The team’s performance dips when the track heats up, and it’s not just about setup changes. There are underlying factors in the aero or suspension setup and design that Mercedes need to fix.
What do you want to bet the car is designed, built, and tested in a climate controlled human comfortable environment. Perhaps the high temperatures alter the spring rate or extension, the viscosity of certain lubricants, or tensile/ductile properties of some critical suspension component, the result being that the parts/fluids test perfect in the lab but change to unacceptable under high temps.
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