F1 News
Wolff points out: "There are deficits that are bigger than the engine"
- GPblog.com
Mercedes is bringing a new rear wing for the Australian Grand Prix. Whether it has been worked on with a chainsaw as Toto Wolff recently suggested is questionable, but it is yet another attempt by the German racing stable to counteract the problems surrounding porpoising.
If Mercedes finally succeeds in mastering the porpoising, it remains to be seen whether the team will then just be able to compete for the lead positions again. The problems seem to be even bigger than the team initially thought.
Wolff points out extensive problems at Mercedes
For example, the team says it loses "two or three tenths" because of the engine, where in previous years it was supreme. According to Wolff, this is just one of the many problems taunting Mercedes. "We haven't done the best job in various areas," the Austrian tells Auto, Motor und Sport. "There are deficits that are bigger than the engine."
At the moment, porpoising seems to be the biggest obstacle for Mercedes. The team just can't seem to get the leak out, citing the fact that it doesn't show up in simulations and in the wind tunnel as a reason. So far, the German racing team has only been able to reduce the problem by raising the car's height, but as a result the W13 has lost considerable speed.