The Baku weekend posed a significant challenge for Formula 1 teams in terms of finding the ideal setup, and Mercedes’ task was made even more difficult due to a problem with Lewis Hamilton’s car. The return of the Formula 1 sprint format in 2023 added a new dimension to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, making it a unique event in the sport’s history.
One notable change to the format was the elimination of the second practice session on Saturday morning. Instead, teams were left with only one hour of practice on Friday before heading into qualifying, which determined the grid for the main race on Sunday. The sprint race itself became a separate event held on Saturday, featuring shortened qualifying sessions (Q1, Q2, and Q3) with specific rules regarding tire usage to determine the starting order.
At the end of Friday’s qualifying session, the cars were locked into parc fermé conditions, restricting teams from making major setup changes ahead of the sprint race. This made it particularly challenging for teams to find the optimal setup on the opening day of the weekend.
Mercedes had planned to run Lewis Hamilton and George Russell with different setups during practice to gather valuable data for comparison. However, trouble with Hamilton’s car disrupted their plan. Chief Technical Officer Mike Elliott addressed this issue during Mercedes’ post-Baku debrief, acknowledging the impact of the new format on their ability to find the right setup.
Elliott explained, “In terms of our setup, I think it’s pretty challenging. You’ve only got one one-hour session of FP1 to get the car right. And that’s on a circuit that’s been resurfaced, so how the tires are going to work and interact with that surface is different to what we might have expected.”
Mercedes arrived in Baku with distinct setups for Hamilton and Russell, intending to compare their performance. However, an issue with Hamilton’s car, specifically related to a parameter, caused delays and complications, making it extremely difficult to carry out the desired comparison.
The condensed schedule and the unpredictability of the resurfaced track added further complexity to the setup process. Teams had limited time to fine-tune their cars and adapt to the new track conditions, leaving them with less room for experimentation and adjustments.
Despite the challenges faced by Mercedes in Baku, they managed to deliver a competitive performance, with Hamilton securing a podium finish in the sprint race and ultimately claiming a top-five finish in the Grand Prix.
As Formula 1 continues to experiment with different race formats, teams like Mercedes will need to adapt their strategies to optimize their setups within the constraints of the revised schedules. The ability to make quick and effective adjustments will be crucial in their pursuit of success in this ever-evolving sport.
