F1 Racing - UK (2020-01)

RACING

AWARDS 2019

HOW YOU VOTED

Mercedes 71.4%

Ferrari 12.5%

Red Bull 12.2%

McLaren 3.3%

Alfa Romeo 0.3%

Successive iterationsof title-winners have
emerged from the combined efforts of Brackley
and Brixworth. And this year’s Mercedes W10
was noexception, despite a regulation change
that required a major rethink of the car’s
aerodynamic performance.
While pre-seasontesting had proved
inconclusive, the W10 performed well in the early
rounds.Ferrari had bettertop speed but, while
many rushedto attribute thisto Maranello’s
power unit, the SF90followed a low-drag concept
which ultimately meant it couldn’t compete with
Mercedes on circuits that demanded greater
downforce. The W10 was the more complete
package, but one significant weakness was

exposed in mid-season. The hottemperatures

and high altitude inAustria affected cooling and

it wasfeared several hot summer races could

have dented the W10’s title challenge. Here, and

tracks whereFerrari could use itstop speedto

its advantage, such Spa and Monza, the Mercedes

was often second best.

Another pattern that emerged during the

season wasFerrari’s qualifying pace, which was

often negated on race day as the two silver cars

were better at managing tyretemperatures and

preserving the life of their Pirellis.

The threatto Mercedes would arguably have

been stronger ifFerrari had been more organised,

in its strategy, in managing its drivers, and in the

reliability stakes. As in previous seasons,

Hamilton and Bottastook Mercedesto the

constructors’ championship thanksto the

W10’s consistency in working at a variety of

tracks and conditions – and through a relentless

series of successful upgrades.

CAR OF

THE YEAR

“We’re already lucky enoughto be ableto compete in this great

championship each year.To do it and win the title is afantastic

honour, but it’s lovely that people do recognise we puttogether

a car that is worthy of this sort of award.Wearevery grateful

for it and it addsto the sense of having done a good job when

we receive a thing like this. Asfor the 28.6% per cent that didn’t

vote for us – they needto look more closely at the results!”

JamesAllison(picturedwith Loic Serra and Dominik Riefstahl)

MercedesW10

94 F1 RACING JANUARY 2020

PICTURES

:MERCEDES

;ZAK MAUGER

;SAM BL

OX

HAM