Mercedes W12

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Mercedes-AMG F1 W12 E Performance
FIA F1 Austria 2021 Nr. 44 Hamilton (side).jpg
Lewis Hamilton in the W12 during practice at the Austrian Grand Prix 2021
CategoryFormula 1
ConstructorMercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team
Designer(s)James Allison (Technical Director)
John Owen (Chief Designer)
Mike Elliott (Technology Director)
Loïc Serra (Performance Director)
Ashley Way (Deputy Chief Designer)
Giacomo Tortora (Deputy Chief Designer)
Emiliano Giangiulio (Head of Vehicle Performance)
Jarrod Murphy (Head of Aerodynamics)
Eric Blandin (Chief Aerodynamicist)
PredecessorMercedes-AMG F1 W11 EQ Performance
SuccessorMercedes-AMG F1 W13 E Performance
Technical specifications
EngineMercedes-AMG F1 M12 E Performance 1.6 L V6 mid-engined
Electric motorHybrid Electrically Boosted Single Turbocharger + E-Booster Electric Motor Connected to Crankshaft
Power780 kW (1,050 hp)[1]
TyresPirelli P Zero (dry)
Pirelli Cinturato (wet)
Competition history
Notable entrantsMercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team
Notable drivers44. United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton
77. Finland Valtteri Bottas
Debut2021 Bahrain Grand Prix
First win2021 Bahrain Grand Prix
Last win2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Last event2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
RacesWinsPodiumsPolesF/Laps
22928910
Constructors' Championships1 (2021)
Drivers' Championships0

The Mercedes-AMG F1 W12 E Performance, commonly abbreviated as the Mercedes W12, was a Formula One racing car designed and constructed by the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team under the direction of James Allison to compete in the 2021 Formula One World Championship. The car was driven by Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas.[2] The car is based on the Mercedes-AMG F1 W11 EQ Performance which won the Drivers' and Constructors' Championships the previous season.

Whilst the W12 won the team's eighth consecutive constructors' title, this was the first Mercedes F1 car since V6 turbo-hybrid era started in 2014 with which Mercedes failed to win the Drivers' Championship with either driver with Hamilton finishing 2nd in the standings.

Season report[]

The W12, whilst still highly competitive, was not as dominant as its predecessor either in pre-season testing or at the 2021 Bahrain Grand Prix. The regulation changes designed to reduce downforce produced by the floor area are said to have compromised lower rake designs, like the W12, more than higher rake designs like that of Red Bull RB16B.[3][4][5] Pundits Lawrence Barretto, Scott Mitchell, Mark Hughes and Edd Straw made Red Bull favourites for the first race of the year due to a stronger performance than Mercedes during testing.[6][7][8] Although Verstappen did beat the Mercedes cars of Hamilton (2nd) and Bottas (3rd) to pole at the season opener,[9] Hamilton narrowly won from Verstappen, with Bottas finishing third.[10] Williams driver and Mercedes protégé George Russell (who drove the W12's predecessor, the W11, at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix) suggested that the W12 and the Williams FW43B could have issues with wind sensitivity and could explain the struggles of Mercedes relative to Red Bull in Bahrain.[11]

Other appearances[]

Anthony Davidson drove a W12 in a special feature for Sky Sports F1 at the Silverstone Circuit in June 2021.[12]

Complete Formula One results[]

(key)

Year Entrant Power unit Tyres Driver name Grands Prix Points WCC pos.
BHR EMI POR ESP MON AZE FRA STY AUT GBR HUN BEL‡ NED ITA RUS TUR USA MXC SAP QAT SAU ABU
2021 Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team Mercedes-AMG F1 M12 E Performance P Finland Valtteri Bottas 3F Ret 3PF 3 Ret 12 4 3 2 33 Ret 12 3 31 5 1PF 6 15PF 31 P Ret 3 6 613.5 1st
United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton 1 2PF 1 1P 7F 15 2 2F 4 12 2P 3 2F Ret 1 5 2F 2 1 1P 1PF 2
Reference(s):[13]
Notes

‡ Half points awarded as less than 75% of race distance completed.

References[]

  1. ^ "MERCEDES NEW ENGINE IN 2021 WITH MORE 25 HORSEPOWER – "PARTY MODE WHOLE RACE"!". F1Lead.com. 5 January 2021. Archived from the original on 16 December 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  2. ^ "F1 – 2020 Provisional Entry List". Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 30 November 2019. Archived from the original on 11 September 2020. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  3. ^ Hughes, Mark (6 April 2021). "Mark Hughes: How F1 rule changes have hurt low-rake Mercedes". The Race. Archived from the original on 6 April 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  4. ^ Schmidt, Michael (25 March 2021). "Nachteile für Mercedes-Konzept". Auto Motor und Sport (in German). Archived from the original on 7 April 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  5. ^ Somerfield, Matt (27 March 2021). "Why F1's 2021 rules hurt low rake Mercedes more". Autosport. Archived from the original on 4 April 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  6. ^ Straw, Edd (24 March 2021). "Video: Have F1's new rules hurt Mercedes' low-rake car?". The Race. Archived from the original on 24 March 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  7. ^ Mitchell, Hughes, Straw (15 March 2021). "We rank the teams after F1 testing 2021". The Race. Archived from the original on 18 March 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ Barretto, Lawrence (15 March 2021). "Why all eyes are on Red Bull ahead of 2021 season opener – whether they like it or not". Formula1.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  9. ^ Benson, Andrew (27 March 2021). "Max Verstappen takes pole position at Bahrain Grand Prix ahead of Lewis Hamilton". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 30 March 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  10. ^ Benson, Andrew (28 March 2021). "Lewis Hamilton wins Bahrain Grand Prix after Max Verstappen forced to give up lead". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  11. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: ""What a machine!" | Test driving Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes W12!". YouTube.
  13. ^ "2021 Constructor Standings". Formula1.com. 28 March 2021. Archived from the original on 6 June 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2021.

External links[]


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