While the F1 drivers and teams were subjected to a tough test of adaptability in Qatar, Mercedes-AMG was enjoying a successful weekend in Indianapolis
The 2023 Qatar Grand Prix will go down in the history of F1 as exemplifying the flexibility and speed of response required in this sport. At very short notice, the teams were informed of maximum stint lengths per set of tyres and changed track limits. If that wasn't enough, the extreme heat and humidity in Doha would put additional strain on the drivers. And all of this on a sprint weekend with only one free practice session on Friday, which meant less data for analysis and less time for acclimatisation. That made the task considerably harder for the drivers and teams.
George Russell and Lewis Hamilton got the weekend off to a good start on Friday, setting the third- and fifth-fastest times in the evening qualifying session. With the subsequent cancellation of the lap times set by McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, they were then bumped up to second and third on Sunday's grid.
George and Lewis started the Saturday sprint race from P4 and P12 respectively. George actually manoeuvred himself into the lead at one point before dropping back to fourth at the end due to the limited tyre life of his Soft tyres. Lewis meanwhile battled his way through the field on the Medium tyres and improved by seven positions to cross the finish line immediately behind his team-mate in fifth place.
Going into Sunday's Grand Prix, it was the team strategists who were hard at work. For safety reasons, the FIA and Pirelli specified a maximum stint length of 18 laps per tyre, which is why all of the drivers had to pit at least three times. This called for a lot of simulations, and even more mental effort than usual was expended overnight on determining the best strategy for the unfamiliar conditions.
The race began in disappointment for the team, as George and Lewis made contact at Turn 1 after both getting off to rocket starts. Lewis was forced to retire, while George had to make an unplanned pit stop with a punctured tyre. He then rejoined the field at the rear and proceeded to fight his way back to the front with skill and determination, eventually crossing the finish line in fourth place after four stops. This result was enough for the team to extend its lead over Ferrari in the Constructors' Championship to 28 points.
Customer Racing News: Success for Mercedes-AMG at the Indianapolis 8 Hour
Intercontinental GT Challenge: Double podium, class win and lead in the IGTC drivers' championship maintained
Two factory-supported Mercedes-AMG GT3s finished the penultimate race of the 2023 Intercontinental GT Challenge powered by Pirelli in the Top Three. Mercedes-AMG Performance drivers Maximilian Götz (GER), Jules Gounon (AND) and Raffaele Marciello (SUI) of Mercedes-AMG Team Craft Bamboo Racing took second place in the prestigious Indianapolis 8 Hour on the legendary Brickyard circuit. The GruppeM trio of Maro Engel (GER), Daniel Juncadella (ESP) and Luca Stolz (GER) saw the chequered flag half a second later. Jules Gounon goes into the final twelve-hour race in Abu Dhabi in December leading the drivers' standings in this global GT3 racing series. Mercedes-AMG is currently second in the manufacturers' standings by a margin of nine points and still in with a good chance of winning the title.
Two other Mercedes-AMG GT3s made it into the Top Ten: Colin Braun, George Kurtz and Nolan Siegel (all USA) finished sixth in the number 04 CrowdStrike by Riley car. They were also winners in the Pro-Am classification. Matthew Bell (GBR) and his US team-mates Jonathan Branam and Kenton Koch sharing the cockpit of the #27 TR3 Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 finished ninth overall and third in the Pro-Am class.
Finale of the GT World Challenge America: Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing claims Pro-Am title
A class win at Indianapolis for Colin Braun, George Kurtz and CrowdStrike by Riley confirmed them as the 2023 Pro-Am champions in the Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS.
Triumphant debut in GT America
On the debut appearance of the Mercedes-AMG GT2 in North America, Dan Knox (USA) of Team Lone Star Racing secured a class victory at the first attempt. AMG Customer Racing scored further successes in the GT America powered by AWS in Indianapolis. In the season finale, Memo Gidley took two race wins in the number 101 Mercedes-AMG GT3, the first of which on Saturday guaranteed the title for the American driver and his team TKO Motorsports. Fellow countryman George Kurtz finished third and second in the #04 CrowdStrike by Riley car.
Race win in GT4 America
Michai Stephens (USA) and Jesse Webb (CAN) won the final race of the Pirelli GT4 America season in Indianapolis. Driving the number 34 Conquest Racing/JMF Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT4, the duo fought their way from eleventh on the grid to the very front of the field. In the first of two rounds contested at the weekend, they finished sixth in the Silver Class and take the 2023 runner-up trophy in their class.
News snippets: Results and Facts & Social Media News
Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS): There were multiple Top Three finishes for the brand in the 47th PAGID Racing DMV Münsterlandpokal, which also constituted the season finale of the NLS. Mercedes-AMG Performance drivers Lucas Auer (AUT) and Fabian Schiller (GER) in the number 9 GetSpeed Mercedes-AMG GT3 came second overall. CP Racing wrapped up the team championship in the SP9 Pro-Am class with a P3 for their number 45 Mercedes-AMG GT3. Mercedes-AMG driver Marcel Marchewicz (GER) lifted the 2023 driver's trophy in the SP9 Pro class.
GT2 European Series: The Mercedes-AMG GT2 also shone in the season finale of the GT2 European Series at Le Castellet. The two Frenchmen Ludovic Badey and Jean-Luc Beaubelique in the #87 car fielded by the AKKODIS ASP team were declared winners of Race 1 after the stewards imposed a time penalty on the car that had crossed the line first. The duo finished the second and final race of the year in third place. Jakub Knoll (CZE) and Stephane Perrin (FRA) of NM Racing were Am class runners-up in both races.
GT4 France: In the GT4 France season finale at Le Castellet, the French pairing of Olivier Jouffret and Eric Tremoulet in the #64 Vic'Team Mercedes-AMG GT4 finished both races second in class, which was enough for them to clinch the Pro-Am championship. In the first race, they also made it onto the overall podium with a P3.
GT Cup Championship: In the four rounds of the GT Cup Championship contested at Snetterton, the Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing teams took no fewer than six class podiums. The British duo of Chris Hart and Stephen Walton in the #69 Morpheus Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4 made the biggest contribution to the trophy haul, claiming the runner-up spot in their class in races one and three. Two P3s in class were delivered by Charles Dawson and Sebastian Morris (GBR) in the number 42 RAM Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4.
P9 Challenge: Equipe vitesse driver Josef Klüber (GER) took two class wins in three rounds of the P9 Challenge season finale at the Circuit Dijon-Prenois. Klüber won the first race driving solo and then the second race sharing the cockpit of his Mercedes-AMG GT3 with fellow German Francesco Lopez.
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport contributes to steering wheel development: The new Cube Controls x Mercedes-AMG GT Edition SIM Wheel has recently gone on sale. It was jointly developed by Mercedes-AMG Motorsport and Italian SIM racing hardware manufacturer Cube Controls. The outcome of this project is two product variants that differ from each other only in terms of specific modifications for the desired area of application. Both variants draw on Cube Controls' expertise in virtual motorsport and Mercedes-AMG's extensive experience in real motor racing scenarios. For example, the ergonomic steering wheel is already installed in the cockpit of the Mercedes-AMG GT2. The SIM Edition also offers an incredibly realistic sensation of being in an actual cockpit. The steering wheel setup can be individually adapted to personal preferences. The illuminated function buttons are freely configurable and respond individually to the racing action. The Cube Controls x Mercedes-AMG GT Edition SIM Wheel is available from €705.00.
#F1Vision: F1 drivers need to keep their vision sharp by day and by night. Michael from Bell Helmets reveals how he prepares Lewis Hamilton's helmet and changes the visors for different conditions.
#Heritage: What happens to an F1 car after the season has come to an end? This video shows how we work with Einhell to spruce up our heritage cars before they become part of the permanent collection.
#F1Weather: Cold, hot, dry, wet - F1 cars have to deliver optimum performance in all conditions. The weather and state of the track have a decisive influence on how they handle. We show how the team deals with temperature changes and other external influences.
#StayTuned: Race events this coming weekend with Mercedes-AMG participation:
Continue reading...
- Qatar GP: Unfamiliar rules, changed specifications and a long night shift in preparation for the night race
- Customer Racing News: Double podium, class win and lead in the IGTC Drivers' Championship maintained at Indianapolis 8 Hour
- Instant success for the Mercedes-AMG GT2 on its American debut
- News snippets: Results and Facts & Social Media News
The 2023 Qatar Grand Prix will go down in the history of F1 as exemplifying the flexibility and speed of response required in this sport. At very short notice, the teams were informed of maximum stint lengths per set of tyres and changed track limits. If that wasn't enough, the extreme heat and humidity in Doha would put additional strain on the drivers. And all of this on a sprint weekend with only one free practice session on Friday, which meant less data for analysis and less time for acclimatisation. That made the task considerably harder for the drivers and teams.
George Russell and Lewis Hamilton got the weekend off to a good start on Friday, setting the third- and fifth-fastest times in the evening qualifying session. With the subsequent cancellation of the lap times set by McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, they were then bumped up to second and third on Sunday's grid.
George and Lewis started the Saturday sprint race from P4 and P12 respectively. George actually manoeuvred himself into the lead at one point before dropping back to fourth at the end due to the limited tyre life of his Soft tyres. Lewis meanwhile battled his way through the field on the Medium tyres and improved by seven positions to cross the finish line immediately behind his team-mate in fifth place.
Going into Sunday's Grand Prix, it was the team strategists who were hard at work. For safety reasons, the FIA and Pirelli specified a maximum stint length of 18 laps per tyre, which is why all of the drivers had to pit at least three times. This called for a lot of simulations, and even more mental effort than usual was expended overnight on determining the best strategy for the unfamiliar conditions.
The race began in disappointment for the team, as George and Lewis made contact at Turn 1 after both getting off to rocket starts. Lewis was forced to retire, while George had to make an unplanned pit stop with a punctured tyre. He then rejoined the field at the rear and proceeded to fight his way back to the front with skill and determination, eventually crossing the finish line in fourth place after four stops. This result was enough for the team to extend its lead over Ferrari in the Constructors' Championship to 28 points.
Customer Racing News: Success for Mercedes-AMG at the Indianapolis 8 Hour
Intercontinental GT Challenge: Double podium, class win and lead in the IGTC drivers' championship maintained
Two factory-supported Mercedes-AMG GT3s finished the penultimate race of the 2023 Intercontinental GT Challenge powered by Pirelli in the Top Three. Mercedes-AMG Performance drivers Maximilian Götz (GER), Jules Gounon (AND) and Raffaele Marciello (SUI) of Mercedes-AMG Team Craft Bamboo Racing took second place in the prestigious Indianapolis 8 Hour on the legendary Brickyard circuit. The GruppeM trio of Maro Engel (GER), Daniel Juncadella (ESP) and Luca Stolz (GER) saw the chequered flag half a second later. Jules Gounon goes into the final twelve-hour race in Abu Dhabi in December leading the drivers' standings in this global GT3 racing series. Mercedes-AMG is currently second in the manufacturers' standings by a margin of nine points and still in with a good chance of winning the title.
Two other Mercedes-AMG GT3s made it into the Top Ten: Colin Braun, George Kurtz and Nolan Siegel (all USA) finished sixth in the number 04 CrowdStrike by Riley car. They were also winners in the Pro-Am classification. Matthew Bell (GBR) and his US team-mates Jonathan Branam and Kenton Koch sharing the cockpit of the #27 TR3 Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 finished ninth overall and third in the Pro-Am class.
Finale of the GT World Challenge America: Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing claims Pro-Am title
A class win at Indianapolis for Colin Braun, George Kurtz and CrowdStrike by Riley confirmed them as the 2023 Pro-Am champions in the Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS.
Triumphant debut in GT America
On the debut appearance of the Mercedes-AMG GT2 in North America, Dan Knox (USA) of Team Lone Star Racing secured a class victory at the first attempt. AMG Customer Racing scored further successes in the GT America powered by AWS in Indianapolis. In the season finale, Memo Gidley took two race wins in the number 101 Mercedes-AMG GT3, the first of which on Saturday guaranteed the title for the American driver and his team TKO Motorsports. Fellow countryman George Kurtz finished third and second in the #04 CrowdStrike by Riley car.
Race win in GT4 America
Michai Stephens (USA) and Jesse Webb (CAN) won the final race of the Pirelli GT4 America season in Indianapolis. Driving the number 34 Conquest Racing/JMF Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT4, the duo fought their way from eleventh on the grid to the very front of the field. In the first of two rounds contested at the weekend, they finished sixth in the Silver Class and take the 2023 runner-up trophy in their class.
News snippets: Results and Facts & Social Media News
Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS): There were multiple Top Three finishes for the brand in the 47th PAGID Racing DMV Münsterlandpokal, which also constituted the season finale of the NLS. Mercedes-AMG Performance drivers Lucas Auer (AUT) and Fabian Schiller (GER) in the number 9 GetSpeed Mercedes-AMG GT3 came second overall. CP Racing wrapped up the team championship in the SP9 Pro-Am class with a P3 for their number 45 Mercedes-AMG GT3. Mercedes-AMG driver Marcel Marchewicz (GER) lifted the 2023 driver's trophy in the SP9 Pro class.
GT2 European Series: The Mercedes-AMG GT2 also shone in the season finale of the GT2 European Series at Le Castellet. The two Frenchmen Ludovic Badey and Jean-Luc Beaubelique in the #87 car fielded by the AKKODIS ASP team were declared winners of Race 1 after the stewards imposed a time penalty on the car that had crossed the line first. The duo finished the second and final race of the year in third place. Jakub Knoll (CZE) and Stephane Perrin (FRA) of NM Racing were Am class runners-up in both races.
GT4 France: In the GT4 France season finale at Le Castellet, the French pairing of Olivier Jouffret and Eric Tremoulet in the #64 Vic'Team Mercedes-AMG GT4 finished both races second in class, which was enough for them to clinch the Pro-Am championship. In the first race, they also made it onto the overall podium with a P3.
GT Cup Championship: In the four rounds of the GT Cup Championship contested at Snetterton, the Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing teams took no fewer than six class podiums. The British duo of Chris Hart and Stephen Walton in the #69 Morpheus Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4 made the biggest contribution to the trophy haul, claiming the runner-up spot in their class in races one and three. Two P3s in class were delivered by Charles Dawson and Sebastian Morris (GBR) in the number 42 RAM Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4.
P9 Challenge: Equipe vitesse driver Josef Klüber (GER) took two class wins in three rounds of the P9 Challenge season finale at the Circuit Dijon-Prenois. Klüber won the first race driving solo and then the second race sharing the cockpit of his Mercedes-AMG GT3 with fellow German Francesco Lopez.
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport contributes to steering wheel development: The new Cube Controls x Mercedes-AMG GT Edition SIM Wheel has recently gone on sale. It was jointly developed by Mercedes-AMG Motorsport and Italian SIM racing hardware manufacturer Cube Controls. The outcome of this project is two product variants that differ from each other only in terms of specific modifications for the desired area of application. Both variants draw on Cube Controls' expertise in virtual motorsport and Mercedes-AMG's extensive experience in real motor racing scenarios. For example, the ergonomic steering wheel is already installed in the cockpit of the Mercedes-AMG GT2. The SIM Edition also offers an incredibly realistic sensation of being in an actual cockpit. The steering wheel setup can be individually adapted to personal preferences. The illuminated function buttons are freely configurable and respond individually to the racing action. The Cube Controls x Mercedes-AMG GT Edition SIM Wheel is available from €705.00.
#F1Vision: F1 drivers need to keep their vision sharp by day and by night. Michael from Bell Helmets reveals how he prepares Lewis Hamilton's helmet and changes the visors for different conditions.
#Heritage: What happens to an F1 car after the season has come to an end? This video shows how we work with Einhell to spruce up our heritage cars before they become part of the permanent collection.
#F1Weather: Cold, hot, dry, wet - F1 cars have to deliver optimum performance in all conditions. The weather and state of the track have a decisive influence on how they handle. We show how the team deals with temperature changes and other external influences.
#StayTuned: Race events this coming weekend with Mercedes-AMG participation:
| Date | Series | Circuit |
| 11/10/2023 - 14/10/2023 | IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge (finale of both) | Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta (USA) |
| 13/10/2023 - 15/10/2023 | GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup (Finale) | CM.com Circuit Zandvoort (NED) |
| 13/10/2023 - 15/10/2023 | Super GT | Autopolis International Racing Course (JPN) |
| 13/10/2023 - 15/10/2023 | Italian GT Championship, GT4 Italy | Autodromo Vallelunga Piero Taruffi (ITA) |
| 13/10/2023 - 15/10/2023 | GTC Race, Spezial Tourenwagen Trophy (finale of both) | Nürburgring (GER) |
| 13/10/2023 - 15/10/2023 | British Endurance Championship | Donington Park (GBR) |
Continue reading...
