Show Notes
It has been a fortnight of soaring highs and tough technical lessons for Mercedes. On this episode of the Nu Silver Arrows Radio Show, we go straight to the engineers and drivers extracting every millisecond from the W17. We dissect Kimi's masterful victory in Monaco and George Russell's hard-fought podium in Barcelona as he celebrates his 100th start with the team. Technical Director James Allison brings his trademark candour to discuss the ongoing championship battle, the reality of managing battery reliability, and the team's relentless push for constructor points rather than individual driver favouritism. Plus, we step out of the real car and into the matrix. Third Driver Fred Vesti, Development Driver Anthony Davidson, and Head of Virtual World Simulation Riccardo Musconi provide a fascinating look at the driver-in-the-loop simulator, revealing how half a PSI of tyre pressure in the virtual world translates to lap time on the real track. In this episode, we discuss: The Development Race: James Allison breaks down how early regulation phases allow for massive performance swings and how Mercedes plans to answer Ferrari's recent upgrades.
FP1 Under Pressure: Fred Vesti compares the W17 to previous ground-effect cars, while Anthony Davidson chimes in on the immense responsibility of Friday testing.
Mechanical Compliance: The specific anti-roll bar and spring setup changes that kept all four tyres planted during Kimi's Monaco victory.
Simulator Hardware: Riccardo Musconi reveals the tech specs behind the Mercedes simulator, emphasising why low latency is more critical than heavy motion.
The Secret Championship: The fun, internal track-limits competition between the simulator drivers, and why ultimate lap time isn't always the main objective.
More from Mercedes - AMG PETRONAS F1 Team: Nu Silver Arrows Radio Show
In this brand-new episode of the Nu Silver Arrows Radio Show, host Anthony Davidson is joined by Deputy Team Principal Bradley Lord and Deputy Technical Director Simone Resta to review the intense rollercoaster of the recent triple-header races. Tune in as the team reflects on contrasting fortunes—from a dominant win in Baku and a struggle in Sepang, to the gritty fightbacks in Singapore. The panel pulls back the curtain on the engineering realities of F1, discussing why upgrades don't always translate linearly from the virtual world and wind tunnel to the track, the strategic necessity behind George Russell’s bold back-to-back testing in Singapore, and the strict risk management required when dealing with limited components under the cost cap. Plus, the panel celebrates the team's relentless operational excellence, highlighting how the garage and pit crew delivered the fastest stops under immense pressure, before previewing what's to come as the championship heads to Austin, Mexico, and Brazil.
Join Anthony Davidson, Trackside Engineering Director AndrewShovlin, and Third Driver Fred Vesti as they dissect a high-stakes European double-header. In this episode, the team breaks down the fierce competitionat the Temple of Speed in Monza and takes an in-depth look at the unique challenges of the brand-new Madrid circuit. From strategic pit-wall decisions during virtual safety cars to the fine margins that define the current grid, Shov and Fred pull back the curtain on what it really takes to unlock performance from the W17.
Welcome to Episode 8 of the Nu Silver Arrows Radio show! Anthony Davidson is joined by Deputy Team Principal Bradley Lord and Trackside Engineering Director Andrew 'Shov' Shovlin to dissect a frantic Dutch Grand Prix and look ahead to the nextphase of the championship. From managing unexpected car balance issues at Zandvoort to the behind-the-scenes financial juggling of the cost cap, Shov and Bradley give an unfiltered look into life on the pit wall. Additionally, with critical hardware decisions looming, the team shares exclusive insights into upcoming power unit grid penalties that could significantly disrupt the next few race weekends.
Welcome back to another episode of the Nu Silver Arrows Radio Show! Recorded from the heart of the team in Brackley and this week Brixworth as host and Development Driver, Anthony Davidson, is joined by Technical Director James Allison and Managing Director of Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains, Hywel Thomas. As we hit the mid-season point of this thrilling 2026 campaign, and just before the team heads into the summer shutdown, the trio takes a well-deserved moment to catch their breath and review the year so far. With the team sitting at the sharp end of both the Constructors' and Drivers' Championships, James and Hywel pull back the curtain on what it took to master the massive regulation shift. From the early, low-grip days in the simulator to that unforgettable 1-2 finish in Melbourne, this episode is packed with fascinating insights into the relentless engineering race and the delicate collaboration between the power unit and chassis departments.
Welcome to another episode of the Nu Silver Arrows Radio Show, directly from the team factory in Brackley. Hosted by Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team Development Driver Anthony Davidson sits down with Deputy Team Principal Bradley Lord and Deputy Technical Director Simone Resta to unpack a season that's forcing everyone to think differently. The trio provides an insider’s perspective on the fierce battle emerging among the top four teams, discussing how the brand-new regulations have reshaped the competitive order and forced drivers to completely relearn how to operate their cars. The team also cover plenty of chat about strategy, tyre offsets, and a familiar enemy: the Virtual Safety Car. From races that flip from attack mode to defence mode in an instant to the latest ideas for staying one step ahead, the team shares what goes into making decisions from the pit wall. Plus, looking ahead to the fly-aways, fighting at the front of Formula 1, and what keeps the team motivated when the margins are measured in tenths. As the team heads into the summer shutdown, they offer an honest half-term report and look ahead to an intensely competitive second half of the season. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and Welcome from Brackley 01:14 - Analysing the Contrasting Spa and Budapest GrandPrix 02:43 - The Top Four Teams and Adapting to New Regulations 05:29 - McLaren's Upgrades and Driver Line-ups 07:28 - Mastering Hybrid Power Units and Energy Management 13:14 - Overtaking Potential and Tactical Racing in Hungary 14:47 - Virtual Safety Car Timings and Strategy Compromises 16:44 - Navigating Blue Flags and GPS Glitches in theCockpit 18:47 - Kimi's Qualifying Penalty and Calm Mindset 23:41 - Ironing Out Internal Gremlins and ImprovingReliability 26:32 - Half-Season Review and Looking Ahead to theChampionship