2021 Russian Grand Prix - Sochi, Sep 24 - 26

[matt_b]

So Max & RedBull find a neat way to avoid serving a penalty for ramming Lewis in previous race.

I don't think Red Bull want to be mid pack with a high possibility of being taken out of the race especially if it rains so it is still a risky and brave decision to take the engine penalty it this weekend.

Are you complaining about tactics that are available to all teams?

No I just think it is a risky and brave decision to take the engine penalty this weekend because mid pack especially in the rain is incredibly high risk especially with all the incidents we have seen on the opening lap over the years and that was in the dry.

[Zynerji]

I don't think Red Bull want to be mid pack with a high possibility of being taken out of the race especially if it rains so it is still a risky and brave decision to take the engine penalty it this weekend.

Are you complaining about tactics that are available to all teams?

No I just think it is a risky and brave decision to take the engine penalty this weekend because mid pack especially in the rain is incredibly high risk especially with all the incidents we have seen on the opening lap over the years and that was in the dry.

Sorry. I was addressing FWandE...

[Stu]

Verstappen on the radio: 'It's impossible to pass.' (a Williams)

I'm sure he's just being a bit dramatic, but that could be a real problem for them if it is applicable in the race.

The only option is to drop some rear wing off, really, unless they're running the PU in a very lower mode.

In the engine mode days typically they would ask the driver to try many modes after a PU change, but stay mostly in the lower ones. Not sure how they would set the mode per session to check the PU these days. Maybe just stay In a low one for the whole session.

Wouldn’t that have to be for the whole weekend? I thought that the engine mode had to be the same across all engines being run for the whole weekend.

[Stu]

FP2: Anyone know if the HAM v. Jackman incident was because 1) magic was left on or 2) magic accidentally activated?

I’ll give it go but you will have to explain (exactly) what happened. I’ll be working blind!
For instance, who the ‘eck is Jackman?

Has one of the teams got DTS with them this weekend and put Hugh Jackman in a car for FP1 to help promo a film???

[Fulcrum]

It's going to rain until around 4pm tomorrow local time, with the heaviest rain around FP3 time, from what I can see. It won't be more than a drizzle on Sunday, likely dry. The rain will mean that there's a green track that will rubber in, I hope we saved our Hard tires, we're going to need them come race day. The undercut is very powerful, however there is a long pit time penalty.

The rears will need protecting.

A two stop is looking likely for the race, with a 3 stop being almost as fast. It may also afford enough pace disparity to make overtakes possible. If they don't have the top speed to make the pass into turn 2, then they'll need the downforce to make the pass into turn 13

I can think of 3 reasons for doing more than 2 stops: desperation, trying to steal the fastest lap, or getting a 'free stop' during a Safety Car period. You'd likely require a combination of these factors to facilitate 3 stops.

This track has a pitlane speed limit of 60kph. Between that and the low degradation tarmac, pit stops are hugely disincentivized, as evidenced by every race ever held here.

Look at the data from Practice 1, where the tyres typically degrade at their worst.

Bottas (C3) - 9 lap stint
01:41.762
01:40.801
01:41.978
01:40.761
01:40.675
01:41.172
01:40.232
01:40.615
01:40.516
Average: 01:40.946; 01:40.682 if excluding the initial high 01:41's.

I.e. Degradation lower than the fuel burn-off effect.

The Mercs are going to be under little to no threat with Max at the back of the field. They'll try to get through to Q3 on the C4 (yellow), nurse those tyres for as long as required during the race, before pitting for C3 (white). Then, come race end, they'll bolt on some C5's for the fastest lap. A 'fake' 2-stop in other words.

All of this assuming a dry race without Safety Cars.

[SiLo]

FP2: Anyone know if the HAM v. Jackman incident was because 1) magic was left on or 2) magic accidentally activated?

I think he said "magic was still on", but haven't had a chance to listen back to the radio yet...

Easily solution is for them to program magic to disable if the pit limiter is enabled.

[SiLo]

FP2: Anyone know if the HAM v. Jackman incident was because 1) magic was left on or 2) magic accidentally activated?

I think he said "magic was still on", but haven't had a chance to listen back to the radio yet...

Easily solution is for them to program magic to disable if the pit limiter is enabled.

[dans79]

FP2: Anyone know if the HAM v. Jackman incident was because 1) magic was left on or 2) magic accidentally activated?

I think he said "magic was still on", but haven't had a chance to listen back to the radio yet...

Easily solution is for them to program magic to disable if the pit limiter is enabled.

I think that would fall foul of the driver aide rule!

[darkpino]

How come Lewis is not under investigation?
Precedent:
www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/57615056.amp

[bonjon1979]

How come Lewis is not under investigation?
Precedent:
www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/57615056.amp

Im not sure that missing a braking point or having a brake issue is the same as massively overcooking it and sending your car around in a spin nearly collecting put crew in the next box…

[bonjon1979]

I think he said "magic was still on", but haven't had a chance to listen back to the radio yet...

Easily solution is for them to program magic to disable if the pit limiter is enabled.

I think that would fall foul of the driver aide rule!

Interesting point. Maybe the pit limiter is a driver aid. Make em have to do it themselves. That would be more fun

[darkpino]

How come Lewis is not under investigation?
Precedent:
www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/57615056.amp

Im not sure that missing a braking point or having a brake issue is the same as massively overcooking it and sending your car around in a spin nearly collecting put crew in the next box…

I don’t know… Bottas didn’t hit anyone where Lewis actually did? And especially if indeed it’s the case of the magic button still been on it would be a driver mistake just as Bottas did.

It’s a legit question, not to hit out on Lewis or anything. I’m just honestly curious about it

[SiLo]

How come Lewis is not under investigation?
Precedent:
www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/57615056.amp

Im not sure that missing a braking point or having a brake issue is the same as massively overcooking it and sending your car around in a spin nearly collecting put crew in the next box…

I don’t know… Bottas didn’t hit anyone where Lewis actually did? And especially if indeed it’s the case of the magic button still been on it would be a driver mistake just as Bottas did.

It’s a legit question, not to hit out on Lewis or anything. I’m just honestly curious about it

When have you ever seen anyone get a reprimand for doing that? That answer is because he hasn't broken any rules, so no investigation necessary.

[RZS10]

a) it's not a precedent because it's a very different situation
b) i can't remember a single instance of a driver slightly outbraking themselves in the pits which was followed by a penalty

[Wouter]

I just checked the weather and some sites say 80% of rain on sunday and others as low as 20%... So I am clueless really.

Max is fast when the track is wet, but how wet is the track Sunday?
Most sites say 0.2 mm - 0.4 mm rain on Sunday afternoon during the race. For example Ventusky. 0.2 mm at 3 p.m.

https://www.ventusky.com/?p=43.6;39.7;5 ... 10926/1300