Stu wrote: ↑20 Oct 2021, 21:09
dans79 wrote: ↑20 Oct 2021, 16:04
mclaren111 wrote: ↑20 Oct 2021, 15:53
Same as RB... Must get the set-up right...
Honeselty, I don't think they are getting the set-up wrong despite how several people including some members of the team are trying to spin it.
Simply put, I don't think the car likes the revised rear construction. The set-up they are using is the compromise they must run to get the most out of the new rears without damaging them.
I think so too, the behaviour of the tyre is creating a compromise in the set-up (probably damping or inerter oriented) that is clashing with some of the delicate aero balancing at the rear (thus creating the requirement for a compromise at the front). The change of rear tyre caused a slight drop in performance for the Red Bull (visible as it is also affecting Perez) along with a slight improvement for Mercedes. The 0.2-0.3 second gap that was there at the start of the season now fluctuates depending upon whether they can get the whole car balanced. Over a 90 second lap a 0.25% difference is played out as night/day.
I hadn’t seen anyone take a stab at attempting to explain why the change in rear construction would make a difference from a mechanical setup perspective.
Aerodynamically, the change will have had some kind of measurable impact, as rear tire deformation had to have changed slightly, and that rear floor area is so incredibly sensitive to flow changes.
All that being said, I still find it hard to believe the rear construction change is a factor.
Virtually all of the drivers across the various teams have said they’ve noticed zero difference, or haven’t said anything at all.
I’m more inclined to believe that the Silverstone upgrade at Mercedes has proven to be more powerful then anticipated as they’ve understood the car better. I also think the upgrade has widened the setup window. I had speculated that both of these things could happen shortly after Silverstone, and now Mark Hughes seems to think this is a possibility as well.