2021 United States Grand Prix - Austin, Oct 22 - 24

[Hoffman900]

I have pro motorsports photo friends. Clients often want a shot at some point up there (say a race start or even a cool pan) but it’s a commitment because getting up and down eats most of a session.

Most of them also hate photographing COTA. Poor sight lines / framing, need big lenses, and a PITA to get around to shot areas.

Interesting- thanks! Yeah, I think I'd not want to lug my gear all the way up or down there either TBH. Shame the circuit isn't more photo friendly.

I really don't think you should climb a tower where the elevator broke down because the ground is unstable...

Geologist here whose bosses were mostly geotechnical engineers and ran large civil construction projects. You don't build a tower on the same ground as a roadway...

The issue was cost cutting by the owners during the design / construction process. They were like 3/4 of the way to fixing the issue, but the final 1/4 of the implementation was the key.

[Pany]

The only thing redbull can do after first practice and bottas engine change strategy is respond quickly and change engine to perez car immediately

[Mattyw]

Wow that video sky showed of the rear suspension on the merc, amazing tech

FRIC tech derived it seems...

I mean the movement was significant and to have it only move at certain speeds is amazing really I’d love a merc tech video on it but guess that will stay well hidden!

[codetower]

Russel with grid penalties as well. Starting at the back of the grid. New ICE, TC, and MGU-H.

(edited for clarity)

[godlameroso]

Nah, Mercedes wants RBR to panic and start taking engine penalties. At this rate Hamilton will take an engine penalty at Losail. With 6 races left, Honda could switch their strategy take another combustion engine and then they'd only have to last 2 races each.

It's very strange, how Mercedes managed to gain a second on their nearest rival this late in the season, there's no way that was aero development or them understanding the chassis better. The rate of improvement from that takes too long.

[AeroDynamic]

It's very strange, how Mercedes managed to gain a second on their nearest rival this late in the season, there's no way that was aero development or them understanding the chassis better. The rate of improvement from that takes too long.

are you just straight up being dismissive of everything being said and analysed in the paddock? or did you not see what Paul showed?

[zibby43]

It's very strange, how Mercedes managed to gain a second on their nearest rival this late in the season, there's no way that was aero development or them understanding the chassis better. The rate of improvement from that takes too long.

RBR went from a second down last year to wining Abu Dhabi.

So, yeah, I’d say you’re spot on in naming the things that have helped them claw back pace, but incorrect in the assessment that those crucial developments aren’t enough to pull a gap.

Also, I highly doubt it’s gonna be 9 tenths come qualifying.

[Hoffman900]

Nah, Mercedes wants RBR to panic and start taking engine penalties. At this rate Hamilton will take an engine penalty at Losail. With 6 races left, Honda could switch their strategy take another combustion engine and then they'd only have to last 2 races each.

It's very strange, how Mercedes managed to gain a second on their nearest rival this late in the season, there's no way that was aero development or them understanding the chassis better. The rate of improvement from that takes too long.

With the inability to throw a new engine every race, the teams establish their season strategies, like their in race strategies, long in advance. Likely, this may have been the plan all along, or at least from the early part of the season.

Using Bottas as a test mule helps them, and their customer teams, a lot, especially with next year's schedule.

Also, you need to qualify your "second". It's one second, at COTA, in FP1. It's only one data point and there are a ton of confounding variables none of us know about.

[zibby43]

It's very strange, how Mercedes managed to gain a second on their nearest rival this late in the season, there's no way that was aero development or them understanding the chassis better. The rate of improvement from that takes too long.

are you just straight up being dismissive of everything being said and analysed in the paddock? or did you not see what Paul showed?

What did Paul show that’s not a part of every single F1 car in the paddock this year and in recent history?

Suspension squat from aero load on the straight. It’s becoming more pronounced on the Merc now that they’ve increased the rake.

This “phenomenon” is easily observable on every car in the paddock.

[Hoffman900]

It's very strange, how Mercedes managed to gain a second on their nearest rival this late in the season, there's no way that was aero development or them understanding the chassis better. The rate of improvement from that takes too long.

are you just straight up being dismissive of everything being said and analysed in the paddock? or did you not see what Paul showed?

What did Paul show that’s not a part of every single F1 car in the paddock this year and in recent history?

Suspension squat from aero load on the straight. It’s becoming more pronounced on the Merc now that they’ve increased the rake.

This “phenomenon” is easily observable on every car in the paddock.

This was always a selling point of high rake, for years.

Also, NASCAR has used, for years. shocks that once they get loaded down via aero, they stay "pulled" down, only to pop up under hard braking or at a certain load. Any of us that can write a big enough check to Ohlins or Penske, and they can help you with that too.

It's certainly not a new idea and one teams have been playing with for decades now. Even MotoGP has been playing with it now for a while.

[AeroDynamic]

It's very strange, how Mercedes managed to gain a second on their nearest rival this late in the season, there's no way that was aero development or them understanding the chassis better. The rate of improvement from that takes too long.

are you just straight up being dismissive of everything being said and analysed in the paddock? or did you not see what Paul showed?

What did Paul show that’s not a part of every single F1 car in the paddock this year and in recent history?

Suspension squat from aero load on the straight. It’s becoming more pronounced on the Merc now that they’ve increased the rake.

This “phenomenon” is easily observable on every car in the paddock.

its not an invention, but the point was Mercedes are extracting more from doing it better

can you explain why you think it can't be that? you think its the engine? What Brundle said undermines that idea.

[dans79]

Yea, the diresta video is just fluff to stir up the fans who don't know any better. The rear squatting down and stalling the diffuser isn't something new. For them to magically be faster than redbull down the straits by 12-15 kph, they would need to be stalling more than the diffuser.

[Hoffman900]

Yea, the diresta video is just fluff to stir up the fans who don't know any better. The rear squatting down and stalling the diffuser isn't something new. For them to magically be faster than redbull down the straits by 12-15 kph, they would need to be stalling more than the diffuser.

If someone can Photoshop a tinfoil hat on PdR, that would be perfect.

What I see when Paul tries to explain Mercedes tech:

[Gillian]

An interesting game of chicken between Mercedes and Honda.

[PlatinumZealot]

On another note altogether, is there a toilet at the top of that massive tower, does anyone know? Imagine being all the way up there watching the race and needing the facilities....

Anything released from that height will burn up on re-entry so no toilet required!