e30ernest wrote: ↑10 Nov 2021, 07:53
AeroDynamic wrote: ↑10 Nov 2021, 07:42
I checked the onboards of verstappen and Hamilton on the run down to turn 1:
Hamilton starts downshifting right after the 150 metre board.
Verstappen begins downshifting just after the 100 metre board.
I would like to see the telemetry to know when they began breaking but isn’t breaking normally hand in hand with downshifting? It fits the minisectors map and backs what Peter Windsor referenced in his videos, along with what Hamilton was bemoaning of the breaking on his radio.. and again I pose the question: how many tenths is that worth on the straight if the Mercedes is slowing down 50 metres earlier than the red bull?
I don't have an answer to how many tenths that is worth, but if the Mercs are arriving at Turn 1 with a higher speed (they seem to have a straightline advantage at the moment), then it would also explain why they are braking earlier.
Hamilton was overtaking Bottas before T1, obviously he had a higher topspeed than the Mercs.
If anything, the RB is so planted and has so much more downforce that they can brake later without going straight off and locking up, which completely fits with what Hamilton commented on that despite Perez driving behind him, the wake did not negatevily affect him that Perez could still follow close and impose a threat.
No matter how high Merc's topspeed, if the RB is simply far more advantageous in the corners thanks to their mighty downforce, they can get through the corners better - again, long fitting with how RB's design philosophy works.
Totally offtopic, but this is one of the things why Ricciardo 'more or less' has a lesser effect on the other teams he was driving: his amazing skills on overtaking in an immense outbraking move is possible thanks to the higher grip and room left for braking thanks to the RB cars desing, and neither the Renaults nor the Mclarens have that same room which Ricciardo flourished on. He has by now adapted and perhaps the Mclaren has grown a bit closer to that RedBull design, but it just shows how things can or cannot work.
Because of that, i would argue that if Verstappen would now suddenly step into a Mclaren, Ferrari or even the Mercedes, he'd find it very difficult to adapt (and subsequentially some fanbois would argue Verstappen would delibaretly get held back so the other driver looks better). Also, the car characteristics of the Racing Point were vastly different to that of the RedBull, which obviously is why Perez has been yet unable to unleash his full potential in the RB - though he's doing particularly well, really.
I would argue the current RedBull would see both Ricciardo and Vettel achieve similar results as they had before, not what they have now at their respective teams.
As for Mercedes, i still expect Mercedes to have difficulty in Brazil. The 'desert races' probably will fit the Mercedes better. However, they're forced to deliver in Brazil too, it's gonna be very hard if Verstappen gets P1 in the sprint race, main race and the fastest lap.
Brazil however also can have mayhem, so on the other hand, keeping it safe can also see them have a decent result while for some reason Max finds himself at odds. IF Mercedes still needs to have a new engine for Lewis, then i would expect them to take an engine penalty if Hamilton does not finish P1 @ the sprint race.