2023 United States Grand Prix - COTA, Oct 20 - 22

[basti313]

Wouldn’t be surprised if McLaren do a Mercedes 2021, take a new PU with only a few races to go and run it flat out

Well, if they take one than most probably at COTA. From the track layout and uncertainties on both tracks I would expect them to see big chances at the other tracks ex Abu.

They can not do the 2021 stunt, that was based on special engines from the factory tuned for a shorter life and most probably selected to be the best ones in the test. This is what the works team can do, certainly not the customer.

[Hammerfist]

Yup, I think Mexico is a better bet than COTA for a non-RB win.

The draggy cars usually come alive in Mexico and Brazil

I think that may be true regarding the Mclaren (which we already saw a preview of in Austria) but I'm not sure about Mercedes because Mercedes was dreadful in Austria.

Austria has nothing to do with mexico and brazil though besides the altitude. And if i recall merc was still weak in low speed there and everyone ran lower downforce. We know merc is never strong in that configuration. Mexico will be max downforce and brazil should reward mercs improvement in the low speed.

[Spoutnik]

I wonder how Ferrari will perform out there

[AR3-GP]

The draggy cars usually come alive in Mexico and Brazil

I think that may be true regarding the Mclaren (which we already saw a preview of in Austria) but I'm not sure about Mercedes because Mercedes was dreadful in Austria.

Austria has nothing to do with mexico and brazil though besides the altitude. And if i recall merc was still weak in low speed there and everyone ran lower downforce. We know merc is never strong in that configuration. Mexico will be max downforce and brazil should reward mercs improvement in the low speed.

Generally speaking Austria does give a good indication of Mexico and Brazil. That trio of circuits always suited the old RBs in the dominant Merc era. Last year Austria, Mexico, and Brazil suited the W13. The W14 is a very different car which had to remove downforce to tackle porpoising and that made it quite bad in Austria. I’m not sure if will be much better in Mexico and Brazil.

Granted it’s really only Mclaren and RB who would be ahead.

[ValeVida46]

Generally speaking Austria does give a good indication of Mexico and Brazil.

Austria 2022

Race classification
Pos.
1 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari
2 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing
3 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes
4 63 George Russell Mercedes
5 31 Esteban Ocon Alpine-Renault
6 47 Mick Schumacher Haas-Ferrari

Mexico 2022
Race classification

1 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing
2 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes
3 11 Sergio Pérez Red Bull Racing
4 63 George Russell Mercedes
5 55 Carlos Sainz Jr. Ferrari
6 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari

Brazil 2022
Race classification

1 63 George Russell Mercedes
2 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes
3 55 Carlos Sainz Jr. Ferrari
4 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari
5 14 Fernando Alonso Alpine-Renault
6 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing

[Spoutnik]

Generally speaking Austria does give a good indication of Mexico and Brazil.

Austria 2022

Race classification
Pos.
1 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari
2 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing
3 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes
4 63 George Russell Mercedes
5 31 Esteban Ocon Alpine-Renault
6 47 Mick Schumacher Haas-Ferrari

Mexico 2022
Race classification

1 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing
2 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes
3 11 Sergio Pérez Red Bull Racing
4 63 George Russell Mercedes
5 55 Carlos Sainz Jr. Ferrari
6 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari

Brazil 2022
Race classification

1 63 George Russell Mercedes
2 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes
3 55 Carlos Sainz Jr. Ferrari
4 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari
5 14 Fernando Alonso Alpine-Renault
6 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing

We have to take into account the technical directive which happen in between these races.
My question with Mexico is how important is the straight line speed/aero efficiency with such a long straight line ?
For Brazil there's many things... RB didn't quite like it last year, and Ferrari hasn't won there since 2017. Merc was amazing there in 2021 & 2022, but who knows

[Matt2725]

Wouldn’t be surprised if McLaren do a Mercedes 2021, take a new PU with only a few races to go and run it flat out

Must be worth a punt.

Surely they can only run it however Merc allow them to. Which means unless they're planning on giving all the Merc powered team the option, not sure how they'll be able to do so. Also not sure Brixworth will be interested in playing with the internal pressures and settings for a customer team.

[haza]

https://x.com/albertfabrega/status/1714 ... CA5OmEDv0w

[AR3-GP]

https://x.com/albertfabrega/status/1714 ... CA5OmEDv0w

As usual, no sanity test was conducted. Aston and Alpine will not be that slow.

[organic]

Hottest Austin F1 race weekend ever is forecast

[AR3-GP]

COTA is a circuit where you don't want pole.

[Spoutnik]

[Wouter]

[KimiRai]

Fabrega's simulator data (wherever he takes it from) is notoriously unreliable... unless by saying this now it will be correct

[Wouter]