zeroday wrote: ↑26 Feb 2024, 17:04
SoulPancake13 wrote: ↑26 Feb 2024, 02:27
This is a bit of a pointless question, but how much faster do you think the SF-24 will get come Abu Dhabi 2024? On that note: Do we expect to be able to fight in 2025 with the Red Bulls? Long way away, but just curious to know what people in here think might happen
1. It'll be faster. Every year cars get faster at Abu vs season start. At least 0.5sec faster
2. At Abu u are likely looking at what the 2025 car will be cuz most attention will have already focused on 2026. So whatever the pecking order is come Abu, is pretty much what it will be in 2025. Statistically, it's virtually impossible that anyone will be beating RB (in terms of champs) before 2026. So, if you want a sure $1 million all-in bet it is this! Sad but true. I'll just be happy take a few podiums combined until 2026 because even for GP wins i think its highly unlikely (possible, but just unlikely).
If Ferrari are clear 2nd fastest, wins are not all that unlikely. Last year was more an anomaly than anything - not with there being a dominant car, but with Red Bull and Verstappen especially committing so few errors and having relatively fortunate luck over the course of such a long season. Of the things that did go wrong for RB/Verstappen, usually it was on a Saturday or something and then things went well for them on Sunday to still get a win out of it.
So there will be likely be opportunities to win, even if not directly on merit. The important thing will be that Ferrari are in the best position to take advantage, which they are not always very good at. Still, being clear 2nd fastest car would be a good leg up.