Our only hope for Japan is that RB upgrades might take some time to be dialled in. Mixed conditions might be of some help with that.
But I wouldn’t count on that.
Hope for what? Based on last year's results, we simply have to recognise McLaren as 2nd best here unless FP results clearly suggest otherwise. Anything more than one podium place would be fantastic at this point. I simply don't see McLaren worse than Ferrari on pure pace, they were only slightly worse in Australia (although Norris' strategy and Piastri moving away did save him a lot of time)CouncilorIrissa wrote: ↑02 Apr 2024, 12:42Our only hope for Japan is that RB upgrades might take some time to be dialled in. Mixed conditions might be of some help with that.
But I wouldn’t count on that.
Hope for challenging RB's second driver!Vanja #66 wrote:Hope for what? Based on last year's results, we simply have to recognise McLaren as 2nd best here unless FP results clearly suggest otherwise. Anything more than one podium place would be fantastic at this point. I simply don't see McLaren worse than Ferrari on pure pace, they were only slightly worse in Australia (although Norris' strategy and Piastri moving away did save him a lot of time)CouncilorIrissa wrote: ↑02 Apr 2024, 12:42Our only hope for Japan is that RB upgrades might take some time to be dialled in. Mixed conditions might be of some help with that.
But I wouldn’t count on that.
Stella after seeing the wind tunnel results of his first project for 2025:CouncilorIrissa wrote: ↑02 Apr 2024, 14:09Sanchez already out of McLaren.
I had hopes for him to deal some damage to their front-end
Aren't they bringing changes to rear suspension for Suzuka as well ?Vanja #66 wrote: ↑02 Apr 2024, 08:03That seems way too different from Vasseur's words on minor Suzuka upgrades. I'd only expect a floor edge and/or minor tweaks in diffuser and definitely nothing on sidepods before Imola. Imola makes the most sense for a big upgrade for Ferrari - it's Italy so they can maximise development and stretch manufacture time, it's a decent mix of various corners, it's a known track for the team and by then only 1/4 of the races have passed - so 3/4 of points to play for. Right now it's 7 weekends away, so plenty of lead time and it makes sense new parts were signed off only a few days ago, as formu1a.uno team reports.FDD wrote: ↑01 Apr 2024, 14:28Somewhere I read speculations that Ferrari plans to divide the big upgrade in two, the first one in Suzuka with new floor and sidepods inlets I think and more changes on sidepods for Imola.
According to speculations they read the car enough to know where it needs improvements.
Also there where rumors that even before the opening race they already have some upgrades in the pipeline but they wait for results from the track to confirm the correlation CFD/tunnel simulations vs track.
There's discussion in the McLaren thread about how much stronger the Ferrari front end is compared to theirs.CouncilorIrissa wrote: ↑02 Apr 2024, 14:09Sanchez already out of McLaren.
I had hopes for him to deal some damage to their front-end
It would take a disasterclass for Mclaren not to be quick here. I agree with Vanja that they are 2nd force here with us close behind. Difference is neither of their drivers are strong qualifiers and getting ahead of them in qualifying can be crucial.Waz wrote: ↑02 Apr 2024, 21:43There's discussion in the McLaren thread about how much stronger the Ferrari front end is compared to theirs.CouncilorIrissa wrote: ↑02 Apr 2024, 14:09Sanchez already out of McLaren.
I had hopes for him to deal some damage to their front-end
Surely that bodes well around Suzuka, and Charles loves the place.
Last years result is not relevant to this years Ferrari which clearly has different characteristics.Vanja #66 wrote: ↑02 Apr 2024, 12:57Hope for what? Based on last year's results, we simply have to recognise McLaren as 2nd best here unless FP results clearly suggest otherwise. Anything more than one podium place would be fantastic at this point. I simply don't see McLaren worse than Ferrari on pure pace, they were only slightly worse in Australia (although Norris' strategy and Piastri moving away did save him a lot of time)CouncilorIrissa wrote: ↑02 Apr 2024, 12:42Our only hope for Japan is that RB upgrades might take some time to be dialled in. Mixed conditions might be of some help with that.
But I wouldn’t count on that.
+1. I think they’ll be good, but I don’t think Ferrari have anything to be scared about from themdia6olo wrote: ↑03 Apr 2024, 02:13Last years result is not relevant to this years Ferrari which clearly has different characteristics.Vanja #66 wrote: ↑02 Apr 2024, 12:57Hope for what? Based on last year's results, we simply have to recognise McLaren as 2nd best here unless FP results clearly suggest otherwise. Anything more than one podium place would be fantastic at this point. I simply don't see McLaren worse than Ferrari on pure pace, they were only slightly worse in Australia (although Norris' strategy and Piastri moving away did save him a lot of time)CouncilorIrissa wrote: ↑02 Apr 2024, 12:42Our only hope for Japan is that RB upgrades might take some time to be dialled in. Mixed conditions might be of some help with that.
But I wouldn’t count on that.
I personally think at least based on the current cars that many people think more of McLaren than is actually there.
I think that minor changes are ready for Suzuka on RS, targeting better flow management around the beam wing and diffuser.jambuka wrote: ↑02 Apr 2024, 20:55Aren't they bringing changes to rear suspension for Suzuka as well ?Vanja #66 wrote: ↑02 Apr 2024, 08:03That seems way too different from Vasseur's words on minor Suzuka upgrades. I'd only expect a floor edge and/or minor tweaks in diffuser and definitely nothing on sidepods before Imola. Imola makes the most sense for a big upgrade for Ferrari - it's Italy so they can maximise development and stretch manufacture time, it's a decent mix of various corners, it's a known track for the team and by then only 1/4 of the races have passed - so 3/4 of points to play for. Right now it's 7 weekends away, so plenty of lead time and it makes sense new parts were signed off only a few days ago, as formu1a.uno team reports.FDD wrote: ↑01 Apr 2024, 14:28Somewhere I read speculations that Ferrari plans to divide the big upgrade in two, the first one in Suzuka with new floor and sidepods inlets I think and more changes on sidepods for Imola.
According to speculations they read the car enough to know where it needs improvements.
Also there where rumors that even before the opening race they already have some upgrades in the pipeline but they wait for results from the track to confirm the correlation CFD/tunnel simulations vs track.
Right, they don't seem as concerned about the wings this year since I guess the floor is doing it's thing properly, but it will be nice to see what the car is like with a low DF packagedialtone wrote: ↑03 Apr 2024, 05:40What I’m curious to see is how conservative they will be with their wings.
There’s more to gain still in the setup than other stuff, it’s already a much better season than last year, bordering on better than 2022 as well, you did a good job, I’d love to see them daring a bit more with the car now. Early stint is the only weakness, other than that it’s just improving a bit across the board.
Maybe the rain won’t allow too much in japan, but Miami is definitely in my crosshairs for tracks where I’d like to see a car with monza style wings.