AR3-GP wrote: ↑09 Apr 2024, 21:35
The telemetry is not so easy to interpret because (mentioned several days ago), the wind directions changed. The tail wind on the main straight in 2023 was a headwind in 2024 so RB top speed is masked. The wind and track temperatures in the rest of the circuit between races also obfuscates. What you can see however from onboards is how much better the car looks in S2 and S3 corners, relative to both themselves last year and to rivals this year. It is not only Suzuka where you could draw such a conclusion. RB actually told us that these were the improvements.
Of course there was wind, I was talking about Esses and Degner 2. Both Ferrari and McLaren still improved massively in Esses since last year, so it's not just about the wind. RB improved low speed traction and kerb riding, they are definitley running softer this year
venkyhere wrote: ↑10 Apr 2024, 07:08
If there is no wind factor and same wing level used, is the RB20 inherently more draggy than the RB19 (due to more downforce from higher efficiency wings - front/rear/beam and diffuser) ? And when they say they have reduced drag with Suzuka update, surely they must be referring to launch edition RB20 and not the RB19 ? How else to interpret it ?
No no, it's the wind, all cars were slower on main and back straights. So far RB19 and RB20 are mostly matched on drag when using same wing levels. RB20 is harvesting more though, so sometimes doesn't reach the same top speed figures.