Emag wrote: ↑11 Jun 2024, 08:06
In this particular example, Verstappen has absolutely nailed the corner, telemetry wise, but are you absolutely certain that this lap was one of those where he was "straight" out of the exit?
Not exactly 'this' telemetry trace which I posted, but another trace of the pole-tie laps from the two of them whose telemetry trace looks very similar to this, but also has video footage help where we can see that VER was straighter out of the exit.
The pole lap traces for T10 hairpin :
We can see both of them come off the throttle around the same time, however, VER is back on full throttle slightly earlier than RUS, saving 0.139s from the corner alone, despite a lower minimum speed (58 vs 61 kph). The marker is at a point where VER has achieved almost same speed as RUS at the exit. We can say this marker denotes the exit, since both of them are at full throttle by now. Whatever time is regained by RUS thereafter is simply the drag benefit of his car due to lower wing.
I agree that the higher downforce in the RB20 is helping VER brake harder, but somewhere in the middle of the speeds between 150-100kph, the speed of air has reduced enough where mechanical grip dominates rather than aero grip. The "lower part of v" in the speed trace has steeper down&up slopes for VER than RUS. This is because he is putting more slip angle into his tyres and getting better purchase of mechanical grip from them (by turning really sharpy), enabling him to turn sharper and 'straighten the exit earlier' than RUS.
The below screenshots from Formula1's pole lap comparison video will show exactly what I am trying to convey through text.
Tighter 'entry' into the corner by VER, the 'compromised/poorer' of the two entries :
Much more aggressive steering angle, well into the turn :
Even more steering :
RUS is understeering now, due to higher minimal speed whilst VER is hitting the apex with a mega steering lock :
At the exit, VER is more 'straightened' than RUS :
What the video shows and what the traces don't show, is the 'rotation' difference. I think the key to this is the difference in the way in which both drivers come off the throttle and modulate the brakes. We can even see there is a small 'no pedals' duration after coming off the brakes before re-applying throttle, for VER.
The traces show brake application as binary 'ON/OFF' - as we all know, that is never the case, there has to be some clever brake modulation (trail braking) in sync with steering application going on, that is 'just right' to achieve better rotation. Unfortunately, the traces are not showing it. This is where I think VER is doing a better job than RUS and this is at speeds that are in the early 3 digits or late 2 digits, where 'aero' grip is not much. I have even seen traces of LEC where he is doing both trail braking and throttle application simulteanously, whilst in the middle of turning the steering by large angles. Front v/s rear trapeze artist like "balancing" I guess.
Emag wrote: ↑11 Jun 2024, 08:06
Either way, there is some car performance on top of driver ability that plays a role as well. RedBull might just simply be better than Mercedes on braking and slow-speed rotation, making it easier for Max to get this ideal execution.
Of course, the suspension has to be conducive to this as well. It's both the car and the driver. I just wanted to emphasise the role of the driver from the video screenshots and traces. By minimizing the duration over which the car is rotating, is also giving VER the additional benefit of tyre life, I feel.
Just_a_fan wrote: ↑11 Jun 2024, 10:37
That image is exactly what one would expect from a car with more downforce - able to brake later (hence on throttle longer). Your lines showing that Ves was on throttle before Rus are erroneous - one can see quite clearly that they were both full throttle at the same time on the throttle trace.
In my earlier post, please note that I used the word early in the text marking in the trace pic, in quotes - "early". I was trying to point out how compared to their corner entry instant (when they come off throttle), VER is
relatively earlier getting back on to full throttle than RUS, even though they both are at full throttle at the same absolute instant in time.
Hope this current post with the video screenshots and the pole lap trace, is better illustrating my point.
