https://x.com/RosarioGiuliana/status/18 ... 0628835485
2 tenths according to one of the authors of the article.
I wouldn't say 0.2 is a pipe dream, the car has got some tyre warm up issues and I feel just a fix that cures or even renders it much less of a problem could add around 0.2 of performance to the car without any other changes.
Agree with all you said, but I bet you wouldn't have dared said all that before the announcement of joining the Italian retirement house.
Sainz is almost never faster in the race than Leclerc. Hamilton is still faster than Russell on race pace. His qualifying performance is hurting him.
But do we need a driver that's faster than Leclerc? Red Bull don't need a driver that's faster than Max. Two very fast drivers is great in midfield where the team comes first, not at the sharp end where it's about wins and titles. Marketing wise? Awesome! Sporting wise I think keeping Sainz would've been the FAR better decision. It's a shame just when the team looks like it's headed in the right direction the higher ups have to meddle with things and potentially shatter the team harmony that's been built.
Yes, clearly they've over-corrected tyre overheating issue by attacking it by both reintroducing very stable downforce generation and redesigned suspension kinematics between seasons. As article suggests and we've known for sure since China, cold weather and dry tyres don't mix well for SF-24. I think having unknown grip levels at both China and Montreal races and thus missing optimal setup(s) exaggerated the problem.
This is only my opinion but I feel the current difference between Russell and Lewis is that Lewis has been there before, he has seen it all and done it all and is currently driving a car (and has done for the best part of 3 years) that is unlikely to contend for wins let alone championships.
In Imola the gap was made to look smaller than it actually is, McLaren's pace was being limited by the higher than expected track temp on Sunday. Likewise Red Bull's potential was being limited by the kerbs.SoulPancake13 wrote: ↑10 Jun 2024, 04:38I somewhat disagree. Yes, Ferrari had a bad weekend, I won't deny that, but Imola showed that the Ferrari is not miles off the McLaren(and according to Charles they didn't maximize the setup, another tenth puts Leclerc at the same pace there). What the car needs now is the ability to generate temps for the qualifying lap, which is supposed to be addressed at Silverstone. After that, I think we should see who will be 2nd best, but until then, the car is still competitive in the hotter conditions which we should hopefully see in Barcelona. This is too much of a knee jerk reaction to the past races IMO. There is no doubt McLaren is second best or even best right now though, just that a widening of the operating window and getting better at putting some energy into the tyres could go a long way.Xyz22 wrote: ↑10 Jun 2024, 03:22That was just a colossal gamble considering the race was completely lost. They were not sure they would have fixed the engine issue.ing. wrote: ↑10 Jun 2024, 03:15I can understand that it was a bad/unlucky weekend, possibly because of cold temps and rain, and even an engine issue… things happen. But after all the hope that with the organizational changes made that there would no longer be any more stupid, random, roll-of-the dice, bound-to-fail, against-all-logic tire strategies, today’s display was sadly disheartening.
Do they not have weather radar? Did they really think that—of all the tire choices— the Hards would be the best choice in still wet conditions with a good chance of more rain? That call just defied any logic.
In any event the goal is to keep improving. Highly likely that McL will be 2nd best this year which sound’t be a surprise considering last year they were almost 1s quicker than Ferrari in real tracks. They probably started the year with a conservative car and Ferrari historically has been able to start the season with relatively better package. Their upgrade has been massive and put them into a position to often challenge for the win. We had 2 chances to win and we did it, which was important.
Mercedes does have a wear weakness, you could see it in Montreal also. McLaren no longer does, you don't go that fast with inters on a dry track if you have a car that overheats tires. Also, Miami had high temps and their deg was good. In Imola it was just a setup issue because of the higher than expected temp on Sunday, not because their car can't run in those conditions.dia6olo wrote: ↑10 Jun 2024, 15:19McLaren currently have a car that appears to generate very good tyre heat, it is very evident in cool conditions.Xyz22 wrote: ↑10 Jun 2024, 14:59You guys saw how quick the McL was on inters? The difference with the others was embarrassing. In the second part of the first stint even Piastri who usually struggles with tyre management was lapping way faster than both MB and RB. Crazy stuff considering how dominant the RB19 and RB18 were in these conditions.
However, there is a good chance of that translating into a car that is going to overheat the tyres in warmer conditions resulting in degradation.
We have yet to see the McLaren in warmer climates on tracks were degradation is a thing.
Mercedes themselves have also liked the cooler conditions for the best part of 2/3 years now and looked somewhat capable in those conditions only to disappear again in normal conditions...
There is a long way to go and things will change again and again, the only thing I don't really see changing is that Red Bull and Max will still win the bulk of the remaining races.
That means Ferrari can fight with McLaren as the gap is about 0.2s/lap. Provided they don't bring any upgrades themselves.
But it will be oh so entertaining to watch. For the racing, for the drama, for the reactions on forums and socialswowgr8 wrote: ↑12 Jun 2024, 10:02But do we need a driver that's faster than Leclerc? Red Bull don't need a driver that's faster than Max. Two very fast drivers is great in midfield where the team comes first, not at the sharp end where it's about wins and titles. Marketing wise? Awesome! Sporting wise I think keeping Sainz would've been the FAR better decision. It's a shame just when the team looks like it's headed in the right direction the higher ups have to meddle with things and potentially shatter the team harmony that's been built.