Why not Hamilton? This might be his best track outside of Silverstone.
Hamilton can absolutely win. I forgot he's a China specialist.
I swear Vasseur already said they'd be running the Melbourne car in China. Either way, if there was pace in hand, Mercedes will just use it anyway and scoot off into the distance. Should be an easy podium again for Ferrari at least.
That would expose their advantage PU wise even more, which will be useful for ADUO
Ferrari will ace sector1, Redbull will ace T7-T8 (only). Mercedes will ace sector3 by a huge margin.AR3-GP wrote: ↑09 Mar 2026, 21:39The efficiency increase will not only increase the straight line speed, but also make their deployment and harvesting better. In my opinion, Leclerc can win in China. It is low speed corners (T2, T3, T6, T9, T11, T12, T14) and straights.
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Red Bull are not acing any corner. Mercedes and Ferrari are a different class of car.venkyhere wrote: ↑09 Mar 2026, 22:53Ferrari will ace sector1, Redbull will ace T7-T8 (only). Mercedes will ace sector3 by a huge margin.AR3-GP wrote: ↑09 Mar 2026, 21:39The efficiency increase will not only increase the straight line speed, but also make their deployment and harvesting better. In my opinion, Leclerc can win in China. It is low speed corners (T2, T3, T6, T9, T11, T12, T14) and straights.
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Quali, that is. Let's see whether I will have to eat my words![]()
I am also expecting it to be way closer between Ferrari and Mercedes in China. Mercs are probably untouchable in quali, but if Ferrari straighten out the problems with the deployment, they should lock out the second row at least. The start will probably see them take the lead as well and then we should have a battle in our hands.AR3-GP wrote: ↑09 Mar 2026, 21:39The efficiency increase will not only increase the straight line speed, but also make their deployment and harvesting better. In my opinion, Leclerc or Hamilton can win in China. It is low speed corners (T2, T3, T6, T9, T11, T12, T14) and straights.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ ... ap.svg.png
That wing (imo), puts them in front of Merc in all trim. It is worth 4-5km/h on straights. That is double digit horsepower gain.Emag wrote: ↑10 Mar 2026, 00:00I am also expecting it to be way closer between Ferrari and Mercedes in China. Mercs are probably untouchable in quali, but if Ferrari straighten out the problems with the deployment, they should lock out the second row at least. The start will probably see them take the lead as well and then we should have a battle in our hands.AR3-GP wrote: ↑09 Mar 2026, 21:39The efficiency increase will not only increase the straight line speed, but also make their deployment and harvesting better. In my opinion, Leclerc or Hamilton can win in China. It is low speed corners (T2, T3, T6, T9, T11, T12, T14) and straights.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ ... ap.svg.png
I am sceptical of that number, but there's probably no way to find out for sure. I don't expect super clipping to be as bad in China, but how soon/late they start doing it in the back straight relative to each other should be a good indicator anyway. I think the top speed in itself is less valuable in comparison to whatever drag reduction it brings. Of course they go hand in hand together, but with these regulations having less drag down the straights it's a huge benefit for battery efficiency as well.AR3-GP wrote: ↑10 Mar 2026, 00:02That wing (imo), puts them in front of Merc in all trim. It is worth 5-7km/h on straights. That is double digit horsepower gain.Emag wrote: ↑10 Mar 2026, 00:00I am also expecting it to be way closer between Ferrari and Mercedes in China. Mercs are probably untouchable in quali, but if Ferrari straighten out the problems with the deployment, they should lock out the second row at least. The start will probably see them take the lead as well and then we should have a battle in our hands.AR3-GP wrote: ↑09 Mar 2026, 21:39The efficiency increase will not only increase the straight line speed, but also make their deployment and harvesting better. In my opinion, Leclerc or Hamilton can win in China. It is low speed corners (T2, T3, T6, T9, T11, T12, T14) and straights.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ ... ap.svg.png
Typo, 4-5km/h not 5-7.Emag wrote: ↑10 Mar 2026, 00:08I am sceptical of that number, but there's probably no way to find out for sure. I don't expect super clipping to be as bad in China, but how soon/late they start doing it in the back straight relative to each other should be a good indicator anyway. I think the top speed in itself is less valuable in comparison to whatever drag reduction it brings. Of course they go hand in hand together, but with these regulations having less drag down the straights it's a huge benefit for battery efficiency as well.AR3-GP wrote: ↑10 Mar 2026, 00:02That wing (imo), puts them in front of Merc in all trim. It is worth 5-7km/h on straights. That is double digit horsepower gain.Emag wrote: ↑10 Mar 2026, 00:00
I am also expecting it to be way closer between Ferrari and Mercedes in China. Mercs are probably untouchable in quali, but if Ferrari straighten out the problems with the deployment, they should lock out the second row at least. The start will probably see them take the lead as well and then we should have a battle in our hands.