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Yes .. without that DNF and with a win last week things would have been quite different. But it is what it is ..
The mercs were no where on the hards or it would have been a different storyRevs84 wrote: ↑09 Aug 2020, 16:37What was that again?holeindalip wrote: ↑08 Aug 2020, 21:57Yeah with the mercs being on hards at the end will allow them to go harder and longer than vers. And with the pace advantage I don’t really see him as a threat....Revs84 wrote: ↑08 Aug 2020, 21:13
Safety car and issues aside, if Max can have a clean first lap there may actually be more opportunities than you may think.
In my opinion the fastest time will be a combination of 2 hards and 1 medium. Starting on the Hards and finishing on the medium will yield the fastest strategy.
During the first stint, I don't expect the Mediums of the Mercs to hold for long - especially as I do expect Lewis to fight for first position. There's a good chance they start losing a bit of pace until they have enough gap to pit - if they will even get that luxury. Max will need to make sure to stay as close as possible during this time.
With this strategy, if Max can finish on the Mediums and Mercs are on the Hards, there might be a possibility to go on the attack on some fresher and softer rubber.
Granted that the RB16 has less pace than the Mercs, but Honda giving both drivers a new PU, in my opinion is a sign that the plan to finish the year with no penalties is out of the window. I expect a more aggressive mapping tomorrow to make up for part of the package's deficit.
Until RB get the chassis together, that's the only thing they can do. It's clear that this year is all but lost so at this point it's either go all out or go home.
And if there's a Safety Car? Let's just hope it happens after the Mercs pit and before Max pits.
maybe he doesn't know another way to win.
You mean the comment about tire pressures? That's very telling, whatever mechanism Mercedes uses to keep the tires in the window doesn't seem to work or works too well in the heat. I guess that's the problem of testing in colder weather. Maybe higher temperatures help RB's exhaust blowing?
Yes, the tyre pressure comment. He always seems to come out with some sort of excuse when he gets beat instead of just admitting he and his team got it wrong on the day. I think the Mercs simply had too much rear wing downforce.godlameroso wrote: ↑09 Aug 2020, 17:17You mean the comment about tire pressures? That's very telling, whatever mechanism Mercedes uses to keep the tires in the window doesn't seem to work or works too well in the heat. I guess that's the problem of testing in colder weather.
Hamilton got fastest lap, the hard tires were the same mediums they started on last week, with which they were .7 seconds faster than Verstappen. This week Bottas and Verstappen both pitted at the same time on the same tire and Verstappen pulled away from him.holeindalip wrote: ↑09 Aug 2020, 16:59The mercs were no where on the hards or it would have been a different storyRevs84 wrote: ↑09 Aug 2020, 16:37What was that again?holeindalip wrote: ↑08 Aug 2020, 21:57
Yeah with the mercs being on hards at the end will allow them to go harder and longer than vers. And with the pace advantage I don’t really see him as a threat....
In Hamilton's defense, yes he said an off the cuff comment in the heat of racing, but after the race he accepted he came second and said the appropriate things. You can't win them all.equaliser wrote: ↑09 Aug 2020, 17:20Yes, the tyre pressure comment. He always seems to come out with some sort of excuse when he gets beat instead of just admitting he and his team got it wrong on the day. I think the Mercs simply had too much rear wing downforce.godlameroso wrote: ↑09 Aug 2020, 17:17You mean the comment about tire pressures? That's very telling, whatever mechanism Mercedes uses to keep the tires in the window doesn't seem to work or works too well in the heat. I guess that's the problem of testing in colder weather.
godlameroso wrote: ↑09 Aug 2020, 17:17You mean the comment about tire pressures? That's very telling, whatever mechanism Mercedes uses to keep the tires in the window doesn't seem to work or works too well in the heat. I guess that's the problem of testing in colder weather. Maybe higher temperatures help <b>RB's exhaust blowing</b>?
That's what I was thinking as well since both drivers said that handling today was the best they've had so far.
Crazy thought, maybe the higher ambient temps play into exhaust blowing because the exhaust blowing causes a similar delta in the air temp of the diffuser wake. With a higher starting point ie higher ambient temps the expansion you get from the temp delta is enough to make a difference vs lower ambient temps. Just randomly speculating.TNTHead wrote: ↑09 Aug 2020, 17:33godlameroso wrote: ↑09 Aug 2020, 17:17You mean the comment about tire pressures? That's very telling, whatever mechanism Mercedes uses to keep the tires in the window doesn't seem to work or works too well in the heat. I guess that's the problem of testing in colder weather. Maybe higher temperatures help <b>RB's exhaust blowing</b>?
VER stated after the race that the balance of the car was good, which is a bit awkward if you think of the wind that was there this race and all their handling/balance issues so far. Does higher temps lead to better sealing of the floor? I know high temps is lower air density and less drag but else...?
Albon said they were terrible in qualifying in the part they were really strong in during the race. The biggest most obvious difference between qualifying and race trim is fuel weight. Perhaps the weight balance on heavy fuel is better than on low fuel?Revs84 wrote: ↑09 Aug 2020, 17:33That's what I was thinking as well since both drivers said that handling today was the best they've had so far.
However to me it also seems that track temperature played a major factor, not just for Red Bull to be faster, but also for the Mercs to be slower. So all in all I'm not sure it will make much of a difference.