[ 2020 ] Aston Martin RedBull Racing F1 Team - Honda

[NL_Fer]

Guys.

That first stint hamilton backed Max into Bottas. This forcing Max to run in dirty air. Whilst saving his own tires. So there Max was “ closer” to pace than viable. But then Hamilton could extent making his next two stints shorter and thus quicker.

If Hamilton would have went for quickest pace from the start it might have meant Max would have finished closer. Ofcourse he did not, they had a golden opportunity to kill max his tires in stint1 and used it.

Pace difference is more a result of circumstances then just a numbers game. Lewis could finish even further ahead, if 25 is in hand more is in hand.

But next GP it might be closer. Newer PU onboard again, perhaps RBR can find best set-up, perhaps Albon can outqualify the Racing points (that will lose the qualy mode). If that rule will come in to play and if merc does not immediately find a way around it.

Spa is over a minute of full throttle, I doubt it.

[etusch]

Merc's higher race mode usage which will be increased when they didn't use Q mode is not a good explanation why they can do so powerful Q mode and others can not. ( 6 years not a short time )

The same reason as no other team have been able to create a chassis and aero package to the level of the Mercedes for the same period. More resource and clearly better ideas and engineering. Every other engine manufacturer has had to change their engine layout and had trouble with various components they're had to chase for significant periods of time that has hindered their progress as a whole.

This is also not explain it. I don't think both of pu and chassis development are same. At least engine rules are prety much same. Why they are there at race trim but not at Q mode ?

[Sieper]

Yeah, Spa is likely too tough an ask. The Merc will still be very strong. Max is very good there though.

I am also very curious to see what the exact ruling will be.

[Mchamilton]

Merc's higher race mode usage which will be increased when they didn't use Q mode is not a good explanation why they can do so powerful Q mode and others can not. ( 6 years not a short time )

The same reason as no other team have been able to create a chassis and aero package to the level of the Mercedes for the same period. More resource and clearly better ideas and engineering. Every other engine manufacturer has had to change their engine layout and had trouble with various components they're had to chase for significant periods of time that has hindered their progress as a whole.

This is also not explain it. I don't think both of pu and chassis development are same. At least engine rules are prety much same. Why they are there at race trim but not at Q mode ?

I guess it doesn't explain it if you're determined that merc is some how cheating.

[Wynters]

No pace to spare for Hamilton.

It'd be useful to know that, despite being 24 seconds ahead, Mercedes were pushing as fast as they could for the entire race. Could you share your evidence, please? Also, why did Verstappen let Hamilton regain the 4+ seconds Hamilton lost in pit stops?

I'm confident Verstappen could consistently beat Hamilton if they chip away at the gap.

How much of the c. .5 of a second gap between them do you feel they need to chip away? Because I think the situation is worse that that.

1) Bear in mind that the .5 is purely race pace, Mercedes lead is significantly larger in qualifying so it's very likely that Hamilton will consistently out qualify Verstappen.
2) This means that Verstappen will need enough race pace to overcome being forced to run in Hamilton's dirty air for at least the first stint, if not more.
3) On many tracks, the overtaking delta is more than a second.

Therefore, to be confident Verstappen would be able to consistently over come that, what evidence can you share that Verstappen has a second in hand on Hamilton, purely on skill, knowledge and experience alone?

There is only one fundamental flaw with the situation you depicted for the future. As of next race, there will be no quali mode anymore and we still need to find out who will come out on top following this change.

In all probability, it will be Mercedes again, but until it happens, there is no evidence it will be... right?

It's certainly possible. And, even if they retain an edge, will they want to bias their setup away from the race to ensure they keep that edge? Also possible. Perhaps Red Bull have been aiming entirely for the race and, with the Quali gap closing, they might be able to surprise Mercedes during Q3.

I suspect the staus qup will broadly remain but, as you say, we won't know for certain until we see the data. It'll be like first Quali of the season again

[etusch]

I guess it doesn't explain it if you're determined that merc is some how cheating.

Is that mean that if you are other side everything explains it ?

[Mchamilton]

I guess it doesn't explain it if you're determined that merc is some how cheating.

Is that mean that if you are other side everything explains it ?

No, but speculating or accusing without facts or reasonable explanation is pointless.

[epo]

I guess it doesn't explain it if you're determined that merc is some how cheating.

Is that mean that if you are other side everything explains it ?

No, but speculating or accusing without facts or reasonable explanation is pointless.

That is obvious your baised fan opinion, let him. Rumours are from some ex-Ferrari guy Mercedes using Coolant from the battery to increase performance. TBH seeing Toto this year who he really is (cheating RP, giving CAD design), I would not be surprised though on the other hand I’m sure Mercedes would not have allowed it, but yeah rumours and speculation. Nothing wrong with it as you guys all did with Ferrari without proof.

[tangodjango]

Is that mean that if you are other side everything explains it ?

No, but speculating or accusing without facts or reasonable explanation is pointless.

That is obvious your baised fan opinion, let him. Rumours are from some ex-Ferrari guy Mercedes using Coolant from the battery to increase performance. TBH seeing Toto this year who he really is (cheating RP, giving CAD design), I would not be surprised though on the other hand I’m sure Mercedes would not have allowed it, but yeah rumours and speculation. Nothing wrong with it as you guys all did with Ferrari without proof.

Oh the irony of "biased fan opinions".

[search]

Yeah, Spa is likely too tough an ask. The Merc will still be very strong. Max is very good there though.

the early forecast says 12°C btw. A lot can change till then of course, but hoping for heat probably won't work this time, I guess

[Alexf1]

Is that mean that if you are other side everything explains it ?

No, but speculating or accusing without facts or reasonable explanation is pointless.

That is obvious your baised fan opinion, let him. Rumours are from some ex-Ferrari guy Mercedes using Coolant from the battery to increase performance. TBH seeing Toto this year who he really is (cheating RP, giving CAD design), I would not be surprised though on the other hand I’m sure Mercedes would not have allowed it, but yeah rumours and speculation. Nothing wrong with it as you guys all did with Ferrari without proof.

Any link you can share on the battery coolant topic?

[zibby43]

Is that mean that if you are other side everything explains it ?

No, but speculating or accusing without facts or reasonable explanation is pointless.

That is obvious your baised fan opinion, let him. Rumours are from some ex-Ferrari guy Mercedes using Coolant from the battery to increase performance. TBH seeing Toto this year who he really is (cheating RP, giving CAD design), I would not be surprised though on the other hand I’m sure Mercedes would not have allowed it, but yeah rumours and speculation. Nothing wrong with it as you guys all did with Ferrari without proof.

They’re not comparable situations.

Merc’s engine made a decent step in the winter, but it’s not like what Ferrari were achieving after the summer break, where they piled all the dirty downforce in the world on their car and were pulling 7 tenths **on the straights in Singapore** - one of the least power-sensitive tracks on the calendar.

Merc’s gaining most of their lap time, as demonstrated in Barcelona around the lap in all sorts of different types of corners. They were down in the speed traps and used their lower-deployment Strat 3 mode in Q2 and Q3, and still pulling over 7 tenths.

[ispano6]

No, but speculating or accusing without facts or reasonable explanation is pointless.

That is obvious your baised fan opinion, let him. Rumours are from some ex-Ferrari guy Mercedes using Coolant from the battery to increase performance. TBH seeing Toto this year who he really is (cheating RP, giving CAD design), I would not be surprised though on the other hand I’m sure Mercedes would not have allowed it, but yeah rumours and speculation. Nothing wrong with it as you guys all did with Ferrari without proof.

Any link you can share on the battery coolant topic?

Hi Alex, it doesn't cover the battery coolant topic but it does talk about Mercedes finding gains from their involvement in Formula E. The question might be is what they are doing from their learnings from Formula E fair? It was suspected that they would have this type of advantage, but as to how much of the gains comes from the FE learnings remains to be seen. Could Renault be benefiting from NIssan's involvement too?

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/14828 ... ter-strain

Cowell said lessons learned from the FE development have already benefited Mercedes' six-time title-double-winning F1 programme.

"Formula E is a fascinating championship with the electric machine as the only device propelling the car," said Cowell.

"The efficiencies of that electric machine, the inverter and all the control systems are paramount, and the torque accuracy delivery is crucial.

"Some of the development learning there has now fed back into F1, so from Melbourne this year, our F1 hybrid system will benefit from our Formula E development work.

"We've also made some manufacturing improvements that originate in the FE programme.

"We manufacture our own electric machines and some of the techniques developed for Formula E are being applied to the F1 electric machines this year as well.

"This is exciting to see; in the past, we've seen gains from the Project One [hypercar] development feed back into F1, now we are also seeing Formula E engineering and manufacturing technology feeding back into F1."

[Marti_EF3]

Also I think Honda are more focused on race pace with their PU. Don't know if they saw this coming, but since last year it's clear that the PU has become stronger on races and not gaining much in Q mode. Anyway it will be more or less the same, but maybe Honda is a bit closer with Merc on the race. We will see it soon

[Manoah2u]

Cowell said lessons learned from the FE development have already benefited Mercedes' six-time title-double-winning F1 programme.

"Formula E is a fascinating championship with the electric machine as the only device propelling the car," said Cowell.

"The efficiencies of that electric machine, the inverter and all the control systems are paramount, and the torque accuracy delivery is crucial.

"Some of the development learning there has now fed back into F1, so from Melbourne this year, our F1 hybrid system will benefit from our Formula E development work.

"We've also made some manufacturing improvements that originate in the FE programme.

"We manufacture our own electric machines and some of the techniques developed for Formula E are being applied to the F1 electric machines this year as well.

"This is exciting to see; in the past, we've seen gains from the Project One [hypercar] development feed back into F1, now we are also seeing Formula E engineering and manufacturing technology feeding back into F1."

An interesting observation here is that the tables have 'turned' in regards to the F1 development platform.
Instead of Formula E and the Project One get a benefit from the manufacturing technology in F1,
F1 is benefitting from these projects.