2026 Chinese Grand Prix - Shanghai, March 13-15

[michl420]

Peter Windsor made a good point about the Mercedes customer cars. They probably don't have gear ratios that match the PU as good as Mercedes does. And that is something locked in for the year.

One gear ratio change allowed this season.

[purestpurist]

Hopefully Mercedes holds the lead tomorrow and we get a repeat of Bahrain 2014...I wouldn't be surprised if they could lap the field with the sandbags off

[IntrinsicVoid]

And we see now with Alpine, what --- chassis and sketchy monster PU does.

[search]

Alpine was the first team to completely focus on 2026 last year, so they were expected to improve no matter the engine.

[IntrinsicVoid]

Alpine was the first team to completely focus on 2026 last year, so they were expected to improve no matter the engine.

But they surely don’t have better chassis than Red Bull..

[FrukostScones]

Good Stuff. At least the first stint will be fun tomorrow, and maybe they will surprise us with a good strategy tomorrow! Finger crossed.

[hollus]

About gear ratios, in 2014, in a similar situation, Mercedes got their ratios wrong at first.
viewtopic.php?t=18700
They effectively raced withy 7 gears, not 8, for the first races, while Williams had very different gearing. Mercedes had 8th gear way too long, capable of 400 km/h, and rarely used it.
viewtopic.php?p=515285#p515285
Come the mid season change, Mercedes essentially copied the initial gear ratio set of Williams.
viewtopic.php?p=533398#p533398
In that corrected gear ratio set all the new 1-8th grar range fitted comfortably insode the old 1st-7th gear range, with cushion at both ends.

There is no guarantee that Mercedes has better gearing.

The conclusion bach then was also that gearing wasn't too important to lap time, as they could happily run with 7 or even with 6 gears. Just small optimiztions there.

[search]

Alpine was the first team to completely focus on 2026 last year, so they were expected to improve no matter the engine.

But they surely don’t have better chassis than Red Bull..

maybe not, but Red Bull struggling a bit with a Ford engine and after bringing updates till the very end is also not really a surprise.

[DGP123]

It’s good to watch the initial stints between Fer/Merc, but the inevitability that Merc coming out on top will quickly tire. Can basically copy and paste this yo-yoing for the next 20 weekends. Will only be the street tracks, whereby you give Ferrari a chance of holding out.

As for Lewis, he looks transformed. Many expected him to be destroyed by Charles. It isn’t happening.

[search]

the official tire update isn't out yet, but should be sth like this (if everyone returned 3 sets of used softs - it's free choice)

[erudite450]

the official tire update isn't out yet, but should be sth like this (if everyone returned 3 sets of used softs - it's free choice)

https://i.ibb.co/RT5ngHnt/CHN-post-Q.png

Why would Redbull leave themselves with no new sets of medium and hard tyres? Seems like a poor decision.

[Rikhart]

Can't wait for the idiotic, self congratulory, "double the overtakes guys!!1" tweet from the FIA.

[PlatinumZealot]

Peter Windsor made a good point about the Mercedes customer cars. They probably don't have gear ratios that match the PU as good as Mercedes does. And that is something locked in for the year.

True. Too loose a gearing will "reverse" the leverage to recharging load.

[PlatinumZealot]

I'm just watching qualifying now on F1 TV. Up to q2 and I must that as a 41 year old LH is pretty close to the fastest man in qualifying, Leclerc, in his prime. Nothing to be ashamed of if he loses to Charles this year.

[DGP123]

I'm just watching qualifying now on F1 TV. Up to q2 and I must that as a 41 year old LH is pretty close to the fastest man in qualifying, Leclerc, in his prime. Nothing to be ashamed of if he loses to Charles this year.

The killer for LH last year was Q and being stuck in the pack in the first stint. That won’t happen this year, and he can challenge CL from the get go. Can see already that CL does not like that the landscape has changed, by that ridiculous radio message during the sprint.

Their inter team battle will likely be the highlight of the year.