2026 Chinese Grand Prix - Shanghai, March 13-15

[AR3-GP]

On lap 5, a.k.a. when Russell was firmly stuck behind Leclerc's dirty air?... And you argue this is better data for comparing cornering prowess than quaily lap telemetries in clean air with supposed deployment issues(?)... Your words, not mine...

Mercedes said that Ferrari have the superior aero package.

[SB15]

Still I think that depends on circumstances, yeah that got the extra top speed advantage but it ultimately depends on their outright pace of the course of the race. Plus, I wouldn't put too much emphasis on the race starts since both Kimi's and George's battery went to zero.

The battery only activates above 50km/h so that's not why Mercedes had bad starts. The Mercedes had trouble leaving their grid box. Hadjar, Norris, and both ferraris had better 0-50km/h.

China has many low speed corners. The Ferrari was imperious in the corners in Melbourne. The Mercedes suffers from understeer. Ferrari could have the fastest package here.

Mercedes still said the battery was at zero when they came off the line and that wasn't suppose to happen. If Norris had a better start what makes you believe Mercedes wouldn't using the same engine? That's why I see more consistent starts this race because last race was a disaster. Also, George was the fastest off the line in Bahrain testing even though yes the Ferrari's and Haas were more consistent with it.

Suffers from the understeer? George said they didn't see how the car performed on low fuel until Q3

[AR3-GP]

Mercedes still said the battery was at zero when they came off the line and that wasn't suppose to happen. If Norris had a better start what makes you believe Mercedes wouldn't using the same engine? That's why I see more consistent starts this race because last race was a disaster.

Suffers from the understeer? George said they didn't see how the car performed on low fuel until Q3

Mercedes batteries weren't at zero. They were just low. Watch the start. Hadjar runs out of battery first, then Russell.

[SB15]

On lap 5, a.k.a. when Russell was firmly stuck behind Leclerc's dirty air?... And you argue this is better data for comparing cornering prowess than quaily lap telemetries in clean air with supposed deployment issues(?)... Your words, not mine...

Mercedes said that Ferrari have the superior aero package.

Norris said "Chassis"

[AR3-GP]

On lap 5, a.k.a. when Russell was firmly stuck behind Leclerc's dirty air?... And you argue this is better data for comparing cornering prowess than quaily lap telemetries in clean air with supposed deployment issues(?)... Your words, not mine...

Mercedes said that Ferrari have the superior aero package.

Norris said "Chassis"

Yes that is the same thing. Chassis/Aero vs Power unit

[SB15]

Mercedes still said the battery was at zero when they came off the line and that wasn't suppose to happen. If Norris had a better start what makes you believe Mercedes wouldn't using the same engine? That's why I see more consistent starts this race because last race was a disaster.

Suffers from the understeer? George said they didn't see how the car performed on low fuel until Q3

Mercedes batteries weren't at zero. They were just low. Watch the start. Hadjar runs out of battery first, then Russell.

Then that means they didn't do the proper recharging during the lap to the grid and the battery was somehow at zero when they went up to the line. That's why I wouldn't jump to conclusions on this because teams will be more conservative on the lap towards the grid start. Lawson had a terribly slow start during his start as well.

[AR3-GP]

Then that means they didn't do the proper recharging during the lap to the grid and the battery was somehow at zero when they went up to the line. That's why I wouldn't jump to conclusions on this because teams will be more conservative on the lap towards the grid start

The battery doesn't affect 0-50km/h since it's not allowed to use below 50km/h. Mercedes had bad 0-50.

[SB15]

Then that means they didn't do the proper recharging during the lap to the grid and the battery was somehow at zero when they went up to the line. That's why I wouldn't jump to conclusions on this because teams will be more conservative on the lap towards the grid start

The battery doesn't affect 0-50km/h since it's not allowed to use below 50km/h. Mercedes had bad 0-50.

"wheelspin" you can see smoke coming off of Antonelli's tyres if you watch Charles onboard.

[Paa]

Mercedes said that Ferrari have the superior aero package.

Not saying it can't be true, but Mercedes also said that Red Bull have superior engine.

[HungarianRacer]

On lap 5, a.k.a. when Russell was firmly stuck behind Leclerc's dirty air?... And you argue this is better data for comparing cornering prowess than quaily lap telemetries in clean air with supposed deployment issues(?)... Your words, not mine...

Mercedes said that Ferrari have the superior aero package.

Who from Mercedes exactly?

You reckon a team complementing their rival (when feared and touted to be dominant) is all the proof that we should need?

And why does that "superior aero" not manifesting in a clear cornering advantage yet? (please adress my initial post if you want to argue this)... Is it supposed to be superior aero efficiency from similar downforce with less drag? If yes, how do we know?

[SB15]

On lap 5, a.k.a. when Russell was firmly stuck behind Leclerc's dirty air?... And you argue this is better data for comparing cornering prowess than quaily lap telemetries in clean air with supposed deployment issues(?)... Your words, not mine...

Mercedes said that Ferrari have the superior aero package.

Who from Mercedes exactly?

You reckon a team complementing their rival (when feared and touted to be dominant) is all the proof that we should need?

And why does that "superior aero" not manifesting in a clear (please adress my initial post if you want to argue this) cornering advantage yet? Is it supposed to be superior aero efficiency from similar downforce with less drag? If yes, how do we know?

Ferrari being fast in Monaco is something I do see but that depends on the deployment and recharge changes during the season which I do see happening soon. To at least give the drivers some type of "natural" feel from the engine because having the engine cut in half on the race start is not only a safety concern but will be a massive complaint from many teams.

Max also started the race with no battery, so yeah the FIA will intervene soon on this.

[venkyhere]

Norris calling their cornering speeds "unbelievable" has really invigorated the steam I suppose, which now has evolved into "fastest in all corners" on this forum... Has anyone bothered to check if it's actually true though?

Oh yes, it just took me 3 mins to check.
This is race lap5, on same tyres, nearly full tanks of fuel.

https://i.ibb.co/bgGdNwsx/Australia-GP- ... -v-LEC.png

does this screenshot support Norris' claim ?

https://i.postimg.cc/c4hNJD1F/Kepkivaga ... rlay-o.png

Now, I cannot vouch for the credibility of this image as I have no idea about the reputation of the publisher, but let's assume this is accurate:

https://i.postimg.cc/pLw5CMmQ/image.png

Considering that the two Mercs spent well over half the race distance on 13 and 16 laps older tyres (resp. LEC, resp. HAM), and the fact that Antonelli was stuck behind slower cars (and Russell behind Leclerc) for the first few laps of the race (not to mention the lack of need for the Mercs to push and a host of other caveats)...

Trust me, Russel was properly pushing (with the benefit of slipstream in the straights), chasing LeClerc in the above screenshot. I think now you have the 'data'. Btw, this is a better data point to compare, since Ferrari were experiencing 'weird deployment issues' with their software in quali.

On lap 5, a.k.a. when Russell was firmly stuck behind Leclerc's dirty air?... And you argue this is better data for comparing cornering prowess than qualy lap telemetries in clean air with supposed deployment issues(?)... Your words, not mine...

There is no 'proper' comparison anywhere, because either there is dirty air for same tyres or tyre age/compound offset for clean air race laps. Lap5 was the closest laptimes to each other that I could get.
What about Lap24, then, LEC on 24 age M v/s RUS on 12 age H ?



From the complaints both Ferrari drivers made to the pitwall in Q2/Q3, they definitely had a software problem with their battery recharge/deployment - which is the reason why it doesn't make for an ideal comparison.

So the only 'tool' (lap traces) we have to make statements for/against the claim made by Norris, is always 'not perfect' no matter which laps we pick.
Just wanted to highlight that the challenge that you issued regarding 'did anyone bother to check data' and the Q laps you chose to demo your argument, is as flawed a data point as any race lap comparison.

[HungarianRacer]

Just wanted to highlight that the challenge that you issued regarding 'did anyone bother to check data' and the Q laps you chose to demo your argument, is as flawed a data point as any race lap comparison.

No, you didn't, you've so far completely ignored the agregate "avg apex speed" chart I linked, and this is the second time you post a one sample size cherry-picked lap comparison.

And yes, there's a clear reason why qualy lap comparisons will always be more representative (no incentive for pace management), and the idea is that deployment issues may affect straight line speed, but not cornering grip, I thought my hints at this were clear (unless you want to argue that the different approach speeds affected the drivers rythm so much that it impacted their cornering performance aswell, which, if that's the bundle of straws you ultimately chose to grasp at, I'm willing to leave the argument at that...).

[venkyhere]

Just wanted to highlight that the challenge that you issued regarding 'did anyone bother to check data' and the Q laps you chose to demo your argument, is as flawed a data point as any race lap comparison.

No, you didn't, you've so far completely ignored the agregate "avg apex speed" chart I linked, and this is the second time you post a one sample size cherry-picked lap comparison.

And yes, there's a clear reason why qualy lap comparisons will always be more representative (no incentive for pace management), and the idea is that deployment issues may affect straight line speed, but not cornering grip, I thought my hints at this were clear (unless you want to argue that the different approach speeds affected the drivers rythm so much that it impacted their cornering performance aswell, which, if that's the bundle of straws you ultimately chose to grasp at, I'm willing to leave the argument at that...).

Suboptimal regen can hurt late braking into entry, suboptimal deployment can hurt traction at exit, of corners. My point is not about apex speed at all, because that's not the 'holy grail' parameter of a corner.
Kindly stop with the holier-than-thou attitude.

[zibby43]

On lap 5, a.k.a. when Russell was firmly stuck behind Leclerc's dirty air?... And you argue this is better data for comparing cornering prowess than quaily lap telemetries in clean air with supposed deployment issues(?)... Your words, not mine...

Mercedes said that Ferrari have the superior aero package.

Mercedes said Red Bull was 1s faster on the straights in Bahrain.