2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Jeddah, Dec 03 - 05

[hollus]

A lot of posts that were not really about this race (the first maybe was, it quickly diverged), have been given their own home here: Verstappen has never won a championship (29-Nov-2021), possibly soon outdated.

[f1jcw]

This will be a hell of an interesting weekend in so many ways. Street ciruit, supposed RBR areo updates, Mercedes’ mysterious rocket engine, evolving track conditions, inconsistent performing wingmen, immense pressure on Lewis and Max. Everything you can wish for in a single weekend!

What RB aero updates have you heard about?

Unreliable rumors on dutch tv. Let’s wait and see if the oscillation on the drs actuator is solved before we start believing we might learn how fast they can copy Mercedes’ wing magic. Would add some spice to the weekend though. I suppose they want to run the smaller rearwing configuration that has the oscillation issue and when not sorted out they may very well once more lack speed and suffer from balance and understeer problems (when they need to fall back to a larger rearwing during a weekend where you need every second of tracktime). New actuator design is not allowed since it is a homologated part so curious as to how they will solve this.

Bit of a dodgy place to start experimenting with aswell.
I think they'd have enough on their plates with setup rather then setup and new developments.

[El Scorchio]

What RB aero updates have you heard about?

Unreliable rumors on dutch tv. Let’s wait and see if the oscillation on the drs actuator is solved before we start believing we might learn how fast they can copy Mercedes’ wing magic. Would add some spice to the weekend though. I suppose they want to run the smaller rearwing configuration that has the oscillation issue and when not sorted out they may very well once more lack speed and suffer from balance and understeer problems (when they need to fall back to a larger rearwing during a weekend where you need every second of tracktime). New actuator design is not allowed since it is a homologated part so curious as to how they will solve this.

Bit of a dodgy place to start experimenting with aswell.
I think they'd have enough on their plates with setup rather then setup and new developments.

I'm a bit puzzled as to why they are having these actuator problems now, so late in the season, when it's been by and large completely fine for a long time. It's not like it's a new part or they don't understand fully how it works. They must be trying something new design wise? (Not necessarily with the actuator mechanism itself as it's locked, but with other interconnected parts or systems)

[politburo]

[SiLo]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FFXsCHGWUAc ... name=large

I think this will be a 1 stop race. Could potentially be a 0 stop race with potential for red flags.

[NathanOlder]

All the talk of upgrades to the cars, surely the teams have no budget left for upgrades this late ?

[El Scorchio]

All the talk of upgrades to the cars, surely the teams have no budget left for upgrades this late ?

I'd have thought so too, but maybe it's just literally emptying the cupboard of any little thing that might be left upgrade wise and ploughing any emergency repair budget into it? We are in all or nothing territory now- particularly for Red Bull if they genuinely feel they can't compete for pace with MB in current spec.

[Mr5in1]

I was wondering if this track being a street circuit where overtaking is as difficult as say Singapore potentially we find a similar strategy that had been adopted in more recent Singapore races where the teams nurse the cars and tyres for a while then a spurt of activity heading towards a 1-stopper.

I hear Williams are running some old cars this weekend I hope its the FW07 in Saudi Airline colours!

[El Scorchio]

I was wondering if this track being a street circuit where overtaking is as difficult as say Singapore potentially we find a similar strategy that had been adopted in more recent Singapore races where the teams nurse the cars and tyres for a while then a spurt of activity heading towards a 1-stopper.

I hear Williams are running some old cars this weekend I hope its the FW07 in Saudi Airline colours!

As in old liveries, or they are taking some heritage cars out there as well? Would be lovely to send some of the old cars round the track here.

It's going to be a pretty emotional race in that respect actually. I really hope they do something big and suitably fitting to honour Sir Frank. The last of the great privateers.

[AeroDynamic]

Some final pictures of the finished circuit ahead of the weekend! Hope the grip works well

[Wouter]

Some final pictures of the finished circuit ahead of the weekend! Hope the grip works well

https://thenational-the-national-prod.c ... SL2T5A.jpg
https://thenational-the-national-prod.c ... TEFLRY.jpg
https://thenational-the-national-prod.c ... LJVDU4.jpg
https://thenational-the-national-prod.c ... X3XJFE.jpg
https://thenational-the-national-prod.c ... RXDZAY.jpg
https://thenational-the-national-prod.c ... 5H6BYI.jpg

How can I see the pictures?

Access Denied
You don't have permission to access "http://thenational-the-national-prod.cd ... SL2T5A.jpg" on this server.

Reference #18.a4361602.1638286481.2d4bc356

[AeroDynamic]

Some final pictures of the finished circuit ahead of the weekend! Hope the grip works well

https://thenational-the-national-prod.c ... SL2T5A.jpg
https://thenational-the-national-prod.c ... TEFLRY.jpg
https://thenational-the-national-prod.c ... LJVDU4.jpg
https://thenational-the-national-prod.c ... X3XJFE.jpg
https://thenational-the-national-prod.c ... RXDZAY.jpg
https://thenational-the-national-prod.c ... 5H6BYI.jpg

How can I see the pictures?

Access Denied
You don't have permission to access "http://thenational-the-national-prod.cd ... SL2T5A.jpg" on this server.

Reference #18.a4361602.1638286481.2d4bc356

Sorry Wouter, the links were being a bit weird. I reupped them and repost them. Enjoy!

[basti313]

All the talk of upgrades to the cars, surely the teams have no budget left for upgrades this late ?

There are constant updates on the Merc and Bull so far. Only small details, well hidden.
I would assume that they have allocated some "repair" budget. Merc had to use it for the Bottas crashes and a bit for Monza, RedBull similar Bottas and Monza a bit. In this regard I would expect that there is room left and we might see a new front wing or similar.

[dans79]

I was wondering if this track being a street circuit where overtaking is as difficult as say Singapore potentially we find a similar strategy that had been adopted in more recent Singapore races where the teams nurse the cars and tyres for a while then a spurt of activity heading towards a 1-stopper.

Given that the track has 3 DRS zones, and that the only significant turns between them are 22 and 27, I don't think overtaking will be as hard as it's been made out to be.

[dans79]

If it's cured enough, this is going to be a low deg race, as that asphalt is pretty smooth!