2026 Chinese Grand Prix - Shanghai, March 13-15

[erudite450]

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.

[upsidedowntoast]

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.

To be fair a lot of other teams are saying that not just Mercedes.

[basti313]

Mercedes said that Ferrari have the superior aero package.

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

To be fair a lot of other teams are saying that not just Mercedes.

A lot? McLaren?

Interesting point was T5 according to the team radios. Both Ferrari and RedBull engineers claimed it would be beneficial to go flat. Ferrari/Hamilton could go flat by lap 6. RedBull wanted/tried, but had issues even on low fuel and fresh tires.
Would be interesting to check traces of this in the data for the Mercs. But if the above is true, then RedBull will have much more issues with the fast corners in China. The question is how the Mercs will do in this regard.

[AR3-GP]

9MJ recharge permitted in qualifying. +2MJ compared to Melbourne.

[FittingMechanics]

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

To be fair a lot of other teams are saying that not just Mercedes.

A lot? McLaren?

Interesting point was T5 according to the team radios. Both Ferrari and RedBull engineers claimed it would be beneficial to go flat. Ferrari/Hamilton could go flat by lap 6. RedBull wanted/tried, but had issues even on low fuel and fresh tires.
Would be interesting to check traces of this in the data for the Mercs. But if the above is true, then RedBull will have much more issues with the fast corners in China. The question is how the Mercs will do in this regard.

Merc is super flat. Ferrari is flat. Red Bull is trying to be flat (not always). McLaren big lift.

[AR3-GP]

Merc is super flat. Ferrari is flat. Red Bull is trying to be flat (not always). McLaren big lift.

What is the technical difference between super flat and flat?

[FittingMechanics]

Merc is super flat. Ferrari is flat. Red Bull is trying to be flat (not always). McLaren big lift.

What is the technical difference between super flat and flat?

In laps I checked, Mercedes was always flat and Ferrari wasn't in some of them.

[AR3-GP]

Merc is super flat. Ferrari is flat. Red Bull is trying to be flat (not always). McLaren big lift.

What is the technical difference between super flat and flat?

In laps I checked, Mercedes was always flat and Ferrari wasn't in some of them.

Okay I spotted that now. RBR and Mclaren seem to be missing quite a bit of downforce.

[SB15]

I expect a certain team to be have their performance exaggerated

[basti313]

To be fair a lot of other teams are saying that not just Mercedes.

A lot? McLaren?

Interesting point was T5 according to the team radios. Both Ferrari and RedBull engineers claimed it would be beneficial to go flat. Ferrari/Hamilton could go flat by lap 6. RedBull wanted/tried, but had issues even on low fuel and fresh tires.
Would be interesting to check traces of this in the data for the Mercs. But if the above is true, then RedBull will have much more issues with the fast corners in China. The question is how the Mercs will do in this regard.

Merc is super flat. Ferrari is flat. Red Bull is trying to be flat (not always). McLaren big lift.

Great, thanks!
Where would you put Audi in this range. More towards flat (super flat made my day ) or more to the lifty side of things?

That being said...more engine power or "efficiency" this year means you can just add more wing. Looking at this now, there was quite some barn door on the Merc.

[Badger]

A lot? McLaren?

Interesting point was T5 according to the team radios. Both Ferrari and RedBull engineers claimed it would be beneficial to go flat. Ferrari/Hamilton could go flat by lap 6. RedBull wanted/tried, but had issues even on low fuel and fresh tires.
Would be interesting to check traces of this in the data for the Mercs. But if the above is true, then RedBull will have much more issues with the fast corners in China. The question is how the Mercs will do in this regard.

Merc is super flat. Ferrari is flat. Red Bull is trying to be flat (not always). McLaren big lift.

Great, thanks!
Where would you put Audi in this range. More towards flat (super flat made my day ) or more to the lifty side of things?

That being said...more engine power or "efficiency" this year means you can just add more wing. Looking at this now, there was quite some barn door on the Merc.

Wing levels this year are not a major factor. Everyone is utilising the full legality box.

[FittingMechanics]

A lot? McLaren?

Interesting point was T5 according to the team radios. Both Ferrari and RedBull engineers claimed it would be beneficial to go flat. Ferrari/Hamilton could go flat by lap 6. RedBull wanted/tried, but had issues even on low fuel and fresh tires.
Would be interesting to check traces of this in the data for the Mercs. But if the above is true, then RedBull will have much more issues with the fast corners in China. The question is how the Mercs will do in this regard.

Merc is super flat. Ferrari is flat. Red Bull is trying to be flat (not always). McLaren big lift.

Great, thanks!
Where would you put Audi in this range. More towards flat (super flat made my day ) or more to the lifty side of things?

That being said...more engine power or "efficiency" this year means you can just add more wing. Looking at this now, there was quite some barn door on the Merc.

Audi looks quite good. Looking at it roughly, I think even better than Red Bull. Much better than McLaren.

Btw you can check this out yourself, I am using Emag's https://f1insightshub.com/analysis

[f1316]

I have a couple of provocative thoughts about these new cars/races:

(1) a lot of complaints about how awful the qualifying session in Melbourne was because of the LICO and super clipping. I would love to see what the average fan would feel about that session if it had been close. If it’s exciting and the drivers have to make the best use of the tools available to them - even if they involve some “un-F1” elements - how much do we really care? I 100% think this shouldn’t be the formula that F1 has come up with, both is it more interesting in a sporting spectacle than, say, my favourite F1 season in 2004 when they had pretty much “perfect” F1 cars and Michael dominated?
(2) people keep saying that we need graphics and things to tell us what’s going on and how much charge everyone has. I completely disagree. I think F1 was better before we knew exactly how everything was playing out and there was a mystery - what is Prost managing? What fuel strategy is everyone on? I think it keeps it intriguing if you know what’s happening but not always why.

I’m sure people will vehemently disagree but wanted to give my two cents.

[FittingMechanics]

I have a couple of provocative thoughts about these new cars/races:

(1) a lot of complaints about how awful the qualifying session in Melbourne was because of the LICO and super clipping. I would love to see what the average fan would feel about that session if it had been close. If it’s exciting and the drivers have to make the best use of the tools available to them - even if they involve some “un-F1” elements - how much do we really care? I 100% think this shouldn’t be the formula that F1 has come up with, both is it more interesting in a sporting spectacle than, say, my favourite F1 season in 2004 when they had pretty much “perfect” F1 cars and Michael dominated?
(2) people keep saying that we need graphics and things to tell us what’s going on and how much charge everyone has. I completely disagree. I think F1 was better before we knew exactly how everything was playing out and there was a mystery - what is Prost managing? What fuel strategy is everyone on? I think it keeps it intriguing if you know what’s happening but not always why.

I’m sure people will vehemently disagree but wanted to give my two cents.

I agree. The domination aspect just made things look that much worse. If we had a close run race with tactical fights (like start of the race until VSC) I think that the opinions would be much better.

[upsidedowntoast]

I have a couple of provocative thoughts about these new cars/races:

(1) a lot of complaints about how awful the qualifying session in Melbourne was because of the LICO and super clipping. I would love to see what the average fan would feel about that session if it had been close. If it’s exciting and the drivers have to make the best use of the tools available to them - even if they involve some “un-F1” elements - how much do we really care? I 100% think this shouldn’t be the formula that F1 has come up with, both is it more interesting in a sporting spectacle than, say, my favourite F1 season in 2004 when they had pretty much “perfect” F1 cars and Michael dominated?
(2) people keep saying that we need graphics and things to tell us what’s going on and how much charge everyone has. I completely disagree. I think F1 was better before we knew exactly how everything was playing out and there was a mystery - what is Prost managing? What fuel strategy is everyone on? I think it keeps it intriguing if you know what’s happening but not always why.

I’m sure people will vehemently disagree but wanted to give my two cents.

1. I think people would still hate the super clipping. Energy starvation is the last thing I want in F1. That said, I thought boost/overtake mode was fun. So I think that what they *should have* done is, for qualifying or a regular lap, no energy starvation at all; bump up fuel flow or something to make the ICE stronger. BUT: keep boost/overtake mode, only limit how much you can store and charge for that -- so you *only* have energy starvation for boost/overtake mode. So there will still be some element of battery management and strategic thinking, but not for qualifying or most of the race.

2. Partial disagree, some graphics are nice. The mystery would sadly lead to frustration from viewers and unfair accusations against drivers. Graphics help separate what's going on with the car vs. the team vs. the driver. Plus they're helpful for newcomers to the sport and people with vision disabilities. That said I suppose with how digital broadcasting is now it shouldn't be *that* hard to let viewers toggle which stats they do or don't want to see onscreen: it would be a fun interactive thing for people who are paying to watch, and maybe they could add this customization in as an extra premium feature for the hardcore fans.