The car is so finicky that when the track temps went up a bit, the tyres were 'out of the window' in Austria. Even in Silverstone, the difference between first Q3 run and second Q3 run was 0.3s and they did some flap adjust between the two runs, because track temp was different w.r.t Q2. Seeing how sensitive the RB21 is on it's tyres, shows that it isn't a well designed car (something went fundamentally wrong right from RB19->RB20 itself, and got amplified with RB20->RB21) and is massively inconsistent. The car was 'poor' on friday and the way they chose to address the massive understeer in the fast corners, was to take out rear wing. That option, or the option to add a stronger front wing but which will sacrifice top speed, still not match the McLarens in the fast corners, but make it much easier to drive. They chose the 'risky' approach, which places a lot of onus on the driver to be able to deal with a mega twitchy car. Even with the change, it still understeered massively in the slow turns T4/T6, but atleast the high speed corners were addressed.kurtj wrote: ↑06 Jul 2025, 07:36Yep, Flintstone like. First, perform poorly in free practice and everyone would call it a trash car, a shopping cart etc., Then show the actual potential of the car and get pole. Viola, it's mega talent, the same talent that went missing in Austria qualifying. We used to see this sort of opera with Lewis at Mercedes in their heydays.
Sorry to say, getting personal with other posters and throwing jibes is not what this forum stands for. Maturity is when opinions are countered with respectful disagreements and offering differing opinions. Thank you.venkyhere wrote: ↑06 Jul 2025, 09:46Without understanding such 'balance' issues, coming here with confirmation bias garnished with low-rent hatred, and dishing out smart a** comments, is not what this forum stands for. Make technical arguments, not facebook/reddit level hot-takes.kurtj wrote: ↑06 Jul 2025, 07:36Yep, Flintstone like. First, perform poorly in free practice and everyone would call it a trash car, a shopping cart etc., Then show the actual potential of the car and get pole. Viola, it's mega talent, the same talent that went missing in Austria qualifying. We used to see this sort of opera with Lewis at Mercedes in their heydays.
Not sure what you're on about, Max didn't get to complete final Q3 lap because of yellow flags. That lap would put him somewhere on second row as no one was touching mclarens in Austria, something very obvious.kurtj wrote: ↑06 Jul 2025, 07:36Yep, Flintstone like. First, perform poorly in free practice and everyone would call it a trash car, a shopping cart etc., Then show the actual potential of the car and get pole. Viola, it's mega talent, the same talent that went missing in Austria qualifying. We used to see this sort of opera with Lewis at Mercedes in their heydays.
My point is simple. Trying to overhype a driver for achieving the full potential of a car, built to his liking, while constantly thrashing the team that is building it, isn't necessary. There is zero doubt that, Red Bull has been building cars for one driver, almost their entire existence so far. When the car is good for the day, a good driver takes the best out of the car and on the days when it isn't, nothing much can be done. No driver has the talent to put a Sauber on pole. If a car is on pole, it means that car is capable of being there and most drivers can put it on pole when the car is built to their liking and on the day, it is there for it. This isn't to belittle Max. But credit where it is due, the team did a great job to enable that car to be on pole.Juzh wrote: ↑06 Jul 2025, 10:28Not sure what you're on about, Max didn't get to complete final Q3 lap because of yellow flags. That lap would put him somewhere on second row as no one was touching mclarens in Austria, something very obvious.kurtj wrote: ↑06 Jul 2025, 07:36Yep, Flintstone like. First, perform poorly in free practice and everyone would call it a trash car, a shopping cart etc., Then show the actual potential of the car and get pole. Viola, it's mega talent, the same talent that went missing in Austria qualifying. We used to see this sort of opera with Lewis at Mercedes in their heydays.
Max reported post Q he saw he had enough delta to take it easy the last sector and took no risk. All before him had a terrible S3.
Well yes, but that would be in a corner, which shows as well in the data, he took less risk in the last chicane, about one tenth worth. But he lost a tenth as well on the hanger straight towards stowe. That has nothing to do with risk. Also data shows he was on 100% throttle both laps and in his fastest even earlier out of chapel, but ended with 5kmh deficit before stowe. Either headwind or deployment settings.
I'm leaning towards headwind because he's slower for entire straight, not just on top end as a result of clipping. Traces for rest of the pole lap are nearly identical with first lap so I don't see where extra energy could be spent.marcel171281 wrote: ↑06 Jul 2025, 11:04Well yes, but that would be in a corner, which shows as well in the data, he took less risk in the last chicane, about one tenth worth. But he lost a tenth as well on the hanger straight towards stowe. That has nothing to do with risk. Also data shows he was on 100% throttle both laps and in his fastest even earlier out of chapel, but ended with 5kmh deficit before stowe. Either headwind or deployment settings.
Bad news, hopefully it dries out in time, or else we're in for a bad day.
True. I think every team has shifted to 2026, and everything suggests Max is gonna go (which I think is still kinda stupid as 2027 would be better). So we hope for the best and enjoy whatever we get
Strange argument all bssed on the incorrect narrative that the Red Bull is built towards Max's liking. We have enough statements confirming that Max does not like the car, nor the direction they chose to develop towards last year.kurtj wrote: ↑06 Jul 2025, 10:47My point is simple. Trying to overhype a driver for achieving the full potential of a car, built to his liking, while constantly thrashing the team that is building it, isn't necessary. There is zero doubt that, Red Bull has been building cars for one driver, almost their entire existence so far. When the car is good for the day, a good driver takes the best out of the car and on the days when it isn't, nothing much can be done. No driver has the talent to put a Sauber on pole. If a car is on pole, it means that car is capable of being there and most drivers can put it on pole when the car is built to their liking and on the day, it is there for it. This isn't to belittle Max. But credit where it is due, the team did a great job to enable that car to be on pole.Juzh wrote: ↑06 Jul 2025, 10:28Not sure what you're on about, Max didn't get to complete final Q3 lap because of yellow flags. That lap would put him somewhere on second row as no one was touching mclarens in Austria, something very obvious.kurtj wrote: ↑06 Jul 2025, 07:36Yep, Flintstone like. First, perform poorly in free practice and everyone would call it a trash car, a shopping cart etc., Then show the actual potential of the car and get pole. Viola, it's mega talent, the same talent that went missing in Austria qualifying. We used to see this sort of opera with Lewis at Mercedes in their heydays.
