So we've had 4 races on 4 different tracks (all quite different, but we havn't really seen a low downforce track yet) with differing weather conditions.
So how do you rate the top 4 cars (Red Bull, Ferrari, Lotus and Mercedes) in terms of:
1. 1 lap pace
2. Race pace
3. Working the tyres
4. Slow speed corners
5. Medium/high speed corners
6. Front Limited Track
7. Rear Limited Track
8. Wet weather
Ferrari
1. Improved from last year, but not quite on the level of Mercedes and Red Bull IMO
2. Generally speaking, it is one of the best.
3. Tyre heating no longer seems to be an issue as it was a couple years ago and towards the end of last year. They seem to have actually gone better at the 2 cooler races this year and on the softer compounds (not that they are weak on the harder compounds).
4. Decent, but the traction out of the slow speed corners is still not up there with the Red Bull.
5. Very good, definitely the strength of the car.
6. From China, it seems they are good at this type of track
7. From Bahrain, it seems they are also good at this type of track, but Red Bull is perhaps stronger.
8. I think they've still carried over some wet weather strength from last year, but Red Bull seems much stronger now.
Red Bull
1. Still one of the best, but it is very close at the front.
2. Again, one of the best.
3. Seems to work better with the harder compounds and in warmer temperatures where there is less graining.
4. Like last year, it is a big strength of the car, especially the traction.
5. Still good, but not as good as the slow speed stuff.
6. Good, but not great.
7. Excellent.
8. They seem like the strongest car in the wet.
Lotus
1. Similar to Ferrari - improved from last year, but it seems they are still a bit behind the best.
2. One of the best.
3. Don't seem to have to the tyre heating issues they had last year, at least not to the same extent. Seem to work the softer compounds a bit better, and don't seem a as temperature dependent as last year.
4. Good, one of the best.
5. Ditto.
6/7. Think they are strong on both, perhaps moreso on the ones that work the rears.
8. As Allison admitted, their rear wing is not suited to the wet as it doesnt generate the downforce needed to get the inters working properly.
Merrcedes
1. One of the best along with Red Bull.
2. Not so good because of their tyre troubles.
3. Can get good 1 lap pace from the tyres, but performances drops way too quickly even with the harder compounds.
4. Very good
5. Ditto
6/7/ Last year they struggled with the rear tyres and i think preferred the front limited tracks. This year, they seem to struggle with tyre deg at both types of tracks.
8. It's good. I think it's probably about the same level as Ferrari.
Didn't do Mclaren. I know we can see they do not handle bumps well, but i think their car will change significantly at Barcelona and that is where we can properly judge them.
IMy analysis is not particularly in depth, and i'm sure with the knowledge that many have on here you will have much to add. Just wanted to get the discussion started.
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