They're trying everything to make it a more interesting race - major layout changes this year that are estimated to be 4-5s a lap quicker than the old track, and hopefully improved passing opportunities thanks to the layout allowing a bit more line choice through key corners. Chucking 4 DRS zones onto it as well seems a little desperate, and I'll bet at least 50p that there's more shenanigins at the second detection line.
That must make setup much easier for the teams. Wack the car into high downforce configuration for the twisty bits knowing that DRS will allow them to switch to low downforce mode for all the straights.
It's all going a bit too far towards Playstation racing for my tastes. But I suppose us old farts who've watched F1 for 35+ years aren't target market anymore.
As someone said on twitter yesterday, it'll be nice to see an F1 race in daylight this weekend! 🙂
and I’ll bet at least 50p that there’s more shenanigins at the second detection line.
That may not be a bad thing to be honest. F1 should be a tactical race
That's not tactics though - it's pissing around in a braking zone.
Mleh, splitting hairs. Right now Verstappen and Leclerc are "pleased with self" about both using it to gain an advantage in the first couple of races , but crucially both have been seconds away from 3rd place. In a tighter battle this sort of playing with the regs is going to see 3rd, 4th etc place drivers looking to take advantage.
All leads to tighter racing, It's what everybody wanted.
Also, I hear Albert park has been resurfaced, according to some folks; although it looks smooth, it's pretty abrasive. Should see some pretty high tyre wear if the overtaking starts hotting up.
Wonder if Merc will have managed to make any improvements?
I guess the new Melbourne track will be pretty similar to Jeddah in terms of a lot of high speed straights and corners.
I mentioned the DRS change a page back, but there have also been a lot of other changes
I just don't like to see drivers slamming the anchors on to avoid being ahead at the DRS line. Looks sad and comical.
Drivers will of course use any tools they have at their disposal - but like I say I'm probably not target market anymore.
And what's going on with the tyres? This years were meant to suffer less from deg, but it seems the same if not worse.
Cars look fat and lardy too! 🙂
...(dusts of string-back driving gloves, dons trilby and heads of to the Silverstone Classic!)
#notasgoodasitwasinmyday
I just don’t like to see drivers slamming the anchors on to avoid being ahead at the DRS line. Looks sad and comical.
Sure, but they're not going to be doing that if Sainz or Perez (or someone else) is going to sail up the inside and take advantage of them not paying attention to what's going on around them.
Wonder if Merc will have managed to make any improvements?
I'm sure they would have been burning the midnight oil trying to figure it out - it will be interesting to see.
Wonder if Merc will have managed to make any improvements?
I'd be surprised if there's a big improvement, bar Hamilton reversing his setup approach to match Russell's. Bigger advanced in the first European races maybe more likely? Unfortunately everyone else will be doing the same
Thought I read recently that Merc have a number of upgrades they are bringing to Melbourne this weekend so I am expecting something better from them. They need to do something quickly to avoid the season running away from them hence not being surprised if they have brought some of those planned upgrades forward to Australia.
That must make setup much easier for the teams. Wack the car into high downforce configuration for the twisty bits knowing that DRS will allow them to switch to low downforce mode for all the straights.
Doesn’t really work unless you’re planning on always been within a second of the car in front. And generally the goal is to be the one in front 😉
At the moment we’re still seeing teams whoosh porpoising issues are constraining their downforce setups—or at least how they achieve a given amount of it. Those who have got on top of porpoising can maximise downforce from the floor; those who haven’t are having to compromise the ground effect and replace it with rear wing, which adds drag. Mercedes are supposedly bringing a new compromise on the rear wing this weekend but may have a fundamental issue with the floor that needs to be resolved before they can make more comfortable setup choices like Ferrari and Red Bull.
(whoosh —> whose)
Just another rehashing of the annual "VW/Audi/Porsche to enter F1" story, or is there actually something in it this time?
Wonder if Merc will have managed to make any improvements?
Looks like...no 🙁
Looks like…no
AFAIK they had nothing new to declare at the FIA "show and tell" session - I'd always assumed F1 was a relentless cycle of development being tried at every race.
I’d always assumed F1 was a relentless cycle of development being tried at every race.
It used to be, but in this cost-cap era they can't just chuck money at the problems anymore.
Nice to see McLaren making progress though.
thepurist
AFAIK they had nothing new to declare at the FIA “show and tell” session – I’d always assumed F1 was a relentless cycle of development being tried at every race.
Damn, nothing at all, that's not ideal. Do they have to declare all their upgrades?
Here is what everybought brought:
https://twitter.com/tgruener/status/1512228864759513089?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1512228864759513089%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=
Doesn't mean to say they haven't been hammering CFD and simulator programmes to try and optimise what they currently have. Better to bring a decent upgrade that works at Imola than tinker around the edges in Oz.
First practice would seem to suggest they haven’t made a huge improvement
nickc
Full MemberFirst practice would seem to suggest they haven’t made a huge improvement
Hamilton looks completely dejected now about it. The onboards look effing terrible, the steering wheel bouncing all over the place while cornering.
Sainz' helmet cam looked bad on the straight as well, it's on the highlights vid @ 1:22:
Maybe Mercedes think their lack of pace is set up related rather than a fundamental flaw in design?
Or they just fundamentally don't understand how to fix it so their is no point throwing parts at it until they do.
Its a long season, I wouldn't write them off yet, especially as if there will be three top teams taking points off each other.
Be nice if we had Ferrari, Red Bull (well Perez!), Merc and McLaren fighting for wins by mid-season.
richmtb
Full MemberMaybe Mercedes think their lack of pace is set up related rather than a fundamental flaw in design?
Or they just fundamentally don’t understand how to fix it so their is no point throwing parts at it until they do.
Its a long season, I wouldn’t write them off yet, especially as if there will be three top teams taking points off each other.
Posted 6 minutes ago
Yeah one of the team bosses (Horner I think) was being interviewed recently saying that the cost cap is making it much more important to bring working parts, you can no longer bring a bunch of new parts to each race and do trial and error, it's just too expensive.
Maybe Mercedes think their lack of pace is set up related rather than a fundamental flaw in design?
Perhaps so, but these cars are so sensitive to change that once the designed is optimised and "settled" if it doesn't work as intended, it difficult, if not impossible to isolate one element and not have that fundamentally change everything else via unintended consequences. The porpoising can be "simply" cured by raising the ride height, but if that effects the rest of design so badly it's not worth doing, you're into stuff like stiffening the suspension (which in turn upsets the handling in different ways) or taking great chunks of rear wing off.
Hamilton looks completely dejected now about it.
I asked a few pages back who the Mercedes reserve drivers were. I hope they're keeping fit and sharp.
In his interview Hamilton said something along the lines of "nothing we change on the setup makes any difference". Sounding like Merc don't understand the problem yet.
Wondering if they'll shitcan this philosophy mid-season and bring a b-spec closer to the design of the ferrari or rb.
Car looks nasty to drive though, look at the steering wheel
https://streamable.com/vt8i4e
Just as well nobody is using the cycle lane.
Sainz’ helmet cam looked bad on the straight as well, it’s on the highlights vid @ 1:22:
Looked even worse on the Sainz fastest lap video.
Car looks nasty to drive though, look at the steering wheel
I assume that is a result of the significantly bigger wheels this season?
lol Vettel got fined £5K for borrowing the marshalls scooter and going for a lap of the circuit
lol Vettel got fined £5K for borrowing the marshalls scooter and going for a lap of the circuit
This is amazing!!
Best 5K he's spent I bet. Look at the amount of coverage he's (and his sponsors are) getting from that! Plus waving to all the crowds is sure to up the feel-good factor of the weekend for the fans...
What are the odds that that'll be reimbursed by teh team? Driver wages are not part of the salary cap, after all....
Are Red Bull appealing against his extra track time allowance yet?
For several years, I thought Vettel was a really whiny spoilt little brat but since he's moved to AM he seems a lot more relaxed and he's done some good things - that Women's karting race he helped to put on, litter picking in the stands post-race, shots of him cycling to one of the races last season (in the rain!). He now seems like quite a nice guy.
For several years, I thought Vettel was a really whiny spoilt little brat but since he’s moved to AM he seems a lot more relaxed and he’s done some good things
Yes, I think the Red Bull and Ferrari environments were toxic. I never thought I would say this, but he comes across as a really likeable guy now. Good for him.
Mercedes won't be upgrading anything until they understand how to fix the porpoising. Once they get that, the aero package on the car will be stable and you can work on improving it. You don't make changes until your baseline is fixed. It's a long season and they'll be keeping their powder dry.
Yes, I think the Red Bull and Ferrari environments were toxic. I never thought I would say this, but he comes across as a really likeable guy now. Good for him.
I wonder whether anyone will say the same about Verstappen in a couple of years time 😉
Yes, I think the Red Bull and Ferrari environments were toxic. I never thought I would say this, but he comes across as a really likeable guy now. Good for him.
Totally agree. The days of Multi 21 and the Baku sideswipe seem quite distant.
Though to be fair, there’s probably some correlation with the fact that so do his chances of contesting the title 😉
Calling cynic-al!!
I'm sure there'll be lots of ladies, and probably quite a few gents too, who'll volunteer for the job.
https://twitter.com/PHortonF1/status/1512606986034065411
Latifi man! Let’s Stroll thru then immediately tries to get back past causing confusion and (another!) Williams in many pieces. FFS
The AM engineers must be fuming 😄