This is giving me Barcelona vibes. High deg (which has favored Merc this year).Just_a_fan wrote: ↑15 Nov 2021, 19:50I can't help but think that this is a track where getting through T1 in first place is going to be massively important. Doesn't look to be a track that will allow much / any overtaking between closely matched cars so I fear a processional "race".
I think that from T10 is Mercedes zone, so... I think they are the favourites.
There are longer radius corners here, which is something the W12 excels at. It’s the interconnected, quick-succession corners (like the esses at COTA) where the RB is supreme.
Plus the variables of conditions... tyres... temperatures....BlueCheetah66 wrote: ↑15 Nov 2021, 23:37Definitely going to be a race decided by which team can nail the setup for both the race and qualifying
So I guess what we’re all trying to say is, it’s going to be a race decided by all the variables that decide just about every race when it’s this close?AeroDynamic wrote: ↑16 Nov 2021, 00:47Plus the variables of conditions... tyres... temperatures....BlueCheetah66 wrote: ↑15 Nov 2021, 23:37Definitely going to be a race decided by which team can nail the setup for both the race and qualifying
I haven’t kept track of temperatures across the races. Can someone tell me what temperatures we’ve been racing at, and which car thrived in them since summer break?zibby43 wrote: ↑16 Nov 2021, 03:47So I guess what we’re all trying to say is, it’s going to be a race decided by all the variables that decide just about every race when it’s this close?AeroDynamic wrote: ↑16 Nov 2021, 00:47Plus the variables of conditions... tyres... temperatures....BlueCheetah66 wrote: ↑15 Nov 2021, 23:37Definitely going to be a race decided by which team can nail the setup for both the race and qualifying
On a serious note, this is a night race, so track temperatures shouldn’t be much of an issue. Should be in the mid to upper 70s (F) ambient after sunset.
The temperature narrative has been flipped on its head this year.AeroDynamic wrote: ↑16 Nov 2021, 03:51I haven’t kept track of temperatures across the races. Can someone tell me what temperatures we’ve been racing at, and which car thrived in them since summer break?zibby43 wrote: ↑16 Nov 2021, 03:47So I guess what we’re all trying to say is, it’s going to be a race decided by all the variables that decide just about every race when it’s this close?AeroDynamic wrote: ↑16 Nov 2021, 00:47
Plus the variables of conditions... tyres... temperatures....
On a serious note, this is a night race, so track temperatures shouldn’t be much of an issue. Should be in the mid to upper 70s (F) ambient after sunset.
The weekend at losail is looking like high 70’s (F) or 25-28c.
Tyres, it's always about the tyres. So fickle are these Pirelli's.zibby43 wrote: ↑16 Nov 2021, 03:55The temperature narrative has been flipped on its head this year.AeroDynamic wrote: ↑16 Nov 2021, 03:51I haven’t kept track of temperatures across the races. Can someone tell me what temperatures we’ve been racing at, and which car thrived in them since summer break?zibby43 wrote: ↑16 Nov 2021, 03:47
So I guess what we’re all trying to say is, it’s going to be a race decided by all the variables that decide just about every race when it’s this close?
On a serious note, this is a night race, so track temperatures shouldn’t be much of an issue. Should be in the mid to upper 70s (F) ambient after sunset.
The weekend at losail is looking like high 70’s (F) or 25-28c.
Merc were strong in cool conditions (66 F) for the sprint race in Brazil.
They were strong in much warmer conditions on race day, too.
And in Hungary, when it was scorching hot, the Merc became incredibly strong and the RB kind of wilted.