2021 Qatar Grand Prix - Losail, Nov 19-21

[dans79]

Yea, imo track temperatures by themselves don't mean much.

What matters is the overall thermal senario.

1. track temperature
2. ambient temperature
3. humidity
4. altitude
5. track abrasiveness
6. track grip
7. energy put into the tires (traction zones, braking zones, vertical/lateral loads)

[ringo]

Mercedes love the harder compound.
If its a night race its stable temperatures so easier to setup.
Strategy can win this. Maybe who undercuts who but also i dont think its easy to overtake here. Similiar to Barcelona.
Track position is king?

Take your blood pressure pills this weekend folks!!

[dans79]

Strategy can win this. Maybe who undercuts who but also i dont think its easy to overtake here. Similiar to Barcelona.
Track position is king?

I'm not overly impressed with the animation, and I think some of the turns in sectors 1 & 3 will be taken a lot faster than the animation shows.

In turns 10 through 15 you can probably follow decently close and maybe only loose a little time in 16. So the front strait might offer a lot of good overtaking opportunities assuming you don't lose a lot of time in the 4,5,6 complex.

[Bandit1216]

I wonder whether hotter temp may get merc to get more out of the tires, yet less out of the engine. IMO the engine must be run hotter to get the extra power, but that might hurt them a bit more now.

[oT v1]

All the talk is about Merc engines at the moment but didn’t RBR blink first in going over allowance? Has Max taken any extra parts since?

[NathanOlder]

Track temps are more important that air temps, and as its a night race, the track temps won't be sky high.

[Big Tea]

Track temps are more important that air temps, and as its a night race, the track temps won't be sky high.

And track temp will fall as tyres get used up, then out with new tyres on a colder track.
Could be some juggling needed as minimum pressures are mandated (first set)

[scheffers]

All the talk is about Merc engines at the moment but didn’t RBR blink first in going over allowance? Has Max taken any extra parts since?

RBR had to blink first because of the destroyed Silverstone engine..
In the end its the inheritance from their Mclaren time that gives the Merc's 'only' 5 grid places per ICE now..... Shame the FIA didn't grasp on this loophole before, recon this will surely be covered for next year.

[NathanOlder]

All the talk is about Merc engines at the moment but didn’t RBR blink first in going over allowance? Has Max taken any extra parts since?

RBR had to blink first because of the destroyed Silverstone engine..
In the end its the inheritance from their Mclaren time that gives the Merc's 'only' 5 grid places per ICE now..... Shame the FIA didn't grasp on this loophole before, recon this will surely be covered for next year.

Didn't Mercedes have an engine destroyed in an accident well before RedBull though ?

[siskue2005]

All the talk is about Merc engines at the moment but didn’t RBR blink first in going over allowance? Has Max taken any extra parts since?

RBR had to blink first because of the destroyed Silverstone engine..
In the end its the inheritance from their Mclaren time that gives the Merc's 'only' 5 grid places per ICE now..... Shame the FIA didn't grasp on this loophole before, recon this will surely be covered for next year.

Nevertheless, nobody is stopping RBR to also take a 5 place penalty for Qatar and blast past everyone like Lewis did in Brazil....Max's engine must also be running on fumes, no way they can run it in full power for that many races.

[NathanOlder]

Does anyone know where to find the info on which engines the drivers have, and how many sessions they have been used for ?

[scheffers]

I recon only the teams know which engine from the pool is running where and when..

[godlameroso]

This is what I expect the leader's race pace to be like at the start.

[oT v1]

All the talk is about Merc engines at the moment but didn’t RBR blink first in going over allowance? Has Max taken any extra parts since?

RBR had to blink first because of the destroyed Silverstone engine..
In the end its the inheritance from their Mclaren time that gives the Merc's 'only' 5 grid places per ICE now..... Shame the FIA didn't grasp on this loophole before, recon this will surely be covered for next year.

Nevertheless, nobody is stopping RBR to also take a 5 place penalty for Qatar and blast past everyone like Lewis did in Brazil....Max's engine must also be running on fumes, no way they can run it in full power for that many races.

True for the silverstone point, I forgot about that.

Siskue I think losail might be less favourable than São Paulo, in terms of passing options, but it’s always a risk being further back.

[Shrieker]

I think this track needed 2 more DRS zones, for a total of 3. Between 10-12, and 15-16.

Having said that, it might be possible to take advantage of the track width to avoid dirty air, and keep it glued to the car up ahead.