2021 Qatar Grand Prix - Losail, Nov 19-21

[BlueCheetah66]

And given the 2nd spec engine had “reliability improvements” that allowed them to unlock the original power from Bahrain, that alone tells me they’re operating that engine to its maximised potential, and ceiling of credible reliability.

I thought it was widely acknowledged that they didn't incorporate any reliability fixes for the '2nd spec' -- it was the same spec, potentially just with more optimized management and the Mobil1 oil update.

What if Honda could build a 1-engine monster for Abu Dhabi? Push everything with the luxury of only having to last 1 race whereas the Merc spicy special has to last 3?

Does anyone know how long it would take an engine maker to build a new engine? e.g. let's say Honda and Red Bull thought of investing the effort to build such an engine after the race in Brazil, would ~3 weeks be enough time to put in the same tricks as Merc (more aggressive compression, optimized ignition timing a la the engine modes of the past, etc.)?

If the rumours are to be believed, didn’t Mercedes need to use Bottas as a test mule before introducing the spicy ICE for Hamilton and didn’t that happen around monza? I’m not sure 3 weeks would be enough time for Honda to make the modifications necessary to turn their ICE up to 11

As well as this, its only a risk you will be able to take if you are already behind in the championship, hence why Hamilton took it. Without the new engine, they RB still have a decent chance of winning the championship

[Big Tea]

If an engine is going to be that much of an advantage, why not take the hit and change it every time? 5 places is not really relevant, it is only the Mercs that are going to matter. Who else is going to need passing?

It's a bit of a 'Hail Mary', right? Taking the grid penalty is a risk. Running an engine with compromised reliability is a risk.

Yes this is the problem. If it is a big advantage it is, but it could easily end up delivering zero points and the game being over.

[flmkane]

I have a suggestion. Can we officially name the Brazilian Spicy engine the spICE?

Or maybe the SBICE (Spicy Brazilian internal combustion engine)

[El Scorchio]

If an engine is going to be that much of an advantage, why not take the hit and change it every time? 5 places is not really relevant, it is only the Mercs that are going to matter. Who else is going to need passing?

It's a bit of a 'Hail Mary', right? Taking the grid penalty is a risk. Running an engine with compromised reliability is a risk.

Yes this is the problem. If it is a big advantage it is, but it could easily end up delivering zero points and the game being over.

I think they’d be mad to. It’s completely untested territory that isn’t worth the risk unless it gets to a situation where they need Hamilton to finish third or lower in Abu Dhabi- which means something will have gone wrong next race. It’s not even a given Hamilton wins in Saudi. All sorts could happen.

[Marty_Y]

[e30ernest]

Wow, Lewis and Max are just in a different league at the moment. The last 2 races are going to be exciting indeed. Congrats to Alonso for a well-deserved podium.

Really wish Valtteri would get back in the groove though. Perez seems to be a competent enough teammate for Max. The Mercs need Bottas to even that out and give a good title fight. At Bottas' current form, Mercs could lose the constructors.

[zeph]

Just in to say: GO FERNANDO! Super happy with Alonso’s podium finish.

[WaikeCU]

I do wonder if the tyre failures are from the curbs, or if there is debris broken of the underside of the wing over the curbs and damages the tyres. Even those very same sparks can be small fragments of carbon or metal.

On the occasions where the Williams got punctures, both of them ran very wide and hard on the kerbs. I think once a bit wider on the kerbs on some of the turns, the tires take a real beating.

Agree with the debris. Small particles always contribute to weakenings of the tire surface.

[Titchener]

What a championship to remember for an F1 fan. Two races to go and both the drivers and constructors still all to play for.

[NathanOlder]

Looking back at qualifying, why did horner say "Lewis made ALL of his time in turns 6 and 7 " ?? Turns 6 and 7 are in the middle sector. When you look at the best sector times from Q3 it looked like this

Lewis S1-26.450 --- S2-26.922 --- S3-27.455
Max S1-26.554 --- S2-27.179 --- S3-27.681

So Lewis was faster in all 3 sectors, by S1-0.104 --- S2-0.257 --- S3-0.226

So why does Horner say this rubbish ?

https://www.skysports.com/f1/live-blog/ ... eblog-body

[bonjon1979]

Looking back at qualifying, why did horner say "Lewis made ALL of his time in turns 6 and 7 " ?? Turns 6 and 7 are in the middle sector. When you look at the best sector times from Q3 it looked like this

Lewis S1-26.450 --- S2-26.922 --- S3-27.455
Max S1-26.554 --- S2-27.179 --- S3-27.681

So Lewis was faster in all 3 sectors, by S1-0.104 --- S2-0.257 --- S3-0.226

So why does Horner say this rubbish ?

https://www.skysports.com/f1/live-blog/ ... eblog-body

He's trying to tarnish Mercedes by making it look like they stopped the 'illegal wing'. However, all reports I've read is that merc passed the new FIA tests (that aren't even part of the regulation anyway) and that it's exactly the same wing as before.

[NathanOlder]

Looking back at qualifying, why did horner say "Lewis made ALL of his time in turns 6 and 7 " ?? Turns 6 and 7 are in the middle sector. When you look at the best sector times from Q3 it looked like this

Lewis S1-26.450 --- S2-26.922 --- S3-27.455
Max S1-26.554 --- S2-27.179 --- S3-27.681

So Lewis was faster in all 3 sectors, by S1-0.104 --- S2-0.257 --- S3-0.226

So why does Horner say this rubbish ?

https://www.skysports.com/f1/live-blog/ ... eblog-body

He's trying to tarnish Mercedes by making it look like they stopped the 'illegal wing'. However, all reports I've read is that merc passed the new FIA tests (that aren't even part of the regulation anyway) and that it's exactly the same wing as before.

Yeah thats what I was thinking, as we would have heard if they failed the new test, even if its not part of the regs, so Horner and RB still talking out of their bottoms.

[214270]

A big failure by Rb. The only saving grace is that their lead driver can pedal, but in every other way this is some of the worst from Rb this season; far too many gimmicks. They need to keep their eyes on the prize

[siskue2005]

Looking back at qualifying, why did horner say "Lewis made ALL of his time in turns 6 and 7 " ?? Turns 6 and 7 are in the middle sector. When you look at the best sector times from Q3 it looked like this

Lewis S1-26.450 --- S2-26.922 --- S3-27.455
Max S1-26.554 --- S2-27.179 --- S3-27.681

So Lewis was faster in all 3 sectors, by S1-0.104 --- S2-0.257 --- S3-0.226

So why does Horner say this rubbish ?

https://www.skysports.com/f1/live-blog/ ... eblog-body

He's trying to tarnish Mercedes by making it look like they stopped the 'illegal wing'. However, all reports I've read is that merc passed the new FIA tests (that aren't even part of the regulation anyway) and that it's exactly the same wing as before.

Yeah, he was going on about that is due to the new test. And the FIA are doing it due to pressure from redbull.
Infact the new tests were done as prelude to next year's regulation.

[AeroDynamic]

Looking back at qualifying, why did horner say "Lewis made ALL of his time in turns 6 and 7 " ?? Turns 6 and 7 are in the middle sector. When you look at the best sector times from Q3 it looked like this

Lewis S1-26.450 --- S2-26.922 --- S3-27.455
Max S1-26.554 --- S2-27.179 --- S3-27.681

So Lewis was faster in all 3 sectors, by S1-0.104 --- S2-0.257 --- S3-0.226

So why does Horner say this rubbish ?

https://www.skysports.com/f1/live-blog/ ... eblog-body

Probably because he’s used to seeing the RB shine in corners with all its imperial downforce, the strengths of the car that low res thinking fans meant that Verstappen was phenomenally faster than other drivers because he shined in corners.

If you give other top drivers good downforce for corners, they will fly around the corners *shock horror*

Horner seemed to be really amazed with Lewis, quite weird. In principle, he shouldn’t praise his drivers rival that much IMO. I can’t tell if he’s honest enough for that or just genuinely struggling to hide his amazement.