2022 Australian Grand Prix - Melbourne, April 08 - 10

[Aesop]

Deg doesn't seem to be that high? Some drivers reported graining. Could Ferrari (judging by the Jeddah comments) open up a bit to gain some speed in S2?

I think a few factors here are different which make me think redbull will come towards a higher downforce setup rather than Ferrari going lower. Reasons:

-Ferrari is faster in both S1 and S3.
-While slower in S2, the differential isn’t that big
-The 4 DRS zones mean you get ‘the best of both worlds’ in quali and the race
-the final sector is the twistiest, which would give Ferrari an opportunity to gap redbull right before the only overtaking opportunities if the cars characteristics stay as they are currently.

Thoughts?

Red bull will not go any higher on downforce levels, that much is certain. Reason being they can't get any more load on the front, so they're just understeering everywhere apart from 210+ kmh corners. They're balancing it out as best they can by reducing load on the rear (lower rear wing angles baiscally). This makes them fast on straights but lose a chunk in sector 3. I think pace wise they're more or less in the same situation as bahrain, so a few tenths off ferrari on average.
In Saudi arabia they were better off as the track is very high speed so they were able to take even more rear wing off and not take too much penalty over the lap, while gaining loads on straights. Here there's less straights and more low-medium speed corners where they suffer.

Currently ferrari are clear favourites. Just looking at their onboards the car is hooked up and easy to drive, even with bouncing problems they had in fp2.

I think the track will change during the weekend in favour of the low dfsetings of RB, if that happens it will be very close.

[atanatizante]

After almost 3 races, as a general observation, don`t you think that all teams (except Ferrari and RB teams) are almost if not entirely concentrating on race pace in free practise sessions, knowing that these new 2022 cars allowed them to:
- be more racing for having more raceable cars
- overtake easier now, both from the new aero regs and DRS zones
- starting grid has less importance this year

[Spoutnik]

I also think RB know Ferrari got the a bit of hedge for pole if one of their driver makes a perfect lap (unlike in Jeddah), so they are focusing on the race, with 4 DRS zones and 10kph of extra-speed we'll see another battle with Verstappen or Perez coming from 0.9 to the tail of the Ferrari despite no significant pace advantage.

[Just_a_fan]

I also think RB know Ferrari got the a bit of hedge for pole if one of their driver makes a perfect lap (unlike in Jeddah), so they are focusing on finishing the race, with 4 DRS zones and 10kph of extra-speed we'll see another battle with Verstappen or Perez coming from 0.9 to the tail of the Ferrari despite no significant pace advantage.

Agreed. The ridiculous amount of DRS on this circuit means pole isn't as important as it might have been previously. Red Bull will be thinking they can DRS their way past and then be difficult to be DRS-passed themselves.

[Spoutnik]

I also think RB know Ferrari got the a bit of hedge for pole if one of their driver makes a perfect lap (unlike in Jeddah), so they are focusing on finishing the race, with 4 DRS zones and 10kph of extra-speed we'll see another battle with Verstappen or Perez coming from 0.9 to the tail of the Ferrari despite no significant pace advantage.

Agreed. The ridiculous amount of DRS on this circuit means pole isn't as important as it might have been previously. Red Bull will be thinking they can DRS their way past and then be difficult to be DRS-passed themselves.

Ofc... we've already seen that in Barhain and even more in Jeddah
Once "somehow" the RB is within 0.9 - despite no pace advantage - it's an immediate overtaking maneuver within the lap : in Barhain it was cold tyres, in Jeddah VSC
This is a bit ridiculous but at least we have wheel to wheel battle

Maybe Ferrari should start second and third, and focus only on race pace.

[toraabe]

Don't forget Alpine. They are up there this weekend.

[Spoutnik]

Don't forget Alpine. They are up there this weekend.

They are also super fast on the straights. Could jump the Ferrari in race if they stay close

[Big Tea]

It is not a new reg, it has been in existence for a considerable time.
It is not as petty as it first seems either. It can catch when a driver is being extracted, it can puncture fireproof clothing, it can be impacted into the body, and it can burn the driver if heated through fireproof cloths.

Not sure when it came out, but I am sure it must be 10 years or more.

I wondered if it was something to do with mick Schumacher and his accident. Doesn’t he wear a necklace?

It goes way back from then to the days when dangling earrings could catch in the helmet if the driver was unconscious and the helmet pulled off, taking the earing with it. Not related to F1, but I have seen twice motorcyclists needing a ring cut off after fall. It crushes and stops bloodflow to the finger.

[Timtim99]

Don't forget Alpine. They are up there this weekend.

They are also super fast on the straights. Could jump the Ferrari in race if they stay close

Alpine normally run light and at higher engine mode on Fridays and then disappears during qualifying. Lol they could jump Ferrari and would be the most funny line I have read here in long time. Lol

[_cerber1]

[Timtim99]

Don't forget Alpine. They are up there this weekend.

They are not part of the front two, Alpine always run light and at higher mode on Fridays and then disappear on Saturday 3rd practice and qualifying.

[Wouter]

Post deleted. New post below.

[ali623]

Don't forget Alpine. They are up there this weekend.

They are not part of the front two, Alpine always run light and at higher mode on Fridays and then disappear on Saturday 3rd practice and qualifying.

Doesn't seem so this season so far:

Bahrain FP1 - 8th and 12th
Bahrain FP2 - 5th and 12th
Bahrain Q - 8th and 11th

Saudi FP1 - 8th and 10th
Saudi FP2 - 8th and 11th
Saudi Q - 6th and 9th

Australia FP1 - 6th and 9th
Australia FP2 - 4th and 6th

[Wouter]

[_cerber1]