https://formu1a.uno/analisi-fp2-top-tea ... ancora-no/For now, Aston Martin is proving to be a fast car over a single lap , also helped by a more advanced mapping compared to Red Bull and Ferrari, but which suffers a little more degradation in race pace.
If FP2 is anything to go by, RB, Ferrari, Mclaren, and Mercedes are ahead. That leaves Alonso in P9. Things could be worse. He could still be at Alpine...
The margins appear quite close though. Looks like That order could be changed by a combination of conditions, track layout, tyre choice etc. development will be massive this year to keep him. He's got to have an eye on that Merc seat though if they end up looking like genuine challengers.
I doubt C1 will be used. C2 and C3 are enough for the race. Degradation was good for other teams.
For a single year contract? If they were keeping Lewis on a short leash they aren't giving Alonso anything longer and that was a large part of him leaving Alpine. Not sure why everyone is so obsessed with this Merc narrativeChuckjr wrote: ↑01 Mar 2024, 08:47Fred will go to Merc if they take him. They simply are a better team and will out develop Aston. The last 3 years have humbled Merc, and they will be the better for it. Fred’s talk that he’s evaluating both Aston and Merc all year is just smart politics so he doesn’t torpedo the year at Aston like Ham did at Merc. Granted, Ham had to announce because he had to escape contract binds, but a torpedo is a torpedo at the end of the day, and Fred simply had better political options to exploit than Ham.
But yea, Fred is gone to Merc if Toto takes him.
Because it makes sense.yinlad wrote: ↑01 Mar 2024, 09:48For a single year contract? If they were keeping Lewis on a short leash they aren't giving Alonso anything longer and that was a large part of him leaving Alpine. Not sure why everyone is so obsessed with this Merc narrativeChuckjr wrote: ↑01 Mar 2024, 08:47Fred will go to Merc if they take him. They simply are a better team and will out develop Aston. The last 3 years have humbled Merc, and they will be the better for it. Fred’s talk that he’s evaluating both Aston and Merc all year is just smart politics so he doesn’t torpedo the year at Aston like Ham did at Merc. Granted, Ham had to announce because he had to escape contract binds, but a torpedo is a torpedo at the end of the day, and Fred simply had better political options to exploit than Ham.
But yea, Fred is gone to Merc if Toto takes him.
The C2 is bad which is why they all used it so much in fp1auem123 wrote: ↑01 Mar 2024, 07:08I doubt C1 will be used. C2 and C3 are enough for the race. Degradation was good for other teams.
I am also not giving much importance to that race data. We have seen many a time Merc being poor in FP2, only to be super racy during race last years. Considering it is the first race, they may well be testing the set up. At worse, they will sacrifice qualifying pace for race pace.
Let’s see how the cars are on June and we will have better idea if he moves or not. Also have been speaking of retirement because calendar is too long. But fir now with all the investment and who is behind the design team don’t think he will move to MercedesChuckjr wrote: ↑01 Mar 2024, 10:17Because it makes sense.yinlad wrote: ↑01 Mar 2024, 09:48For a single year contract? If they were keeping Lewis on a short leash they aren't giving Alonso anything longer and that was a large part of him leaving Alpine. Not sure why everyone is so obsessed with this Merc narrativeChuckjr wrote: ↑01 Mar 2024, 08:47Fred will go to Merc if they take him. They simply are a better team and will out develop Aston. The last 3 years have humbled Merc, and they will be the better for it. Fred’s talk that he’s evaluating both Aston and Merc all year is just smart politics so he doesn’t torpedo the year at Aston like Ham did at Merc. Granted, Ham had to announce because he had to escape contract binds, but a torpedo is a torpedo at the end of the day, and Fred simply had better political options to exploit than Ham.
But yea, Fred is gone to Merc if Toto takes him.
No. Two year. They need Fred for development in 2026. They need a veteran who can give feedback and can help them build a car for Kimi. I don’t think Kimi goes to Merc next year. He’s a child. Put him in the Williams. Give him a year or two like normal drivers. Don’t spoil him early. Could ruin his career. Keep the veteran as development and then put Kimi in a winner in 2027.