This is why need to wait for the stopwatch.catent wrote: ↑15 May 2024, 21:05Unless all the tools and methods being utilized by the technical department have suddenly become unreliable/junk (which is almost impossible), there is no reason to expect the upgrade will not be successful and work as intended. The key - at least initially - to maximizing its impact will be nailing the setup. Understandably that may take some time but the work during filming day + in the simulator gives reason for optimism that they can hit the ground running at Imola.
A poster several pages back referred to the altered airflow of the overbite vs. underbite sidepods. With the current underbite, excess air flows over the sidepod and towards the rear wing; with an overbite, the excess air will be more likely to find the beam wing. A couple thoughts on that (if true): a.) I wonder if a less loaded rear-wing, and thus likely a less planted rear, may suit Leclerc a bit more, b.) in that vein, perhaps more energy towards the beam wing in lieu of the rear wing will assist with activating the tires quicker. Of course, this shift in balance will affect how the car is most optimally setup, hence the point earlier that maximizing initial returns will be contingent on getting the setup right.
The average gap to RB will tell us the amount of the improvements, providing the races will be "linear" (no suboptimal strategies, massive traffic of slower cars, etc.).
Moreover, we'll see if they made improvement over one lap performance as well.