Sergej wrote: ↑23 Sep 2024, 09:05
The Austin correction doesn't need to make the car fastest again, and it probably won't (that would be Ferrari level of copium), it is "enough" to make it consistently second fastest so that Max can get comfortably to the podium.
To put it into perspective, if Max can outscore Lando in only one of the remaining weekends, then Lando has to make 11 points per weekend in the remaining 5, meaning that for Max it's enough to get to the podium (yes there are still the sprint and FL points but you get the picture).
If with a more stable and fast car Max can even manage to steal a win in a favourable track (I don't know which one could be), the picture is even better. Of course the Austin correction has to work, otherwise is game over probably.
I think this calculation is too optimistic. The reality in Spore was the same as in Azer:
- Both Ferrari out of position.
- One Merc out of position...Russel qualified behind Ham. Screwed strategy on Ham, with a Med he could have gone for an undercut.
- Piastri stuck behind the Mercs.
Simple point is, that Max showed a perfect execution. Not 100% sure about the stop, but the rest was perfect.
Still P2 is a result of luck, not of pace. With a McLaren pushing through the race and without clumsy execution by Merc and Ferraris, this would have been again behind all others like last year or like Azer.
I fear a stable car is not enough. The next 5 races, except Vegas maybe, are not on difficult tracks, the execution errors will be less. I think they need a good upgrade to stay in range of the podium. And then the calculation looks completely different.