Ben1980 wrote: ↑23 Nov 2024, 19:46
venkyhere wrote: ↑23 Nov 2024, 15:23
Juzh wrote: ↑23 Nov 2024, 14:56
Had a look at the onboards, car is semi-decent in corners but still atrocious on straights. I don't see how Max can move up the order on track, maybe trough strategy but still a long shot. He'll have his hand full with Mclarens and Hamilton.
moving up the order ? No chance. Even if he makes 2-3 places in the opening lap chaos, Max will eventually filter down to P6, behind Russel, the two Ferraris and the two Mclarens. Then on, it's a waiting game for Hamilton to appear and breeze past. With what they have come up with for this track, the long straight into T14 is 'un-defendable' and 'un-overtakeable'. That wing flap => DRS is going to be a joke with no meaningful speed delta. I will be happy if he finishes P7 (for which he will have his fight cut out with Gasly and the two Haases) which looks like the 'par' position for this avatar of the RB20.
Surely this is super pessimistic
My prediction almost proved correct
. The reason it failed was because :
a) McLaren screwed up their setup between FP3 and Q and ruined their tyre preservation. They were the first ones to throw away the M, and didn't have pace on H either.
b) Redbull fixed something after FP3 that improved tyre deg. This resulted in the car overdelivering with the M, and predictably being slower than the Mercs and Ferraris on the H, with inferior straightline speed to boot. Look how easily Hamiltons and Ferraris breezed past, there was nothing Max could do.
Takeaway1 = Redbull still suffers with H (whether it's C3/C4/C5) tyre , a trend that started from Miami.
Takeaway2 = A flawless race from Verstappen, maximized the car. WDC#4. Hope he wins 4 more and puts a stupid debate to bed.
