godlameroso wrote: ↑09 Mar 2018, 16:53
Phil wrote: ↑09 Mar 2018, 16:44
f1316 wrote: ↑09 Mar 2018, 16:23
If you're VET and you fit the Medium tyres at 10 laps, you know you need to to do another 52 laps on two stints; if you're BOT, you fit the Mediums at, say, lap 18 (I don't have the numbers), then your next two stints only need to cover 44 laps.
I'll just add something, that you missed:
Vettel did a stint of
SS - 13 laps
M - 27 laps
M - 25 laps
Bottad and Hamilton did a stint of
M - 29 laps
M - 17 laps
M - 19 laps
So yes, you are right, the first stint on a much quicker but less durable tire did compromise his 2nd and 3rd stint relative to the Mercedes, but you can still compare Bottas and Hamilton's lap from lap 14 to 29 - then you can compare the Mercedes on (at that point) 13 laps old tires vs Vettel on new & fresh M tires on the same fuel load. That should be comparable, as Bottas and Hamiltons first stint was aiming to do 29 laps on a much heavier car than Vettel on his 2nd stint but comparable laps. So in theory, Vettels stint and times should compare favorably assuming a similar fast car.
Yet comparing these laps, Vettel is at best equal or slower (especially than Hamilton who dips into high 21 times).
I believe dans already did that in his post.
I'm not sure the fuel load is the same, remember last year Mercedes needed less fuel to do a race distance than everyone else. Secondly, one does not need the full 105kg to do the race distance, so it's very possible that fuel levels could be obfuscating true pace. A 30kg difference in fuel is worth ~1 second of lap time. Vettel mentioned he had plenty of fuel left over after his race sim, which could easily explain the lack of pace relative to Mercedes if they only added enough to do the race sim.
"Vettel mentioned he had plenty of fuel left over after his race sim, which could easily explain the lack of pace relative to Mercedes if they only added enough to do the race sim."
Source please on Vettels comment?
I Agree, this can easily explain the lack of pace for Ferrari.