2018 French Grand Prix, Le Castellet, June 22-24

[GPR-A duplicate2]

Mercedes amazingly faster than the rest of the field. I hope Ferrari has much more pace to show.

How is it amazing, it's special tyres again here?

I hope you are not inviting all those who enjoy this discussion about how Pirelli has favored Mercedes.

[astracrazy]

Pit lane speed limit has been reduced to 60 km/h by the stewards [from 80 km/h]

So they will exit the pits even slower?

As a result yes! As you and other members have mentioned the pit exit is placed at a dangerous place. Is it to do with that? The entry isn't that good either.

I'm not really sure what would be better and less of a hazard. A car coming out much slower or quicker and closer to racing speed.

Are we still harping on special tires again? Didn't Vettel effectively debunk that after the end of the last race those tires were used?

Yes he did.

[Sierra117]

So they will exit the pits even slower?

As a result yes! As you and other members have mentioned the pit exit is placed at a dangerous place. Is it to do with that? The entry isn't that good either.

I'm not really sure what would be better and less of a hazard. A car coming out much slower or quicker and closer to racing speed.

If we take an example of cars merging onto the main motorway from shoulders, I think merging faster and closer to racing speed is much better.

[digitalrurouni]

So would it be wrong to say this track is going to be similar to Silverstone in terms of car setup? That you need high speed aero and grunt?

[atanatizante]

Business as usual. Ferrari have got it in reverse. Race pace neck and neck, Ferrari with the edge on SS (maybe the best race tyre?)

I think quali will be as close as ever. Could go Lewis’ way this weekend but again... will be close

apparently the edge is not only on SS.
vettel did 35.7 on US. the only one to break 36 on US race sim

As usual, we don`t know fuel levels and engine modes, but Vettel has started his race sim on SS tyres doing constantly around 1.37.7 - which was 7 to 10 tenths faster than both Lewis and Ricci who went for the US tyres and doing between 1.38.5 and 1.38.8 at the same time as Vettel`s ...

Then Vettel switched to US and doing high 1.35 and low 1.36, which was over 1 sec faster than Lewis and Ricci, this time on SS tyres (yeah, they have had some traffic around those final laps, indeed ...)

[F1Krof]

Ferrari looking very sharp on the long runs. Ominous for the others really. They were fully concentrated on the long runs. Pace advantage seemed awful lot, around 7 to 9 tenths per lap.

[Fulcrum]

They should increase the speed of the pitlane. Accidents are caused by differentials in speed more than anything else; now they choose to widen the differential in speed? And it prejudices pitstops in general by making them slower, meaning a 1-stop race is more likely than it would have been.

[Sierra117]

They should increase the speed of the pitlane. Accidents are caused by differentials in speed more than anything else; now they choose to widen the differential in speed? And it prejudices pitstops in general by making them slower, meaning a 1-stop race is more likely than it would have been.

Is it too crazy to suggest a slow pit-lane entry speed and then a faster exit-speed? Best of both worlds? (Safety of personnel before car comes in -> now everyone is aware so car can exit faster).

[Bill_Kar]

And Vettel was "whining". Oh, that sandbagging.

[MtthsMlw]

[siskue2005]

Pit lane speed limit has been reduced to 60 km/h by the stewards [from 80 km/h]

that would add more time to pitstops and leads to more one stop strategy FIA dont understand this.

[cplchanb]

They should increase the speed of the pitlane. Accidents are caused by differentials in speed more than anything else; now they choose to widen the differential in speed? And it prejudices pitstops in general by making them slower, meaning a 1-stop race is more likely than it would have been.

That's what they said last race in canada for merc and look what happened. Lets wait until Saturday evening before actually claiming ominous pace

[Juzh]

Hamilton fp2 P1 lap - 1:32.539

[tinvek]

They should increase the speed of the pitlane. Accidents are caused by differentials in speed more than anything else; now they choose to widen the differential in speed? And it prejudices pitstops in general by making them slower, meaning a 1-stop race is more likely than it would have been.

Is it too crazy to suggest a slow pit-lane entry speed and then a faster exit-speed? Best of both worlds? (Safety of personnel before car comes in -> now everyone is aware so car can exit faster).

good idea, i'd assume the lower limit is because of the blind pit entrance and the little hold up caused by the Ferrari coming out of it's box in FP1

[atanatizante]

So after FP2 sim race we could be assured that at least Vettel will qualify in Q2 on SS tyres, hence opting for a one-stop race, thus having two options: SS-S or SS-US, depending on his race position in the second stint ...