2019 Azerbaijan Grand Prix - Baku, April 26-28

[f1316]

lec vs ham
interesting how much more speed leclerc gains with drs compared to hamilton who barely gains any, but has much higher speed prior to the last drs zone of the lap. Makes sense as ferrari runs visibly higher wing levels.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atPS_1kMc9E

verstappen p4 lap
https://streamable.com/yf7yc
https://streamable.com/yf7yc

ham vs ver
verstappen did his best lap on his first flying lap, compared to many other drivers, most of whom improved a lot as they did more laps. Verstappen was unable to do so as he did his quali run a bit later on and got stuck in incidents from other drivers, preventing him from doing more runs (If I recall correctly). Even so, he gains a few tenths in middle sector here on hamilton, but loses time on the final straight (~2.5 - 3 tenths).
https://streamable.com/ze7jc
https://streamable.com/ze7jc

Lec gained much more at the main straight when DRS is activated. Aside from a bigger rear wing, looks like it also has something to do with that Lec saved ERS for the main straight. Before turn 1 his speed dropped from 325 to 320 before braking. Lewis on the other hand stayed at 329 till braking.

Maybe Mercedes was testing different ERS mapping?

I suppose a bigger rear wing and hence DRS effect also explains why the Ferrari might be stronger in quali mode (with DRS) than race (without).

Given the quali runs gap being apparently so large, you wonder if they might choose to trim some wing so as to reduce their advantage in quali but strengthen race pace.

[CRazyLemon]

So Peter Windsor does a post race debrief in his car sponsored by Rich Energy drinks. It's on you tube titled "How did Ferrari loose China". Amongst his ramblings he says Ferrari are a shoe in for the Monaco win and will be very strong in Baku. This is all prior to any updates being mentioned. Any thoughts on why his view is Ferrari will be strong around tight and slow tracks? He does seem to think the car is quite nimble.

well he is seeing something that whole F1 people dont see.. cause SF() struggles from corner entry to apex..n exit is kinda okay...

After FP2 do you think Peter Windsor may be on to something? There's another interesting post race piece that he did that I think may be an interesting discussion. After Bahrain Peter mentioned there are certain corners that Leclerc is just better at than Vettel, hence his advantage over Vettel in qualy and the race. He then even states that due to China not having those types of corners that they'd be evenly matched. Again he predicts Leclerc to be faster in Baku due to this. So far he has been spot on. What do you guys think?

[Shakeman]

After FP2 do you think Peter Windsor may be on to something? There's another interesting post race piece that he did that I think may be an interesting discussion. After Bahrain Peter mentioned there are certain corners that Leclerc is just better at than Vettel, hence his advantage over Vettel in qualy and the race. He then even states that due to China not having those types of corners that they'd be evenly matched. Again he predicts Leclerc to be faster in Baku due to this. So far he has been spot on. What do you guys think?

I think Peter Windsor is absolutely spot on with his analysis in this case. He was predicting Leclerc would be a handful for Vettel last year and has been proven right. In a straight fight I'm fairly sure Vettel would get his arse handed to him by Leclerc so it'll be very interesting to see if or when the team orders will stop if Ferrari begins to look rather daft.

You can't be an F1 journalist for decades and be right about everything, people choose to remember the times when he got something wrong and ignore all the times he was right so he gets a lot of flack from fans he has wronged at some point in the past.

[JPBD1990]

Merc and Renault have added some rear wing for today, so it looks like Ferrari may have got it right. Funny.

[matt_b]

Not sure why Mercedes are using the medium tyres in P3 when they have more softs than Ferrari.

[Restomaniac]

So Giovinazzi takes a 10 place grid drop for another CE only 4 races in and not long after a failure that cost Leclerc a race win. Could that point to a very powerful but fragile Ferrari power unit.

[LM10]

Is it just me or is the RW on Vettel’s car slimmer than the one of Leclerc?

[marvin78]

Is it just me or is the RW on Vettel’s car slimmer than the one of Leclerc?

I thought that too. I think they are trying what's best. Could explain the time difference.

[Carl Mccoy]

Gasly is useless. Albion may be promoted to Red Bull this year

[gandharva]

This is going to be Leclercs weekend.

[F1NAC]

Wow leclerc!!!

[Shakeman]

Vettel disintegrating.

[matt_b]

Leclerc is really on it wow

[Restomaniac]

Hamilton under a 10th of a sec faster than Kvyat?

Yeah alright

[MtthsMlw]

Nice to see what difference engine modes make. LEC easily beating Kimi's S3 time where he got a massive tow without having a tow himself.