Just_a_fan wrote: ↑04 Aug 2019, 21:30
Pyrone89 wrote: ↑04 Aug 2019, 21:24
A car able to follow closely in dirty air signals a significant downforce advantage, not some driver skill difference.
That's a simplification. The issue is how that car loses downforce when following. Having lots of downforce doesn't help if the car becomes an understeering log when 2 seconds behind another car.
Ultimately, the driver has to deliver the result the car is capable of.
Exactly. Plus, an experienced driver can play with his racing lines in an effort to minimize the dirty air effect where he can (HAM chasing VET in Canada is another great example of HAM utilizing this technique), cool the PU, and cool the brakes.
My primary point was that, if you're in clean air (as Max was), you're automatically given a bit of pace boost/tire life boost by virtue of the aero surfaces being allowed to work as intended.
siskue2005 wrote: ↑04 Aug 2019, 21:34
Yes, similar to Monza 2018, Baku 2019 . . .
Speaking of Monza, that is going to be a fascinating race this year!