2019 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Yas Marina Circuit, 29 - 1 November/December

[siskue2005]

One has to wonder if all this PU talk is just take the spot light from incredible advances Mercedes made with tire management. Especially considering that poor tire management was their trademark for many years. Now they are suddenly magical.

Poor tyre management at mercedes?? are you talking about 2013 season? coz from 2014 onwards they have been pioneer in tyre management and race pace.

No they haven't. This was their single greatest weakness over the years. As for race pace, 2017 Ferrari was a better race car.
But that was a time when pole was a king...

single greatest weakness over the years?? lol the 2017 season we had new rules and aero, and also this was due to Ferrari asking for clarification on suspensions systems used by Mercedes and Redbull....this was not due to their GREATEST WEAKNESS! they just adapted in that season itself!

BTW back from ancient history to 2019-20! It definitely looks like Ferrari were doing something to their engine and stopped after the TD was given out

There could be two theories for their pace lose now:

a) Ferrari purposely stopped doing whatever they are doing, but this will be suicide considering all the sh!t storm they have to face and accusation of cheating; which no sane team will do!

b) they indeed were doing some tricks and the clarification and seizing parts made them stop using that system

Anyone can see that either one of this has happened to them

[siskue2005]

This is just not true. They had some pace at beginning of the stints, but would fall off after 5-10 laps...
In Mexico Hamilton had better pace with 50 laps old H than Leclerc with 20 laps old.

Mexico any team could have run those tyres for 50 laps, the tyres are rock solid now...it just requires some management in the beginning.

In Belgium Hamilton was second a lap quicker then Leclerc during end of the race.

And what was the gap before both pitted one lap ago? 4.3 seconds (if you want i can post live timing for it)! and then what was the gap when the crossed the line? 1 second! So that shows that even though they didnot run away with the race, they were faster when they needed to be and which shows that they were good for race win!

In Japan same story

In japan if they had the track position ( from pole) which they lost at the start they would have won it with pace needed for win!

Race pace doesnt need to be at Merc 2014 level to win the race....That is what is required in the current era to win the race, as it is very difficult to follow and overtake a car with CRAZY accleration (unless they have lost it due to TD) out of a corner, then the race pace is the least important thing! Just need enough pace to win.

in 2013 Mercedes were very poor on tyre, even with pole they would only finish 4 or 5th, it is nothing to that extremen for ferrari to suddenly abandon their pole winning and race winning strategy to go to P2 P4 pace in qualy and P3 P4 race pace! Which can only be explained by some performance loss since a certain race where they was a rule clarification!

[sosic2121]

But today Ferrari was again the fastest on the straights, they lost everything in S3.

[siskue2005]

But today Ferrari was again the fastest on the straights, they lost everything in S3.

If you are talking just straight line speed, then that showes that you have not followed what really has happening in the ferrari speed and what really are Mercedes and other teams were worried about and what the GPS data was shown to FIA......... But to clarify your point, They were just 7 Kmph faster in straight (which they are since the start of the season)
Just look at the sectors times of different races before and after the TD
Before the TD
Mexico fastest sector times

Two tenths faster in the sector with straights

Singapore fastest sector times

Two tenths faster in the sector with straights

Sochi fastest sector times

5 tenths faster in the sector with straights

After the TD

Brazil fastest sector times

Only fractionally faster in sectors with straights and slower in high downforce sctors

USA fastest sector times

Slower in sector with straights

Abudabhi they were only just 0.073sec faster in Sector 2 were they had huge 2 straights

[Capharol]

funny where were the Ferrari's

[siskue2005]

funny where were the Ferrari's

In Austin Ferrari were slower because they ran more downforce, in Brazil it was the height and more downforce and now it’s because they ran with less downforce . They’re running out of excuses.

[jumpingfish]

Qualifying session best sector times


session maximum speeds

[LM10]

But today Ferrari was again the fastest on the straights, they lost everything in S3.

If you are talking just straight line speed, then that showes that you have not followed what really has happening in the ferrari speed and what really are Mercedes and other teams were worried about and what the GPS data was shown to FIA......... But to clarify your point, They were just 7 Kmph faster in straight (which they are since the start of the season)
Just look at the sectors times of different races before and after the TD
Before the TD
Mexico fastest sector times
https://serving.photos.photobox.com/505 ... 06ebb2.jpg
Two tenths faster in the sector with straights

Singapore fastest sector times
https://serving.photos.photobox.com/395 ... 803833.jpg
Two tenths faster in the sector with straights

Sochi fastest sector times
https://serving.photos.photobox.com/036 ... 9e586f.jpg
5 tenths faster in the sector with straights

After the TD

Brazil fastest sector times
https://serving.photos.photobox.com/932 ... 5a1fc9.jpg
Only fractionally faster in sectors with straights and slower in high downforce sctors

USA fastest sector times
https://serving.photos.photobox.com/666 ... 0b9951.jpg
Slower in sector with straights

Abudabhi they were only just 0.073sec faster in Sector 2 were they had huge 2 straights
https://serving.photos.photobox.com/393 ... beb76f.jpg

Ferrari smashes the opponent in the acceleration phases like before. Go watch the onboard comparison between Max and Leclerc which Juzh posted in the RBR team thread. Ferrari loses time in every single corner, but rockets down the straights. A sector contains of corners and straights. You can't just look at sector times alone.

[Tommy Cookers]

my radio coverage seemed to imply that ....
Vettel (to start on softs) was hanging back to disadvantage Leclerc (following him and to start on mediums)
but messed up his final lap (in attempting to mess up Leclerc's)

but who says the old guard can't mess with the young pretender's head ? (agreeing to a plan then not following it)
just because messing by the young pretender is conventional and so legitimised

[Wouter]

One can make up their mind after watching this.
https://streamable.com/ebzx0

Thanks for sharing. Nice to see.

[dans79]

Ferrari smashes the opponent in the acceleration phases like before.

Not like they used to, because they used to gain a lot more than they did today.

[izzy]

One can make up their mind after watching this.
https://streamable.com/ebzx0

Thanks, yes so it's for sure that the Ferrari gains on the straights and loses in the corners. They don't have the new fuel sensors yet tho, so it's still open really how they've done it

[siskue2005]

One can make up their mind after watching this.
https://streamable.com/ebzx0

Thanks, yes so it's for sure that the Ferrari gains on the straights and loses in the corners. They don't have the new fuel sensors yet tho, so it's still open really how they've done it

The power boost allowed them to strap on extra down-force.. now they have had to take it off again, which has lead to them being 0.7 sec slower in sector 3 alone. The video shows that they are fast in straights like they have always been since the season start, but they are nowhere as strong in straight sectors like they used to be after the summer break.. but now they are less fast in straight sectors (just fractionally) and massively slower in corners which indicate that they have taken off their downforce to compensate power loss.

[siskue2005]

https://mobile.twitter.com/motorsport_g ... 7934671877

tami.
@Vetteleclerc

Lewis getting asked what he thinks about Binotto saying they are happy he is available for 2021

Lewis: I think that is the first compliment I got from Ferrari after 13 years.

Max: That's because you are beating them!

[dans79]

https://mobile.twitter.com/motorsport_g ... 7934671877

tami.
@Vetteleclerc

Lewis getting asked what he thinks about Binotto saying they are happy he is available for 2021

Lewis: I think that is the first compliment I got from Ferrari after 13 years.

Max: That's because you are beating them!

Honestly, I think Lewis should end his career having not ever driven for Ferrari!