2020 Spanish Grand Prix - Catalunya, August 14 - 16

[Racer X]

Verstappen was half a second behind Merc in Q2, that gap increased to 7 tenths in Q3. Let's see if the same will happen in Spa.

Max could win on another tire management strategy!

[El Scorchio]

I wonder if Vettel for the first time is suffering from being the second driver. Just like at RBR where the car is clearly designed to help Max and Max only get the optimum results and doesn’t tend to suit any team mate so well- I think Gasly and Albon’s relative performances in both the Red Bull and the Alpha cars speak volumes to this- Ferrari are now making decisions with LeClerc in mind and if Vettel likes things a specific way it may now not be possible for him to achieve that if he doesn’t have any say over development Or setup direction.

[bauc]

It would be interesting to see how RP cars will start tomorrow against Max and Albon, I think PER will be extra aggressive into turn 1

[GPR-A]

Verstappen was half a second behind Merc in Q2, that gap increased to 7 tenths in Q3. Let's see if the same will happen in Spa.

Max could win on another tire management strategy!

Just like he and albon qualified ahead of Bottas, like you predicted. This is a clear 1-2 for Mercedes. Track position is going to be the key and if Mercedes leads 1-2 after first corner, then that is how they are going to end as well.

[Restomaniac]

Verstappen was half a second behind Merc in Q2, that gap increased to 7 tenths in Q3. Let's see if the same will happen in Spa.

Max could win on another tire management strategy!

Just like he and albon qualified ahead of Bottas, like you predicted. This is a clear 1-2 for Mercedes. Track position is going to be the key and if Mercedes leads 1-2 after first corner, then that is how they are going to end as well.

Verstappen could face the old Mercedes ‘wall’.

[214270]

I only caught the highlights but HAM didn’t even bother with DRS on his last flyer, I think he knew he was slower. Congrats to Merc; I’m quite looking forward to what RP can do tomorrow, they might be quite disruptive. VER is facing a two-pronged attack from in front as well as behind.

[Juzh]

pole lap (have to open in youtube)

[Just_a_fan]

pole lap (have to open in youtube)

Thanks for the post.

So smooth on the steering, not sure he had any "moments" that required sawing at the wheel, or even single opposite lock stabs. Absolutely planted. Do you have Max's Q3 on board? Would love to see how it compares. Likewise any others.

[Juzh]

pole lap (have to open in youtube)

Thanks for the post.

So smooth on the steering, not sure he had any "moments" that required sawing at the wheel, or even single opposite lock stabs. Absolutely planted. Do you have Max's Q3 on board? Would love to see how it compares. Likewise any others.

viewtopic.php?p=918861#p918861

[ENGINE TUNER]

I wonder if Vettel for the first time is suffering from being the second driver. Just like at RBR where the car is clearly designed to help Max and Max only get the optimum results and doesn’t tend to suit any team mate so well- I think Gasly and Albon’s relative performances in both the Red Bull and the Alpha cars speak volumes to this- Ferrari are now making decisions with LeClerc in mind and if Vettel likes things a specific way it may now not be possible for him to achieve that if he doesn’t have any say over development Or setup direction.

The Ferrari was designed with only Vettel's input last year and last year LEC DOMINATED him, it's not the car, LEC is just a much better and faster driver. Vettel was never that good, and he was always mistake and crash prone. Today VET was as close to LEC as he has been all season.

VET may have an outside chance of beating LEC tomorrow with a med/hard 1 stop strategy. It seems nobody likes the hards but maybe the track conditions will suit them better.

[RZS10]

Some italian journo suggested that Mercedes wasn't using their highest strat mode in Q3 and instead just used the 'normal' quali mode? Supposedly visible onboard?

[Restomaniac]

Some italian journo suggested that Mercedes wasn't using their highest strat mode in Q3 and instead just used the 'normal' quali mode? Supposedly visible onboard?

Oh that would be beyond delicious.

Just imagine the meltdown if RedBull, Ferrari and Renault have gone begging the FIA for this and Mercedes can be just as far ahead anyway and all they have done is taken away THEIR own party modes.

[Mogster]

Yes. It would be ironic if party modes are withdrawn and everyone goes backwards... except Mercedes.

[zibby43]

Yeah, supposedly Mercedes didn't use their "party" mode today in Q3.

[Big Tea]

Some italian journo suggested that Mercedes wasn't using their highest strat mode in Q3 and instead just used the 'normal' quali mode? Supposedly visible onboard?

Oh that would be beyond delicious.

Just imagine the meltdown if RedBull, Ferrari and Renault have gone begging the FIA for this and Mercedes can be just as far ahead anyway and all they have done is taken away THEIR own party modes.

These 'high damage' modes probably work on some sort of points system and so many 'damage points' are allowed for each engine (sets). So if a party mode glory run uses say 100 points, then that is 100 points to use in a race. Either as a couple of points each lap, or a 'bank' that can be cashed it when needed. Imagine say a Reb bull about to pass and a sudden power boost zooms the Merc away fro 5 seconds. Or struggling to get in DRS, within .1 then suddenly a .5 gap again. a power advantage does not just evaporate, even if it means starting with a lower fuel load or less cooling

I can not see this being successful even though I want to see the Mercs challenged on a regular basis