2020 Italian Grand Prix - Monza, September 4 - 6

[Big Tea]

Is anyone able to give a definitive answer to the question - are they allowed or able to 'turn the engine down' during the race?

It seems to say a 'mode' (don't like using that word for it) can be used at the start, so is this for less than one lap, for the first few laps, or until the driver decides he had enough of a buffer, or any time until the engine starts crying?

[Moore77]

Is anyone able to give a definitive answer to the question - are they allowed or able to 'turn the engine down' during the race?

It seems to say a 'mode' (don't like using that word for it) can be used at the start, so is this for less than one lap, for the first few laps, or until the driver decides he had enough of a buffer, or any time until the engine starts crying?

This is so confusing. As much as I know, only ICE mapping is locked, but the ERS deployment is subjected to be played around, with different strat modes.

Can one of the midfield hold off the Red Bulls for a bonus podium? Or is the RBR race pace a little too hot?

Based o Friday pace, it doesn't look like anyone from midfield can challenge Red Bull.

[Big Tea]

Is anyone able to give a definitive answer to the question - are they allowed or able to 'turn the engine down' during the race?

It seems to say a 'mode' (don't like using that word for it) can be used at the start, so is this for less than one lap, for the first few laps, or until the driver decides he had enough of a buffer, or any time until the engine starts crying?

This is so confusing. As much as I know, only ICE mapping is locked, but the ERS deployment is subjected to be played around, with different strat modes.

But I am not even sure the engine map is as 'locked' as it seems. It is a minefield

[cooken]

I don't think anyone can give a definitive answer, we just have essentially hearsay from the journos.

There was some discussion elsewhere that it was circumstantial, eg below

-in/out lap
-safety car / vsc
-parade lap(s)

Aside from those I take it the engine has to be run in the same mode from start to finish.

[Sieper]

You can turn it down once, if you have engine problems. I think that downturned mode has to be significant? Like a safe mode. Otherwise the rule change is a farce.

[cooken]

Otherwise the rule change is a farce.

So highly plausible then. You know, because FIA.

[Juzh]

Without party mode ban mercedes would be further ahead by at least a few tenths, so the ban was an overall net gain for everyone else:
https://www.racefans.net/2020/09/06/rac ... -06-09-03/

Racing Point CEO Otmar Szafnauer believes the team should be able to compete for the podium tomorrow after Sergio Perez qualified fourth, four places ahead of team mate Lance Stroll:

We didn’t have quali mode. Usually that quali mode would have given us a couple more tenths here. And that would have been… we would have easily been in third. And even with Lance’s one mishap on one of the corners, a couple of tenths would have moved him up as well.

So it did have an impact. But I think what we lose today we should gain tomorrow.

[cooken]

Back to the race...it always amazes me how a gaggle of F1 cars can navigate the first chicane off race start without a total pile up. So little space and the cars look so clumsy through there.

I'll be impressed if there's no SC, especially given the current starting order. I think if I was in the midfield bunch I'd just accidentally lock up and go straight through the slaloms, better to get out alive and have to give back a couple places than risk the carnage.

[search]

So the big question for this afternoon: will Hamilton do an ok job with his tyres and win the race or will he do an amazing job with the tyres and have a pitstop advantage?

I don't know if it was just a case of pumping himself up but Bottas stated yesterday that his race pace in practice was very competitive with Hamilton, I hope for our sake he's right.

he was clearly better on Friday, quicker, and more steady on all tyres. Usually Hamilton has another gear left on race day though - but who knows. Maybe Bottas has a bit of an edge on those balloon tires. It also looked like that in Silverstone #2 at least. Would be good for the race if he could give him a fight

[Sieper]

I was just looking at the qualifying highlights. Final Q3 run, Both mercedes ran with quite some free air in between them, as did sainz, everyone else was closer to the runner in front of them. Likely clean air is now so important it is better than a tow even? I think mercedes staff even confirmed so much?

[hollus]

Without party mode ban mercedes would be further ahead by at least a few tenths, so the ban was an overall net gain for everyone else:
https://www.racefans.net/2020/09/06/rac ... -06-09-03/

Racing Point CEO Otmar Szafnauer believes the team should be able to compete for the podium tomorrow after Sergio Perez qualified fourth, four places ahead of team mate Lance Stroll:

...We didn’t have quali mode. Usually that quali mode would have given us a couple more tenths here. And that would have been… we would have easily been in third...

Do they think that the other teams did not lose a couple of tenths?
I always find it amusing how teams look at their belly bottoms when judging a regulation change. "It messes up with us" can be a big gain if it royally messes up with everyone else, and similarly "we gain from it" is useless if the others also gain from it.

[yelistener]

Mercedes Monza quali speeds looked like they were in no less than strat3 if not strat2. Bottas down the straight without a tow was just a couple of km/h lower than 2019 in a tow.

They tested strat3 in Spain Q3, I think it's fair to say that the mode used yesterday was a new form of strat3.

[Juzh]

Without party mode ban mercedes would be further ahead by at least a few tenths, so the ban was an overall net gain for everyone else:
https://www.racefans.net/2020/09/06/rac ... -06-09-03/

Racing Point CEO Otmar Szafnauer believes the team should be able to compete for the podium tomorrow after Sergio Perez qualified fourth, four places ahead of team mate Lance Stroll:

...We didn’t have quali mode. Usually that quali mode would have given us a couple more tenths here. And that would have been… we would have easily been in third...

Do they think that the other teams did not lose a couple of tenths?
I always find it amusing how teams look at their belly bottoms when judging a regulation change. "It messes up with us" can be a big gain if it royally messes up with everyone else, and similarly "we gain from it" is useless if the others also gain from it.

You'd think he means like for like, otherwise the comment is pointless. Had things stayed the same as they were with everyone running normal Q3 modes as they were before then RP would be few places up ahead because merc's Q3 mode has more power than other engines.

This pretty much confirms the directive worked in curtailing merc top end grunt just a bit.

[63l8qrrfy6]

Well done Italy, that's how you do an anthem!

I'm so sick and tired of the single lady/child soloing it american BS.

[djones]

No point thinking about p1 and p2 as that's a foregone conclusion.

I'm interested to see if there will be a Redbull in the top 6. I suspect not looking at the Renaults, Racing Points and McLarens.

Max either engine failure or P7 is my prediction. Norris on the podium.