2021 French Grand Prix - Le Castellet, June 18 - 20

[Jolle]

Who used which Mercedes chassis at Monaco? If Hamilton is using the same one he had there (and Bottas used at Baku), that’d be a bit of a coincidence.

I find it quite weird they don’t use the same one every race. You’d think the drivers would want that, even just psychologically.

I guess historically, F1 teams could afford to build 5-6 chassis per season, so they would want to use the first prototype only for testing, and then wheel out models with refinements during the mid-season. Therefore Mercedes have as many as six carryover W10 chassis for this Grand Prix season.

However under the budget cap, one suspects Grand Prix teams will be more prudent and only build three chassis (and perhaps commission a second spare if one of the initial cars is written-off). After all, Formula 2 chassis are used for many, many seasons in a category where cost-saving is a far higher priority.

To add to that, rich teams are/were able to design they chassis a bit lighter because they were only ran for a third of the GP’s. Smaller teams needed to have a bit beefier cars to withstand a whole season (and multiple rebounding of the inserts of suspension, etc). This can make a few kg of difference.

[HungarianRacer]

I don't believe so. They were pushing quite strongly. But as the pattern continues, slow speed corners on the last sector is where they're losing it all.

Are you suggesting tyre management issues? Sector 1 is the slowest and least power-sensitive track section, Bottas went purple there.

First sector all teams seem within 1 hundredths of each other. I wouldn't measure the raw performance based on sector one alone.

I think you are just making stuff up now... How do you know that they are losing out in the last two corners (only slow turns in S3) compared to Red Bull specifically? Sector 3, all things considered, is quiet a power sensitive track section, you do realize that, right? (mainly due to the long flat out section before T11 and the acceleration on the start/finish straight)

[PlatinumZealot]

Ok. No more talk of RedBull "closing the gap" they are clearly in front in qualifying pace now. Mercedes have either hit a ceiling ran out of cash or their development are stuck in the windtunnel.

[djones]

Ok. No more talk of RedBull "closing the gap" they are clearly in front in qualifying pace now. Mercedes have either hit a ceiling ran out of cash or their development are stuck in the windtunnel.

We have not even had qualifying yet

If Redbull are 0.4 or above in front though then Mercedes probably have dropped the ball in not developing this years car. It would be the literal definition of overconfidence.

[F1Krof]

Are you suggesting tyre management issues? Sector 1 is the slowest and least power-sensitive track section, Bottas went purple there.

First sector all teams seem within 1 hundredths of each other. I wouldn't measure the raw performance based on sector one alone.

I think you are just making stuff up now... How do you know that they are losing out in the last two corners (only slow turns in S3) compared to Red Bull specifically? Sector 3, all things considered, is quiet a power sensitive track section, you do realize that, right? (mainly due to the long flat out section before T11 and the acceleration on the start/finish straight)

Regardless how many corners there are, the corners are very long therefor not as insignificant. With less downforce and inherent mechanical grip you'd slide and overheat the tyres which would further worsen the grip (which is what is actually happening to all of the teams, with less effect to Red Bull and Ferrari which they have more mechanical grip).

[El Scorchio]

Mazespin has well and truly been knocked off his perch.

[PlatinumZealot]

Yuki? What the hell?

[NathanOlder]

Tsunoda is terrible.

[F1NAC]

Put Lawson there next year

[PlatinumZealot]

Rear axle not designed for that... Torque judder..

[El Scorchio]

Spinoda is looking like a sadly accurate nickname right now.

To be fair to him he’s usually doing ok when he keeps it on the track.

[Artur Craft]

Tsunoda, Ricciardo and Mazepin have been really subpar when compared to the rest of the grid. Even Latifi is performing far more decently.

Hauger is gonna replace Yuki on 2023 if he doesn´t improve massively

[langedweil]

Ok. No more talk of RedBull "closing the gap" they are clearly in front in qualifying pace now. Mercedes have either hit a ceiling ran out of cash or their development are stuck in the windtunnel.

So now all of a sudden FP3 equals Q ?
Slow down Beavis ...

[SmallSoldier]

Spinoda is looking like a sadly accurate nickname right now.

To be fair to him he’s usually doing ok when he keeps it on the track.

Didn’t Brawn said that he was the most exciting rookie in ages in Formula 1?

A lot of hype that is still to translate to on track performance for him.


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[langedweil]

Rear axle not designed for that... Torque judder..

That was indeed pretty insane .. looked more like 4WD'ing my Hilux !