2018 Japanese Grand Prix - Suzuka, 5-7 October

[Vasconia]

Even on SS Vettel loses out of the chicane, what the hell did Mercedes find in terms of traction?

Jesus Christ, its like going back to 2016. Mercedes is so superior!

[Vasconia]

Ferrari does look slow on face value - but a few things to consider:

They’re 10kmph down on Mercedes - which is very unlikely to be the ultimate pace of the car looking at recent history

Their high fuel runs were far more encouraging on pace (on supers) than Mercs laps on soft/mediums.

I think they will ultimately be behind Mercedes this weekend, but I think it’s MUCH closer than this. Just the usual Friday practice doomsaying.

I have read that Ferrari has lost their top-speed advantage because FIA has installed another sensor in the battery. Could this explain the sudden loss of performance in Ferrari?

[Shrieker]

Practise engines for this session, for sure. We will have a better picture tomorrow, but more than likely it's the tires as much as losing the pu advantage because of the new battery sensor.

[LM10]

Even on SS Vettel loses out of the chicane, what the hell did Mercedes find in terms of traction?

I would investigate it.

[MtthsMlw]

Ferrari does look slow on face value - but a few things to consider:

They’re 10kmph down on Mercedes - which is very unlikely to be the ultimate pace of the car looking at recent history

Their high fuel runs were far more encouraging on pace (on supers) than Mercs laps on soft/mediums.

I think they will ultimately be behind Mercedes this weekend, but I think it’s MUCH closer than this. Just the usual Friday practice doomsaying.

I have read that Ferrari has lost their top-speed advantage because FIA has installed another sensor in the battery. Could this explain the sudden loss of performance in Ferrari?

The whole engine situation was more related to acceleration and not top speed.

[Sevach]

Even on SS Vettel loses out of the chicane, what the hell did Mercedes find in terms of traction?

I would investigate it.

It's time for a TC tinfoil theory.

[GrandAxe]

Practise engines for this session, for sure. We will have a better picture tomorrow, but more than likely it's the tires as much as losing the pu advantage because of the new battery sensor.

Exactly. Ferrari's problems are due to losing their tyres before the last sector. There was slight graining on both Kimi's rears after his last quali sim. I didn't get a look at Vettel's.

They (Vettel) don't seem to be graining in the long runs though.

[GrandAxe]

I spoke too soon. Vettel just complained about blistering on both rears (after 14 laps on the ultra's). Kimi the same on the softs after 19 laps.

[Vasconia]

Taken from Sky sports f1:

Have Ferrari lost some of their engine power?"I've been asking around about Ferrari's straighline speed and other teams have seen their drop-off. We don't really have an explanation for why that is.
"You may have seen reports about an extra, second sensor being added to the Ferrari battery but I haven't been able to firm that up with the FIA."

[marvin78]

I ask myself: What happend to Ferrari? It looks the same as last year. Mercedes seems to stay on the level and Ferrari get's worse.

I believe that is the reason why Vettel acts so nervous, when he reaches a point in a season where he knows, the car is going down from now on. He never had that at RedBull. Would explain a lot.

[search]

did anyone get what driver is running which Renault engine exactly this weekend (just mentioned during the Sky Sports coverage)? I missed it, unfortunately

[MtthsMlw]

Is only Ferrari having blisters?

[Juzh]

Gonna be a total wipeout in quali and the race.

[dans79]

Is only Ferrari having blisters?

Yea, I think it was only them!

[Juzh]

FP2