2022 Mexican Grand Prix - Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Oct 28 - 30

[AR3-GP]

So going by the comments here FP1 And FP2 were unintriguing.

The Pirelli guy gave a nice segment on how they are adapting to the tire blanket ban for 2024, with the reduction for 2023, but other than that, FP2 was too boring to stick around for.

FP1 wasn't bad but no one was really pushing with such low grip.

As a general theme, the tires are too hard this weekend.

Isola gave the impression that in addition to reducing understeer thay want more race strategy options probably in the interest of artificial entertainment

I didn't catch that part. I thought he was simply explaining that the reason for the different compounds laptime difference was to increase the race strategy options.


Anyway, I think the tire blanket ban might have the opposite effect to what F1 imagines. Tire blanket ban will simply encourage more edge case races to become 1 stoppers because you lose too much time on cold tires.

This is commonly seen in IMSA and WEC racing. Team will elect to pit for fuel only and stretch the tire stint because they lose too much time on the cold tire. It will just weaken the undercut and strengthen the overcut. In a circuit like Monaco, undercut will not exist.

[Juzh]

I'm not sure if anyone noticed but DRS zone on main straight starts earlier this year, as soon as last corner ends almost.
2022 top, 2021 below

[Wouter]

When Alonso arrived this morning.

[Zynerji]

Why don't the drivers downshift as they turn in these chicanes? I haven't driven this track on the simulator, but it seems that the higher RPM+Differential settings would solve so much understeer in those corners...

Maybe the hybrid torque is just better at low RPM's than the V8's (last cars I played with).

[organic]

[Spacepace]

Well FP3 has made it tricky to understand where everyone stands. Ferrari looked unbalanced while RBR looked fast but not close to Mercedes???

[Sieper]

Well, Mercedes with it’s high downforce (but at the cost of drag) is certainly there here, as I, and several others, expected. They have a great chance of pole here and I think their pace will also be good.

[search]

yeah, not sure the conditions were as good for others in the end, as several teams seemed to struggle (Ferrari hardly managed to beat Bottas, for example, and Alonso and Gasly were miles off), but Mercedes looks like the favourite for pole at the moment.

Red Bull practicing slipstreaming is probably also not the best sign in regards to their competitiveness

[Dee]

What were the long runs like?

[organic]

Where there is no maximum bottom pressure #Mercedes has no big problems, rarefaction limits drag and bottom efficiency in favour of the wings.
Obviously you don't make a car for Mexico but it seems an interesting confirmation.

Pre Quali analysis coming soon

[PlatinumZealot]

I hope George keeps his impetuousness in check and don't spoil the reford for the Hamster.

[organic]

I hope George keeps his impetuousness in check and don't spoil the reford for the Hamster.

Is it impetuousness to want to get their 1st race victory?

[dans79]

I hope George keeps his impetuousness in check and don't spoil the reford for the Hamster.

Is it impetuousness to want to get their 1st race victory?

the team probably cares more about getting both cars through turn 1 without contact than anything else.

[Hammerfist]

Where there is no maximum bottom pressure #Mercedes has no big problems, rarefaction limits drag and bottom efficiency in favour of the wings.
Obviously you don't make a car for Mexico but it seems an interesting confirmation.

Pre Quali analysis coming soon

I thought for months they would perform well here. Its evident their number one issue after they have controlled the porpoising was drag. Drag gets neutralized in Mexico. Thats why imo the high rake redbull cars always did well here. Never bought the turbo theory. The merc pu is fine. But now can merc actually dominate this weekend? That remains to be seen.

[chrisc90]

I hope George keeps his impetuousness in check and don't spoil the reford for the Hamster.

Is it impetuousness to want to get their 1st race victory?

the team probably cares more about getting both cars through turn 1 without contact than anything else.

At least if they are both ahead it reduces the risk of them crashing into the back of someone.