2024 United States Grand Prix - COTA, Oct 18-20

[langedweil]

Under investigation now.
Hope it's nothing, that line was his to choose ..

[langedweil]

If anything, it's maybe jusy discuss whether it was brake-checking

[Sieper]

Mercedes no where on race pace again. It's been 2 years and 7 months since these new cars first raced and they still don't understand them or the tyres.

HAM didn’t do much running because of his off in practice, it’s just bad all round IMO if they have to rely on RUS for setup.

I see that differently, Mercedes used very little wing here, in qualy they could manage on the soft tires but it was super hard to do, and especially Hamilton through sector 1 was really great to watch. Car so loose but the low drag did enable a quick lap.

Edit, sorry, misread your last sentence, thought you meant they always rely on Russell for set-up but you wrote they now had to, as Hamilton missed the running time (had a big moment, due to that low grip, low wings imho).

[Luscion]

nothing for Norris

[Vanja #66]

That's some seriously biased stewarding whole year when it comes to McLaren

[organic]

Glad it was no further action. Let them race

Good sprint race.. Ferrari should win Sunday if they qualify well

[Formula 1 fan 1996]

What tyres are left for qualifying for top 4 teams?

[Chuckjr]

Line was Norris’s to choose. Fair play.

Sprint was very exciting and filled with hard and fair fighting. I’m enjoying the break from yellow flags. Looks like the WDC is gonna go to Max. Ferrari’s are very fast here and will give Max a run for his money tomorrow at least. McLaren have lost time to the others save Merc. Ironic how bib-gate coincided with Red Bull’s finding pace and Macca losing pace. Obviously Macca’s loss of their rear wing trick is what’s most hurting them atm, right? Right.

[chrisc90]

What tyres are left for qualifying for top 4 teams?

Tires left after the sprint. Keeping those used hards from practice may turn into an advantage for RB, with even higher temps expected tomorrow

[avantman]

Mclaren without mini DRS is not that impressive on race pace. Without mini drs they would have probably lost in Baku as well.

this is the same wing they ran with in Singapore (Stella said it again talking to Kravitz post-sprint) where Lando looked the most dominant. mini DRS was never a thing on higher downforce wings, it cannot work with step flap angle at all. We've never seen any evidences the trick was there. bendy reary wing upper flap, the so-called mini-DRS was used only in Spa, Monza and Baku. Wait until Sunday to see what real Mclaren pace is.

[Watto]

Mclaren without mini DRS is not that impressive on race pace. Without mini drs they would have probably lost in Baku as well.

this is the same wing they ran with in Singapore (Stella said it again talking to Kravitz post-sprint) where Lando looked the most dominant. mini DRS was never a thing on higher downforce wings, it cannot work with step flap angle at all. We've never seen any evidences the trick was there. bendy reary wing upper flap, the so-called mini-DRS was used only in Spa, Monza and Baku. Wait until Sunday to see what real Mclaren pace is.

Even if they had changed it and it did effect the high angle rear wings. I doubt it would have anything to do with the balance issues. The whole mini drs thing was only really of use in straights. The mini DRS gap closed in covers and thats where McLarens issues seemed to be so far.

Just goes into the same conspiracy pile to me as RBR secret miami changes. That there seems so little substance to.

[TimW]

Mclaren without mini DRS is not that impressive on race pace. Without mini drs they would have probably lost in Baku as well.

this is the same wing they ran with in Singapore (Stella said it again talking to Kravitz post-sprint) where Lando looked the most dominant. mini DRS was never a thing on higher downforce wings, it cannot work with step flap angle at all. We've never seen any evidences the trick was there. bendy reary wing upper flap, the so-called mini-DRS was used only in Spa, Monza and Baku. Wait until Sunday to see what real Mclaren pace is.

Even if they had changed it and it did effect the high angle rear wings. I doubt it would have anything to do with the balance issues. The whole mini drs thing was only really of use in straights. The mini DRS gap closed in covers and thats where McLarens issues seemed to be so far.

Just goes into the same conspiracy pile to me as RBR secret miami changes. That there seems so little substance to.

Well apparently they have been told to change it, including the one used here:

McLaren changing all their rear wings to stop flexing, and all of a sudden stop dominating. Surprise, surprise?

The squad has denied this but has conceded that as part of ongoing dialogue, it has agreed to make changes to its entire range of wings, including the one that will be used in Austin.

It is understood that this involves modifications to the upper element to stop it from flexing, as well as a narrowing of the slot gap.

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/mclar ... /10664055/

[avantman]

Even if they had changed it and it did effect the high angle rear wings. I doubt it would have anything to do with the balance issues. The whole mini drs thing was only really of use in straights. The mini DRS gap closed in covers and thats where McLarens issues seemed to be so far.

Just goes into the same conspiracy pile to me as RBR secret miami changes. That there seems so little substance to.

it has nothing to do with the balance indeed. the mini drs trick was real and gained them few kph extra of top speed and free lap time, particularly in race trim (when not using the DRS). but again that only worked with the gently sloping flap on that special low downforce wing.
They changed it but we will only see it in Vegas next time, likely the final time this year.

[avantman]

The squad has denied this but has conceded that as part of ongoing dialogue, it has agreed to make changes to its entire range of wings, including the one that will be used in Austin.

It is understood that this involves modifications to the upper element to stop it from flexing, as well as a narrowing of the slot gap.

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/mclar ... /10664055/

[/quote]

well, if that's true, then that contradicts directly to what Stella was saying just a couple of hours ago talking to Kravitz. When Kravitz asked the direct question if they had to change all their rear wings, Stella said it is exactly same wing they used in Singapore. I don't know what to think of all that. Surely that doesn't look good at all.

[langedweil]

If anything was showing so far today, it was at least McL's supreme tirewear didn't seem to be there anymore .. which appeared to be their big plus lately.
Maybe the new suspension !?