2018 Japanese Grand Prix - Suzuka, 5-7 October

[foxmulder_ms]

Exactly, nothing else can explain the significant sling. Ferrari lost some power. I think they were just using more M joules than others somehow someway. They find a loophole (or hide some transfer) among these three rules:

A maximum of 4MJ per lap can be transferred from the ES to the MGU-K (and then in turn to the drivetrain).

A maximum of 2MJ per lap can be transferred from the MGU-K to the ES.

An unlimited amount of energy can be transferred between the MGU-H and the ES and/or MGU-K.

[Fulcrum]

Interesting that Hamilton, Raikkonen and Hulkenburg maintain 6th gear into the hairpin, but Alonso uses 7th gear on both laps.

[digitalrurouni]

I can't get the F2017 to go under 1:30, how do they do 1:26 IRL?

Fastest I have gone is a 1.28.973 on super soft tires in FP2 doing the qualifying one lap simulation. My Mercedes is about 80% developed.

I can't imagine how they do it in real life but I can certainly understand Hamiltons' happy reaction on the radio when you nail a magic lap and the car and you just gel perfectly. Sector 1 is my favorite. Hardest part for me is to judge the entry speed and line in to turn 2 is it? Or is it considered turn 1? And I love the esses!!! I also love Magott's Beckett's it's nearly flat with the car in the game! Mind blowing how they do it in real life!!!

[falonso81]

So, they lost on traction or did Merc found a huge amount of traction?

[Shrieker]

There are the rumours of a second sensor measuring their electrical output, but rumours can't be taken seriously without official confirmation.

And let's face it, if they've been caught red handed, or there was some sort of sensor change and they shut it down whatever it was, there'll be no 'official confirmation'.

Its more like Ferrari's speed and tyre handling have suddenly vanished. Tyre handling in particular; for a few races now they've been chewing through tyres - the exact opposite of the first half of the season. Its really strange.

Ferrari, without any doubts, made several steps backwards. From fastest to, by far, second fastest in a period of few races. It’s really strange. And it surely isn’t only the (reportedly) lost engine advantage, but more significantly the tyre handling, set up issues or whatever makes them have less traction and at the same time chew through the tyres.

Could it be something like Red Bull were allegedly doing some 6-7 years ago ? I mean using the kers as a means of traction control somehow. Maybe they were deploying some of the extra energy as a means of traction control, and some of it for extra juice after the car was past the limit of traction speed wise. Could explain why they'd suddenly have traction issues and rear tire degradation problems, along with loss of acceleration at medium speeds.

[cooken]

I had a quick glance back, seems like Merc is about a second quicker than last year during practice and Vettel only a couple tenths. Not sure if that's really a valid enough metric, but suggests Ferrari has taken a step back rather than Merc an extra step forward.

Or it's just down to tires bs.

[Shakeman]

Scarbs does a very good explanation of where Ferrari's pace has gone.

https://youtu.be/8Q1gGmU40zA

On Merc's pace, Toto said in a C4 interview they discovered a new way of setting the car up after Spa and it resulted in more pace and much better tyre management.

[SectorOne]

I can't get the F2017 to go under 1:30, how do they do 1:26 IRL?

Step 1 is not comparing a video game to real life.

[MtthsMlw]

Scarbs does a very good explanation of where Ferrari's pace has gone.

https://youtu.be/8Q1gGmU40zA

On Merc's pace, Toto said in a C4 interview they discovered a new way of setting the car up after Spa and it resulted in more pace and much better tyre management.

FRIC 3.0 confirmed

[dans79]

FRIC 3.0 confirmed

If that's the case, some people will have their pitchforks close at hand!

[bosanac1]

I find the talk about Ferrari second sensor hilarious.

The fact that Ferrari needed to run illegal car (which some are claiming) to beat Mercedes shows what joke this hybrid era is.

And how far Mercedes is ahead of everyone.


Can we just fast forward to 2021 already.

We been watching the same movie since 2014.

[santos]

I think that if a team needs to have an extra sensor by the FIA, all the cars of all the teams should have it.

[LM10]

I find the talk about Ferrari second sensor hilarious.

The fact that Ferrari needed to run illegal car (which some are claiming) to beat Mercedes shows what joke this hybrid era is.

And how far Mercedes is ahead of everyone.


Can we just fast forward to 2021 already.

We been watching the same movie since 2014.

For now, it seems that nothing will change with engine formula in 2021. Regulations gonna stay the same. At least, that’s what I read couple of months ago.

[Shrieker]

I think that if a team needs to have an extra sensor by the FIA, all the cars of all the teams should have it.

Only Ferrari PU has the split battery configuration where an extra sensor would be required...

[Just_a_fan]

I think that if a team needs to have an extra sensor by the FIA, all the cars of all the teams should have it.

Fine. It won't actually do anything on any other car as there is nothing on another car to sense.