2017 Spanish Grand Prix - Catalunya, 12-14 May

[f1316]

Crazy how much faster Mercedes is in one sector - reminds me a bit of 2013 - and shows how the different philosophies affect performance in different corners.

Still, really nice and close and could be a fascinating race.

You mean sector 3? aka the monaco measuring stick

Yeah if you look at the sectors, Vettel was .18 up in S1, something like .2 up in S2 and then lost .4 in S3. Just very interesting.

I don't think this will translate to Monaco though, personally; it's not actually that similar - other than that it's a series of slow corners - and I think the Mercedes is too long for Monaco.

We'll see, I guess; but I think it's so interesting how different the cars are and yet so close.

[Chene_Mostert]

What a bunch of bullshit.

Why?

Because even after the massive upgrade push, there is still only 0.051 seconds between them.

OK.

[Chene_Mostert]

What a bunch of bullshit.

As Seb said, we've brought lot of upgrades too, just things you can't see

Lewis said pretty much the same as well yesterday, "no change it's still only 10th between them", he was spot on wasn't he.

Disagree. Without the upgrade package that Mercedes brought, they would have LOST THE POLE COMFORTABLY. Based on how the Ferrari went in Winter Testing and in the previous races (specifically on downforce sectors), I had a strong feeling that Ferrari would have taken the pole. I had mentioned the same earlier on this forum.

So, to me though, whatever upgrades Ferrari brought, Mercedes had a bigger gap to cover and looks like they have done that with the upgrade. Also, the reliability fixes that Mercedes has brought for the PU, doesn't look like have added any performance to the PU. Bottas and Hamilton went quite similar and without the mistake from Bottas on his first run, he probably would have had the pole.

No but you always maintained that Mercedes was the faster car?

[ripper]

I listened to Vettel's interview and he affirmed that, even if he raced many time in this circuit, he still has to learn how to do properly last chicane.

Awesome job by Alonso!

[GPR-A duplicate2]

No but you always maintained that Mercedes was the faster car?

There is a difference between being a blind fan and a realist. Mercedes has been faster over the past seasons and Ferrari not. So far, it is Ferrari who have done a good job. Will they keep it up? Who knows?

[Juzh]

Everyone was making mistakes on their final runs, so I think what we got is pretty much how things stand at the moment.

[ChrisDanger]

[Restomaniac]

After watching the side by side I'm even more sure that Vettel had used his tyres up before S3. Hamilton looked smooth in S3 where as Vettel looked like he was having to fight like crazy.

[CriXus]

Yeah, Seb lost the pole in the last chicane, but even without that mistake he would not have won it by 0.4 tenths. As Anthony Davidson said after the qualy, Ferrari had understeer (maybe the car lacks a little bit of front downforce). I am just a fan, so maybe someone more in the technical stuff can describe it better.

[Restomaniac]

Yeah, Seb lost the pole in the last chicane, but even without that mistake he would not have won it by 0.4 tenths. As Anthony Davidson said after the qualy, Ferrari had understeer (maybe the car lacks a little bit of front downforce). I am just a fan, so maybe someone more in the technical stuff can describe it better.

Indeed. Those upgrades do seem to have stopped the Mercedes being a git to drive as that is the smoothest it has looked all season.

I imagine that is where the race pace difference is coming from. Imagine having to drive like that lap after lap.

[ChrisDanger]

Alonso and Sainz proving that driving on home soil is worth 1½ seconds.

[Bill_Kar]

Vettel had personal best in S1, purple in S2 and only 0.030 secs slower than his personal best in S3.
Hamilton had personal best in S1, personal best in S2, and lost a massive 0.25-0.3 secs to his personal best in S3.
So the difference between Ham-Vet is totally misleading.Its a lot more than half a tenth.

[Chene_Mostert]

Vettel had personal best in S1, purple in S2 and only 0.030 secs slower than his personal best in S3.
Hamilton had personal best in S2, personal best in S3, and lost a massive 0.25-0.3 secs to his personal best in S3.
So the difference between Ham-Vet is totally misleading.Its a lot more than half a tenth.

Check the official FIA timing its 0.051sec. not your alternative facts timing report.

[iotar__]

- So how much did 4 races old spec 1 engine and missed FP3 cost compared to brand new spec 2? Who needs team orders.

- Bottas had electrical problem with new engine, water leak, missed FP3, gets 4 races old engine and live timing bloke is wondering if it "hampers his chances?" No, it certainly helps him you F1 expert you.

[Bill_Kar]

Vettel had personal best in S1, purple in S2 and only 0.030 secs slower than his personal best in S3.
Hamilton had personal best in S2, personal best in S3, and lost a massive 0.25-0.3 secs to his personal best in S3.
So the difference between Ham-Vet is totally misleading.Its a lot more than half a tenth.

Check the official FIA timing its 0.051sec. not your alternative facts timing report.

Oh, okay.If thats what makes you sleep at night.