NathanOlder wrote: ↑04 Mar 2019, 12:02
How have Merc found nearly half a second in that final sector ?!!? You can't point it to the tyres, as Vettel didn't find anything like what Lewis found.
Just_a_fan wrote: ↑04 Mar 2019, 12:17
It kind of begs the question as to why Hamilton was slower elsewhere - either he had the engine turned down compared to Vettel, or Ferrari's PU is now well ahead of the Mercedes PU. Or did Hamilton not use DRS on the straights and Vettel did? No idea about the DRS situation as I haven't seen any video of their respective runs.
MtthsMlw wrote: ↑04 Mar 2019, 12:22
Maybe simply tyre related? Hamilton's were in the optimum range and Vettel's were too hot/cold. Or
Merc drastically improved their slow speed traction.
That is more likely the answer. Starting Singapore, which contains loads of slow corners where traction is extremely critical to gain lap time, Mercedes have excelled and it was obvious in Suzuka (last chicane) and Austin (Last corner). S3 in Barcleona contains turn 10, 13, 14 and 15 which are all slow corners and even if they had carried forward the mechanical grip from last year, then that is good enough for such a lap time.
After the 3rd day of second test, Bottas pointed out the difference in slow corner performance.
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/14180 ... est-window
"I really feel there are areas the car has made good steps forward, in slow-speed corners the car feels better than last year, but in other areas there is still work to do."
They only had 3 days of learning of the new spec car, when they did a race sim and then the quali sim, compared to other cars that made the debut 12 to 13 days back in relation. With such short interval, there is relatively less learning about tyres and mechanical behavior of the car. In that interval, they also faced an oil pressure issue for the car that curtailed the running.