2020 Spanish Grand Prix - Catalunya, August 14 - 16

[zibby43]

And then additional support for the claim (I think this must be from a member here):



So Strat 3 what was used today, was a lower mode than Strat 2.

[Schuttelberg]

Hope Verstappen gets one of the Mercedes at the start, otherwise it's going to be a boring race.

[PlatinumZealot]

Force indias running lower drag. They are the ones Max should be worrying about.

[foxmulder_ms]

Some italian journo suggested that Mercedes wasn't using their highest strat mode in Q3 and instead just used the 'normal' quali mode? Supposedly visible onboard?

Oh that would be beyond delicious.

Just imagine the meltdown if RedBull, Ferrari and Renault have gone begging the FIA for this and Mercedes can be just as far ahead anyway and all they have done is taken away THEIR own party modes.

Based on the performances in the last 6 years, I think that will be the case.

[Restomaniac]

Some italian journo suggested that Mercedes wasn't using their highest strat mode in Q3 and instead just used the 'normal' quali mode? Supposedly visible onboard?

Oh that would be beyond delicious.

Just imagine the meltdown if RedBull, Ferrari and Renault have gone begging the FIA for this and Mercedes can be just as far ahead anyway and all they have done is taken away THEIR own party modes.

These 'high damage' modes probably work on some sort of points system and so many 'damage points' are allowed for each engine (sets). So if a party mode glory run uses say 100 points, then that is 100 points to use in a race. Either as a couple of points each lap, or a 'bank' that can be cashed it when needed. Imagine say a Reb bull about to pass and a sudden power boost zooms the Merc away fro 5 seconds. Or struggling to get in DRS, within .1 then suddenly a .5 gap again. a power advantage does not just evaporate, even if it means starting with a lower fuel load or less cooling

I can not see this being successful even though I want to see the Mercs challenged on a regular basis

I get all that but look at it this way.

It’s looking like Mercedes did something today that is usual and 3 things strike me.
1 If RedBull were setting up for the race and didn’t use theirs then we now know that Mercedes still have plenty in hand even with this rule.
2 If RedBull and others DID use theirs then they’re all gunna be screwed when they cannot use them anymore.
3 Ferrari are genuinely that far behind in ‘normal’ qualifying so this rule won’t change a damn thing for them in comparison to Mercedes.

[Mogster]

Could this be used as evidence to present to the FIA. “Look we didn’t use it and it made little difference...” It’s hard to believe but..,

[zibby43]

Some italian journo suggested that Mercedes wasn't using their highest strat mode in Q3 and instead just used the 'normal' quali mode? Supposedly visible onboard?

Oh that would be beyond delicious.

Just imagine the meltdown if RedBull, Ferrari and Renault have gone begging the FIA for this and Mercedes can be just as far ahead anyway and all they have done is taken away THEIR own party modes.

Based on the performances in the last 6 years, I think that will be the case.

Pretty amazing that Merc used their lower-deployment engine mode that they normally use for quali runs in Free Practice and in Q1 today.

If Honda-powered teams still used their "Q3" modes, I can only imagine that the gap will grow even further when they're forced to use lower-deployment modes.

FIA = whoops.

[Restomaniac]

Oh that would be beyond delicious.

Just imagine the meltdown if RedBull, Ferrari and Renault have gone begging the FIA for this and Mercedes can be just as far ahead anyway and all they have done is taken away THEIR own party modes.

Based on the performances in the last 6 years, I think that will be the case.

Pretty amazing that Merc used their lower-deployment engine mode that they normally use for quali runs in Free Practice and in Q1 today.

If Honda-powered teams still used their "Q3" modes, I can only imagine that the gap will grow even further when they're forced to use lower-deployment modes.

FIA = whoops.

Q1? Do you mean Q3 for Mercedes?

[zibby43]

Based on the performances in the last 6 years, I think that will be the case.

Pretty amazing that Merc used their lower-deployment engine mode that they normally use for quali runs in Free Practice and in Q1 today.

If Honda-powered teams still used their "Q3" modes, I can only imagine that the gap will grow even further when they're forced to use lower-deployment modes.

FIA = whoops.

Q1? Do you mean Q3 for Mercedes?

To clarify, I was saying Mercedes used the Strat mode that they normally use in Q1 (and in quali simulations in Free Practice), in Q3.

Hopefully that makes more sense. In short, they used their typical Q1 mode for Q3.
Rather than the Strat Mode that they normally use in Q3.

[Restomaniac]

Pretty amazing that Merc used their lower-deployment engine mode that they normally use for quali runs in Free Practice and in Q1 today.

If Honda-powered teams still used their "Q3" modes, I can only imagine that the gap will grow even further when they're forced to use lower-deployment modes.

FIA = whoops.

Q1? Do you mean Q3 for Mercedes?

I'm not sure what you're asking. To clarify, Mercedes used the Strat mode that they normally use in Q1 (and in quali simulations in Free Practice), in Q3.

Rather than the Strat Mode that they normally use in Q3.

Thankyou. Your first paragraph wasn’t very clear sorry.

[zibby43]

Q1? Do you mean Q3 for Mercedes?

I'm not sure what you're asking. To clarify, Mercedes used the Strat mode that they normally use in Q1 (and in quali simulations in Free Practice), in Q3.

Rather than the Strat Mode that they normally use in Q3.

Thankyou. Your first paragraph wasn’t very clear sorry.

No problem. I agree.

[Big Tea]

Oh that would be beyond delicious.

Just imagine the meltdown if RedBull, Ferrari and Renault have gone begging the FIA for this and Mercedes can be just as far ahead anyway and all they have done is taken away THEIR own party modes.

These 'high damage' modes probably work on some sort of points system and so many 'damage points' are allowed for each engine (sets). So if a party mode glory run uses say 100 points, then that is 100 points to use in a race. Either as a couple of points each lap, or a 'bank' that can be cashed it when needed. Imagine say a Reb bull about to pass and a sudden power boost zooms the Merc away fro 5 seconds. Or struggling to get in DRS, within .1 then suddenly a .5 gap again. a power advantage does not just evaporate, even if it means starting with a lower fuel load or less cooling

I can not see this being successful even though I want to see the Mercs challenged on a regular basis

I get all that but look at it this way.

It’s looking like Mercedes did something today that is usual and 3 things strike me.
1 If RedBull were setting up for the race and didn’t use theirs then we now know that Mercedes still have plenty in hand even with this rule.
2 If RedBull and others DID use theirs then they’re all gunna be screwed when they cannot use them anymore.
3 Ferrari are genuinely that far behind in ‘normal’ qualifying so this rule won’t change a damn thing for them in comparison to Mercedes.

What jumped out at me was Russell did not get his usual banzi, but Kimi did

[214270]

Force indias running lower drag. They are the ones Max should be worrying about.

+1

If the Mercs get off the line well and compress the field by driving to a delta to get the appropriate stint lengths, VER is in for a difficult Sunday; it’s 2 vs 1. ALB is right there behind but I have little faith he can pressure the RPs ahead.

[ispano6]

Force indias running lower drag. They are the ones Max should be worrying about.

+1

If the Mercs get off the line well and compress the field by driving to a delta to get the appropriate stint lengths, VER is in for a difficult Sunday; it’s 2 vs 1. ALB is right there behind but I have little faith he can pressure the RPs ahead.

Looking at the results of Silverstone 1 and 2, I see RP being strong for the first few laps but they will eventually drop back. Stroll hasn't finished higher than 6th and that is probably where they will end up again. The top 3 are in a league of their own, Albon will bridge that gap with the improved RB16. I expect Albon to finish 4th. The key to the race might be a late safety car and switching to the softs like how the F2 race played out.

[Big Tea]

Force indias running lower drag. They are the ones Max should be worrying about.

+1

If the Mercs get off the line well and compress the field by driving to a delta to get the appropriate stint lengths, VER is in for a difficult Sunday; it’s 2 vs 1. ALB is right there behind but I have little faith he can pressure the RPs ahead.

Looking at the results of Silverstone 1 and 2, I see RP being strong for the first few laps but they will eventually drop back. Stroll hasn't finished higher than 6th and that is probably where they will end up again. The top 3 are in a league of their own, Albon will bridge that gap with the improved RB16. I expect Albon to finish 4th. The key to the race might be a late safety car and switching to the softs like how the F2 race played out.

Without intending to be unkind to RP, I think Max will outdrive them in short order, unless they have a huge car advantage, and I don't think it is that big. There are other cars on the track in the race, and not behaving themselves like in qualli