venkyhere wrote: ↑28 Jul 2024, 11:11
I have a feeling that Max starting on H is the right thing to do - there are two ways in which he can start the race - do an Alonso/Russel and charge like a bull (and increase risk of damage) and gain atleast 2-3 places OR do a Sargeant and stay clear of everyone and not gain any position, might even lose a position. I reckon the latter way is better considering the outright pace delta of RB20 vs non-McLaren cars. In which case, it makes sense to start on H tyre and not think of tyre preservation when attacking the cars ahead to gain positions after lap1. The careful nature of lap1 execution will anyway guarantee that the H is 'gently introduced' as well. The big risk with H is if there is a safety car around first pit window laps (12-16), others will get a free stop. But I think it's a risk worth taking (to start on H) because that will then ensure that when the two Ms come on later, they will do when there is relatively more chances of running-in-clean-air and making that sector2 count.
I think if Max had done this (started on H) he would have had a tyre offset in second and third stints AND crucially, been able to run in clean air and make the sector2 advantage count. There was no difference between M and H in terms of pace, and as Russel showed there was enough life in the H. Max could have run stints of 20H-12M-12M and easily finished P3. As many of us (the non delirious ones) knew, a win from P11 with other cars so much matched in pace was impossible anyway.
(i) pace of top4 teams are in the same ballpark
(ii) dirty air is back to 2021 levels, teams have been clever enough to completely negate the regulations
(iii) they have done something to the DRS zone before T5, I felt it to be much shorter than in the years before, chasing cars were opening their flap so much distance after EauRouge. Is this the case, was something done to this DRS zone ? As pace of top teams come closer and closer, DRS-length becomes super-important.
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Edit : ah so it was indeed done.
PapayaFan481 wrote: ↑28 Jul 2024, 17:00
The change in DRS length on the Kemmel Straight had a bigger impact than expected.