f1316 wrote:So here's something I don't understand:
From the very beginning of the race we saw Verstappen finding more grip at turn 3 by going around the outside.
(Much) Later in the race we heard Ricciardo being told about this and seeming to apply that advice.
But how come other teams didn't do this? I presume they didn't because they were clearly not using that line - other than Ocon.
Now I think it's good that others didn't benefit having not figured it out for themselves, but it just seems odd.
i was thinking the same too. I could imagine it is also due to the driver's 'faith' in themselves and 'dare'.
no driver is the same should be remembered too. Also, if you closely watch Verstappen's overtakes, you'll notice it wasn't as simple cut as 'just going another line'. It was more about reading the driver in front and then doing the opposite. Funny enough, i think it also plays more into the area of getting a 'benefit' of staying out of the spray and wake of the car in front.
Verstappen said the intermediates didn't work for him. It could have to do with that the extreme wets are good enough in getting rid of the water that he needs less effort to keep the car under control. By staying out of the wake and spray of the car in front, not only does he recieve less water, but he keeps clear view. and the last thing i personally think is the key here.
normally, the driver is behind and then 'judges' the room, which would cause that you can more or less 'predict' where your 'follower' is possibly heading. by simply driving alongside you keep the view in front alive and won't automatically follow the car in front thus giving them the advantage.
Apart from it still being phenomenal driving, and yes, Senna Toleman 84 comes to mind, I do believe this has a big effect. He 'just' drives opposite as to what is normally done, so the opponent simply doesnt expect what he is going to do and thus is in more of a 'disadvantage'.
Also, normally, driving off the line will get you in dirty track, full with tire rubber graining that can seriously ruin your race.
in this case, that was not possible due to the rain washing down the dirt, so it was rather 'safe' to run on the entire width of the track, and likewise similar grip levels, but suddenly much more room and space to choose from to overtake.
Again, dont get me wrong, i think Max did outstanding keeping the car under control (that straight save was the stuff of immortals), but I think the biggest factor here was Max maintining calm and watching the technical aspect. Which probably also was what Senna did back in Monaco.
And i'm rather sure that Verstappen trained in similar fashion as Senna; I vividly remember Senna explaining that at first, he was a disaster in the rain. So whenever it rained, he went out on track to master driving in the rain and then it was no longer a problem. Max grew up in a climate with lots of rain and his father knows what he's doing so im absolutely sure he did the same.
You could argue it as following: It could be due more to the other drivers on track simply being unskilled in the rain because they didnt' train properly. "rain today, i dont feel like going on track. i'll study data instead" whereas Max possibly trained himself till he could no longer keep his eyes open in the rain, and then ALSO studied that data.
It's funny how much Max reminds me of Ayrton. Whilst other drivers were 'taking their leisure time', going golfing, etc., Senna was studying data, practicing, and excersizing his body to the max, giving him a big edge over other drivers who smoked and ate hamburges. With the current field growing more in paydriver primadonna's and a WDC that spends his time writing rap and stainding in front of a camera and shopping for jewelry, Max is the 'oddball' that is spending all his time on F1.
that's the way i'm reading this anyway.
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