2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Jeddah, March 25 - 27

[Stu]

Do Merc have to give a reason for a pit lane start, or can they freely choose to do one in order to re-setup Hamilton's car?

Good question!!!

[langedweil]

I know the track is slightly different, but pole 2022 only differs what .. 0.526 with pole 2021?

I stick to my prediction they will be faster than 2021 by end of season, as there'll be so much more to unlock ...

[RZS10]

They aren't choosing a pit lane start, they are breaking parc ferme (afaik they can do that whenever they feel like it, without having to justify it) which then leads to a pit lane start.

[langedweil]

Do Merc have to give a reason for a pit lane start, or can they freely choose to do one in order to re-setup Hamilton's car?

Good question!!!

I'd say "We screwed up setup, and take the penalty for a pitlane start so we can fix it" would be enough ?
That's exactly what the penalty is for, isn't it ?

[langedweil]

They aren't choosing a pit lane start, they are breaking parc ferme (afaik they can do that whenever they feel like it, without having to justify it) which then leads to a pit lane start.

Correct, it's just breaking parc fermé ..

[djones]

Do Merc have to give a reason for a pit lane start, or can they freely choose to do one in order to re-setup Hamilton's car?

Good question!!!

I'd say "We screwed up setup, and take the penalty for a pitlane start so we can fix it" would be enough ?
That's exactly what the penalty is for, isn't it ?

If they can do it then it would seem very sensible as it also avoids any 1st lap carnage.

[Scorpaguy]

This track is a tragedy waiting to happen, IMHO.

If 2 drivers get the red mist, half of the field could be caught up in it. Too blind and too fast with no room for error/runoff. Many parts of the track had me cringing in quali...and I am just watching.

[atanatizante]

I don`t understand something:

SAI said that he set his fastest times in qualy (or just in Q3) on used soft tyres, hence his setup is kinder to the tyres and the new soft tyres were under the optimal operation temp window sliding more or the other way around: he overcooked the new soft tyres with equal less grip on them?

[tpe]

Do Merc have to give a reason for a pit lane start, or can they freely choose to do one in order to re-setup Hamilton's car?

I don't remember the year, but once Ferrari just broke the FIA shield on Massa's (?) engine just for him to be behind the 1st driver (Alonso?) because Massa was ahead after Q. They didnt3even changes the engine.
So, no excuse needed

[codetower]

If I were Mercedes, I would do it. It’s about a 4 place drop… as it is you’re starting in a group rat has Stroll, a rookie Zhou, Hulkenberg who has 1 race experience in the last couple of years and in a new spec car. I think it’s a safer bet to start from the pits.

[search]

They aren't choosing a pit lane start, they are breaking parc ferme (afaik they can do that whenever they feel like it, without having to justify it) which then leads to a pit lane start.

seems like they didn't though. No changes on Hamilton's car, according to the FIA document

https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files ... %C3%A9.pdf

[djones]

Given how bad his car was in qualifying it would be insane to not start from the pits with a better setup. Even if they got 2 places or so on the first lap... so what, he won't go much further with that dog of a setup.

[search]

maybe they are confident that it'll work better with high fuel load

[chrisc90]

Final starting grid and parc ferme document has him on the grid and no changes made

[Simone Ferrari]

Problem on Sainz car

https://twitter.com/AlbertFabrega/statu ... 0451168264

Ok, it seems OK now...

https://twitter.com/AuCompteur/status/1 ... 0178941964