2018 French Grand Prix, Le Castellet, June 22-24

[f1316]

So... what's going to happen to the F1 tyres if they hit the blue run-off? How abrasive is it, and how much damage will it do to the tyres?

This is what I’ve been wondering for ages; Wikipedia says they’re designed to be abrasive and hence be a safer way to punish mistakes, but discussing on here, most people seem to think that’s a myth.

But I can’t believe the red bits aren’t in some way different than the blue bits, given their placement; there must be a reason for it. I hope it’s what Wikipedia says since it seems like a really good idea.

I thoroughly expect an exciting race with at least two stops; don’t forget that Ferrari required two stops in Barcelona (they said they wouldn’t have made it to the end) and these tyres are a step softer. I think there’s a lot of energy going through the tyres here.

And I think that, linked to the technical nature of the circuit and long straights are going to make for a great race. Drivers, I predict, will be able to get alongside under DRS but then be forced to make a move into a tough corner - it will be tantalising but not slam dunk breeze past, which I think is great.

I expect lots of mistakes and running off too.

[f1316]

Oh and I have absolutely no idea who will win - which is also a great sign about the season.

[GPR-A duplicate2]

Oh and I have absolutely no idea who will win - which is also a great sign about the season.

If only Renault PU had another 20 hp grunt.

[Hammerfist]

A few years ago, fans complained about the new tracks… F1 goes to an old track, people still complaining…
Really, it's getting anoying Reading comments… Monaco almost doesn't have any straight, people say that no longer should be in modern F1… this track, with long straight, fast corners, it's reasonably wide… also doesn't should be in modern F1.

Maybe the problems are not the tracks…

Are you really expecting the whole internet/F1 fans community to agree on something?

As part of growing, there comes a point when your entire wardrobe becomes useless as you have outgrown them. The strengths and demands of modern F1 cars are vastly different to that of cars from a decade or two ago. If a track like Montreal couldn't offer a proper racing fight for the leading group, you have to understand that there is something not right. Either you change the cars back to suit them to the circuits the way they exist, OR change the layout of the circuits to suit the strengths of the modern cars. I don't see it to be any tougher to understand.

A decade or two from now, when FIA would have made enormous progress on Safety and the cars breach 400 kph barrier and move closer to 500 kph (if F1 doesn't get there, I am sure some other series would get there, the new test for maglev is 600 kph for normal passenger usage, where would Maglev be in 20 years and how would F1 appear in front of ordinary train journey), should these circuits remain the way they are? OR Should they change to accommodate the demands of those cars? It's like either you get stuck in the past or change to accommodate the future. Change is the only constant, to the cars and to the circuits.

That problem with Canada wasn't the cars or the track, it was because the top 6 were all capable of running at a pace that was too similar to each other. Noone tried a different strategy, everyone went for a one stopper,. I'm afraid that we will see more races like Canada if everyone just follows Pirelli's instructions and just do a one stopper. I think someone might have stolen that race if they had gone for an agressive 2 stopper. Definitely would have livened things up, that's for sure.

[mani517]

In the context of tyre degradation, I see many of us are really unhappy with Pirelli and their tire compounds. I don't know if Pirelli deserve the criticism they get - frankly, I don't really know if the engineered degradation and focus it gets is really necessary.

The real question is, why teams baby sit the tires? With overtaking a difficult prospect, no-one wants to risk track position for an extra pit stop/fresh tires. Driving to delta has become a habit with the engine life requirements and fuel flow constraints these days, so much so that driving slow enough to save a (few) pit stop(s) should fit right into the regular race plan (as THE minimum risk strategy).

Do the slow degrading tires contribute to dull races? Does driving to delta (not-pushing-flat-out) contribute to slow tire degradation? IMO, this is a chicken-and-egg problem - the day (natural) overtaking becomes a normality and pushing flat out benefits the driver, the tire degradation will become less of a problem.

[Yurasyk]

Ferrari will need a lot of running this weekend if they want to find a better set-up than in Barcelona. So they need a dry weather for all the FPs, if not they will suffer.

There were 2 days of testing after Spanish GP, so I suppose they have had enough time for a proper setup.

[Andres125sx]

I´m getting confused.... Le Castellet?.... Paul Ricard?

This layout looks completely different to MotoGP´s Paul Ricard...

I´m surely missing something, what?

[Vasconia]

That problem with Canada wasn't the cars or the track, it was because the top 6 were all capable of running at a pace that was too similar to each other. Noone tried a different strategy, everyone went for a one stopper,. I'm afraid that we will see more races like Canada if everyone just follows Pirelli's instructions and just do a one stopper. I think someone might have stolen that race if they had gone for an agressive 2 stopper. Definitely would have livened things up, that's for sure.

I am sure that RB would have tried something but it seems that one stop strategy was clearly better. And let´s say it it didnt look that RB had the pace to make a two stop strategy work.

[Vasconia]

Ferrari will need a lot of running this weekend if they want to find a better set-up than in Barcelona. So they need a dry weather for all the FPs, if not they will suffer.

There were 2 days of testing after Spanish GP, so I suppose they have had enough time for a proper setup.

Yes, but this is a different track and we know that Ferrari usually needs all the FPS to find the correct set-up, while Mercedes and RB seem to find it more easily.

[miguelbento]

I´m getting confused.... Le Castellet?.... Paul Ricard?

This layout looks completely different to MotoGP´s Paul Ricard...

I´m surely missing something, what?

The last motorcycle race in Paul Ricard was in 1999 (pre-MotoGP), and they used the short circuit:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1999_Fren ... Grand_Prix

[Gothrek]

In the context of tyre degradation, I see many of us are really unhappy with Pirelli and their tire compounds. I don't know if Pirelli deserve the criticism they get - frankly, I don't really know if the engineered degradation and focus it gets is really necessary.

The real question is, why teams baby sit the tires? With overtaking a difficult prospect, no-one wants to risk track position for an extra pit stop/fresh tires. Driving to delta has become a habit with the engine life requirements and fuel flow constraints these days, so much so that driving slow enough to save a (few) pit stop(s) should fit right into the regular race plan (as THE minimum risk strategy).

Do the slow degrading tires contribute to dull races? Does driving to delta (not-pushing-flat-out) contribute to slow tire degradation? IMO, this is a chicken-and-egg problem - the day (natural) overtaking becomes a normality and pushing flat out benefits the driver, the tire degradation will become less of a problem.

I think Pirelli fully deserves all criticism on their tires. Because simply put, they are barely up to standard for F1.
In the beginning they were much slower then Bridgestone (around 1,5s). Next they still haven't build a decent wet tire after how many years?

[mani517]

I think Pirelli fully deserves all criticism on their tires. Because simply put, they are barely up to standard for F1.
In the beginning they were much slower then Bridgestone (around 1,5s). Next they still haven't build a decent wet tire after how many years?

With all due respect, the standard of F1 is a debatable thing. In my view, those who put the blame only on Pirelli are expecting tire manufacturer to make up for F1's shortcomings. I don't mean to say Pirelli is doing a perfect job, but, it isn't just Pirelli.

[zac510]

The drivers who come 2nd and below will never be happy with any tyres. The manufacturer is easy to attack because its a 3rd party company, so you can attack it all you like without offending your own team (which may have done a poor job in designing the car to the tyres).
Making 5 compounds/tyres to work on 10 different cars (engineering philosophies), for 20 different drivers (driving styles), on 20 different (tarmac aggregate) tracks, some tracks having various fast and slow corners, in at least a dozen different climatic conditions, allowing drivers to 'push 100%' (if that is even a real thing) while making exactly a two stop race every time, must be nigh on impossible.

[MtthsMlw]

[media]https://twitter.com/tgruener/status/1009748583145406470[/media]

[santos]

28 years without a F1 race, and still the management of circuit will receive this race with a track in poor conditions. It is being reported that the track has been ripped up. So there will be plenty of different asphalt patches. I think this will not please any driver and won't be good for tyres. I really like the layout of the circuit, but i hoped it was in perfect conditions.