2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Yas Marina, Dec 10 - 12

[PlatinumZealot]

Where is this "Mercedes rocket" stuff coming from? They were only a tenth or so ahead in practice, and it's just practice. When it counted Red Bull was quicker, and they were quicker in the race sims on Friday. If either car is a rocket, right now it's the Red Bull.

I actually think they are fairly equal.

More and more I believe the spicy Brazil rocket engine thing is a myth to distract RedBull. I really don't see any evidence to suggest that this spicy engine with 30 more horsepower ever existed! Was probably just a very sweet set-up on Hamilton's car in Brazil!

[godlameroso]

Not much difference between soft and medium tires as far as longevity goes, this is because the pace advantage of the soft allows one to manage that so that the wear and pace cross over. I think the real race is for the constructors, not the driver's. It's a two stop no matter what, as the hard tire doesn't have more than 150km in it. In Jeddah the C3 lasted roughly 100-110km, this being slightly lower wear circuit, 150km is just about half race distance, the medium/soft will probably be capable of ~60-80km, that's 230, race is 306, that's 76km which means another stop no matter what.

[ringo]

Not much difference between soft and medium tires as far as longevity goes, this is because the pace advantage of the soft allows one to manage that so that the wear and pace cross over. I think the real race is for the constructors, not the driver's. It's a two stop no matter what, as the hard tire doesn't have more than 150km in it. In Jeddah the C3 lasted roughly 100-110km, this being slightly lower wear circuit, 150km is just about half race distance, the medium/soft will probably be capable of ~60-80km, that's 230, race is 306, that's 76km which means another stop no matter what.

You picked this up from practice?
I was not able to watch practice this weekend.

[PlatinumZealot]

The idea that Hamilton deliberately didn't take pole is a bit absurd. They will have to have a battle on track if Hamilton wants to win, especially considering Verstappen will probably undercut Hamilton. Seems like just an idea used to discredit RB and Maxs work today

It probably wasn’t deliberate but max is still at a disadvantage starting on the softs. “If” SA is anything to go by then Lewis will just sit behind and wait for Max’s tyres to go off and probably go for a safe DRS pass.
I honestly don’t think the Redbull will be faster in the race

RedBull may not mind if they get froced to pit earlier from tyre wear, the last time it happend in Austin they capitlaized on it by forcing the issue with the undercut and Mercedes were caught napping. That track has hier tire wear though.

In Yas Marina now, Mercedes has to really be sure whether or not it's better to stay out if Max tries for the undercut. If they are confident on the hard tyres they could follow him into the pits but it will be a dog-fight till the end. If they are confident they have more life in the medium they could go long and hope for safety cars or hope that Max's tyres go dead in a long second stint.

Following on from thise scenarios it does seem Mercedes have more cards to play though.

[wogx]

A bit off-topic, but that's so spectacular!
Stabilized helmet cam view:

[Pany]

Not much difference between soft and medium tires as far as longevity goes, this is because the pace advantage of the soft allows one to manage that so that the wear and pace cross over. I think the real race is for the constructors, not the driver's. It's a two stop no matter what, as the hard tire doesn't have more than 150km in it. In Jeddah the C3 lasted roughly 100-110km, this being slightly lower wear circuit, 150km is just about half race distance, the medium/soft will probably be capable of ~60-80km, that's 230, race is 306, that's 76km which means another stop no matter what.

You picked this up from practice?
I was not able to watch practice this weekend.

I really hope you are right. But i recall anytime we presume there will be 2 stop possibility, during the race we end up seeing 90% of times only 1 stop....

[Big Tea]

Will Merc ask Lando to tailgun Lewis for the first few corners? and Would he do it if they did?

Norris and Verstappen are very good friends, so he absolutely will not do that. I imagine he mostly doesn't want to get too involved.

I think its naïve to think he will not do what the team tells him just because he is friendly with Max.
He would not need to do anything other than position his car w where Bottas would (not) to stop anyone Joining the fight with a dive on the first corner the corner

I see it as tip-toe for Hamilton and look to get a tyre change under a VSC. It can not be won until the end, but it can be lost at any point

[nimoraca]

With Wolff admitting that long run pace of RedBull is worrying, this might not even come to strategy decisions. With Perez a tenth up on the Mercs on the same tire during the race sim, and knowing that Verstappen always has better race pace than Sergio, it might be hard for Lewis to keep up. Mers only rain of hope is that Red Bulls messed up with the tire choice.

[El Scorchio]

A bit off-topic, but that's so spectacular!
Stabilized helmet cam view:

That is cool.

[search]

Is this real?
https://www.wykop.pl/cdn/c3201142/comme ... HvCped.jpg

no, it's a satire account. Also not a particularly funny one

[godlameroso]

Not much difference between soft and medium tires as far as longevity goes, this is because the pace advantage of the soft allows one to manage that so that the wear and pace cross over. I think the real race is for the constructors, not the driver's. It's a two stop no matter what, as the hard tire doesn't have more than 150km in it. In Jeddah the C3 lasted roughly 100-110km, this being slightly lower wear circuit, 150km is just about half race distance, the medium/soft will probably be capable of ~60-80km, that's 230, race is 306, that's 76km which means another stop no matter what.

You picked this up from practice?
I was not able to watch practice this weekend.

I really hope you are right. But i recall anytime we presume there will be 2 stop possibility, during the race we end up seeing 90% of times only 1 stop....

2 stops for my own comfort lol, you guys think my strategy is the team's strategy, while they may overlap they are not exactly the same. I don't have to consider track position on a solo run, I am alpha and omega, in a race you have competitors. I only do the race to give a general hint of pace and degradation, and because I like to think I can hang with the big dogs(I know I can't, they're on another dimension of driving ability). Just because I would do a two stop doesn't mean they have to do it, they can just nurse the tires longer and live with not going faster. I can't do that, so I stop again cause I have to go faster or I get upset at myself.

[El_KaPpa]

Let say Verstappen will pit for hards committed to the end will Hamilton have enough life in his tires at that time to create a delta against hards for an undercut?

[Tom145145]

You picked this up from practice?
I was not able to watch practice this weekend.

I really hope you are right. But i recall anytime we presume there will be 2 stop possibility, during the race we end up seeing 90% of times only 1 stop....

2 stops for my own comfort lol, you guys think my strategy is the team's strategy, while they may overlap they are not exactly the same. I don't have to consider track position on a solo run, I am alpha and omega, in a race you have competitors. I only do the race to give a general hint of pace and degradation, and because I like to think I can hang with the big dogs(I know I can't, they're on another dimension of driving ability). Just because I would do a two stop doesn't mean they have to do it, they can just nurse the tires longer and live with not going faster. I can't do that, so I stop again cause I have to go faster or I get upset at myself.

I think traction out of the new hairpin and chicane will be key. If Verstappen can keep them in check for a reasonable first stint I think he will be ok, but once the rears go off you are a sitting duck on the straight even with a similar top speed as you will loose on all the straight. It’s not all done for either driver. I would say this has evened it up going into the race, slight advantage to Max.

[godlameroso]

Let say Verstappen will pit for hards committed to the end will Hamilton have enough life in his tires at that time to create a delta against hards for an undercut?

There is no scenario where a one stop is possible.

[hollus]

Based on a sim.