2017 Monaco Grand Prix, Monte Carlo, 26-28 May

[FrukostScones]

I have the feeling Merc will be using Bottas as a dummy, just like Kimi will be for Ferrari, just to test out how things pan out when they switch tires during the race. So they know when they should pit for Lewis and Seb without compromising track position.

Why do you get that feeling? My feeling is that Mercedes don't want Hamilton to feel he is number 1. That is the last thing this new Mercedes Administration wants because Hamilton would be too influential in the team. See the Nico Vs Hamilton era.

BOT is driving for the occasional glory,but his main duty is being a moving chicane to VET.

[WaikeCU]

I have the feeling Merc will be using Bottas as a dummy, just like Kimi will be for Ferrari, just to test out how things pan out when they switch tires during the race. So they know when they should pit for Lewis and Seb without compromising track position.

Why do you get that feeling? My feeling is that Mercedes don't want Hamilton to feel he is number 1. That is the last thing this new Mercedes Administration wants because Hamilton would be too influential in the team. See the Nico Vs Hamilton era.

I'm not insinuating it's the case, but I think Merc management might think otherwise. If you look at the current situation at Ferrari, Seb is clearly quicker than Kimi in Quali and Race trim. The gap in performance between the two is immense and let's be honest, Seb is also the only Ferrari that can challenge Merc and Hamilton during Quali and during the Race at the moment. Valterri also has a first DNF this season, which is costly when he's already on the backfoot. Valterri is fast, but I think Lewis is just on a different level.

Monaco is a circuit where overtaking is nearly impossible. Even more now, because of the wider cars and also quicker cars through turns. The race will be won after the first and potentially last round of pitstops. I think the driver in front after the first round of pitstops will win the race, because:

- Mandatory stop has already been done by changing to a different type of compound
- He can control the race up front and react on the cars behind when needed.

I think pitting first will be vital for the race, because the improvement in pace on fresher rubber will be noticeable. Unlike in the past few races, Lewis pitting after a longer first stint is not an option. The effect of being the hare chasing the leader on fresher rubber does not work as well in Monaco.

[CriXus]

https://twitter.com/pirellisport/status ... 9813388289

[Bill_Kar]

https://twitter.com/pirellisport/status ... 9813388289

That will be massive advantage for Ferrari.

[Just_a_fan]

I think pitting first will be vital for the race, because the improvement in pace on fresher rubber will be noticeable. Unlike in the past few races, Lewis pitting after a longer first stint is not an option. The effect of being the hare chasing the leader on fresher rubber does not work as well in Monaco.

To summarise: Track position is everything at Monaco.

For those who don't remember: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsqipJ2lSZs

[dans79]

https://twitter.com/pirellisport/status ... 9813388289

That will be massive advantage for Ferrari.

We have no way of knowing, it could just as easily hurt them.

[PlatinumZealot]

Psi back down to "Normal' levels..

[BanMeToo]

At least they're open to dropping them each race. It's dumb in the first place but I can see why they don't want any more failing tires...

[djos]

https://twitter.com/pirellisport/status ... 9813388289

That will be massive advantage for Ferrari.

For all we know it might bring RedBull back into the game. Danny Ricciardo is a bit of a Monaco specialist and iirc in the past higher tire pressures have hurt RedBull.

[Bill_Kar]

https://twitter.com/pirellisport/status ... 9813388289

That will be massive advantage for Ferrari.

For all we know our might bring RedBull back into the game. Danny Ricciardo is a bit of a Monaco specialist and iirc in the past higher tire pressures have hurt RedBull.

Yes of course I'm just taking into account an AMuS article about pressure war, and that lower pressures help Ferrari's cause rather than Mercedes'.(Allegedly ,it goes as far as Mercedes feeding wrong feedback on tyre pressures)

http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/form ... 34439.html

[PhillipM]

I don't know why they'd point the finger at Mercedes, they've suffered more than anyone with starts and tyre wear when the pressures got bumped.

You'd be better off looking at certain teams that aren't making the downforce they expected/loading the tyres enough and can't figure out why...

[giantfan10]

At least they're open to dropping them each race. It's dumb in the first place but I can see why they don't want any more failing tires...

The PSI was high in the first place because Pirelli says that 2 teams were giving them bogus data to keep the pressures high... Mercedes was the obvious choice as to teams who would benefit from doing that... who was the other team?
Here is an excerpt from AMUS:

Pirelli technician Mario Isola defended himself: "We determine the pressures on the output data, which we get from the teams three weeks before the race . In Barcelona the cars were heavily modified and thus the contact pressure increased. We reacted to this. If we see from our own measurements after a training day that the values ​​do not match the reality, we change the limits for the air pressure. "
"Ferrari suspects that only teams that have an interest in high pressure can be behind it. So it most likely was Mercedes. Mario Isola did not want to comment on the rumors. "It is true that some of the output values ​​in reality prove to be exaggerated."

[giantfan10]

I don't know why they'd point the finger at Mercedes, they've suffered more than anyone with starts and tyre wear when the pressures got bumped.

You'd be better off looking at certain teams that aren't making the downforce they expected/loading the tyres enough and can't figure out why...

They pointed the finger at Mercedes because they claim that mercedes designed their cars with higher tire pressures in mind and that the ferrari's aero better handles the deformation of the tires that come with lower pressures.
they point to 2016 as proof... dont shoot the messenger : )

[Phil]

Justed wanted to clarify that AMuS is using this conclusion because Mercedes looked mighty on a few occasions on Friday (namely Barcelona) and then after Pirelli looked at the data of various teams, then decided to lower the pressures for Saturday and Sunday, with the result then that Ferrari ended up much closer. Not quite sure if this logic is entirely sound and accurate.

I think watching the ORF broadcast (with Alexander Wurz) there was some thoughts that Ferrari and Mercedes like to do things in reverse, i.e. Mercedes using more potent maps (and running closer to the limit) on Fridays while Ferrari do on Saturday morning. Hence why Mercedes seems quicker on Friday and Ferrari seemingly closes the gap on Saturday and both ending up neck at neck at QF.

Probably just lots of speculation...

I think the biggest revelation of Spain was that Mercedes seems to have solved much of its tire issues though with the latest batch of updates, as, at least in the hands of Lewis's and his car, he was able to do quite impressive stints on both tires during the race.

[dans79]

Justed wanted to clarify that AMuS is using this conclusion because Mercedes looked mighty on a few occasions on Friday (namely Barcelona) and then after Pirelli looked at the data of various teams, then decided to lower the pressures for Saturday and Sunday, with the result then that Ferrari ended up much closer. Not quite sure if this logic is entirely sound and accurate.

I have to agree. The view is incredibly simplistic, as lower pressures doesn't always mean faster. It reads half like a writer scrambling to come up with something to say, and half like a fanboys daydream. It made no mention of how lower pressures affect the contact patch, slip angle, or even operating temperature, all of which have a substantial impact on how 'fast' the car is.