Race Stretegies

[danielk]

With the whole new Power units it is very likely that races will be very different. People choosing to push at different stages etc due to the fuel consumption restrictions.

How much of an affect on strategy do you guys think the new engines will have and what might be some of the strategies used by teams along with their pros and cons?

with regards fuel efficiency would it not be ideal for you to be behind other cars for more of the race therefore reducing drag?
Might it be being out in front is really bad for fuel consumption?

Will we see closer racing due to cars not wanting to Bolt at the beginning of races to conserve fuel?

Or will they want to burn off the fuel hard at the beginning of races and take it easier later on?

What affect will it have that cars will consume more fuel at the beginning of races compared to the end seen as though cars weigh more at the start?

hmmmmmm....??????

[Jersey Tom]

There will be times you push aggressively, and times you conserve. Just like it is now with tires. So in a way, fundamentally not much different.

Real question will be how far under 2013 performance will the fuel rules be this year, i.e. how much conservation will you really need to do.

[mkable1370]

Can you imagine drivers intentionally NOT passing in DRS zones while maintain a close proximity and basically doing a nascar style draft behind other cars so that they can turning down their engine or using slightly less than full throttle down the straightaway to conserve that extra bit of fuel? Could we see fights to NOT be the lead car going into the DRS zones this season? Turns race strategy on its head for sure!

[Per]

Gut feeling says tyre degradation will still be too bad for drivers to want to stay behind another car.

[kalinka]

There will be times you push aggressively, and times you conserve. Just like it is now with tires. So in a way, fundamentally not much different.

Real question will be how far under 2013 performance will the fuel rules be this year, i.e. how much conservation will you really need to do.

Another aspect of this > How can they "synchronise" fuel usage with tyre usage? I mean it could be some bad situations when you have enough fuel to push, but you have worn out tyres, and sometimes it could be another way > you have fresh tyres but you can't push because you have to conserve fuel. Also you want to be on softer tyre when you have fuel to push, and not on the slower/harder compound. If you have a nice gap at the front, it's ok, but if you have to fight in the middle, it will be a problem.

[basti313]

Can you imagine drivers intentionally NOT passing in DRS zones while maintain a close proximity

No.
Short: DRS normally burns fuel and sticking in a 1sec gap burns tires.
Long: You could save some fuel with a lower engine setting which allows you to stay in the same distance over the DRS straight, but you still would have the dirty air problem (slower cornering -> burning fuel).

[Sombrero]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pS0gKOLG5W4[/youtube]

30 years ago...