2021 São Paulo Grand Prix - Interlagos, Nov 12-14

[ringo]

Good going by Merc. I know like Mexico the redbull is setup for tyre wear, and also they are taking it easy on their engines.
If the weather is mixed on Sunday, the tyre wear bias can backfire.

[AeroDynamic]

so its a season of which team gives their driver the happiest car on the day sometimes. difficult to claim which car is faster based on that. Especially when we're citing screaming tyres and temperatures. Its not like Max walked away and said "the car was great" so clearly the RB isn't extracting its potential. anyway these emotional responses on this subject is quite funny.

It’s the same people starting it any time a Merc is faster in a session.

It’s a tantrum because they’re so used to RBR prevailing in all the sessions.

My only guess.

Goes both ways, just look at the meltdown you've just experienced in these past few posts when someone dare mentions mercedes isn't fastest and hamilton isn't performing miracles every time he breaths.

But since you've said I'm predictable, if you go to mexico thread you'll actually find me saying after qualifying that verstappen was in it for pole even though he was more than 3 tenths down. I didn't say red bull sucks and the car is bad after qualifying, because throughout practice it was obvious they had a very good car on that track.

Just before the race I even made a video about it that perfectly shows red bull wasn't that far off the pace in quali (if at all) without tsunoda's incident hindering final laps (post here: viewtopic.php?p=1008978#p1008978 ). Basically I went to lengths 99% of people on here wouldn't dream of going to, just to prove RB wasn't as sh1t a car in quali as it seemed initially.

Today the situation is entirely different. Whenever you go onboard on either car you can see mercedes is just easier to drive and more planted (and is a missile up the hill). RB is fishtailing all across the track and had corner entry understeer. You don't even need sector times to see this.

Why do you go to such lengths to argue something that max himself already gave the answer to? Fresh engine, and his car is not set up optimally for the day. it might be completely different Sunday.

what use is this sample if we're comparing lewis happy in his Mercedes, to max who isn't driving happy in his RB today? I just don't get it

[zibby43]

so its a season of which team gives their driver the happiest car on the day sometimes. difficult to claim which car is faster based on that. Especially when we're citing screaming tyres and temperatures. Its not like Max walked away and said "the car was great" so clearly the RB isn't extracting its potential. anyway these emotional responses on this subject is quite funny.

It’s the same people starting it any time a Merc is faster in a session.

It’s a tantrum because they’re so used to RBR prevailing in all the sessions.

My only guess.

Goes both ways, just look at the meltdown you've just experienced in these past few posts when someone dare mentions mercedes isn't fastest and hamilton isn't performing miracles every time he breaths.

But since you've said I'm predictable, if you go to mexico thread you'll actually find me saying after qualifying that verstappen was in it for pole even though he was more than 3 tenths down. I didn't say red bull sucks and the car is bad after qualifying, because throughout practice it was obvious they had a very good car on that track.

Just before the race I even made a video about it that perfectly shows red bull wasn't that far off the pace in quali (if at all) without tsunoda's incident hindering final laps (post here: viewtopic.php?p=1008978#p1008978 ). Basically I went to lengths 99% of people on here wouldn't dream of going to, just to prove RB wasn't as sh1t a car in quali as it seemed initially.

Today the situation is entirely different. Whenever you go onboard on either car you can see mercedes is just easier to drive and more planted (and is a missile up the hill). RB is fishtailing all across the track and had corner entry understeer. You don't even need sector times to see this.

What meltdown? I hadn’t posted anything celebrating the pole, etc. I didn’t post until you tried to erroneously state that the Merc was a dominant car today. What was the purpose of that post? To antagonize? Because you’re clearly smart enough to know it’s not true.

Max split the Mercs, and a fresh PU at Interlagos is worth 2 tenths easily. Obviously the RB’s tire prep wasn’t great today, either.

And yeah, you did say that in Mexico, but you have a tendency to overhype Merc’s performances sometimes.

[aral]

Please, please stop this petty arguing about whom is best. Most responsible posters want this pointless fanboy talk to stop so that the actual race etc can be discussed. So please try to act like adults rather than star struck kids.....PLEASE !

[dans79]

How many times have RB mentioned "new engine"

That's been the party line since about 2008.

When we lose it's because of the engine, when we win, it's because we have the superior aero/chassis department. It will be interesting to hear if/how the story changes when they are the ones designing and making the engines!

[Juzh]

It’s the same people starting it any time a Merc is faster in a session.

It’s a tantrum because they’re so used to RBR prevailing in all the sessions.

My only guess.

Goes both ways, just look at the meltdown you've just experienced in these past few posts when someone dare mentions mercedes isn't fastest and hamilton isn't performing miracles every time he breaths.

But since you've said I'm predictable, if you go to mexico thread you'll actually find me saying after qualifying that verstappen was in it for pole even though he was more than 3 tenths down. I didn't say red bull sucks and the car is bad after qualifying, because throughout practice it was obvious they had a very good car on that track.

Just before the race I even made a video about it that perfectly shows red bull wasn't that far off the pace in quali (if at all) without tsunoda's incident hindering final laps (post here: viewtopic.php?p=1008978#p1008978 ). Basically I went to lengths 99% of people on here wouldn't dream of going to, just to prove RB wasn't as sh1t a car in quali as it seemed initially.

Today the situation is entirely different. Whenever you go onboard on either car you can see mercedes is just easier to drive and more planted (and is a missile up the hill). RB is fishtailing all across the track and had corner entry understeer. You don't even need sector times to see this.

What meltdown? I hadn’t posted anything celebrating the pole, etc. I didn’t post until you tried to erroneously state that the Merc was a dominant car today. What was the purpose of that post? To antagonize? Because you’re clearly smart enough to know it’s not true.

Max split the Mercs, and a fresh PU at Interlagos is worth 2 tenths easily. Obviously the RB’s tire prep wasn’t great today, either.

And yeah, you did say that in Mexico, but you have a tendency to overhype Merc’s performances sometimes.

That's because bottas is an on/off driver. Either he'll beat hamilton when everything is perfect for him, or he'll be nowhere. We've seen it time and time again, even in 2020 verstappen could occasionally get in between them when really he shouldn't even be able to do so.

[Tvetovnato]

Looking realistically at this season, it's fair to say that it's EXTREMELY dependent on the circumstances, even session by session during a weekend, who is the fastest at a given point. Many put Silverstone as a Mercedes stronghold even this year, simply because Hamilton managed to do a comfortable P1 on Friday. However, that was solely due to the temperatures being extremely low compared to the rest of the weekend. A Red Bull engineer confirmed that the track temp was the deciding factor, which could be seen in the actual sprint where Verstappen easily won.

Now, looking at today, it's basically the same story. Small factors are adding up to the Merc advantage, such a temps, a fresh engine for Hamilton, and a Verstappen complaining on overheating tyres (setup probably not optimal yet). But as even Verstappen said, that might change tomorrow and on Sunday, since it will be a lot warmer, and then the power balance might flip yet again.

So looking at one session like today to try and determine who clearly has the best package, is not simply not correct. All we can say is that it will be super close as usual when the actual race will be under way.

[AeroDynamic]

Looking realistically at this season, it's fair to say that it's EXTREMELY dependent on the circumstances, even session by session during a weekend, who is the fastest at a given point. Many put Silverstone as a Mercedes stronghold even this year, simply because Hamilton managed to do a comfortable P1 on Friday. However, that was solely due to the temperatures being extremely low compared to the rest of the weekend. A Red Bull engineer confirmed that the track temp was the deciding factor, which could be seen in the actual sprint where Verstappen easily won.

Now, looking at today, it's basically the same story. Small factors are adding up to the Merc advantage, such a temps, a fresh engine for Hamilton, and a Verstappen complaining on overheating tyres (setup probably not optimal yet). But as even Verstappen said, that might change tomorrow and on Sunday, since it will be a lot warmer, and then the power balance might flip yet again.

So looking at one session like today to try and determine who clearly has the best package, is not simply not correct. All we can say is that it will be super close as usual when the actual race will be under way.

It’s refreshing to see a sensible and well thought through comment on what we’ve seen today, other than this hyperbole-hungry individuals that have an agenda with perception within formula 1, regardless of who you may root for. Bravo.

[Nathanael F1]

Horner said it`ll be down to who manage better rear tyres in the race, knowing the temps will rise until Sunday race. That`s why we could see VER fighting with understeer in qualy coz was dialled to the car in order to protect the rear tyres more at the Sunday race ...

And he will probably have clean air on race day making it even easier to manage the rears. Meanwhile, Hamilton needs to make his way through from 5th or 6th on the grid (depending on tomorrow). I'd put my money on Verstappen for Sunday if I was in to that sort of thing.

Wouldn’t Hamilton be starting Sunday’s race 6th on the grid at best?

Let’s say Hamilton finishes 1st in the Sprint.1st + 5 grid drop = 6th

1 place grid drop: 2nd on Sunday’s grid
2 place grid drop: 3rd on Sunday’s grid
3 place grid drop: 4th “ ”
4 place grid drop: 5th “ ”
5 place grid drop: 6th “ ”

[214270]

Davidson had a great breakdown on the skypad. Pretty much neck & neck up until the twisties in sector 2 where HAM drove the better line & found the lap time.

[godlameroso]

I wonder if the softs can do the Sprint race. Or if the medium or hard tire will come into play?

[AMG.Tzan]

Don't get carried away Mercedes boys!

Low temperatures helped Mercedes today but tomorrow it will be hotter which will favor Red Bull! We've seen before what a good qualifying pace can translate to on Sunday (Mexico) so don't expect Lewis to challenge for the win on Sunday! At Turkey Hamilton was miles ahead of the field and still ended up 5th...

Bottas as always not where he should be! If he can't challenge Verstapen there's no way Hamilton can catch Max...

[dans79]

Don't get carried away Mercedes boys!

Low temperatures helped Mercedes today but tomorrow it will be hotter which will favor Red Bull! We've seen before what a good qualifying pace can translate to on Sunday (Mexico) so don't expect Lewis to challenge for the win on Sunday!

If max is overheating the tires in the cold on low fuel, it should get worse with heavy full and warmer temps, not better.

[Mchamilton]

Davidson had a great breakdown on the skypad. Pretty much neck & neck up until the twisties in sector 2 where HAM drove the better line & found the lap time.

Yep, straightline the cars are barely any different, lewis 3/4 of the time in sector 2 which is all corners, turns 8/9 he smoked max big time

[Mchamilton]

Don't get carried away Mercedes boys!

Low temperatures helped Mercedes today but tomorrow it will be hotter which will favor Red Bull! We've seen before what a good qualifying pace can translate to on Sunday (Mexico) so don't expect Lewis to challenge for the win on Sunday!

If max is overheating the tires in the cold on low fuel, it should get worse with heavy full and warmer temps, not better.

he could be sliding due to sub optimal core tyre temps, then overheatin the surface because of that. He had masses of understeer in the car