2025 Dutch Grand Prix - Zandvoort, Aug 29 - 31

[RedNEO]

Hope the AM pace transfers to the race.

I’m wondering if they can improve the race pace from Hungary now that they may have a definite answer why they were fast.

[venkyhere]

Out of curiosity, I was comparing the Q laptimes at Zandvoort :
2023 RB19 : 24.324 , 24.504 , 21.739
2024 RB20 : 24.073 , 24.731 , 21.225
2024 MCL38 : 23.824 , 24.819 , 21.030

The most interesting takeway is the amount of swing in the sector times. It's known that the RB is generally faster than the McL in the high speed corners (most of S2) , but didn't expect so much swing - perhaps its the different downforce level choices as S1 is dominated by medium speed corners and S3 has one mega slow section (T11-T12). Which in turn means we will witness a myriad spectrum of wing levels as 'the setup' across teams, come qualifying on saturday.

Another interesting takaway is how the RB20 is a massive improvement (-0.5s+) over the 'world beater' RB19 (shows how bad the rest of the grid was, in 2019). Indication of what a mega monster the McL38 itself was. No words for the McL39, it's going to wipe the floor with the rest of the grid.

Continuing in the same vein, after going through FP1 and FP2 data, if the Q remains dry (and if the cars don't change much), this is the track where the gap between the McL39 and RB21 is going to be the greatest, as per my estimate. Out of all teams, the team that was sandbagging the most (both Q runs and long runs) was McLaren.

Expecting a Q time of 1:08:9xx to 1:09.0xx for the McL39 and a Q time of 1:09.8xx to 1:09.9xx for the RB21
Expecting a median race laptime of 1:13.xxx for McL39 and 1:15.xxx for RB21 (provided the race remains dry).
Let's see how far off the reality my prediction is going to be (the only 'thrill' I have regarding this race ).

[De Wet]

So much for all the predicted rain. Let's hope it stays dry for a Mclaren 1/2...

[mwillems]

Wow, that lap time from Norris. Ominous doesn't describe it.

[mwillems]

Mclaren saving an extra set of hards for the race and are looking to get through Q on four sets of softs.

[venkyhere]

Expecting a Q time of 1:08:9xx to 1:09.0xx for the McL39 and a Q time of 1:09.8xx to 1:09.9xx for the RB21

Looks like I nailed it , just that it was FP3
In quali we might see :
the McL39 be faster by 0.1-0.15, ie 1:08:8xx
and
the RB21 to be faster by 0.3, ie 1:09:6xx.

Expecting P3 fight between VER and RUS.

[mwillems]

With the track evolving as it is, I think you might be being conservative, but we'll see.

[search]

Mclaren saving an extra set of hards for the race and are looking to get through Q on four sets of softs.

they should be fine, I guess. Not sure about Aston Martin, who were confident enough to do the same.

[mwillems]

Mclaren saving an extra set of hards for the race and are looking to get through Q on four sets of softs.

they should be fine, I guess. Not sure about Aston Martin, who were confident enough to do the same.

https://i.imgur.com/X8JA0Sm.png

Yeah. The gap is huge for such a short track, so far. They are likely faster than most even on used tyres.

I'm glad to see it, Mclaren have been too conservative with tyres in Q1/Q2 previously I think, letting others claw back into their advantage with their own tyre advantage.

[renault rs26]

So much for all the predicted rain. Let's hope it stays dry for a Mclaren 1/2...

Hopefully it will stay dry so we can see how many laps McLaren needs to lap everyone else.

[search]

Verstappen could do three runs in Q3. He has three new sets of softs left.

[stephen]

Q2 is done and it would be a huge surprise if we don't see both McLaren divers starting the race tomorrow on the first row. Both McLarens are literally flying.

[mwillems]

Piastri made a mistake and then got a tow on the home straight to claw back that time.

Lando does seem marginally faster but its close.

[CjC]

Think we’ve seen some special laps today. Top 4 in particular

[search]

don't think it'll matter much, but here are the tires everyone should have left for the race (tbc):