Mestrades wrote:These are linear regressions eliminating the anomalies of the best pilots stints in FP2.
I know it is not very representative (only need look at the stint of Maldonado). However it is clear that Schumy and Rosberg go together and that the degradation is similar to Button or Kimmi, albeit with worse times (I think that this is what happened in Melbourne). Like Schumy, I'm not too optimistic. The car still going fast in 1 lap but in long runs it's a trap! It's obvious that we don't know the charge of everyone, but I would prefer to be with faster times and not to be the worst in the graph.
A DRS can give 1s with a 18-20 km boost. Whitemarsh says the FW F-duct can give a 6-8 km boost. Now Mercedes have a Rear Wing W-duct & the car is more stable too with the whole arrangement. I think they are gaining a SOLID 0.5s during Qualifying which is making them look too good.
I would say if the Qualifying is a 0.3-0.4s off the pace then in the race it would probably be 0.8-0.9s off the pace. That is my take.
They have a brilliant system. If this W-duct was yielding 1 or 2 tenths then Red Bull would not have been bitching so much. The car is an improvement but clearly not good enough.
I expected the W02 to be within 0.5s off the pace & if that was the case W03 would be 1-2 in Q3. Mechanically,traction wise & in the exhaust W02 needs a Solid Step Forward. I do feel that MSC inside is slightly dissapointed about the fact by Mugello or after most teams would copy this W-duct to some extent & then this advantage in Qualifying will be well gone.
I feel sad too. They have a got a Huge thing but cant take FULL advantage of it.
