2015 Japanese Grand Prix - Suzuka

[SiLo]

The Ferrari camp are still marginal with engines. Even if somehow Ferrari do emerge the team to beat for remaining races they could end up taking costly penalties.

Anyway unless I'm missing something... The Motorsport article today said they weren't overheating their tyres like I read on here. They were infact not generating enough heat. Unless I'm missing something doesn't that dismiss the pressure theory? Higher pressures should help them with temperature, not hinder.

Might explain why for a while now their stint lengths are usually the longest of anyone, whilst running faster too.

[dans79]

The Ferrari camp are still marginal with engines. Even if somehow Ferrari do emerge the team to beat for remaining races they could end up taking costly penalties.

Anyway unless I'm missing something... The Motorsport article today said they weren't overheating their tyres like I read on here. They were infact not generating enough heat. Unless I'm missing something doesn't that dismiss the pressure theory? Higher pressures should help them with temperature, not hinder.

Teams have to be concerned with 2 different tire temperatures. The tread surface temperature, and the internal temperature. I think i've heard the internal one referred to as "bulk temperature".

and i mentioned here they couldn't get heat into their tires because of the higher pressures reducing sidewall flex.

[MercedesAMGSpy]

The Suzuka Free Practice sessions will be the most exciting in years.

[ferkan]

For all this talk about "track specific/set up issues", I dont think anyone can rationalize the deficit Merc had at Singapore. Its just too massive to be explained by setup and compound issues (SSs) because they looked even worse compared to Ferrari on mediums, they had to put red tires in Q1 which is just mindblowing for this years Merc.

It has got to be the tire pressure...I suspect Merc has been running much lower tire pressure then recommended by Pirelli until Monza and when we got to track where cornering and grip of the tires play major difference they stumbled and they stumbled badly. TBH their advantage everyhwere else (Monaco Qs, Spa Qs) was just inexplicably fast. You just couldnt explain it with " great package ", but tires being heavily under pressured actually could.

Nonetheless its going to be fascinating weekend in Japan and I got to say Toto and co do look worried.

[GPR-A duplicate2]

It has got to be the tire pressure...I suspect Merc has been running much lower tire pressure then recommended by Pirelli until Monza and when we got to track where cornering and grip of the tires play major difference they stumbled and they stumbled badly. TBH their advantage everyhwere else (Monaco Qs, Spa Qs) was just inexplicably fast. You just couldnt explain it with " great package ", but tires being heavily under pressured actually could.

By paying some cheap $$$ to the PIRELLI engineer, so that he shouldn't report their under inflation to PIRELLI or FIA? I pity for that engineer as he is going to lose that petty bribe.

There is no fun in over inflating the tyres and EVERY SINGLE TEAM tries to be just ON THE LIMIT prescribed by PIRELLI and some might just play a bit. But it is certain that, every team ensures the pressures of the tyres are as prescribed by PIRELLI and the PIRELLI engineer has validated it. In 2013, PIRELLI made issues about Camber adjustment and RB was furious about it, but it didn't changed anything. Last year, FRIC was taken away and that was BLOODY GOOD TOOL, but it didn't changed anything. Good packages does not depend on one single thing, unless it is a DDD or EBD. If it is as big as DDD or EBD, the team exploiting it to the fullest, WOULD BE READY TO DIE to ensure it was not stripped off in the same year. Remember RB's drama on Off-throttle blowing (Cold/Hot) in 2011?

As for Mercedes specifically, they have an uncanny record of not having a repeat occurrence of a problem, since last season. They have grown to become a strong engineering team, which quickly gets to the root of the problem and eliminate it, once and for all. They have different problem every time each of this year and last. Whether it is their tyre wear problem in Malaysia or BBW problem in Bahrain. Last year's canada break problems were nowhere to be seen this year.

Every time this year when Mercedes faced a problem, the anticipation from F1 world grew to believe that they have FINALLY LOST IT, only for Merc to come back even stronger. Will it be the case? I believe so, but it remains to be seen.

[ferkan]

AFAIK Pirelli didnt check tire pressures before Monza as it wasnt mandatory.

[wickedz50]

The Suzuka Free Practice sessions will be the most exciting in years.

Any particular reason for this? are you saying this because of the weather condition?

[motobaleno]

The Suzuka Free Practice sessions will be the most exciting in years.

Any particular reason for this? are you saying this because of the weather condition?

the reason is rather obvious mate: everyone would be greatly interested to see how fast mercedes go

[GPR-A duplicate2]

AFAIK Pirelli didnt check tire pressures before Monza as it wasnt mandatory.

Are you saying, FIA/PIRELLI went ahead and established a new rule on the fly when the race was on, measured the tyre pressures and were ready to penalise a team and the team would bow to that?

Toto Wolff Q&A:

Q: Can you explain what happened before the race with the tyre blankets? Were they heating properly?

TW: We followed the procedure which was established with Pirelli: have the tyres in the blanket and check the pressures with Pirelli. So there is always a Pirelli guy with us, ..........

[Chene_Mostert]

AFAIK Pirelli didnt check tire pressures before Monza as it wasnt mandatory.

Are you saying, FIA/PIRELLI went ahead and established a new rule on the fly when the race was on, measured the tyre pressures and were ready to penalise a team and the team would bow to that?

Toto Wolff Q&A:

Q: Can you explain what happened before the race with the tyre blankets? Were they heating properly?

TW: We followed the procedure which was established with Pirelli: have the tyres in the blanket and check the pressures with Pirelli. So there is always a Pirelli guy with us, ..........

No, he is saying FIA/Pirelli did not check pressures prior to Monza as it wasn't mandatory.

[GPR-A duplicate2]

This is interesting.

PIRELLI RAISE TYRE PRESSURES FOR F1 SINGAPORE GP

Lewis Hamilton was critical of Pirelli’s recommendations claiming if enforced it would be a “disaster.”

“In terms of putting the pressures up, I don’t personally think it is the right way,” said the newly blond Hamilton on the Thursday. He added, “I don’t think any of us have tried five psi more in these tyres because they are not designed to have five psi more”.

Having been brought into line following his expletive laden outburst at the Belgian GP, Sebastian Vettel disagreed. “I think it is right for them [Pirelli] to be extreme and in terms of safety I think they are doing the right thing.”

Last year the front tyre limits were set by Pirelli at 16 Psi on the front. This has been raised by two Psi to 18 and the rear tyres must be at least 17 Psi.

Pirelli raised the tyre pressures in Monza by 3 Psi when compared to 2014.

The level of wheel camber allowed has also been reduced by Pirelli from 2014. Last year 4.5 degrees were used on the front tyres and 3 degrees on the rear. This year those numbers will be respectively 3.75 and 2.5 degrees.

The elevated tyre pressure was 19.5 PSI for Monza and Mercs did just fine. Singapore was less than that, although for a different compound.

[ChrisF1]

I always enjoy the Suzuka practice sessions. The drivers go in search of the limits and so many of them get punished. Yes, this affects running time as we get red flags, but it's so great seeing drivers go from 96% of the limit up to 100% of the limit rather than the usual 105% of the limit and scale it back to 100% as the run off is so generous.

[Andres125sx]

OMG, more tyres pressure debate here? Really? Not enough yet?


This is my favourite track of the season, Spa is great but too many straights for my taste, but Suzuka have it all, straights, low speed corners, high speed corners, first sector is awesome... love it

[f1316]

It's interesting because I do love the circuit and remember some great races here, but it speaks to an ongoing belief I have that overtaking - in and of itself- is not really what people want (no matter how many times the opposite is asserted).

Suzuka is not an easy place to overtake. One of the standout classics is 2000, a race which was about lap for lap tradeoffs that culminated in a pit lane overtake - something we're told we don't want (hence no refuelling after all).

2005 is the other classic which originally springs to mind. You could argue that this contradicts my point because it is famed for two overtakes. However, I would contend these are so lauded precisely because they were so difficult to achieve.

Likewise, last year's could have been a classic, but was in some senses ruined because Lewis breezed by with relative ease.

Anyway, kinda off topic but I think relevant, given people's fondness for the track.

[zioture]