Yes they're still launch-spec.
I suspect this is tyre wall related.Zynerji wrote: ↑08 Jul 2018, 18:42Fluttering seemed an issue, for sure, but it more likely is simply an evolution of air control + stiffness that is helping. I can only imagine how much the grip would change when your largest DF contributor varies by speed and oscillations of the chassis...
Maybe this is just more consistent, and the largest chunk of time comes from driver confidence...
They don't have to be ahead of RB or Merc, they need to work good with other updates. Last year, sidepod intakes weren't changed during the season, so I don't expect them to do it now. Deflectors were changed a bit, but only slightly. Ferrari deflectors are less draggy than others, so if they do their work as they are now, I don't see a reason to change them.
It's politically exaggerated that these are worth 0.3s. It was hotter in Silverstone than predicted, this made it easier for Ferrari to bring heat into these special tyres, so they could have shown more potential than anyone expected. In Austria, Mercedes wasn't impressive in the race, and in qualy they were glorious compared to Ferrari. In truth, they nailed qualy, Ferrari botched it, so it wasn't a show case of true pace.Sevach wrote: ↑08 Jul 2018, 18:38Ferrari introduced the previous floor with full length slots in Barcelona and it didn't bring a great performance jump, for this one (which is an evolution of that concept) to be this good (car looked fantastic from the first lap on friday) there might have been some problems with that version.
Maybe some fluttering with the long slots.
He has 6 podiums in 10 races, 3rd in points, no bs, no drama, plays the team game and is good friends with Vettel, and helping to keep Ferrari on top of the constructors championship...
Perhaps the thought of driving an Alfa does not appeal to him
Or he feels he has car to get results so he is going for it...Brenton wrote: ↑09 Jul 2018, 21:12Kimi directly alluded to being criticized in his post-race interview, yes? That surprised me. Either he's been warned that his seat is in danger, or he now thinks it is due to the talk about being replaced, or he's been told that he has lost his seat. My guess is that he still has a chance to prove his seat for next year, and feels like it is in great danger and is under big pressure from himself and others to step up his performance.
He seems to be trying harder now, especially on lap 1 , normally he just loses positions or holds position at best, but lately he's been taking much more risk to gain position on lap 1. I don't think he would have pushed so hard and took the risk of missing the corner yesterday (hitting Hamilton) under past circumstances. Maybe he's not literally trying harder, but he feels he needs a better result, so he's taking more risk to get that better result that he normally wouldn't take?
His fire is making the title fight more interesting. I can't believe Ferrari are leading the WCC right now! The tension and drama this year has been and will be great to watch.
Ferrari is pushing through with Raikkonen on the Barcelona engine which (to me at least) means they want to avoid penalties if at all possible. Even with Kimi that isn't in the drivers championship.dfegan358 wrote: ↑10 Jul 2018, 00:35Why would we take a 4th engine later in the year if not necessary?
Is that what Ferrari and Mercedes are both expected to do?
Are we looking at Monza for C spec engine?
Heard rumours of bigger engine performance gain this time spec compared to spec B. May not be True though.