LM10 wrote: ↑25 Aug 2018, 16:41
SchuMassa wrote: ↑25 Aug 2018, 16:29
Sierra117 wrote: ↑25 Aug 2018, 16:20
Dramatic phrasing, but specifically the advantage of the machinery was equalised, of course. Everyone had four wheels and engine power was no longer as important as in the dry. Some software and stuff is there for aid, sure, but it can't incorporate intuition, "feel", all that years of experience coming together and making a decision. There's no traction control either. As aforementioned, the ability of the driver is much more important. As shown by Kimi, Hamilton and many others whenever it rains.
You are a bit off in this case. Chassis still remains a factor in rainy conditions - every single car has different ride hight, rake, suspension geometry, spring stiffness etc. Some perform better on a wet rack, some not! (and engine mapping, torque is not insignicant either)
True. Actually it's very surprising that some people seem to just look at driver performance as if the cars turn into the exact same cars when it's wet. In fact, they still remain completely different cars from each other which do have completely different characteristics. Not to forget warming up the tyres, which is at least as important on wet tyres as it is on slicks.
My quote literally states " ... no longer AS IMPORTANT as in the dry."; "software and stuff is there for aid, sure, but ... " ...
Nobody has said the cars turn into the exact same thing. At least I haven't. Forgive me, but it seems like there is some quest to find absolute equal cars, equipment etc. etc. which is pretty much impossible in our world. This logic makes any sort of comparison impossible because if we keep looking at it materialistically, we will keep finding something to pick out and complain about. For instance, in martial arts, one can easily say how one guy is shorter and therefore cannot generate as much leverage as a taller opponent and the list will get very long. The whole point of competition is how well you can do with what you have. The car is your body's extension in a way. These guys know it inside out. The rain significantly reduced the constant potential of the machinery and made driver ability much more important. That is why you see Ocon up there in 3rd, where he would never be there in the dry.
The whole point is how well you can control this extension of your body in rapidly changing and unpredictable circumstances. The differences in the cars are there, but each driver is intimately aware of his car's behaviour and limits, combined with their experience accumulated over the years in different conditions. This is what we applaud - the ability of the driver to align these variables into something they can work with.
There was chaos, sure (not really, but ok), but it was chaos for everyone. Otherwise in the dry it's always the teams with less power fighting their own battle. Once again, tricky conditions offer opportunities to everyone to use their ability to find the grip. You can't make use of engine power if you cannot find the grip to plant that power. In the dry there's too much prediction, too much software and with a significant background in software, I know how that goes.
. Why aim for third if you can start seventh ("Seventh Place") with an aggressive set up. 
