dans79 wrote: ↑13 Jul 2020, 16:28
Juzh wrote: ↑13 Jul 2020, 16:23
dans79 wrote: ↑13 Jul 2020, 16:18
I think the red bull's rear stability issue is probably the main cause of their lack of performance. It's not unlike the 2012/2013 Mercedes, fast over one lap but goes backwards during the race.
Yes, rear is unstable, but they're not going backwards during the race the way merc used to back then lol. Bottas would never catch verstappen if not for broken FW and RW endplates. Verstappen was putting 0.7s on average over albon in first stint, then after he had damage albon was putting 0.5s on him with a tyre delta of only 10 laps, so completely the opposite.
Relative to the fastest Merc, max was slowely going backwards (see Max's radio when the team told him Merc was starting to push), Albon looked like he was dragging a parachute behind him compared to lewis (44 seconds benind).
Yes, merc (hamilton) is faster by a few tenths and probably 0.5s when flatout, but that's to be expected and in line with what we saw in preseason, first race and practice sessions. So RB is not really going backwards in the race, they're staying exactly where they're "supposed" to. Verstappen was able to counter bottas' laptimes in second stint with 10 laps older tyres and kept distance at 8-9s (still lapping 0.5s faster than albon who also had 10 laps fresher tyres) with 19 laps to go. Then as the car starts to fall apart suddenly his pace starts to drop off, while albon's gets better, initially able to match VER, then being 0.5s faster. Mind you, bottas wasn't particulary fast at this stage, barely keeping pace with albon of all people (perez much faster at this point).