2021 Red Bull Racing F1 Team

[godlameroso]

I like RBR's chances in Austin. Anyone ever consider that after consolidating P2 and Hamilton being P5 maybe it was a strategic decision to turn down the engine? There's still 6 races left and the ICEs degrade over their lifespan. The less the engine is pushed the better off RBR will be towards the end of the season. Sometimes you toss a dog a bone because you're looking at the big picture.

I guess this has become the defacto race thread, no rain for the race weekend expected. Won't even be cloudy, nice and high track temps.

[godlameroso]

Notice no one really talks about Bottas victory, he won fair and square, however he could have the same result until the end of the year and it won't change his standing in the championship.

Bottas winning races doesn't help Hamilton, in fact as long as Verstappen is on the podium anyone but Hamilton winning will see him become champion. The difference between 2nd and 3rd is 3 points as opposed to 7 from winning. Verstappen only needs realistically 2 more wins to give himself a really good chance at the title, especially if Bottas is going to be taking wins away from Hamilton.

[Gillian]

Notice no one really talks about Bottas victory, he won fair and square, however he could have the same result until the end of the year and it won't change his standing in the championship.

Bottas winning races doesn't help Hamilton, in fact as long as Verstappen is on the podium anyone but Hamilton winning will see him become champion. The difference between 2nd and 3rd is 3 points as opposed to 7 from winning. Verstappen only needs realistically 2 more wins to give himself a really good chance at the title, especially if Bottas is going to be taking wins away from Hamilton.

That is highly unlikely though. Bottas did a good race, but nothing suggest he is going to beat Hamilton from now on. He didn't even get pole on merit, but was gifted because of Hamiltons penalty.

[Gillian]

I like RBR's chances in Austin. Anyone ever consider that after consolidating P2 and Hamilton being P5 maybe it was a strategic decision to turn down the engine? There's still 6 races left and the ICEs degrade over their lifespan. The less the engine is pushed the better off RBR will be towards the end of the season. Sometimes you toss a dog a bone because you're looking at the big picture.

I guess this has become the defacto race thread, no rain for the race weekend expected. Won't even be cloudy, nice and high track temps.

A dry weekend without engine penalties is a nice change. I like your optimism. Let's see what happens.

[godlameroso]

I like RBR's chances in Austin. Anyone ever consider that after consolidating P2 and Hamilton being P5 maybe it was a strategic decision to turn down the engine? There's still 6 races left and the ICEs degrade over their lifespan. The less the engine is pushed the better off RBR will be towards the end of the season. Sometimes you toss a dog a bone because you're looking at the big picture.

I guess this has become the defacto race thread, no rain for the race weekend expected. Won't even be cloudy, nice and high track temps.

A dry weekend without engine penalties is a nice change. I like your optimism. Let's see what happens.

It's a lot easier to get a good forecast closer to home, I have a lot more historical data I've collected.



RBR's pace will be good, Verstappen is a COTA specialist, probably has thousands of laps on iRacing. Preparation is key, I improved by a second with just 3 days of preparation, I imagine they prepare way more than I do, it's their job.

[Tizz]

Max wasn't anywhere near Bottas' pace. Bottas managed to take fastest lap on the very end on old tires with almost 2 sec difference. If Max would have had the pace and the tires, he would have given it a try to take the fastest lap. Bottas was cruising and managing the gap to Max, not his tires.

How old? Verstappen pitted earlier. Redbull played safe.

Correct. Verstappen pitted lap 36, Bottas lap 37. If I understand you correctly, you are arguing that this whole 1 lap difference is the reason that Max was taking it easy ?

[Gillian]

Max wasn't anywhere near Bottas' pace. Bottas managed to take fastest lap on the very end on old tires with almost 2 sec difference. If Max would have had the pace and the tires, he would have given it a try to take the fastest lap. Bottas was cruising and managing the gap to Max, not his tires.

How old? Verstappen pitted earlier. Redbull played safe.

Correct. Verstappen pitted lap 36, Bottas lap 37. If I understand you correctly, you are arguing that this whole 1 lap difference is the reason that Max was taking it easy ?

If Verstappen says the hardest thing was staying awake during a wet race, it's pretty obvious he was taking it easy.

Its just that Bottas wasn't pushing that hard either most likely, probably managing the gap to Verstappen.

[Gillian]

I mean, considering our whole weekend, being a bit off pace compared to Mercedes, I think we had quite a decent race," Verstappen told media, including RacingNews365.com.

"In the beginning, I just tried to follow Valtteri, but of course we had to manage the tyres, so I dropped back a bit.

"At one point, we started to pick up the pace a little bit, also because the track was drying a bit, but there was no point where I could attack Valtteri. He was managing his race also very well, and looking after his tyres."

Verstappen went on to describe the challenge of keeping his Intermediates in good shape.

He added: "At one point I said, 'Yeah, the tyes are pretty gone'. They were completely worn to slicks, so it was very tricky out there, when the track is like it was.

"We decided to box and then basically after the stop, 20 laps to go I think, I just decided to bring it home.

"Anyway, I didn't have the pace fight Valtteri, so there was also no need to try and be within two- or three-tenths, you know, to try and you follow him. I just saved the tyres to the end, basically.

From racingnews.

[Tizz]

If Verstappen says the hardest thing was staying awake during a wet race, it's pretty obvious he was taking it easy.

Its just that Bottas wasn't pushing that hard either most likely, probably managing the gap to Verstappen.

He also said he would have killed the tires if he would have pushed more. So there was nothing to do really. And yes, I was arguing that Bottas was managing the gap with Max, not his tires, illustrated by how and when he took fastest lap.

[Tizz]

Anyone ever consider that after consolidating P2 and Hamilton being P5 maybe it was a strategic decision to turn down the engine ?

No, actually I didn't after Max got his ass whooped in qualy with more than 3 tenths.

[Gillian]

If Verstappen says the hardest thing was staying awake during a wet race, it's pretty obvious he was taking it easy.

Its just that Bottas wasn't pushing that hard either most likely, probably managing the gap to Verstappen.

He also said he would have killed the tires if he would have pushed more. So there was nothing to do really. And yes, I was arguing that Bottas was managing the gap with Max, not his tires, illustrated by how and when he took fastest lap.

Yes agreed. I don't know how anyone could interpret it otherwise.

[godlameroso]

Anyone ever consider that after consolidating P2 and Hamilton being P5 maybe it was a strategic decision to turn down the engine ?

No, actually I didn't after Max got his ass whooped in qualy with more than 3 tenths.

By that logic Hamilton got his ass whooped in qualifying by Russell, and Norris, and track conditions had no role to play in the pace disparity?

[Kingshark]

How do you guys think the RedBull drivers will do in the Austin Grand Prix?

I have great expectations, RB have always been competitive in Austin in the past so set up wise they should be fine and Honda has been rumoured to have 10kW in hand which they could use when needed as engine nr 3 and 4 only have to last 6 instead of 8 races.

Is this actually true?

[dans79]

How do you guys think the RedBull drivers will do in the Austin Grand Prix?

I have great expectations, RB have always been competitive in Austin in the past so set up wise they should be fine and Honda has been rumoured to have 10kW in hand which they could use when needed as engine nr 3 and 4 only have to last 6 instead of 8 races.

Is this actually true?

I find it really hard to believe that they have an extra ~13.5 HP they aren't using just because. The championship is far to close for that.

[godlameroso]

I wouldn't put it past Honda to strategically manage the life of their power units. I'm sure they know the wear rates and are considering this. By the same token Mercedes may succumb to attrition if they keep pushing their power units to keep Verstappen at bay.