2025 Spanish Grand Prix - Barcelona-Catalunya May 30 - June 1

[Cs98]

Not explicitly Barcelona related but didn't know where else to post

Some interesting tyre selections. C2-C3-C4 for Silverstone and C1-C3-C4 are each unusual choices

https://i.imgur.com/9FT19sw.jpeg

Thank god for no C6 in Austria or Hungary

Why is this good? I understand it for Austria, but Hungary? Verstappen could do 21 competitive laps on the C4...in a boring race where no one could overtake. Would be a clear target for softer tires.

Same here...would create much more strategy options if they go one step softer.

Because the C6 is a mickey mouse tyre that doesn't even last a full lap in qualifying and has zero race relevance. Using it in Hungary or Austria would be farcical, you'd see more medium tyre Q3 running like at Imola.

[organic]

McLaren's long run is a lot worse than Ferrari in FP1 from what I can tell. Norris experiencing degradation whilst Leclerc doesn't seem to be

[AR3-GP]

McLaren's long run is a lot worse than Ferrari in FP1 from what I can tell. Norris experiencing degradation whilst Leclerc doesn't seem to be

It's FP1 and a lot can and will change, but something I noticed is that Mclaren has a lot of understeer. As you know I've been banging on for months about their incredible front end, so this is very odd. Both PIA and NOR.

[mwillems]

McLaren's long run is a lot worse than Ferrari in FP1 from what I can tell. Norris experiencing degradation whilst Leclerc doesn't seem to be

It's FP1 and a lot can and will change, but something I noticed is that Mclaren has a lot of understeer. As you know I've been banging on for months about their incredible front end, so this is a bit surprising.

They've struggled with understeer and front lockups at many events. Certain corner profiles seem to work great with this front end, others less so, I don't think they've produced a perfectly balanced front end.

But it is just FP1, plenty of time to dial this out and improve so whether it goes on to be an issue is yet to be seen.

[AR3-GP]

They've struggled with understeer and front lockups at many events. Certain corner profiles seem to work great with this front end, others less so, I don't think they've produced a perfectly balanced front end.

It's the lower speed corners T4, T5, T10, T12 where the front is understeering a lot. I wouldn't normally comment but it's a little shocking because I've spent a lot of time in awe of how much better Mclaren front end is in these types of corners. It's where they typically dominate Red Bull all year because they had an insane front end.

As you say, just FP1 though.

[Luscion]

[AR3-GP]

https://preview.redd.it/fp1-long-runs-s ... 8855217f66

Leclerc looks quite good. I was watching the times coming in live. It stood out to me that he kept putting in 1.19s. Last year teams ran S-M-S in the race, so I think the hard tire isn't a good tire again.

[mwillems]

They've struggled with understeer and front lockups at many events. Certain corner profiles seem to work great with this front end, others less so, I don't think they've produced a perfectly balanced front end.

It's the lower speed corners T4, T5, T10, T12 where the front is understeering a lot. I wouldn't normally comment but it's a little shocking because I've spent a lot of time in awe of how much better Mclaren front end is in these types of corners. It's where they typically dominate Red Bull all year because they had an insane front end.

As you say, just FP1 though.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ ... o_2021.svg

Certainly at the start of the season they did more work to scrub speed before the corner to avoid heavy trailbraking and focussed on preparing for the exit. This was where the car was pretty magnificent at times.

Probs the same reason the car is good at starts.

I think the car is a bit better on entry now but I do think the cars strengths are that IF you handle the entry right, you can carry more apex speed and out drag on the exit, but the car is fussy in that entry phase.

I have to say I haven't reviewed telemetry in a while though.

And they'll likely find the right balance between entry and exit and be fast, I think.

[Luscion]

https://preview.redd.it/fp1-long-runs-s ... 8855217f66

Leclerc looks quite good. I was watching the times coming in live. It stood out to me that he kept putting in 1.19s. Last year teams ran S-M-S in the race, so I think the hard tire isn't a good tire again.

yea think your right, Lewis was also saying that the hard was not a good tire

[organic]

Ferrari consistency very impressive

[pantherxxx]

It's too early to call in FP1, but based on how much understeer Piastri and Norris had, and their tyre degradation and race pace on the long stint, their car doesn't look that dominant anymore, as previously in the season. Maybe the two TD changed something in the pecking order. Ferrari and Verstappen look very strong, and Mercedes is nowhere.

[Tvetovnato]

In order to not get too disappointed, I would wait until at least after fp2 to make any sort of judgement. The understeer people are talking about was mostly noticable in corners where you naturally tend to have more understeer regardless of setup. I personally find it hard to believe that McLaren are a few tenths quicker than the others on low fuel and are 6-7 tenths slower on high fuel all of a sudden. Wait it out…

[McLarenHonda]

Usually Red Bull look awful in FP1-2…come Saturday they come alive! While McLaren stays the same pretty much…so I’m expecting a close fight between the two!

No team seems to have lost or gained performance for now! But it’s still early days…

[venkyhere]

They've struggled with understeer and front lockups at many events. Certain corner profiles seem to work great with this front end, others less so, I don't think they've produced a perfectly balanced front end.

It's the lower speed corners T4, T5, T10, T12 where the front is understeering a lot. I wouldn't normally comment but it's a little shocking because I've spent a lot of time in awe of how much better Mclaren front end is in these types of corners. It's where they typically dominate Red Bull all year because they had an insane front end.

As you say, just FP1 though.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ ... o_2021.svg

If that is the case, then Redbull is understeering even more than the Mclaren. If I look up the lap charts in gpblog, Max is losing nearly 2 tenths in T4 and nearly 1 tenth in T12. I didn't watch the session. Did the Redbull 'not understeer' in 4 ?

[AR3-GP]

They've struggled with understeer and front lockups at many events. Certain corner profiles seem to work great with this front end, others less so, I don't think they've produced a perfectly balanced front end.

It's the lower speed corners T4, T5, T10, T12 where the front is understeering a lot. I wouldn't normally comment but it's a little shocking because I've spent a lot of time in awe of how much better Mclaren front end is in these types of corners. It's where they typically dominate Red Bull all year because they had an insane front end.

As you say, just FP1 though.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ ... o_2021.svg

If that is the case, then Redbull is understeering even more than the Mclaren. If I look up the lap charts in gpblog, Max is losing nearly 2 tenths in T4 and nearly 1 tenth in T12. I didn't watch the session. Did the Redbull 'not understeer' in 4 ?

Red Bull is also understeering in those corners. Nothing unusual for that car. The unusual is Mclaren now understeering like a dog in those corners, but it's just FP1. If Red Bull can look like a dog every friday and turn it around, then perhaps we should grant Mclaren the same leniency.