2023 Azerbaijan Grand Prix - Baku, April 28 - 30

[chrisc90]

Crazy how much different the lap times were today.



Red Bulls 8 tenths roughly quicker than the ferrari, nearly a second in some sections.
Mercs 7 tenths slower than the AMR/Ferrari

[Juzh]

A few factors were at play in baku in terms of overtaking ability:

Most cars are converging on very tiny rear wings because floor is generating larger amount of overall downforce, so you don't need as much wing. Makes cars faster in general, produce less drag and thus less slipstream, and lessens drs effect.

FIA with their tunnel vision was looking at how RB flies past other much slower cars when DRSed and for some stupid reason decided to shorten DRS zone by 100m, instead of elongating it by as much. In the end it made no difference to RB but hurt all others.

[chrisc90]

A few factors were at play in baku in terms of overtaking ability:

Most cars are converging on very tiny rear wings because floor is generating larger amount of overall downforce, so you don't need as much wing. Makes cars faster in general, produce less drag and thus less slipstream, and lessens drs effect.

FIA with their tunnel vision was looking at how RB flies past other much slower cars when DRSed and for some stupid reason decided to shorten DRS zone by 100m, instead of elongating it by as much. In the end it made no difference to RB but hurt all others.

From memory, and what I saw, there was only the Mercs not able to overtake in the DRS zone? Everyone else was successful, I believe. (Happy to be pointed to any drivers who also couldnt overtake in DRS)

[AR3-GP]

FIA with their tunnel vision was looking at how RB flies past other much slower cars when DRSed and for some stupid reason decided to shorten DRS zone by 100m, instead of elongating it by as much. In the end it made no difference to RB but hurt all others.

I have been saying this for a while now

That the FIA would screw everyone else because of Red Bull. The problem is the regulation plays into RB's hands no matter what FIA do. Make the zone longer and it extends RB's qualifying advantage and the races are just a gimme if they are stuck behind anyone.

Make it shorter and RB are left standing as the only car who can actually overtake. Other cars cannot overtake one another, nevermind someone trying to overtake a Red bull in a shortened DRS zone

[harty71]

What's the score with Martin Brundle, that's two races in a row without him?

[cplchanb]

FIA with their tunnel vision was looking at how RB flies past other much slower cars when DRSed and for some stupid reason decided to shorten DRS zone by 100m, instead of elongating it by as much. In the end it made no difference to RB but hurt all others.

I have been saying this for a while now

That the FIA would screw everyone else because of Red Bull. The problem is the regulation plays into RB's hands no matter what FIA do. Make the zone longer and it extends RB's qualifying advantage and the races are just a gimme if they are stuck behind anyone.

Make it shorter and RB are left standing as the only car who can actually overtake. Other cars cannot overtake one another, nevermind someone trying to overtake a Red bull in a shortened DRS zone

Looks like we need wec style BoP settings then!

[Mogster]

I feel overtaking was better on low downforce circuits when in race engine mode switching was allowed, Monza in particular.

The engine modes ban did nothing to improve the racing, it was removing a tool the team/drivers could use to get overtakes done.

[F1NAC]

Pirelli must bring back the 2012 tyres. No artificial mini gp, no sprint. Bring back those tyres. Prevent nursing, make them push!

What???

Those tyres basically made another layer with amount of fallen tyre marbles..

[AMG.Tzan]

These cars can’t take slipstream…

At least this race proved that DRS isn’t a bad idea after all…imagine the gaps without DRS!

Hamilton today was so good…even though he lost positions through the SC he still gained them back and could even have got Sainz had Mercedes produced a proper low df rear wing! But for some reason they didn’t…! Russell on the other hand couldn’t even pressurize Stroll…

Max on the other hand was one of those very few times where he was beaten fair and square even though the SC didn’t play into his hands! He couldn’t even get DRS while Perez did so when he was behind! This is probably track specific but still Perez’s performance was exceptional throughout the weekend! If he could put on such kind of performances throughout the year he would at least give us a championship fight and not the kind of joke we witnessed last year when Max won by 150 points in the end…

[DGP123]

Perez does this. Gives us the faint hope, and then Max just decides you’ve had your fun, and wins about six races in a row by August. Same old story, different year. It’s a shame it’s that way, but the reality.

[maxxer]

What's the score with Martin Brundle, that's two races in a row without him?

didnt miss him at all

[harty71]

What's the score with Martin Brundle, that's two races in a row without him?

didnt miss him at all

I certainly did, a great guy and top commentator, what's the situation with him?

[saviour stivala]

I feel overtaking was better on low downforce circuits when in race engine mode switching was allowed, Monza in particular.

The engine modes ban did nothing to improve the racing, it was removing a tool the team/drivers could use to get overtakes done.

With just one engine MAP/MODE allowed drivers still have the use of OVERTAKE/DEFEND deployment button. But having said all that, there must be some power settings still allowed that can be made by the driver, am saying this as during the race today in Baku number 44 was asking his pit-wall (CAN YOU GIVE ME MORE POWER?).

[maxxer]

What's the score with Martin Brundle, that's two races in a row without him?

didnt miss him at all

I certainly did, a great guy and top commentator, what's the situation with him?

I think he said .............. Baku is not easy to reach its a boring race although Damon Hill and Naomi Schiff tried their best to make something special, stands where almost empty around the circuit.
He will be back in Miami

[langedweil]

FIA with their tunnel vision was looking at how RB flies past other much slower cars when DRSed and for some stupid reason decided to shorten DRS zone by 100m, instead of elongating it by as much. In the end it made no difference to RB but hurt all others.

I have been saying this for a while now
Make it shorter and RB are left standing as the only car who can actually overtake. Other cars cannot overtake one another, nevermind someone trying to overtake a Red bull in a shortened DRS zone

Looks like we need wec style BoP settings then!

No .. please don't, BoP would be very unfair and against every grain within F1. Unless all rules go overboard, there is no need to do such a thing.
Easiest thing could be .. give every driver x secs per race the possibility of using DRS, wherever/whenever or in designated parta of the circuit. Use wisely, because when you're through, you're through. People can go mad in attack, save for defense, or anything in between.

Whether x is 60, 120, 180 secs doesn't really matter.