F1 British GP

Yankee_Jack

Key Player
If you didn't see today's race, watch the highlights. Hamilton limps over the line with is left front tire in shreds with Verstappen only a few seconds behind in hot pursuit having made up ten's of seconds. Several other drivers, most notably Bottas, also suffered tire failure in the last few laps. WTF is the matter with the tire compound or the track.
 

Yankee_Jack

Key Player
This weekend's race - same circuit, different tire compounds - Pirelli is stirring things up. The C3 compound used last Sunday was shit - I wouldn't put them on a kids go-kart.

Pirelli will bring the C2, C3 and C4 compound tyres for teams to use in the race, the same selections as used at the Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring and the Austrian and Styrian Grands Prix held at Red Bull Ring. By contrast the 2020 British Grand Prix held on the same circuit layout the week before saw the C1, C2 and C3 selection used. This has been done to try and add strategic interest to the second race and prevent repetitiveness. This comes after plans to have a reverse starting grid at the second event were opposed by the Mercedes team.
 

Jackflash

Midfield General
Staff member
If you didn't see today's race, watch the highlights. Hamilton limps over the line with is left front tire in shreds with Verstappen only a few seconds behind in hot pursuit having made up ten's of seconds. Several other drivers, most notably Bottas, also suffered tire failure in the last few laps. WTF is the matter with the tire compound or the track.
I don't think the manufacturer or circuit are to blame, compound is a driver/team choice. as to whether they will last the race can be down to driver aggression in the turns, change in track temp. car understeering. The visual look on tyres at the end of a race is sometimes very misleading. On their closing down lap drivers go to the outside of a turn to collect the rubber (marbles ) that peel off the tyres in the race, this is to increase the ride height of the car to ensure it conforms when it goes for scrutineering. and can make a tyre look as if its shredding. I didn't see the race so can't really comment, but just giving some possible explanations.
 

Yankee_Jack

Key Player
Another interesting race. Max V and Red Bull ran a clever race. Mercedes cars are untouchable unless hampered by safety cars and tire degradation.
 

ivoralljack

Grizzled Veteran
Staff member
Hamilton and Bottas not happy that the Mercs/tyres don't seem to run as well on hot tracks. But the tyre degradation was far less on the Red Bulls - something for the Merc engineers to work on, which in time will be passed down to the road cars.
 

Jackflash

Midfield General
Staff member
Really have to catch up on F1, missed two races on the bounce now. Have a good reason for missing the second one, was competitive racing myself ( Karting)
It seems tyre manufacturers are taking a bit if stick recently, there as obviously been huge testing programs by both F1 teams and tyre manufacturers, long straight line speed has no bearing on tyre wear irrespective of the compound ,it in fact cools the tyre which in fact makes it less effective coming into a turn. Most driver complaints are of understeer in the turns, altering the steering geometry can increase tyre wear considerably ,Also the team/driver have the final choice on compounds due to track temp. on race day. just because a tyre worked on the previous days qualifying means nothing.
 

Yankee_Jack

Key Player
There was commentary - I think from Max V - about the tire degradation on Mercs possibly being centered on the amount of down force generated from the car's setup. My lay interpretation ... the tires were being ground into the track. There's probably a subtle difference in the force between achieving optimal grip and the friction between track and tire becoming overly abrasive.

Whatever the cause ... Red Bull engineered the right setup and achieved optimal grip with minimal wear and tear. This coupled with their pit stop strategy won the day. Max V commented that once he got his flying start past Racing Point that we was initially planning on running cleanly into a 3rd place finish.
 

Jackflash

Midfield General
Staff member
There was commentary - I think from Max V - about the tire degradation on Mercs possibly being centered on the amount of down force generated from the car's setup. My lay interpretation ... the tires were being ground into the track. There's probably a subtle difference in the force between achieving optimal grip and the friction between track and tire becoming overly abrasive.

Whatever the cause ... Red Bull engineered the right setup and achieved optimal grip with minimal wear and tear. This coupled with their pit stop strategy won the day. Max V commented that once he got his flying start past Racing Point that we was initially planning on running cleanly into a 3rd place finish.
Yes, rightly so Yankee, tyres overheating due to excessive downforce throughout the entire circuit ,turns and straights, but front and rear wings are adjustable,and cant see Merc overlooking that point. In practise they used to (and maybe still do) use a substance they called 'Flow Viz Paint' This was painted on to aerodynamic areas which showed how the air was moving over the car.
 

Yankee_Jack

Key Player
The net of the race is that neither Hamilton nor Bottas is happy about their setups and tire performance and are pointing back to Red Bull and Max V as a WTF over. And, Bottas is generally pissed at his race strategy and tire management from the pits.
 

Yankee_Jack

Key Player
So off we go to Barcelona. Don't forget racing during July and August is the exception for this year as a result of the virus. Usually the two hottest months of the year are break months. So track temperatures, car setups and tire compounds are mixing this way for the first time in a long, long time, if ever.
 
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Yankee_Jack

Key Player
Apparently we are gettin a harder series of tires for the Spanish GP this weekend. The track is still going to be as hot as Silverstone.
 

Jackflash

Midfield General
Staff member
With one of his easiest wins Hamilton is now close to breaking all F1 records. He is just 3 victories away from Schumachers record 91 wins to become the most successful driver in F1 History.
He is slowly mentally destroying Bottas the same way he did Rosberg and Vettel.
What right does Rosberg have to advise Bottas how to race Hamilton, when he couldn't come close to him himself without cheating.
 

Yankee_Jack

Key Player
With Hamilton starting at pole ... all he needs is a few tenths advantage per lap, and by the time DRS is enabled he's out of touch. A dozen laps later he can be out of sight.
 
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