Spanish Grand Prix The dull, procession used to be a boyword for racing, but it has changed – if only a little – in recent years.
This is because when Circuit D Barcelona-Katalunya is a known volume, has been on the calendar since 1991, it is slightly less intensified, as it is no longer used as a site for the east-seas testing. Drivers can still adopt it when blindfolded, but teams have low data, which they otherwise do on the use of tires.
Advertisement
Another small but important aspect that affects the strategy at the end of this week is an enforcement of a new technical instruction on the aero-ego front wings through more stringent static load tests. The so-called flexi-wings theoretically low drag, which improved the top speed, but it was a low order effect. The main advantage was in reducing some more severe balance, which the current generation of ground-effect cars experience mid-counter, usually experiences from oversteer to an understanding.
Also read:
Why F1 Flexi-Wing Change failed to shake Spanish GP order
In addition to a small potential lap time gains through giving more confidence in corners to drivers, the main advantage tire was to help with a fall. Therefore, in view of the lack of representative in the situation of the breed, The reaction in the padock to the impact of new test governance so far has been a common shrug of shoulders.,
Advertisement
As Pirelli's motorcystem manager Mario Isola said in his post-Qualifying briefing, the average cornering load is high, but the position of the pole was slow … if only from two tenth of one second.
“More load that is not translating more performance,” he said. “So if you think about it, then you understand what I am saying …”
A little bit of everything
Pirelli tire
Pirelli tireEric Junius
Eric Junius
Since Barcelona has a relatively rough surface, a wide variety of gentle-lasting couple, and a wide variety of cornering speed, plus two DRS zone-in one of which includes a right-handed kink on a crest in one of the two DRS zones-one of the tires-this is highly demanded on the tires. While Pireli has softened one step in its compound options in several rounds this year, it is stuck with the most difficult three in the family for Barcelona: C1, C2, C3.
Advertisement
Nevertheless, the race is taking shape as a two-stopper because the practice experience has shown that hard-compound tires, C1, are not producing enough grip, so cars are slipping and inspiring the initial decline. It is also difficult for teams to find a balance on C1, so they have moved to soft compounds, which makes a two-stop race more likely.
The balance of such an issue is that teams usually installed their cars with a tendency to understand the rear tires, which are usually more sensitive to thermal decline. In Barcelona it presents a problem because surface roughness, in combination with high g-loading from sharp corners, pour high stress through the shoulder outside the front-left tire. So the teams have to navigate to make the best compromise between wearing and declining on both the stools.
“Teams are trying to protect the rear axle, but then they push the front side and they can basically lose performance from the axle,” Pirelli's Chief Engineer Simone Simone Berra said after a Friday practice.
“We have noticed that C1 has shown very little grip, so it is slipping. Apart from this, the balance is not good, it has been disconnected, the front and back axle has been very disconnected, so you have mid-corner understare, especially in low-speed corners, then you have rear axle sliding in high-speed corners with low support.
Advertisement
“So basically teams with C1 are struggling a little more to find a good compromise and a good balance. In addition we have seen this on speed data for C1, and that is why most teams have focused long in FP2 on C2 and C3, with better track conditions, due to track evolution, C2 and C3.
“The decline levels are very similar between C2 and C3, you can apply different levels of management, but the speed is very similar. C3 has a high grip level, but slightly more decline, C2 is slightly more consistent but lower level grip. Finally they are quite close.
“So we think that both the compounds will be good for the race.”
How many stops, and when?
Oscar Piastry, McLaren
Oscar Piastry, McLarenSteven T / Late Image via Getty Image
Steven T / Late Image via Getty Image
Advertisement
Last year, all but a driver stopped two; Yuki Sunoda And Sergio Perez There were outlair, three were doing. The most popular strategy among the frontrunners was the soft-medium-soft, with the first stop between 13 and 17. But this race was shaped by events in the early lap, where Lando Noris (Polisiter) and Max Verustapane Has so consumed with each other George Russell Epiple around the fourth on the grid to seize the lead.
This year, the frontronists have only a set of new soft tires – which they will possibly use for the initial tenure, as the position of the track remains king in this circuit, and a good start is important. The first pitstop will be window as the race enters the initial teenagers in terms of lap count; Anyone stops before reaching double figures, it is difficult, all other factors are the same.
What is complicated that is falling behind McLarenNoris and Oscar piastryDriver on the front line. Like last year, one of the second line residents – Verustapane and Russell in this case – can take advantage of them in trying not to travel on each other.
Although Russell's leadership lasted only until the DRS was active last year, the leading cars are close together in the case of pace.
Advertisement
Ferrari'S Charles Lakeler There is something of a wild card. He will be in seventh position behind the team-met Lewis HamiltonGet out of new softes in qualifying. But they have two sets of fresh mediums, running as a soft-medium-soft as the front people, running the soft used in the final term.
It is also possible that as the track has been developed and more rubber is placed below, Hitharto unfit hard-compound tires can also become a viable option in preference for soft-used soft.
Pol Citer Oscar Piastry, McLaren, Lando Noris, McLaren, Max Verustapane, Red Bull Racing
Pol Citer Oscar Piastry, McLaren, Lando Noris, McLaren, Max Verustapane, Red Bull RacingSam Bloquesum / Motorsport images through getty image
Sam Bloquesum / Motorsport images through getty image
Advertisement
“On paper,” Isola said, “if I have only one set, a set of medium, and soft is more derogatory than expected, ideally, you should soften, rigid, medium.
“Because the fuel is more in the middle of the race than the end of the load race. So you save a little medium.
“But I have heard of some comments that it is also possible to be soft, medium, difficult. Because they believe that track development is important and with a better track at the end of the race, hard is sliding less, and therefore giving a better performance.
“Who's right? I don't know. But this is the idea.”
What if it rains?
If Spanish GP is affected by rain, jetstream will have to undergo a change of direction overnight. Actually, the wet race at this site is a different rareness.
Advertisement
When the circuit Barcelona-Catalunya hosted its first round of the World Championship in September 1991, it was sad, ghat and humid-pay attention to the vapor trails around the wings of the Nigel Mencell Williams And McLaren of the Arton Army in those raised images of his duality in that race.
But the hot and sunshine season has been predicted ever since the race went into the late slot in the calendar. There is not a properly wet grand pref here in about three decades – but it was a luxurious.
Mikel Shumakar, Ferrari, Gerhard Berger, Beneton
Mikel Shumakar, Ferrari, Gerhard Berger, BenetonMotorsport picture
Motorsport picture
In 1996 the Williams-Renalt team had the fastest car on the grid, the best to flow from the Adrian Navy pen-but the last champion Damon Hill There was an early casualties, spinning after starting from the position of the pole.
Advertisement
Unlike Williams, Ferrari's F310 designer John Bernard was not the best job, but Michael Schumacher The peak was hitting the form and fired one of the best race of his life, humblening the competition to win 45 from Beneton Juriri,
Also read:
Lewis Hamilton converted F1 Spanish GP flexi-wing into a “waste of money”.
More motorsport.com to read articles visit our website,
