Best Race Strategy Team

Best Race Strategy Team

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M3ax

Original Poster:

1,291 posts

212 months

Friday 17th March 2017
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Since the last test, there has been a lot of (the usual) discussion on where the teams are, who is sandbagging etc. Also on the driver v team/technology and which has the most influence on race outcomes. It got me thinking about strategy mistakes we have witnessed over the years and also some good or lucky calls.

If, lets say, the top 3 teams are relatively close, which of them do we think has better form on strategy come race day? If Merc, Ferrari and Redbull are within striking distance of each other which team is most likely to make the best calls? Mercedes have been able to afford the occasional balls up over the last few years but if other teams are closer (we can hope) then there will be more pressure all round and not just on the machinery/drivers.


London424

12,829 posts

175 months

Friday 17th March 2017
quotequote all
M3ax said:
Since the last test, there has been a lot of (the usual) discussion on where the teams are, who is sandbagging etc. Also on the driver v team/technology and which has the most influence on race outcomes. It got me thinking about strategy mistakes we have witnessed over the years and also some good or lucky calls.

If, lets say, the top 3 teams are relatively close, which of them do we think has better form on strategy come race day? If Merc, Ferrari and Redbull are within striking distance of each other which team is most likely to make the best calls? Mercedes have been able to afford the occasional balls up over the last few years but if other teams are closer (we can hope) then there will be more pressure all round and not just on the machinery/drivers.
I think Redbull are probably the best at strategy and getting something out of nothing.

ukaskew

10,642 posts

221 months

Friday 17th March 2017
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Force India would probably feature quite highly on a 'best of' list. They will often do something a little different and quietly get on with things with little issue. They finished 4th in the constructors last year very comfortably, I don't think that was ever a given.

On the flipside, Williams seem to have gained the least amount of points vs. the inherent pace in their car.

NRS

22,170 posts

201 months

Saturday 18th March 2017
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I would say Red Bull too. They are one of the few teams that seem to be strong enough to screw one driver's race to make sure the other driver wins the race if they have a chance at it. But they're also doing it at the right times - just look at McLaren in some of their races when they are doing a counter strategy and how (relatively) it often doesn't work. Ferrari are often poor, in that they try and put their No. 1 driver first, which sometimes messes up the race of No. 2 driver, even if they were in a better position to win/ do something. Mercedes haven't really been tested recently. Williams have been very conservative and are more worried about doing something to lose points, rather than take a risk and try and win.

CraigyMc

16,409 posts

236 months

Monday 20th March 2017
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Force India and Redbull are the two teams that at least "have a go" - they take calculated risks.

I'd vote RBR.

slipstream 1985

12,220 posts

179 months

Tuesday 21st March 2017
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Force india imo.

fat80b

2,277 posts

221 months

Tuesday 21st March 2017
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slipstream 1985 said:
Force india imo.
Hardly - They only have one play - go as long as possible for stint 1 and hope that something drastic happens to give them a chance. True they consistently run a different strategy to everyone else but only because it is different and not better.

The most 1-dimensional strategists in the pit lane perhaps... certainly not the best

ukaskew

10,642 posts

221 months

Tuesday 21st March 2017
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fat80b said:
True they consistently run a different strategy to everyone else but only because it is different and not better.
4th in the constructors suggest otherwise. Even with a Merc engine that was pretty impressive given their budget.

Unlike Williams they've made the most of what they've got, mainly down to strategy.

entropy

5,442 posts

203 months

Thursday 23rd March 2017
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fat80b said:
Hardly - They only have one play - go as long as possible for stint 1 and hope that something drastic happens to give them a chance. True they consistently run a different strategy to everyone else but only because it is different and not better.

The most 1-dimensional strategists in the pit lane perhaps... certainly not the best
Agreed. Too reliant on Sergio Perez's strength as a driver at stretching out his stints and still being competitive - conversely Hulk had a habit of knackering his rear tyres.

It will be interesting how Checo deals with the harder tyres.

Jw Vw

4,831 posts

163 months

Sunday 26th March 2017
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Red Bull.

Ahonen

5,016 posts

279 months

Monday 27th March 2017
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fat80b said:
slipstream 1985 said:
Force india imo.
Hardly - They only have one play - go as long as possible for stint 1 and hope that something drastic happens to give them a chance. True they consistently run a different strategy to everyone else but only because it is different and not better.

The most 1-dimensional strategists in the pit lane perhaps... certainly not the best
Speaking as someone who knows Force India and their strategy folks very well, you are talking absolute rubbish. They are the most creative outfit when it comes to strategy by a long, long way.

I know it's easy to comment from the armchair when you don't know or understand what's going on, but that comment really annoyed me.