Official 2019 Spanish Grand Prix Thread ***SPOILERS***

[Deesee]

TheDeuce said:

Deesee said:

Kitchen Sink alert

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.ferrari...

Ferrari have a PU unit UPGRADE... 2 races early...

(Can any one let them know it’s actually an aero/tyre/cooling issue)....

I just read that. I suppose the cooling issue is only speculated to be fair. But they've rushed this one through just after the nick of time - given that they have a 74 point deficit. I'm sure the engineers are thankful that they've had to hand it over with 4 weeks less testing than planned

Or maybe, thinking positively, it can come early because it's a rock solid improvement. It might not be sheer desperation.

I’d go with desperation...

[kambites]

So we're either likely to see a resurgent Ferrari challenging Mercedes, or two broken-down Ferraris.

[Derek Smith]

Deesee said:

Kitchen Sink alert

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.ferrari...

Ferrari have a PU unit UPGRADE... 2 races early...

(Can any one let them know it’s actually an aero/tyre/cooling issue)....

What could go wrong?

We'll know on Sunday.

[Munter]

Derek Smith said:

Deesee said:

Kitchen Sink alert

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.ferrari...

Ferrari have a PU unit UPGRADE... 2 races early...

(Can any one let them know it’s actually an aero/tyre/cooling issue)....

What could go wrong?

We'll know on Sunday.

From their current position. It has to be worth taking risks like this. Doing the same thing isn't going to put them ahead of Merc. So they might as well throw it on the car and hope.

[Deesee]

Munter said:

Derek Smith said:

Deesee said:

Kitchen Sink alert

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.ferrari...

Ferrari have a PU unit UPGRADE... 2 races early...

(Can any one let them know it’s actually an aero/tyre/cooling issue)....

What could go wrong?

We'll know on Sunday.

From their current position. It has to be worth taking risks like this. Doing the same thing isn't going to put them ahead of Merc. So they might as well throw it on the car and hope.

All this is straight out of the Christian Horner play book..

They are fighting for 2/3zzzzzzz

[DanielSan]

I'm predicting a Verstappen win this weekend, Hamilton 2nd, Bottas 3rd.

[TheDeuce]

Munter said:

From their current position. It has to be worth taking risks like this. Doing the same thing isn't going to put them ahead of Merc. So they might as well throw it on the car and hope.

Maybe, so long as they can revert straight back for the next race if needs be. Worth remembering that they're on for second in the WCC, it's not what they want, but its certainly respectable. I think it's probably worth taking this small risk, got to be bold after all... But it's a risk nonetheless.

[LaurasOtherHalf]

I predict masses of hyperbole and unfounded speculation dressed up as fact, lasting at least until next weekend from TheDeuce.

[TheDeuce]

LaurasOtherHalf said:

I predict masses of hyperbole and unfounded speculation dressed up as fact, lasting at least until next weekend from TheDeuce.

I'm just here to correct other people's hyperbole with own (correct) version

And I'm not for one moment committing to stopping as early as next weekend.

[anonymous-user]

LaurasOtherHalf said:

I predict masses of hyperbole and unfounded speculation dressed up as fact, lasting at least until next weekend from TheDeuce.

Par for the course, here, then?

[TheDeuce]

REALIST123 said:

Par for the course, here, then?

Per for the course, yes. In the absence of actual facts, which we rarely get in F1, I'm not sure what we're expected to discuss other than theory and speculation. Just part of enjoying a sport pretty much.

[Mark-C]

I predict Chunder27 will be back to watch another race in a sport he doesn't like so that he can tell us he doesn't like it ...

And another Mercedes 1-2 with LeClerc in third and a fascinating midfield to keep the rest of us interested.

I'm also hoping that Gasly begins to get things together as well

[iandc]

Mark-C said:

I predict Chunder27 will be back to watch another race in a sport he doesn't like so that he can tell us he doesn't like it ...

And another Mercedes 1-2 with LeClerc in third and a fascinating midfield to keep the rest of us interested.

I'm also hoping that Gasly begins to get things together as well

We could cut out the middle man and write his input. Let me start it off...
"That was the most boring race I have ever seen. Not that I am watching F1 anymore of course because it is so boring. F1 really needs to get its act together before I will watch another race. More from me in 2 weeks time...."

[Cold]

For those who partake of satellite telly, Jenson Button will be joining the Sky Sports team for this race weekend.

[TheDeuce]

Cold said:

For those who partake of satellite telly, Jenson Button will be joining the Sky Sports team for this race weekend.

That's excellent news, no Rosberg!

[TheDeuce]

iandc said:

We could cut out the middle man and write his input. Let me start it off...
"That was the most boring race I have ever seen. Not that I am watching F1 anymore of course because it is so boring. F1 really needs to get its act together before I will watch another race. More from me in 2 weeks time...."

Don't forget "I feel sorry for anyone that paid to watch that!"

... in front of a forum full of folk that just paid to watch it...

I think his theory is, that if he moans enough on here, when Liberty next login to catch up on our opinions, they will see the sense in what he says, and somehow make it be free to watch on BBC again.

[Andy S15]

Do we think Merc still have the ability in pocket to turn up the wick? I find it hard to believe that they will have been going flat out when relatively unchallenged by Ferrari. I reckon they will likely still have something to counter any performance improvement that the new Fez engine gives.

Strong performances needed from Renault (since they have been utter st so far), Haas (likewise), Gasly (to get some confidence back from the strong performance he should have bagged at Baku) and Leclerc (to get his confidence back to full performance) here.

In reality, I'll just be happy if Bottas finishes infront of Lewis. I just don't see a real Merc vs Ferrari battle happening this year so I hope the points between team mates stays close.

[HustleRussell]

Mark-C said:

I'm also hoping that Gasly begins to get things together as well

IMO he did that in Baku.

There have been suggestions that a number of teams will turn up with such a different car at Barcelona that they could legitimately be described as 'B-spec' cars.

Joe Saward has heard rumours that Red Bull and Mercedes could be bringing a new spec tub!

[iandc]

TheDeuce said:

Don't forget "I feel sorry for anyone that paid to watch that!"

... in front of a forum full of folk that just paid to watch it...

I think his theory is, that if he moans enough on here, when Liberty next login to catch up on our opinions, they will see the sense in what he says, and somehow make it be free to watch on BBC again.

Followed by "I told you so"

[TheDeuce]

Andy S15 said:

Do we think Merc still have the ability in pocket to turn up the wick? I find it hard to believe that they will have been going flat out when relatively unchallenged by Ferrari. I reckon they will likely still have something to counter any performance improvement that the new Fez engine gives.

Strong performances needed from Renault (since they have been utter st so far), Haas (likewise), Gasly (to get some confidence back from the strong performance he should have bagged at Baku) and Leclerc (to get his confidence back to full performance) here.

In reality, I'll just be happy if Bottas finishes infront of Lewis. I just don't see a real Merc vs Ferrari battle happening this year so I hope the points between team mates stays close.

There is always extra power to be found from any engine, so long as you're willing to sacrifice longevity. And that's a game of diminishing returns. But.. Mercedes have had perfect reliability this season, and in testing, so if they felt they really needed an extra 5% from the PU temporarily to gain and grow a respectable lead, I'd be surprised if they ran into problems.

The key thing is that they (or Ferrari) would only need to put the additional stress on the PU for a relatively short period, it just has to be enough to get them ahead and then with the clean air advantage, outright power is far less of a factor. Also the cool air in Barcelona will help terms of both power and resultant fluid temperature.

So yes, it's almost always possible to find a little more power, but there is also always an increased risk and each car will have a different threshold that if crossed, will be a little reckless.