Official 2020 Austrian & Styrian Grand Prix Thread *Spoilers
Discussion
kambites said:
I think almost everyone disagrees with you there.
As far as I can see, any rule that DAS could have broken would also be broken by the basic steering system on every other car - if DAS is a "movable aerodynamic device", so is the normal steering; if DAS "adjusts the suspension while the car is in motion" so does a normal steering system.
Of course both of those things are true, strictly speaking - front wheels which turn relative to the body of the car are movable aerodynamic devices and turning the steering does adjust the suspension geometry, but to ban DAS on those grounds would also be to ban steering, which would be a bit unfortunate.
Ultimately all Mercedes are doing, is using the steering wheel to steer the front wheels.
As for whether the season is over, I think it was pretty obvious Mercedes were the favourites from pretty much the first day of pre-season testing and I've seen nothing else, DAS or no DAS, to indicate any different. To my mind Hamilton was always favourite to win this season and, since they extended the use of the current cars to next year, probably next as well. If anything the shortening of the season and risk of the drivers or teams being forced to miss races by COVID19 has made it more likely that luck will play a part and throw the result up in the air.
Yep, DAS is legal as it's not doing anything to a greater extent than normal steering. It's just steering with more options! It's quite impressive that they found a gap in the regs big enough to legitimately develop an entirely new system. That's a rarity these days, hats off to em.As far as I can see, any rule that DAS could have broken would also be broken by the basic steering system on every other car - if DAS is a "movable aerodynamic device", so is the normal steering; if DAS "adjusts the suspension while the car is in motion" so does a normal steering system.
Of course both of those things are true, strictly speaking - front wheels which turn relative to the body of the car are movable aerodynamic devices and turning the steering does adjust the suspension geometry, but to ban DAS on those grounds would also be to ban steering, which would be a bit unfortunate.
Ultimately all Mercedes are doing, is using the steering wheel to steer the front wheels.
As for whether the season is over, I think it was pretty obvious Mercedes were the favourites from pretty much the first day of pre-season testing and I've seen nothing else, DAS or no DAS, to indicate any different. To my mind Hamilton was always favourite to win this season and, since they extended the use of the current cars to next year, probably next as well. If anything the shortening of the season and risk of the drivers or teams being forced to miss races by COVID19 has made it more likely that luck will play a part and throw the result up in the air.
Edited by kambites on Saturday 4th July 08:00
And yes to Lewis's chances - barring any shock results later today... Although earlier this year with fears this season wouldn't run and we'd skip straight forward to the new regs, I bet he was rather less confident about that 7th title.
Lance needs to step up it up today w10 v w11.. I’ve got 20/1 on a podium for him..
TheDeuce said:
Deesee said:
Force India on the front row?
I guess you're feeling fairly happy with their performance so far this year 
Do you think they have more to show to the extent others probably do?
Checo was 2nd in the long run averages yesterday.
They were showing highest straight line speed yesterday and were 7ths up on Merc in the drs zones.
They are a touch slower than Merc and Red Bull in the turns.
If they can have the full Quali mode today then Front row is a possibility, at race speeds On Sunday on the straights they will be 1 second quicker than the Red Bull and Ferrari’s so with DRS we have a overtake opportunity.
Red Bull and Ferrari have 3/4 cars to cover off now strategy wise.
Q2 will be interesting Ferrari have left an extra set of super softs, everyone else likely to Quali on mediums.
I think 1 of the big 6 will miss Q3..
I feel certain that they will have great single lap performance today,
But I don’t see it translating into a podium tomorrow. Race strategy - execution and driver performance over a race distance, are unlikely to be close to the top-3 teams.
It is hard not to see HAM & BOT on the podium and so there is only one slot going, and it’s hard not to see Max occupying it.
But I don’t see it translating into a podium tomorrow. Race strategy - execution and driver performance over a race distance, are unlikely to be close to the top-3 teams.
It is hard not to see HAM & BOT on the podium and so there is only one slot going, and it’s hard not to see Max occupying it.
Deesee said:
Yep, as they have the Merc gearbox and engine it’s highly likely they have the same (type) of rear suspension due to the engine mounts, I think this is were they get the tyre temps and longevity in performance.
Checo was 2nd in the long run averages yesterday.
They were showing highest straight line speed yesterday and were 7ths up on Merc in the drs zones.
They are a touch slower than Merc and Red Bull in the turns.
If they can have the full Quali mode today then Front row is a possibility, at race speeds On Sunday on the straights they will be 1 second quicker than the Red Bull and Ferrari’s so with DRS we have a overtake opportunity.
Red Bull and Ferrari have 3/4 cars to cover off now strategy wise.
Q2 will be interesting Ferrari have left an extra set of super softs, everyone else likely to Quali on mediums.
I think 1 of the big 6 will miss Q3..
Yes, they should have a chance and could do it - although as rdjohn points out, converting a good start would need good race craft too - and they'd be up against the might of Mercedes and Red Bull (probably) in that regard.Checo was 2nd in the long run averages yesterday.
They were showing highest straight line speed yesterday and were 7ths up on Merc in the drs zones.
They are a touch slower than Merc and Red Bull in the turns.
If they can have the full Quali mode today then Front row is a possibility, at race speeds On Sunday on the straights they will be 1 second quicker than the Red Bull and Ferrari’s so with DRS we have a overtake opportunity.
Red Bull and Ferrari have 3/4 cars to cover off now strategy wise.
Q2 will be interesting Ferrari have left an extra set of super softs, everyone else likely to Quali on mediums.
I think 1 of the big 6 will miss Q3..
Also agree that a top six will miss Q3, the top end of the grid is now a pretty busy place. Although if that's true... Is there a 'top six' anymore? I think after today we might be viewing it as either a top four, or top eight maybe?
I've absolutely nothing against Mercedes, and obviously I'm not a fan of RB with Horner in charge, but I wish the 'clarification' had failed. If it is beneficial - if if not, why put it on the car - then it's an edge that Merc didn't need. I have the horrible feeling that Hamilton and Bottas will be half a second or more clear of the rest of the field. At this circuit, that's too much.
I wondered last season whether Hamilton and set up his car for tyre purposes, be it warming them up or husbanding them, which was why he wasn't on pole so frequently. Is this steering trick a sop to his requirements?
Last season was the best I can remember, and my selection is limited not by years but by a befuddled brain. I was hoping for more of the same, but if Merc walk it, we're doomed.
I wondered last season whether Hamilton and set up his car for tyre purposes, be it warming them up or husbanding them, which was why he wasn't on pole so frequently. Is this steering trick a sop to his requirements?
Last season was the best I can remember, and my selection is limited not by years but by a befuddled brain. I was hoping for more of the same, but if Merc walk it, we're doomed.
What is it with the ongoing bulls
t about a protest against RP (even if it is only in Crofty's lowest-common-denominator-driven drivel)?
There is nothing to protest.
If other teams don't like the approach RP (and Haas) have taken within the rules, then they are free to leave the sport.
Boo-hoo: a team you've previously derided as a mid-to-low order team have done something right, technically, and now they're better than you. Suck it up, buttercup.
t about a protest against RP (even if it is only in Crofty's lowest-common-denominator-driven drivel)?There is nothing to protest.
If other teams don't like the approach RP (and Haas) have taken within the rules, then they are free to leave the sport.
Boo-hoo: a team you've previously derided as a mid-to-low order team have done something right, technically, and now they're better than you. Suck it up, buttercup.
I don’t understand the assumption that we are “doomed” if Mercedes run away with it.
They did in 2014 and that was the best season for many a year.
Of course Bottas needs to perform for that, but don’t write the season off yet. There are so many sub plots to F1 and that’s why we love it.
They did in 2014 and that was the best season for many a year.
Of course Bottas needs to perform for that, but don’t write the season off yet. There are so many sub plots to F1 and that’s why we love it.
Derek Smith said:
I've absolutely nothing against Mercedes, and obviously I'm not a fan of RB with Horner in charge, but I wish the 'clarification' had failed. If it is beneficial - if if not, why put it on the car - then it's an edge that Merc didn't need. I have the horrible feeling that Hamilton and Bottas will be half a second or more clear of the rest of the field. At this circuit, that's too much.
I wondered last season whether Hamilton and set up his car for tyre purposes, be it warming them up or husbanding them, which was why he wasn't on pole so frequently. Is this steering trick a sop to his requirements?
Last season was the best I can remember, and my selection is limited not by years but by a befuddled brain. I was hoping for more of the same, but if Merc walk it, we're doomed.
I'm not saying that I welcome such a big gap.. but from Mercedes point of view part of competing F1 is designing a car that performs as well as they can make it, whilst remaining within the regs and formula. They are supposed to innovate, and they have 'out-innovated' their competitors. It's a valid enough way to improve their own chances of winning.I wondered last season whether Hamilton and set up his car for tyre purposes, be it warming them up or husbanding them, which was why he wasn't on pole so frequently. Is this steering trick a sop to his requirements?
Last season was the best I can remember, and my selection is limited not by years but by a befuddled brain. I was hoping for more of the same, but if Merc walk it, we're doomed.
As I said however, the gap, if it is indeed half a second, isn't great from a fan perspective. That's unfortunate if it's the case. Luckily just below Mercedes there is a big group of cars looking ready to battle it out across the season, which is good.
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