Lewis Hamilton expects Red Bull will be back to their best at this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix after their winning run ended in the previous round.
Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez finished fifth and eight respectively in the Singapore Grand Prix as neither Red Bull driver qualified inside the top 10. The team had won every race until that point.Red Bull’s slump last weekend prompted speculation the team’s performance had been affected by recent clarifications in the technical rules targeted at flexible bodywork. But Hamilton, who took third for Mercedes in Singapore, expects the champions will dominate at Suzuka in the same way they have at similar tracks earlier this year.
“I would think that if they’re not 30 seconds ahead like they have done in the past then something’s up,” said the Mercedes driver.
“It was obviously a difficult weekend, the last one,” he continued, “but that car should be phenomenal here.”
Red Bull expected the Marina Bay street circuit would not suit their dominant car as well as other venues. But the high-speed Suzuka track should be ideal for the RB19.
“They’ve been phenomenal all year long,” said Hamilton. “They’ve aced pretty much every circuit and it’s going to be great to watch that car in general.
“Normally you would come here and it’s beautiful to watch the laps that they do because the whole team as a whole and the drivers are doing an amazing job with the package they have. So it’ll be interesting to see how the weekend goes.
“I hope that we’re closer and I hope they’re not as fast as that 30-second gap they’ve had in the past.”
Mercedes were narrowly beaten to pole position by Ferrari in Singapore and unable to prevent Carlos Sainz Jnr winning the race. Hamilton doesn’t expect they will be as strong this weekend.
“Carlos was managing at the front and I think we were all relatively close, I would say, at the front. But what a great race it was, just to have us all that close up front.
“This weekend I don’t anticipate having the performance we had in the last race, but we’ve worked very hard, we’re continuing to try and push in the envelope that we have, so I’m hoping that we’re not terribly far off this weekend.”
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2023 Japanese Grand Prix
- Norris: Red Bull’s dominance down to ‘small things which make a big difference’
- Mercedes must halve deficit to Red Bull before 2024 season starts – Hamilton
- Mercedes expect “tight” fight for second in championship after Ferrari gains
- Norris breaks Hulkenberg’s record for most points without a win in F1
- Transcript: What Alonso really meant by being “thrown to the lions” at Suzuka
Anuj Chopra
21st September 2023, 6:54
Why are we seeing these comments from LH and TOTO only. While other teams are busy improving, these guys are more concerned about Red-Bull rather than themselves.
I think LH’s pride has taken a hit.
Ferdinand
21st September 2023, 7:06
Seriously, what is wrong with them? I feel they should seek some professional help by now since it just doesn’t seem to stop. On a positive note it is good food for the press though, they provide an endless revenue stream for them.
EffWunFan (@cairnsfella)
21st September 2023, 7:22
Do you honestly believe that these guys walk up to a journalist and just offer these opinions unprompted.
It’s not like our opinions that we are posting here, which no-one has actually asked for.
Ferdinand
21st September 2023, 7:30
You are right, my bad. I was following what we have come to expect from him, but he actually says nothing this time.
EffWunFan (@cairnsfella)
21st September 2023, 9:41
To be fair, I was primarily responding to Anuj Chopra.
Sikhumbuzo Khumalo
21st September 2023, 7:25
Following your logic you would think that Lewis just penned a thought piece on Redbull on his Instagram page or gave a press release.
SteveP
21st September 2023, 7:40
Oh, the options when you see a response that will trigger certain people:
People are only putting loaded questions to Mercedes?
People are only reporting the responses of Mercedes?
Mercedes are giving these responses without being asked anything other than “what do you think of the weather?” or similar.
You can but ask Keith what the source for the content was and what the question(s) were that led to the response.
Tifoso1989 (@tifoso1989)
21st September 2023, 8:51
As a long time Mercedes and in particular Hamilton and Toto detractor, I find it hard to fault their current approach. Before 2022, during the hybrid era, RBR only job was complaining about Mercedes (and occasionally Ferrari), employing various tactics to hinder their performance, and they did manage to succeed in doing so.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
21st September 2023, 9:46
Indeed, like someone said on here not long ago, which I thought was fun “it can’t be easy going from the winning to the whining team”, in the hybrid era mercedes were busy dominating, so no reason to complain and now that red bulls are dominating complaining became merc’s job!
Simon (@donsimoni)
21st September 2023, 11:26
Hot take: Mercedes have hit the budget cap already, can’t develop further and now they’re bored.
Anuj Chopra
21st September 2023, 12:20
Lol! So they have no money but a lot of time this year. They are using that time to give interesting interviews.
cdfemke (@cdfemke)
21st September 2023, 18:35
I dont think their sponsors like that they act a fool
Nick T.
21st September 2023, 11:33
Do you think they’d actually be able to be working on something else during FIA mandated press conferences? Or during the 30 seconds it takes to answer questions from journalists even if we pretended these quotes were coming at times they could be gone?
David BR (@david-br)
21st September 2023, 12:32
Oh great. What the comment section of this site was really lacking was another 24/7 Hamilton troll with nothing else to say. Lol.
cdfemke (@cdfemke)
21st September 2023, 18:35
Hi lewis fan :)
AlanD
21st September 2023, 12:51
Anuj asked “Why are we seeing these comments from LH and TOTO only”
Why? Because that’s what reporters do. LH and Toto didn’t call a press conference to announce this. They don’t send the stories into the media. They have reporters coming up to them asking leading questions and try to give meaningful answers. The answers might be taken out of context by the journalists who want a spicier story to generate click bait, and people who are anti to that particular driver or team go off on a bender complaining the driver is so arrogant, forcing his opinion on everyone else, coming up wuth lame excuses before he’s even started the race, etc. Try not to let your opinion of people be shaped by reporters with their own agenda.
Dantera87
21st September 2023, 16:26
Oh no, a reporter askes a question, now Lulu is OBLIGED to answer it in a way that his rancid tone is evident. LOL the absolute state of Hammo apologists.
MadMax (@madmax)
21st September 2023, 18:27
how stupid can one be, to spread hate just cause someone is answering the questions he is asked. i guess, we know anti fans dont agree.
Ferdinand
22nd September 2023, 20:01
Well, I have to say that often there are more elegant and good sportsmanship ways to answer questions from the press. We can’t deny both Lewis and Toto deliberately take a shot at Max at every opportunity presented to them. I honestly think they think it is a part of sports, a part where you try to destabilize the opponent mentally. For me personally, I am not a fan of that approach. F1 is not boxing or the like. But to each their own I guess.
arch
21st September 2023, 20:34
Sir Lewis Hamilton is a rolemodel apart from his incredible talent. He has achieved everything while being the only black driver who perseveres among egregious negativity. It says a lot about the people who seem to look for any opportunity to slag him. Shockingly the south asian commentators are some of the worst. It’s like they have to prove harder their distance to blackness, not realising their own insecurities are writ large on their comments. Slow down people! You don’t have to troll him to feel pseudo empowered. Show some courage and stand with the person who pushes past everything that’s stacked against him and still rises, with his head held high. Let’s reciprocate the courage if we don’t possess the talent. Granted it’s harder than typing abysmal negative comments and jumpingon the bandwagon. May fairness reign and your time to rise return shortly as you continue to inspire those of us open to your luminous talent! N
Stewart
22nd September 2023, 11:29
Bangs Table and a loud “Hear Hear”
Can you imagine the story that many journalists would come out with, if they quoted some of LH’s detractors ??? – it would burn up the paper it was printed on.
p.s. I’m not primarily a LH Fan, but I admire the stance he’s taken towards racial and sexual prejudice, especially as the great majority of “Millionaire minority figures suddenly have no affinity or empathy with the downtrodden masses, (once the Bank starts to burst at the seams). If any of us normal mortals took the stance on inequality the way LH has done, not a single person would take notice, but his Skills, Position and Money make those who have influence sit up and listen, so “Good for you Lewis, more power to you Sir”.
Ferdinand
22nd September 2023, 20:29
I have no way to fact check what you state. Would be terrible if that’s the motivation. For me personally I feel it is Lewis behavior that gives reason for criticism. He is the only driver of the current grid that takes deliberate shots at others off track while (/in an effort to) talk himself up or does it in an attempt to play mind games. I know there are sports where this is a part of the ‘total play’, including the ramping up to an event etc.. bit like in boxing. I think there are some, I am one of them, that would rather not see this in F1 and would ideally let the talking only take place on track. So those who don’t like this mind games stuff will regard Lewis (and Horner and Toto and Marko for example) as controversial, which for that reason has nothing to do with history, achievements or past struggles. It about how one presents oneself to the outside world. I personally like athletes/teams that focus on themselves, tell it like it is (why shouldn’t the audience be part of the journey including the downs and struggles.. it’s not like we can do a better job. You do not always have to prove yourself. We will always respect them for their talent) and are candid about own achievements and show humbleness towards being in the position they are. Lewis comes across to me, like he is nothing like that.
arch
22nd September 2023, 2:03
David BR and Tifoso1989, it’s good to see some comments with actual thought behind them, not those pretend ones by some masquerading as opinions but are really only mostly malicious drivel. The constsistent and continuous attacks on Lewis Hamilton shows how in a society the majority feel threatened by exceptional/ genius talent and how discrimination is quickly embraced even by those who are discriminated against like the many south asian commentators and comments! Classic self-hatred. So much need for so much therapy for so many people…N
grat
21st September 2023, 14:41
Have you considered the possibility that Hamilton and Wolff are saying these things in response to questions by journalists?
You know that’s how this works, right? During press events, the journalists ask questions, the teams and drivers answer them, and the journalists publish the answers?
It’s not like social media where you sound your barbaric yawp over the roofs of the world in the hope that someone cares.
Jere (@jerejj)
21st September 2023, 7:45
Or just win regardless of final gap.
GechiChan (@gechichan)
21st September 2023, 10:13
the gap is important here as LH has somewhat of an innuendo in his message. If they don’t crush us, and Singapore was not a track-specific fluke, then RBR must have changed something important on their car that is now a downgrade (most likely because of a technical directive or fear of an upcoming one).
Feels like Merc are trying to stir up something again. Maybe they’re right, who knows…
Coventry Climax
21st September 2023, 11:22
This is not about the 30 seconds or whatever.
This is not about being right or wrong.
It’s not their job to ‘stir up things’, play the media and -hence- the public. That’s Trump style politics – ugly.
If they feel things aren’t fair, they should go to the FiA and the FiA alone.
Hamilton does it, Wolff does it, Russell following suit the moment he joined them.
Fortunately, I see this result in a growing dislike for anything Mercedes, and rightfully so. It backfires.
Doggy
21st September 2023, 12:58
I tend to agree with your view Coventry.
Unfortunately, the recipe to excel in politics is: drama, pulling down your opponents, turn anything positive into negative, lies, and a pinch of playing the victim.
This gives you plate that is used around the world
CarWars (@maxv)
21st September 2023, 8:57
Dont think Redbull have been 30sec ahead in most of the last races. Their gap is like 0.3sec per lap. In the begin of the season indeed it was maybe 0.7-1s.
SteveP
21st September 2023, 9:33
You’re right.
The gap from the lead RBR to the nearest non-RBR has been more like 20 sec on average, although it has been as high as 37 sec (Hungary) and 32sec (Belgium + Spain).
There’s usually discrete messages to slow down when there’s an excessive gap.
Tifoso1989 (@tifoso1989)
21st September 2023, 10:27
@maxv
They were using conservative PU modes and were still ahead of the competition. In Suzuka, it’s anticipated they’ll push their power unit to the limit, which could pose some challenges, especially given their season-long struggle with the reliability of their narrow gearbox (RB19’s Achilles heel).
Doggy
21st September 2023, 13:09
Genuine question @tifoso1989:
* What makes you think that RBR was in conservative PU mode in all previous races? Particularly for Checo that had to push at Max (no pun intended) capacity to gain positions.
For Verstappen, I agree that in many races, towards the end, he was just controlling the pace. But not in all races he had it easy (weather related conditions)
Also, if RB’s Performance in Singapore was track related (which I think it was), then, strategically, they may go for a 5 sec win ahead to possibly shake off more changes from FIA to hinder their performance.
Tifoso1989 (@tifoso1989)
21st September 2023, 17:26
That’s what was reported in the paddock since the start of the season with Ferrari being the most aggressive PU wise.
Javier
21st September 2023, 10:42
This guy is such a clown… so if Rb wins by 15-20 seconds(which has been normal) then something is wrong… lmao..
SteveP
21st September 2023, 14:14
You could try looking at the race finish timings on the F1 site, and then, perhaps, realise that the lead RBR has indeed been 37sec(Hungary), 32sec(Belgium), 32sec(Spain) ahead of the nearest non-RBR car, and that the average gap is around the figures you quote.
LH made a reasonable comment, and might be focussing on the three high points, but you’re assuming that he meant drop back to a gap which you acknowledge exists, whereas most people are thinking that the gap might drop to a second or two or even disappear.
Most people are on a wait-and-see status.
One thing is certain though.
The FIA issued TD018 referencing flexible bodywork aero components – people have been visibly fiddling and bending the limits of the rules for an extra tenth or so.
The FIA also issued a refresh/clarification of TD039 from last year to cover where at least one competitor had been doing fiddles with the floor. There was specific mention of a 2mm variance for non-design flex, but some competitors seemed to design that into the floor with mechanisms, now if I recall the floor to ground gap is 50mm?
2mm as a percentage of 50mm (4%), vs. bodywork tweaks that give 2-3 tenths on a 70-80 second lap (around 0.4%)
Floor is virtually drag free downforce so you can reduce the draggy wings.
I expect at least one competitor to show a drop in performance for the next few races. Whether that is RBR, or AM, or Merc who knows.
Doggy
21st September 2023, 16:20
SteveP, you are cherry picking results from 3 races only.
Italy gap to 3th for 11 secs, Dutch 4 sec (yes there was a SC but he was not 30 sec ahead either), British 4 sec, Canadian 10 secs , etc.
RBR mentioned that they stopped working on their 2023 car months ago and only focusing on their 2024. Whereas other teams kept bringing updates like Ferrsri and Mclaren.
Many team principals and reporters have mentioned, months ago, that teams will be closer to RBR past the summer break because of this.
Dantera87
21st September 2023, 16:30
>picks 3 out of 14 or so results
>calls it an average
Turbo-hybrid LOL
SteveP
21st September 2023, 21:01
Highlights 3 events without late SC, that fit the numbers that LH probably recalls, and confirms Javier’s figures of “15-20” as the average
Specific words “and that the average gap is around the figures you quote”
Perhaps my sentence was too long?
Could be a tendency to verbosity here, or ADHD at the other end.
MattDS (@mattds)
21st September 2023, 22:44
Sorry Steve, he is literally saying “if they don’t win by that amount then something is up”.
That is definitely not a fair nor reasonable comment as they might win with anything between 10 and 20 seconds too without anything having to be “up”.
cdfemke (@cdfemke)
21st September 2023, 18:36
They are just using distraction tactics from their own underperformance and flexi parts
melanos
22nd September 2023, 20:06
Stop insulting the clowns
Coventry Climax
21st September 2023, 11:11
If there’s filth on your skin anywhere, infections loom.
Hence the big white pimple on Lewis’ lip, and shows you where the filth is coming from.
Just politics, mind games, pointing at others, trying to get some sort of investigation going, anything to hamper the opponent instead of being introspective and solve your own issues. Shows incapacity to improve yourself.
In a sense it’s close to sabotage. Of the sports itself as a minimum. Didn’t the FiA have a rule for that, discrediting the ports?
It’s a black flag in my opinion. Ugly.
Coventry Climax
21st September 2023, 11:12
ports => sports
Nick T.
21st September 2023, 11:37
That’s a toothpick, bro. Not a Lewis fan, but I think people are just extremely sensitive anytime Lewis says anything about another car’s dominance because he had a car that was way faster than the rest of the field’s for 7 straight years. If these comments were coming from Norris or Bottas or whoever, I don’t think it’d anyone would bay an eye. I also don’t think it’d be used to write a headline.
Coventry Climax
22nd September 2023, 1:42
Toothpick? Really? Gosh, didn’t notice that. 🤣
Sorry. Ofcourse I saw that.
I’m sensitive of what Lewis says because he’s saying so many things pointing others to their faults.
It’s fine trying to improve the world, it’s needed and I’m all for it, but it helps your credibility if you live by it yourself too.
To then have him pointing at others and insinuating things, and at the wrong address too, that’s bringing yourself down and harmful to your credibility and integrity.
And it’s reached the point where I’m fed up with it.
Decent driver, lousy character.
David BR (@david-br)
21st September 2023, 13:47
Look up ‘projection’ in psychology and you’ll find you’ve described yourself and the rest of your post.
G (@unklegsif)
21st September 2023, 15:08
again, you have won the comment of the day – chapeau!
G
G (@unklegsif)
21st September 2023, 15:14
I have no idea why that is in bold – in wasnt supposed to be!
G
MichaelN
21st September 2023, 13:24
This style of constant insinuations is really tiresome. It’s become so normal for Mercedes that folks like Wolff, Allison, Hamilton and increasingly Russell all seem to default to it.
That they then follow up with words of praise does little to change the quotes they know will be used in headlines.
David BR (@david-br)
21st September 2023, 13:49
You too?
Hamilton just means, ‘then the Red Bull dip is real’ not just Singapore-specific.
Jeffrey Powell
21st September 2023, 14:09
Yes, I believe if he said, if they couldn’t win by 30 seconds then there is a good chance they have had a possible substantive comparable drop in performance. Then that would have been less construed as Lewis moaning doubtful though. Hindsight is a wonderful thing
MichaelN
21st September 2023, 14:12
Maybe. But despite Red Bull showing good pace in the race on the Hard compound, a lot of commentary on Saturday and even after the race connected the two FIA clarifications on flexing floors and flexing wings to Red Bull’s mishap in the Singapore practise sessions. Mercedes knows this, and they’ve been down this road too many times before not to at least consider they’re doing the same thing now.
Mercedes has been ‘saying it without saying it’ for years. And they are each too smart and too used to the way the press works to not know that such a statement will be headlined (as indeed it has) and that a significant part of the audience will interpret it in that way.
It’s unfortunate. They don’t need to do this. Nobody else is.
David BR (@david-br)
21st September 2023, 14:51
I seriously don’t get the point you’re trying to make though. If FIA’s enforcement of pre-existing rules has forced Red Bull to alter something on their car to ensure that they conform to those rules, how is that wrong for Hamilton or Mercedes to imply? And not actually a serious issue in relation to how Red Bull’s performance has blown away everyone else so far this year?
On the other hand, Hamilton has said he expects them to be back to normal in Japan. So he’s implying that he doesn’t expect to be any legality issue! And yet people are taking issue with that!
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
21st September 2023, 18:56
It’s a good point by hamilton and I think the same, 30 sec is probably unlikely, but being 20 sec ahead hints at an unaffected red bull (by the new directive) and just not being suitable to singapore, or like they said, not having found the right setup, however if there’s even just closer competition than any other race (canada alonso got as close as 4 sec, then he was told to do some management with the car), even something like verstappen winning with someone on his tail, that hints at the directive hindering red bull.
SteveP
21st September 2023, 16:32
It should be noted that the prime (but not the only) source of comment, to what I always thought was a seriously snide level, of many years isn’t making the comments this year, or last, very often.
He did have a good line in comments about “rubber noses” recently though, so he’s lost none of the talent.
Coventry Climax
22nd September 2023, 1:48
If Hamilton just means, it helps if he just said too, instead of being cryptic and insinuating and, as you seem to think, relying on people’s ability to interpret.
Imagine him being communicating that way towards his race engineer. He’d end up dead last in the championship. Bar Stroll, maybe, but he doesn’t count.
David BR (@david-br)
21st September 2023, 13:55
So Hamilton is in the wrong if FIA are enforcing their own rules and suddenly Red Bull’s performance dips?
Weird mindset folk have here.
Anthony
21st September 2023, 14:26
Seriously, this site was way better back in the f1fanatics days. The comments are so toxic now, especially on Hamilton articles.
David BR (@david-br)
21st September 2023, 14:59
I usually skip them if they’re of marginal interest as it’s just demoralising. But I’m totally baffled by this one. Mercedes and Red Bull were ‘insinuating’ for some time a few years back that Ferrari had suddenly picked up engine performance. We know where that one went. It’s not unique to Mercedes to be sceptical about other teams. I’ve been totally neutral about the flexible bodywork stuff – in the sense that I’ve been paying no real attention to it. If, however, Red Bull’s huge performance advantage has been suddenly culled, then obviously something has changed. But like Hamilton, I don’t expect that to happen. If though they are radically slower in Japan, then obviously lots of questions will start to surface because there’s just no way that should happen.
Stewart
22nd September 2023, 12:38
I seriously doubt that there is a single Team on the grid that does NOT have some illegal tweak they’ve managed to hide from the scrutineers.
Cheating has been around since the 1950’s and it will never end when so much financial reward hangs on the result. Every single driver knows this, along with every other person tied in with F1. Has everyone forgotten the snide comments by jealous team principals and drivers while LH & VB were at the top ? with the effect that the FIA had to react and investigate on every single comment – usually by instructing the scrutineers to take a closer more careful look rather than some official press release. Those Press Releases were then called when the scrutineers had actually found something, as too many “official extra inspections” would indicate a witch hunt, and as everyone knows, the FIA are at least trying to appear squeaky clean lately.
Bear in mind that the majority of snide comments when Mercedes were at the top of the heap came from RBR & Ferrari !
I’ve been following F1 for over 50 yrs, and I can remember almost every instance of cheating by successful teams blown up into some press feeding frenzy well beyond justification.
For those of you who believe that this is the first time aspersions have been made towards a potentially cheating team, you are deluding yourselves if you believe the team making those aspersions aren’t at the same time looking for a way to illegally raise themselves in the same way.
Have a look at F1 history – FIRST.
David BR (@david-br)
22nd September 2023, 13:12
@Stewart I know, that was kind of the entire point of my post. Hamilton is just signalling the fact that ‘cheating’ goes on all the time in Formula 1, pushing and sometimes breaking the regulations. Sometimes teams don’t even know if something is, technically, borderline or over the border of the rules and need to rest them to find out. Other teams the cheating is blatant. Red Bull complained about Mercedes plenty of times and got various elements banned over the seasons of Merc dominance.
S
21st September 2023, 15:10
And Verstappen articles.
And Perez articles.
And Stroll articles.
And Tsunoda articles.
And Magnussen articles.
And Gasly articles.
And Ocon articles.
And Bottas articles……… Etc, etc.
SteveP
21st September 2023, 16:36
Have you looked over at the likes of panetf1 ??
This place is tame. Out there, you can get an anti-Hamilton stream going off an article about Haas or Alpha Tauri
Tifoso1989 (@tifoso1989)
21st September 2023, 17:30
@david-br
Read my comment above, I’m with Hamilton on this one and everyone can feel free to call me a Hamilton/Mercedes fan—boy !
David BR (@david-br)
21st September 2023, 17:52
@tifoso1989
Not much danger of that :)
I did read your comment, I thought it was fair; apologies, I didn’t mean to imply everyone.
Basically the season’s over anyhow, not sure how much we’ll learn from all this. Even if Red Bull had something to hide, they don’t need that performance any longer anyway.
arch
21st September 2023, 20:48
David BR and Tifoso1989, it’s good to see some comments with actual thought behind them, not those pretend ones by some masquerading as opinions but are really only mostly malicious drivel. The constsistent and continuous attacks on Lewis Hamilton shows how in a society the majority feel threatened by exceptional/ genius talent and how discrimination is quickly embraced even by those who are discriminated against like the many south asian commentators and comments! Classic self-hatred. So much need for so much therapy for so many people…N
MattDS (@mattds)
21st September 2023, 22:50
@david-br
He is in the wrong if he links “winning with less than 30 seconds advantage” to something being “up” at Red Bull. Like, if they win by 15 somehow it will be justified to call them out for foul play.
And yeah, now we’ll probably get “but he didn’t mean it that way”. This is that was implied, it’s never said outright so that there can always be the argumentation that is was meant differently.
Edvaldo
21st September 2023, 14:29
Red Bull won most normal races this year with a 25+ second gap.
If the race isn’t disrupted by red flag or Safety Cars and this doesn’t happen, a week after by far their worst showing of the year, it means they must have been affected by the new directive, obviously.
Too bad our mates here are either too lazy or something else, not to understand it.
David BR (@david-br)
21st September 2023, 15:02
Precisely. I mean no car ever in the history of Formula 1 has ever suddenly lost such an advantage for no reason. It would make zero sense. I just don’t see how it’s possible that it will: if Red Bull were getting such an advantage from flexible bodywork, why wasn’t that picked up by other Formula 1 teams and journalists much earlier?
Jeffrey Powell
21st September 2023, 15:35
Not long to wait tomorrow we may see the light or be as confused as yesterday.
SteveP
21st September 2023, 17:08
Visible aero is what the journalists report (and was covered by TD018), they also report on mysterious under the floor “stuff”
I have absolutely no knowledge of whether the floor and diffuser combo of the RBR is anything other than legal, however, I have said previously – like back when the 2022 simulated wet race testing was done pre-season – the airflow shown in the spray behind the RBR is different to the standard “rooster tail” flow of the other cars.
They are doing something different with the airflow along that route.
People will find out what it is and either replicate it, or seek to have it banned.
jhg103 (@joshgeake)
21st September 2023, 16:21
Apart from Mercedes in Singapore in 2015?!
Edvaldo
21st September 2023, 16:38
Mercedes resumed normal activities the next race. The talk is exactly whether Red Bull will do the same or not.
Tifoso1989 (@tifoso1989)
21st September 2023, 17:22
@joshgeake
I don’t recall RBR introducing a revolutionary hydraulic suspension in the last race.
cdfemke (@cdfemke)
21st September 2023, 18:46
And that in itself is not a problem, as the flex all teams use was tested and deemed legal, also for redbull, before.
If it hits a sweetspot that they cant use anymore, that is awesome news for the S̶p̶o̶r̶t̶ Show.
SteveP
21st September 2023, 21:10
It’s a team operating like many others before is the phrase you’re skirting around.
Some people say whataboutism, but in F1 it’s called everyone with the ability developing to the limit.
Sometimes people exceed the limits.
SteveP
21st September 2023, 16:51
Don’t go introducing facts into an argument, it confuses people. :)
Dusty
21st September 2023, 17:17
I don’t know what was asked to trigger this response, but I find it interesting a driver already has formed a definitive conclusion for an imagined scenario.
From a neutral point of view there are many reasons to explain why a team would win or not and by which margin. Does Suzuka and the tire compounds for the weekend really match Red Bull peak performance window as well as the tracks where they won by 30s? How conservative is everyone running PUs due to reliability concerns? Did Ferrari and McLaren develop their car and closed the gap? We don’t even know who will challenge for the win… Maybe Mercedes, maybe Alonso.
If Max wins by 45s does that mean Mercedes was abusing flex parts and got hit by the TD?
SteveP
21st September 2023, 21:19
Not Aston Martin? Stroll could have a good weekend and blitz it. That probability is low.
No, it means every one of the teams in the chasing pack was abusing the flex.
Surprisingly, there are other drivers in other teams in the race that accompanies the Max and Lewis show, although there are times you wouldn’t really know.
Dale
22nd September 2023, 7:07
The sulker and his boss just can’t accept being beaten without crying ‘cheat’.
Such poor sportsmen, and examples to the youth … both of them.