2019 Mexican Grand Prix Free Practice & Qualifying Thread
Posted: Mon Oct 21, 2019 1:14 pm
Source - Imgur
Source - Imgur
KingVoid wrote:You know what’s the most bizarre about this weekend? I don’t see a favourite. Any of the top 5 drivers could take pole position or win the race and it wouldn’t be a surprise.
Who counts as the top 5? Albon matched Verstappen last time out, surely it wouldn't be that much of a surprise if any of the top 3 teams drivers got it based on this?KingVoid wrote:You know what’s the most bizarre about this weekend? I don’t see a favourite. Any of the top 5 drivers could take pole position or win the race and it wouldn’t be a surprise.
As I remember Mexico last year was one of the races where Mercedes blocked off the cooling ducts in their wheel-hub connections amid concerns that this might be seen as a blown hub or moveable aerodynamic device and declared illegal. As a consequence their car and setup was graining the tires pretty aggressively during the race. Since then the cooled hubs and wheels have been approved by the FIA and Merc uses them without challenge.TheGiantHogweed wrote:Who counts as the top 5? Albon matched Verstappen last time out, surely it wouldn't be that much of a surprise if any of the top 3 teams drivers got it based on this?KingVoid wrote:You know what’s the most bizarre about this weekend? I don’t see a favourite. Any of the top 5 drivers could take pole position or win the race and it wouldn’t be a surprise.
But then i don't see Mercedes being strong. Hamilton finished 75 seconds behind Verstappen last year with Bottas a lap down if i remember correctly. With Red Bull having a difference that massive and even Vettel nearly being a minute ahead of Hamilton, I think Mercedes are extremely unlikely to get pole and likely struggle to get a podium. But could be wrong.
Agreed. Could be a very exciting weekend, even more so if there is some rain to throw into the mix.KingVoid wrote:You know what’s the most bizarre about this weekend? I don’t see a favourite. Any of the top 5 drivers could take pole position or win the race and it wouldn’t be a surprise.
Because there is a clear and obvious trend in certain cars being good at certain circuits and everybody knows that Mexico is a bad track for Merc and always has beenKingVoid wrote:Why do people still talk about the results last season? There has been very little correlation between 2018 and 2019. Mercedes was third best around Monaco in 2018 yet comfortably locked out the front row in 2019.
Have those trends stuck for this season?FormulaFun wrote:Because there is a clear and obvious trend in certain cars being good at certain circuits and everybody knows that Mexico is a bad track for Merc and always has beenKingVoid wrote:Why do people still talk about the results last season? There has been very little correlation between 2018 and 2019. Mercedes was third best around Monaco in 2018 yet comfortably locked out the front row in 2019.
Given that Ferrari have been much closer this year to Merc you'd probably expect them to be ahead at mexico
If I remember rightly a supreme lap by Hamilton and a Ferrari blunder contributed.KingVoid wrote:Why do people still talk about the results last season? There has been very little correlation between 2018 and 2019. Mercedes was third best around Monaco in 2018 yet comfortably locked out the front row in 2019.
I'd say the trend has turned upside down when it comes to Mercedes and Ferrari.mikeyg123 wrote:Have those trends stuck for this season?FormulaFun wrote:Because there is a clear and obvious trend in certain cars being good at certain circuits and everybody knows that Mexico is a bad track for Merc and always has beenKingVoid wrote:Why do people still talk about the results last season? There has been very little correlation between 2018 and 2019. Mercedes was third best around Monaco in 2018 yet comfortably locked out the front row in 2019.
Given that Ferrari have been much closer this year to Merc you'd probably expect them to be ahead at mexico
I'd say they've stuck for a lot of races...Covalent wrote:I'd say the trend has turned upside down when it comes to Mercedes and Ferrari.mikeyg123 wrote:Have those trends stuck for this season?FormulaFun wrote:Because there is a clear and obvious trend in certain cars being good at certain circuits and everybody knows that Mexico is a bad track for Merc and always has beenKingVoid wrote:Why do people still talk about the results last season? There has been very little correlation between 2018 and 2019. Mercedes was third best around Monaco in 2018 yet comfortably locked out the front row in 2019.
Given that Ferrari have been much closer this year to Merc you'd probably expect them to be ahead at mexico
As I said above, Merc should not have the same problems with tire degradation this year that they had last year. Ferrari will still have an edge as far as raw power output is concerned. Vettel, Leclers, Hamilton, Bottas, & Verstappen should all have a chance at the win.FormulaFun wrote:Covalent wrote:mikeyg123 wrote:I'd say they've stuck for a lot of races...FormulaFun wrote: I'd say the trend has turned upside down when it comes to Mercedes and Ferrari.
Ferrari strong in Bahrain, Spa, Hockenheim (before Ferrari blew it in quali), Monza and Canada
Red bull strong in Monaco, Hungary, Austria
So why not anticipate that probably Mexico will be a strong circuit for Ferrari & red bull (although less so for red bull due to their poor development this season)
Are you guys really expecting Merc to be the favourites for mexico
Maybe not but they will likely have cooling issues. The air is thin in Mexico City at that elevation and it will be very hot. They struggled badly in Austria and I expect more of the same.Mort Canard wrote:As I said above, Merc should not have the same problems with tire degradation this year that they had last year. Ferrari will still have an edge as far as raw power output is concerned. Vettel, Leclers, Hamilton, Bottas, & Verstappen should all have a chance at the win.FormulaFun wrote:Covalent wrote:mikeyg123 wrote:I'd say they've stuck for a lot of races...FormulaFun wrote: I'd say the trend has turned upside down when it comes to Mercedes and Ferrari.
Ferrari strong in Bahrain, Spa, Hockenheim (before Ferrari blew it in quali), Monza and Canada
Red bull strong in Monaco, Hungary, Austria
So why not anticipate that probably Mexico will be a strong circuit for Ferrari & red bull (although less so for red bull due to their poor development this season)
Are you guys really expecting Merc to be the favourites for mexico
The popular favorites among fans and pundits seems to be Vettel and Leclerc and I don't think that is unreasonable. As always, Hamilton could show up and put on one of his masterclass drives. Should be interesting.
Could be but Merc has also had time to address those issues.sandman1347 wrote: Maybe not but they will likely have cooling issues. The air is thin in Mexico City at that elevation and it will be very hot. They struggled badly in Austria and I expect more of the same.
Pretty sure they've solved those issues they had in Austria. We'll probably know one way or the other this weekend.sandman1347 wrote:Maybe not but they will likely have cooling issues. The air is thin in Mexico City at that elevation and it will be very hot. They struggled badly in Austria and I expect more of the same.Mort Canard wrote:As I said above, Merc should not have the same problems with tire degradation this year that they had last year. Ferrari will still have an edge as far as raw power output is concerned. Vettel, Leclers, Hamilton, Bottas, & Verstappen should all have a chance at the win.FormulaFun wrote:Covalent wrote:mikeyg123 wrote:
I'd say they've stuck for a lot of races...
Ferrari strong in Bahrain, Spa, Hockenheim (before Ferrari blew it in quali), Monza and Canada
Red bull strong in Monaco, Hungary, Austria
So why not anticipate that probably Mexico will be a strong circuit for Ferrari & red bull (although less so for red bull due to their poor development this season)
Are you guys really expecting Merc to be the favourites for mexico
The popular favorites among fans and pundits seems to be Vettel and Leclerc and I don't think that is unreasonable. As always, Hamilton could show up and put on one of his masterclass drives. Should be interesting.
To clarify, I thought Mercedes had addressed this. Are you saying it is resolved at lower altitudes but remains an issue in thin air? If so why would they not have covered all the possibilities?sandman1347 wrote: Maybe not but they will likely have cooling issues. The air is thin in Mexico City at that elevation and it will be very hot. They struggled badly in Austria and I expect more of the same.
What does it matter anyway, we'll see soon enough?FormulaFun wrote:I'd say they've stuck for a lot of races...Covalent wrote:I'd say the trend has turned upside down when it comes to Mercedes and Ferrari.mikeyg123 wrote:Have those trends stuck for this season?FormulaFun wrote:Because there is a clear and obvious trend in certain cars being good at certain circuits and everybody knows that Mexico is a bad track for Merc and always has beenKingVoid wrote:Why do people still talk about the results last season? There has been very little correlation between 2018 and 2019. Mercedes was third best around Monaco in 2018 yet comfortably locked out the front row in 2019.
Given that Ferrari have been much closer this year to Merc you'd probably expect them to be ahead at mexico
Ferrari strong in Bahrain, Spa, Hockenheim (before Ferrari blew it in quali), Monza and Canada
Red bull strong in Monaco, Hungary, Austria
So why not anticipate that probably Mexico will be a strong circuit for Ferrari & red bull (although less so for red bull due to their poor development this season)
Are you guys really expecting Merc to be the favourites for mexico
I believe the issue was the size of the radiators. They may have addressed it but yes, thinner air means more difficult cooling as does high ambient temperature.Option or Prime wrote:To clarify, I thought Mercedes had addressed this. Are you saying it is resolved at lower altitudes but remains an issue in thin air? If so why would they not have covered all the possibilities?sandman1347 wrote: Maybe not but they will likely have cooling issues. The air is thin in Mexico City at that elevation and it will be very hot. They struggled badly in Austria and I expect more of the same.
Sorry thought forums were for discussion...Covalent wrote: What does it matter anyway, we'll see soon enough?
It really does and isn't engine power supposed to be less important here because of the altitude?FormulaFun wrote:Sorry thought forums were for discussion...Covalent wrote: What does it matter anyway, we'll see soon enough?
Looks like it's gonna be ferrari > red bull > merc
that straight-line speed gives them so much reward
He's certainly looked a lot better over the last few races, I think it's all to do with comfort in the car. If you look at where he dropped off it was from France, where Ferrari brought the new front wing. His improvement has come from Singapore onwards, which was the race where Ferrari brought a big upgrade package and improved a lot in the corners.schumilegend wrote:Maybe early days but seems like vintage Vettel is back...I can see his confidence picking up and the performance showing..It's taken a while but hopefully Seb is back for good
Marko said Gasly might need to wait a diaperUnlikeUday wrote:Around 150 work staff of teams Toro Rosso, McLaren & Renault are suffering from a (stomach) Virus. Pierre Gasly too is suffering from the same.
Ferrari drivers did their quickest lap after the Mercs so I'm wondering if they got slightly better track conditions?Mort Canard wrote:
Probably not a good measure of where everyone is but Merc only a tenth or two off the Ferrari cars.
I do like the fact that Carlos Sainz Jr. went faster than both Max and Alex.
Pierre also went faster than Alex. Think he wants the RBR ride back???
Haas almost as far out in the weeds as Williams.
Ok, here comes Quali!!!JN23 wrote:Ferrari drivers did their quickest lap after the Mercs so I'm wondering if they got slightly better track conditions?Mort Canard wrote:
Probably not a good measure of where everyone is but Merc only a tenth or two off the Ferrari cars.
I do like the fact that Carlos Sainz Jr. went faster than both Max and Alex.
Pierre also went faster than Alex. Think he wants the RBR ride back???
Haas almost as far out in the weeds as Williams.
Verstappen's lap at the end when they were setting their best laps was compromised I think so not a representative time.
Ferrari’s secret is probably in the ERS deployment. The high altitude doesn’t seem to affect their power at all unlike last year when oil burning was an issue.FormulaFun wrote:Wonder why Haas and Alfa Romeo aren't seeing the benefits of the Ferrari engine, they must be doing something different - it's can't be the standard engine. Maybe the oil burning has some truth to it