2020 Spanish Grand Prix Practice and Qualifying Thread

[JN23]

We go again for the final instalment of the second triple header of 2020.

Will Mercedes return to the top step or can Red Bull spring another surprise in the Barcelona sun?

[Greenman]

.

Which tyre types are the FIA getting Pirelli to issue ?

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[JN23]

.

Which tyre types are the FIA getting Pirelli to issue ?

.

We’re back to the C1, C2 and C3 this weekend.

[Mort Canard]

.

Which tyre types are the FIA getting Pirelli to issue ?

.

We’re back to the C1, C2 and C3 this weekend.

Harder tires would tend to favor Mercedes. Higher predicted temps would tend to favor Red Bull. I am sure that there is a lot of research being done on optimizing tire performance by most of the teams.

[Zazu]

Very boring Merc 1-2. Harder compounds and Barcelona track characteristics mean Silverstone issues won't be a factor at all

Not even expecting any excitement in the midfield and think the entire weekend will just be Racing Point talk again

[JN23]

Very boring Merc 1-2. Harder compounds and Barcelona track characteristics mean Silverstone issues won't be a factor at all

Not even expecting any excitement in the midfield and think the entire weekend will just be Racing Point talk again

I dunno, there’s still some long fast corners in Barcelona which might cause a bit of trouble and it’s supposed to be just as hot, if not hotter this weekend. It might not be the perfect storm of conditions from last week but still wouldn’t be surprised to see Verstappen challenge the Merc’s in the race.

Same for Albon if he can qualify well.

[Schermerhorn]

29 degrees celcius forecast for Barcelona. Track temperatures may be well into the 40C's. Mercedes may have cheese tyres again.

[Schermerhorn]

29 degrees celcius forecast for Barcelona. Track temperatures may be well into the 40C's. Mercedes may have cheese tyres again.

[UnlikeUday]

Can we consider both Silverstone and Barcelona tracks to be similar medium downforce tracks?

[UnlikeUday]

Vettel will be getting a new chassis. Hope it ends his misery a little as it's getting embarrassing for either side.

[pokerman]

Vettel will be getting a new chassis. Hope it ends his misery a little as it's getting embarrassing for either side.

He got a new chassis when Ricciardo was beating him in 2014, it didn't change anything, the mentality is to blame other things for lack of performance, whether it's Ricciardo, Hamilton or Leclerc, blame the car.

[tootsie323]

Vettel will be getting a new chassis. Hope it ends his misery a little as it's getting embarrassing for either side.

He got a new chassis when Ricciardo was beating him in 2014, it didn't change anything, the mentality is to blame other things for lack of performance, whether it's Ricciardo, Hamilton or Leclerc, blame the car.

REgardless of this argument, something is not right. I find it incredible to believe that Vettel has suddenly lost his pace. This reminds me a little of Button in early 2012 when, over a period of 5-6 races, went from keeping Hamilton honest to being nowhere (similarly to last weekend, he was pitted in Canada at the point where Hamilton was about to lap him). The difference that I see, personally, is that McLaren made a huge effort to address the problem. Whilst I;m sure Ferrari are trying to figure out Vettel's issue, the atmosphere is markedly different.

[Siao7]

Vettel will be getting a new chassis. Hope it ends his misery a little as it's getting embarrassing for either side.

He got a new chassis when Ricciardo was beating him in 2014, it didn't change anything, the mentality is to blame other things for lack of performance, whether it's Ricciardo, Hamilton or Leclerc, blame the car.

It is not expected to change the performance, however they did find a small fault on it and it needs to be replaced. Logical step and one that maybe give him more confidence.

[JN23]

Perez is back

[JN23]

There were reports yesterday that qualifying engine modes could be banned from next season and further reports today that they could be banned as soon as Spa.

https://the-race.com/formula-1/special- ... ter-spain/

I thought rule changes at the moment needed unanimous support (i.e. reverse grid qualy races), so you'd think that they couldn't just ban them right now?

[pokerman]

Vettel will be getting a new chassis. Hope it ends his misery a little as it's getting embarrassing for either side.

He got a new chassis when Ricciardo was beating him in 2014, it didn't change anything, the mentality is to blame other things for lack of performance, whether it's Ricciardo, Hamilton or Leclerc, blame the car.

It is not expected to change the performance, however they did find a small fault on it and it needs to be replaced. Logical step and one that maybe give him more confidence.

From what I've been reading it's merely a placebo but like you say to try and give him more confidence, the same thing happened in 2014.

[pokerman]

There were reports yesterday that qualifying engine modes could be banned from next season and further reports today that they could be banned as soon as Spa.

https://the-race.com/formula-1/special- ... ter-spain/

I thought rule changes at the moment needed unanimous support (i.e. reverse grid qualy races), so you'd think that they couldn't just ban them right now?

I can't see how they can ban them mid season, obviously it's to try and stop Mercedes winning, the FIA looking to influence the outcome of the WDC?

[Siao7]

Vettel will be getting a new chassis. Hope it ends his misery a little as it's getting embarrassing for either side.

He got a new chassis when Ricciardo was beating him in 2014, it didn't change anything, the mentality is to blame other things for lack of performance, whether it's Ricciardo, Hamilton or Leclerc, blame the car.

It is not expected to change the performance, however they did find a small fault on it and it needs to be replaced. Logical step and one that maybe give him more confidence.

From what I've been reading it's merely a placebo but like you say to try and give him more confidence, the same thing happened in 2014.

2014 doesn't mean that it will happen this time round as well though.

Having said that, the whole Ferrari garage looks very gloomy, I do not think Vettel is in any way motivated

[pokerman]

Vettel will be getting a new chassis. Hope it ends his misery a little as it's getting embarrassing for either side.

He got a new chassis when Ricciardo was beating him in 2014, it didn't change anything, the mentality is to blame other things for lack of performance, whether it's Ricciardo, Hamilton or Leclerc, blame the car.

It is not expected to change the performance, however they did find a small fault on it and it needs to be replaced. Logical step and one that maybe give him more confidence.

From what I've been reading it's merely a placebo but like you say to try and give him more confidence, the same thing happened in 2014.

2014 doesn't mean that it will happen this time round as well though.

Having said that, the whole Ferrari garage looks very gloomy, I do not think Vettel is in any way motivated

Ferrari said what they found would barely make a difference, Vettel wasn't having problems before Silverstone, last year at Silverstone Leclerc outqualified Vettel by 6 tenths, Vettel has form for lack of perfromance not being his fault.

[Siao7]

There were reports yesterday that qualifying engine modes could be banned from next season and further reports today that they could be banned as soon as Spa.

https://the-race.com/formula-1/special- ... ter-spain/

I thought rule changes at the moment needed unanimous support (i.e. reverse grid qualy races), so you'd think that they couldn't just ban them right now?

Is that for qualifying or during the race? It is not very clear

[JN23]

There were reports yesterday that qualifying engine modes could be banned from next season and further reports today that they could be banned as soon as Spa.

https://the-race.com/formula-1/special- ... ter-spain/

I thought rule changes at the moment needed unanimous support (i.e. reverse grid qualy races), so you'd think that they couldn't just ban them right now?

Is that for qualifying or during the race? It is not very clear

It isn’t, probably because it could be a bit complicated to implement.

But the article suggests that the rule could be that teams must use their qualy mode for a certain percentage of the race which they wouldn’t be able to do as it would hurt the engine life too much.

[pokerman]

There were reports yesterday that qualifying engine modes could be banned from next season and further reports today that they could be banned as soon as Spa.

https://the-race.com/formula-1/special- ... ter-spain/

I thought rule changes at the moment needed unanimous support (i.e. reverse grid qualy races), so you'd think that they couldn't just ban them right now?

Is that for qualifying or during the race? It is not very clear

It isn’t, probably because it could be a bit complicated to implement.

But the article suggests that the rule could be that teams must use their qualy mode for a certain percentage of the race which they wouldn’t be able to do as it would hurt the engine life too much.

It has to be asked, how can you change rules mid season, qualifying modes have been around since the hybrid era, Ferrari had the best modes the last 2 seasons, it helped them dominate qualifying after the summer break last year, now it's helping Mercedes to dominate qualifying they want to change the rules.

If I was Mercedes I would be feeling a bit skittish about this, also Brawn apparently was very happy about the race last time out using tyres that were basically too soft which left Mercedes a bit lost at sea, bearing in mind Mercedes have yet to sign the new Concorde agreement the desire to stop them winning maybe gives them something to think about?

[Jezza13]

Vettel will be getting a new chassis. Hope it ends his misery a little as it's getting embarrassing for either side.

He got a new chassis when Ricciardo was beating him in 2014, it didn't change anything, the mentality is to blame other things for lack of performance, whether it's Ricciardo, Hamilton or Leclerc, blame the car.

Vettel was suffering from CCS or Cracked Chassis Syndrome as far back as when he was teamed with Webber.

From Webbers book about the 2010 Monaco GP:

"Something happened in Monaco, which couldn’t take the gloss off my win there but, looking back, said a lot about what was going on at the heart of the team.

Somewhere in the post-race mix there was talk that Sebastian wanted my chassis. In the end, Christian Horner (Red Bull team boss) took me aside and told me that he had given Marko (Red Bull team adviser Helmut Marko) the opportunity to tell Sebastian that he had a cracked chassis — which he didn’t — to help him rationalise the fact that he had just been well and truly beaten, for the second race in a row, by the old Aussie."
https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/wa/mar ... e3dae00243

There were reports yesterday that qualifying engine modes could be banned from next season and further reports today that they could be banned as soon as Spa.

https://the-race.com/formula-1/special- ... ter-spain/

How odd. Although I don't disagree with it, why now? After having these modes for so many years, with a regs change just around the corner, why now?

Is it that Merc are this year so dominant in quali that the powers that be are concerned about the quality of the show in an already battered season? Or, tin foil hat time, could it maybe have something to do with the Tracing Point imbroglio?

[JN23]

There were reports yesterday that qualifying engine modes could be banned from next season and further reports today that they could be banned as soon as Spa.

https://the-race.com/formula-1/special- ... ter-spain/

How odd. Although I don't disagree with it, why now? After having these modes for so many years, with a regs change just around the corner, why now?

Is it that Merc are this year so dominant in quali that the powers that be are concerned about the quality of the show in an already battered season? Or, tin foil hat time, could it maybe have something to do with the Tracing Point imbroglio?

Are you suggesting that this is a kind of punishment for Merc's alleged role in the Racing Point saga? Interesting...

On your first point, why weren't they concerned about the quality of the show between 2014 and 2016?

[pokerman]

Vettel will be getting a new chassis. Hope it ends his misery a little as it's getting embarrassing for either side.

He got a new chassis when Ricciardo was beating him in 2014, it didn't change anything, the mentality is to blame other things for lack of performance, whether it's Ricciardo, Hamilton or Leclerc, blame the car.

Vettel was suffering from CCS or Cracked Chassis Syndrome as far back as when he was teamed with Webber.

From Webbers book about the 2010 Monaco GP:

"Something happened in Monaco, which couldn’t take the gloss off my win there but, looking back, said a lot about what was going on at the heart of the team.

Somewhere in the post-race mix there was talk that Sebastian wanted my chassis. In the end, Christian Horner (Red Bull team boss) took me aside and told me that he had given Marko (Red Bull team adviser Helmut Marko) the opportunity to tell Sebastian that he had a cracked chassis — which he didn’t — to help him rationalise the fact that he had just been well and truly beaten, for the second race in a row, by the old Aussie."
https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/wa/mar ... e3dae00243

There were reports yesterday that qualifying engine modes could be banned from next season and further reports today that they could be banned as soon as Spa.

https://the-race.com/formula-1/special- ... ter-spain/

How odd. Although I don't disagree with it, why now? After having these modes for so many years, with a regs change just around the corner, why now?

Is it that Merc are this year so dominant in quali that the powers that be are concerned about the quality of the show in an already battered season? Or, tin foil hat time, could it maybe have something to do with the Tracing Point imbroglio?

Yeah like I said Vettel has form for blaming other things rather than himself and also a great sense of entitlement were it's alright for his teammates to be #2 drivers but not himself and it goes back to his junior career.

When he was racing in German FBMW he as getting beat by his British teammate, Vettel complained that his teammate had a better engine and demanded that engines should be swapped which the team did. Vettel then started winning all the races so in that respect he was correct in what he said but of course the entitlement meant that he kept the best engine.

[pokerman]

Vettel will be getting a new chassis. Hope it ends his misery a little as it's getting embarrassing for either side.

He got a new chassis when Ricciardo was beating him in 2014, it didn't change anything, the mentality is to blame other things for lack of performance, whether it's Ricciardo, Hamilton or Leclerc, blame the car.

Vettel was suffering from CCS or Cracked Chassis Syndrome as far back as when he was teamed with Webber.

From Webbers book about the 2010 Monaco GP:

"Something happened in Monaco, which couldn’t take the gloss off my win there but, looking back, said a lot about what was going on at the heart of the team.

Somewhere in the post-race mix there was talk that Sebastian wanted my chassis. In the end, Christian Horner (Red Bull team boss) took me aside and told me that he had given Marko (Red Bull team adviser Helmut Marko) the opportunity to tell Sebastian that he had a cracked chassis — which he didn’t — to help him rationalise the fact that he had just been well and truly beaten, for the second race in a row, by the old Aussie."
https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/wa/mar ... e3dae00243

There were reports yesterday that qualifying engine modes could be banned from next season and further reports today that they could be banned as soon as Spa.

https://the-race.com/formula-1/special- ... ter-spain/

How odd. Although I don't disagree with it, why now? After having these modes for so many years, with a regs change just around the corner, why now?

Is it that Merc are this year so dominant in quali that the powers that be are concerned about the quality of the show in an already battered season? Or, tin foil hat time, could it maybe have something to do with the Tracing Point imbroglio?

What could they do in 2014-16, ban the Mercedes engine?

[Siao7]

There were reports yesterday that qualifying engine modes could be banned from next season and further reports today that they could be banned as soon as Spa.

https://the-race.com/formula-1/special- ... ter-spain/

I thought rule changes at the moment needed unanimous support (i.e. reverse grid qualy races), so you'd think that they couldn't just ban them right now?

Is that for qualifying or during the race? It is not very clear

It isn’t, probably because it could be a bit complicated to implement.

But the article suggests that the rule could be that teams must use their qualy mode for a certain percentage of the race which they wouldn’t be able to do as it would hurt the engine life too much.

It has to be asked, how can you change rules mid season, qualifying modes have been around since the hybrid era, Ferrari had the best modes the last 2 seasons, it helped them dominate qualifying after the summer break last year, now it's helping Mercedes to dominate qualifying they want to change the rules.

If I was Mercedes I would be feeling a bit skittish about this, also Brawn apparently was very happy about the race last time out using tyres that were basically too soft which left Mercedes a bit lost at sea, bearing in mind Mercedes have yet to sign the new Concorde agreement the desire to stop them winning maybe gives them something to think about?

I'd dare say that the qualifying modes were there since the 80's pretty much, they had different engines for qualifying!

[Siao7]

This has a bit more info:

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/fia- ... p/4855266/

[Siao7]

This has a bit more info:

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/fia- ... p/4855266/

I understand what they are trying to do, but this part is just bull:

"The other rule cited is Article 27.1 of the sporting regulations, the often-used reference to drivers being required to drive the car "alone and unaided."

The letter noted that "the changes to ICE modes that are currently in force could potentially mean that the driver does not drive the car alone and unaided.""

[Jezza13]

Vettel will be getting a new chassis. Hope it ends his misery a little as it's getting embarrassing for either side.

He got a new chassis when Ricciardo was beating him in 2014, it didn't change anything, the mentality is to blame other things for lack of performance, whether it's Ricciardo, Hamilton or Leclerc, blame the car.

Vettel was suffering from CCS or Cracked Chassis Syndrome as far back as when he was teamed with Webber.

From Webbers book about the 2010 Monaco GP:

"Something happened in Monaco, which couldn’t take the gloss off my win there but, looking back, said a lot about what was going on at the heart of the team.

Somewhere in the post-race mix there was talk that Sebastian wanted my chassis. In the end, Christian Horner (Red Bull team boss) took me aside and told me that he had given Marko (Red Bull team adviser Helmut Marko) the opportunity to tell Sebastian that he had a cracked chassis — which he didn’t — to help him rationalise the fact that he had just been well and truly beaten, for the second race in a row, by the old Aussie."
https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/wa/mar ... e3dae00243

There were reports yesterday that qualifying engine modes could be banned from next season and further reports today that they could be banned as soon as Spa.

https://the-race.com/formula-1/special- ... ter-spain/

How odd. Although I don't disagree with it, why now? After having these modes for so many years, with a regs change just around the corner, why now?

Is it that Merc are this year so dominant in quali that the powers that be are concerned about the quality of the show in an already battered season? Or, tin foil hat time, could it maybe have something to do with the Tracing Point imbroglio?

What could they do in 2014-16, ban the Mercedes engine?

Don't know poker.
Just saying that to me the timing seems weird. Something has been legal for a quite a few years now then all of a sudden it could be banned 6 odd races into an already upset season?

[Siao7]

Vettel will be getting a new chassis. Hope it ends his misery a little as it's getting embarrassing for either side.

He got a new chassis when Ricciardo was beating him in 2014, it didn't change anything, the mentality is to blame other things for lack of performance, whether it's Ricciardo, Hamilton or Leclerc, blame the car.

Vettel was suffering from CCS or Cracked Chassis Syndrome as far back as when he was teamed with Webber.

From Webbers book about the 2010 Monaco GP:

"Something happened in Monaco, which couldn’t take the gloss off my win there but, looking back, said a lot about what was going on at the heart of the team.

Somewhere in the post-race mix there was talk that Sebastian wanted my chassis. In the end, Christian Horner (Red Bull team boss) took me aside and told me that he had given Marko (Red Bull team adviser Helmut Marko) the opportunity to tell Sebastian that he had a cracked chassis — which he didn’t — to help him rationalise the fact that he had just been well and truly beaten, for the second race in a row, by the old Aussie."
https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/wa/mar ... e3dae00243

There were reports yesterday that qualifying engine modes could be banned from next season and further reports today that they could be banned as soon as Spa.

https://the-race.com/formula-1/special- ... ter-spain/

How odd. Although I don't disagree with it, why now? After having these modes for so many years, with a regs change just around the corner, why now?

Is it that Merc are this year so dominant in quali that the powers that be are concerned about the quality of the show in an already battered season? Or, tin foil hat time, could it maybe have something to do with the Tracing Point imbroglio?

What could they do in 2014-16, ban the Mercedes engine?

Don't know poker.
Just saying that to me the timing seems weird. Something has been legal for a quite a few years now then all of a sudden it could be banned 6 odd races into an already upset season?

If you read the article I found, they pretty much say it is to stop the Merc dominance. Very bad strategy, it was planned for next year anyway, why do this now? 2020 is fudged either way!

[JN23]

This has a bit more info:

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/fia- ... p/4855266/

I understand what they are trying to do, but this part is just bull:

"The other rule cited is Article 27.1 of the sporting regulations, the often-used reference to drivers being required to drive the car "alone and unaided."

The letter noted that "the changes to ICE modes that are currently in force could potentially mean that the driver does not drive the car alone and unaided.""

Yeah that's laughable. As the changes will be through technical directive I assume that they can just do it rather than needing the unanimous agreement of the teams.

This won't be the case now but funny if it turns out the Merc qualy mode isn't all that

[Clarky]

The change is laughable.

You do a better job and get punished for it, AGAIN!!!

Its up to the others to do a better job. Changing the rules to try to close the field like this is wrong.

[Siao7]

The change is laughable.

You do a better job and get punished for it, AGAIN!!!

Its up to the others to do a better job. Changing the rules to try to close the field like this is wrong.

My only interpretation is that 2020 is so f*cked already that they are having a bet on how they can make it worse. I'm just waiting for Bernie's sprinklers to be implemented soon

[pokerman]

Vettel will be getting a new chassis. Hope it ends his misery a little as it's getting embarrassing for either side.

He got a new chassis when Ricciardo was beating him in 2014, it didn't change anything, the mentality is to blame other things for lack of performance, whether it's Ricciardo, Hamilton or Leclerc, blame the car.

Vettel was suffering from CCS or Cracked Chassis Syndrome as far back as when he was teamed with Webber.

From Webbers book about the 2010 Monaco GP:

"Something happened in Monaco, which couldn’t take the gloss off my win there but, looking back, said a lot about what was going on at the heart of the team.

Somewhere in the post-race mix there was talk that Sebastian wanted my chassis. In the end, Christian Horner (Red Bull team boss) took me aside and told me that he had given Marko (Red Bull team adviser Helmut Marko) the opportunity to tell Sebastian that he had a cracked chassis — which he didn’t — to help him rationalise the fact that he had just been well and truly beaten, for the second race in a row, by the old Aussie."
https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/wa/mar ... e3dae00243

There were reports yesterday that qualifying engine modes could be banned from next season and further reports today that they could be banned as soon as Spa.

https://the-race.com/formula-1/special- ... ter-spain/

How odd. Although I don't disagree with it, why now? After having these modes for so many years, with a regs change just around the corner, why now?

Is it that Merc are this year so dominant in quali that the powers that be are concerned about the quality of the show in an already battered season? Or, tin foil hat time, could it maybe have something to do with the Tracing Point imbroglio?

What could they do in 2014-16, ban the Mercedes engine?

Don't know poker.
Just saying that to me the timing seems weird. Something has been legal for a quite a few years now then all of a sudden it could be banned 6 odd races into an already upset season?

Well they've finally decided that commercialism comes first.

[pokerman]

This has a bit more info:

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/fia- ... p/4855266/

I understand what they are trying to do, but this part is just bull:

"The other rule cited is Article 27.1 of the sporting regulations, the often-used reference to drivers being required to drive the car "alone and unaided."

The letter noted that "the changes to ICE modes that are currently in force could potentially mean that the driver does not drive the car alone and unaided.""

It seems they also want to see the engines failing as well as tyres falling apart all for the entertainment.

[pokerman]

He got a new chassis when Ricciardo was beating him in 2014, it didn't change anything, the mentality is to blame other things for lack of performance, whether it's Ricciardo, Hamilton or Leclerc, blame the car.

Vettel was suffering from CCS or Cracked Chassis Syndrome as far back as when he was teamed with Webber.

From Webbers book about the 2010 Monaco GP:

"Something happened in Monaco, which couldn’t take the gloss off my win there but, looking back, said a lot about what was going on at the heart of the team.

Somewhere in the post-race mix there was talk that Sebastian wanted my chassis. In the end, Christian Horner (Red Bull team boss) took me aside and told me that he had given Marko (Red Bull team adviser Helmut Marko) the opportunity to tell Sebastian that he had a cracked chassis — which he didn’t — to help him rationalise the fact that he had just been well and truly beaten, for the second race in a row, by the old Aussie."
https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/wa/mar ... e3dae00243

There were reports yesterday that qualifying engine modes could be banned from next season and further reports today that they could be banned as soon as Spa.

https://the-race.com/formula-1/special- ... ter-spain/

How odd. Although I don't disagree with it, why now? After having these modes for so many years, with a regs change just around the corner, why now?

Is it that Merc are this year so dominant in quali that the powers that be are concerned about the quality of the show in an already battered season? Or, tin foil hat time, could it maybe have something to do with the Tracing Point imbroglio?

What could they do in 2014-16, ban the Mercedes engine?

Don't know poker.
Just saying that to me the timing seems weird. Something has been legal for a quite a few years now then all of a sudden it could be banned 6 odd races into an already upset season?

If you read the article I found, they pretty much say it is to stop the Merc dominance. Very bad strategy, it was planned for next year anyway, why do this now? 2020 is fudged either way!

Yeah I heard it was planned for next year but now they've decided they want to influence the outcome of the season by targetting Mercedes.

[UnlikeUday]

Power unit elements used till now:


Source - Imgur

[JN23]

We haven't really talked about mind games for a while but Hamilton has got his dog in on the intra-team mind games:

[Option or Prime]

So if everyone has to run the same engine settings all weekend then RB drivers asking to turn the power up will go as well then! Didn't like the pit tinkering with power levels during the race anyway.
Will it make a big difference?