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Mercedes’ lap time is better than pole in 2011 and 2012! (8 posts)

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sato113 said 2 months, 2 weeks ago:

I hadn’t looked into it much but
Testing at Barcelona:
Rosberg: 1.20.130
Hamilton: 1.20.558

2011 Pole- Webber: 1:20.981

2012 Pole- Hamilton: 1:21.707

that’s incredible from Mercedes no? especially given the car misses the full exhaust blown diffuser of 2011 and the track is colder than during the Spanish GP in May. Also those testing laps were not one-lap qualy runs (i think they were 4 laps or so?)
thoughts?

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AdrianMorse said 2 months, 2 weeks ago:

Perhaps the colder track can actually help over a single lap, depending on the compound used. In the round-up today (March 5), there was a piece by Marc Priestley saying that the super soft just didn’t get up to temperature, but perhaps that is less of a problem for the soft and medium compounds.

Note that last year, many teams were considerably quicker in testing than they were in qualifying for the Spanish GP, despite having a couple of months worth of developments on the cars.

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sato113 said 2 months, 2 weeks ago:

last year, many teams were considerably quicker in testing than they were in qualifying for the Spanish GP

really? oh well that kills my post ha

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Nomore said 2 months, 2 weeks ago:

Yes but also Ferrari beat those time :1’20.494 and faster then Hamilton.
I bet that Rb,Mclaren,Lotus,Williams…and maybe Sauber can beat those time

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Todfod said 2 months, 2 weeks ago:

I think those times were made after 3 rigorous days of testing by all teams. THe track must have been very well rubbered in by then.

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raymondu999 said 2 months, 2 weeks ago:

What we need to remember is that the temperature is cold. Cold air is denser than hot air. Firstly, the ams will open less cooling inlets and outlets, because you don’t want to overcool the electronics, engines etc. that means you get less drag.

Next, you have to remember that the air going in the airbox (which mixes with fuel) is denser AND cooler – meaning the engine output goes higher.

Finally, the denser air also means more downforce.

Having these 3 plus points, cold temps can be a good win, as long as you can get your tyres to enough heat, the things should be rosy.

In another perspective – you have to ask why Mercedes and Ferrari could get good heat into the tyres in the cold temps that the tyres weren’t made for, and what would happen to those tyres in hot conditions.

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Master firelee said 2 months, 2 weeks ago:

The 2013 Pirelli “softer tyres will mean performance is improved by 0.5 seconds a lap” and “It has changed both the construction and rubber compounds of the tyres in an attempt to ensure they degrade faster” and considering the cars are more likely to be faster than last years Spanish GP then it’s not that surprising that they’re much more faster than last years pole time.

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sato113 said 2 months, 2 weeks ago:

@raymondu999 top answer. thanks. perhaps the mercedes will shred it’s tyres at hot races? will have to wait and see!

Melbourne weather seems hot and sunny now but becoming more unsettled into next week.

@master-firelee you are right but remember that for Hamilton’s pole lap last year, he would have had around 3 laps of fuel (probably less because mclaren messed it up) and he was pushing to the limit! taking no breathers and extracting everything out of the car for the perfect lap.

now i highly doubt that was the case last weekend.

IMO: the 2013 pirelli tyres will give a natural 0.5 seconds speed advantage over the 2012 tyres. but a driver’s fast testing lap vs a Q3 pole lap in a given year will be around 1 second

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