In the round-up: Max Verstappen says GPS data shows Red Bull are losing half a second on the straights because of their Renault power units.
Links
Your daily digest of F1 news, views, features and more from hundreds of sites across the web:
Verstappen reveals size of engine deficit (Autosport)
"I looked at the GPS data and we're definitely missing half a second on the straights - and that's the gap."
F1 won’t be a proper fight until funding is fairer, says Paddy Lowe (The Guardian)
"The big problem in the sport in terms of making a wider range of competitive cars at the front is not about engines. It is about the huge disparity in the funding made available to some teams against others. Everybody knows that, not least the owners of Formula One."
F1 could have up to eight tyre compounds in 2018 - Pirelli (Motorsport)
"It's in between five and eight. It could be more. It's not because I don't want to tell you what is the number."
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Social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
It has taken all day but the FIA has finally put out a statement about the armed robberies on teams last night.No idea what took so long #F1 pic.twitter.com/rP71240NLy
— Bec Clancy (@becclancy) November 11, 2017
Not just wallets/phones etc stolen in Mercedes robbery last night – passports, too. Team have had replacement documents flown to Brazil.
— Phil Duncan (@PhilDuncanF1) November 11, 2017
Much as was the case at Imola 1994, I suspect it will take a high profile death before anything is done about the appalling lack of security at the Brazilian GP. You can't say F1 hasn't had enough warning signs by now.
— Sean Kelly (@virtualstatman) November 11, 2017
Might need a Safety Car, suspected MGU-H failure on the generator… #F1 #BrazilianGP pic.twitter.com/czhE2g0ceN
— Chris Medland (@ChrisMedlandF1) November 11, 2017
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Comment of the day
The two drivers who ended up ‘best of the rest’ stood out for @Maciek yesterday:
Alonso keeps showing he’s far from done in this sport. And good on Perez, he hasn’t had a particularly happy campaign against a talented younger teammate, so good to see him putting it back together.
@Maciek
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Michael Brown (@)
12th November 2017, 1:52
High downforce plus fixed gear ratios.
Phylyp (@phylyp)
12th November 2017, 3:34
Mmm, now there’s a good point. I wouldn’t mind seeing gear ratios being opened up again, or limited to something like 10-12 ratios for a season. That’s a good way of giving teams flexibility (i.e. tailor a car for acceleration or outright top speed), while not increasing costs by much (I think, as it’s a purely mechanical component).
F1 in Figures (@f1infigures)
12th November 2017, 9:04
Gear ratios are pretty much irrelevant. These turbo engines have a very wide power band, so they probably do not even need 8 gears.
Strontium (@strontium)
12th November 2017, 15:34
@mbr-9 @phylyp indeed, as I’ve said for a while, I think fixed gear ratios are far too restrictive and punishing if they get it wrong, especially if power unit updates have an effect.
I think a good compromise would be to allow new ratios with each new gearbox (every five races).
@f1infigures I agree with not needing 8 gear ratios, especially given how low the engines rev currently. Going back to 7 would be much better
Phylyp (@phylyp)
12th November 2017, 16:00
@strontium New ratios per gearbox is a very sensible approach. They might just have to amend the rule about running a gearbox for five successive events, and instead make it like power units – limit it to a number for three season.
Michael Brown (@)
12th November 2017, 16:29
Of all of the things to restrict, gear ratios were the most asinine. Were teams really spending so much money on setting them up for each race? Or maybe the FIA were sick of Red Bull running short 7th gears in 2010-2013
Alex Brown (@splittimes)
12th November 2017, 10:36
Final drive ratios are still free, I believe. Plus, downforce isn’t automatically a top speed killer if it can be created efficiently. The goal is a good lift/drag ratio. Red Bull might be running higher wing angles because their package is less effecient overall than Mercedes’.
Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
12th November 2017, 17:46
Fixed gear ratios is one the better rules of late.
Roth Man (@rdotquestionmark)
12th November 2017, 2:52
I love the race and the track but these armed robberies have gone on too long now.
Transmix
12th November 2017, 3:42
Wait, what? But Red Bull just announced that they’ve had the best car in the last 4 races, how about that?
Alex W
12th November 2017, 8:35
The straight at interlagos has always shown up power deficits.
F1 in Figures (@f1infigures)
12th November 2017, 9:07
I guess it’s more about a poor car set-up. Both drivers were complaining about the front end of the car. Interlagos is not really a power-sensitive track.
Kenneth (@godius)
12th November 2017, 9:12
Interlagos is one of the most power-sensitive tracks due to the big elevation changes and the super long straight that goes uphill on and on.
anon
12th November 2017, 13:31
@godius, the thing is, Red Bull were consistently losing time in all of the sectors, and their losses in the middle sector were similar to the first sector. They might be a bit down on straight line speed, but @f1infigures is right to note that their drivers were not completely satisfied with the handling balance and they were a bit off the pace in the tighter infield as well.
Furthermore, when relations between Red Bull and Renault are already strained due to the dispute over Toro Rosso’s engines, I can’t help but feel that there is also an element of Red Bull wanting to use the media to give Renault a bit of a kicking.
Jere (@jerejj)
12th November 2017, 7:15
I’m a bit surprised that this circuit although a good one is still part of the Championship considering how long these type of things have been an issue.
Patrickl (@patrickl)
12th November 2017, 7:22
And when Red Bull gets engine parity, can the others than complain that on almost all tracks the Red Bull has a better aero package and therefore simply gets pole?
Or even now really. Even a wet Monza their aero package was much better suited. Only Hamilton pulled a Q3 lap from nowhere.
Besides we all know how well Red Bull does an analysis like that. They probably forget that they added much more downforce or compared an out- or in lap of Verstappen to a quali lap from Bottas.
bosyber (@bosyber)
12th November 2017, 11:17
No, because looking at the top speeds, with McLaren also getting parity they win even more @patrickl, seeing how Alonso is down 11kmh on Bottas and 5kmh on Verstappen :) Yeah, all this data is no doubt super objectively true, and not at all trying to make a point.
Patrick (@anunaki)
12th November 2017, 8:38
When you look at the layout of the circuit it looks pretty obvious you gain a lot from more power. The start of the very long straight, so after turn 12 goes straight uphill. The speed you miss there will affect you the entire way until turn 1. That’s 1/3 of the circuit.
We all know that the power delta is extra big in qualy mode, so it seems to be a legit statement here.
Hopefully Max can get ahead in the esses in lap 1. Will be firework!!
NewVerstappenFan (@jureo)
12th November 2017, 9:05
Well Verstappen should have signed for Mercedes or Ferrari then.
Team is a team, total time matters, driver might be costing them .5 s aswell, who knows where Red Bull would be with say a Hamilton(I pick him because he is the most successful qualifier in history).
It is always about the team. Red Bulls were slow on the straights for a decade.. They were champions just fine. Finger pointing wont get them anywhere…
Johnny H.
12th November 2017, 9:51
Ferrari is a drivers death trap and Mercedes supremacy won’t last the comming four years.
Baron (@baron)
12th November 2017, 11:38
Once more in English please Johnny!
JohnH (@johnrkh)
12th November 2017, 12:05
The history of Merc in F1 does not support your comment.
NewVerstappenFan (@jureo)
12th November 2017, 18:24
The team most likeley to be dominant is Mercedes… They have top engine for last 10 years or more, have won 6 championships, and have one of the largest budgets.
Red Bull sure make awesome cars. But their engines are likeley not to be #1 in the forseable future.
Ferrari sure is a driver dead end.. Look at Alonso and now Vettel. Delivering their finest years to car that is only close to the top.
Max would have to sign for Mercedes. Meanwhile he has to be so good Mercedes cannot not have him in 5 years…
Tricky (@tricky)
12th November 2017, 9:14
I think Max should be complaining directly to Tag Heuer (https://www.tagheuer.com/en/partnerships/red-bull-racing) – Their web site is claiming “Get ready for adventure at 200 miles per hour as we make motor magic together.” – seems they think there is nothing wrong.
deMercer (@)
12th November 2017, 12:08
To be fair to him, Max did only say “engine” and not “Renault” at all. The only mention of “Renault” in the article is in the header, and that clearly is editorial.
Ambrogio
12th November 2017, 9:15
Part of the people working on the circuit could leave it together with police in front and behind (if police cannot give this service, then private security sure could). If there are others that need absolutely to leave it after or before, why don’t use helicopters until flying taxis will be available?
Pyon (@pyon)
12th November 2017, 9:28
Classic Red Bull: I won thanks to my chassis and i explain any bad perf with the engine. I really want them to create their own engine and be competitive with it. At least it will free us from their recurring moaning about their engine, which has been ongoing for 10y now…
Josh (@canadianjosh)
12th November 2017, 14:19
+1
frogster
12th November 2017, 9:51
Surely Max should be saying TAG Heuer costs them half a second on the straights. Red Bull have nothing to do with Renault.
Maybe we all should start referring to the Red Bull cars as the Monster team.
deMercer (@)
12th November 2017, 12:09
You should say that to the editor, not to Max: he didn’t mention “Renault” at all, only “the engine” ;-)
Tricky (@tricky)
24th January 2018, 10:53
I think we are both commenting why on earth Tag Heuer think it is a good idea to pay to stick their brand name on the a component that is then the subject of so many complaints from the team.
Ben Rowe (@thegianthogweed)
12th November 2017, 10:18
So give them Honda in 2019. Which may be the only option :D Mercedes nor Ferrari would want to offer them anything I think. But it could well be the case that Honda has solves their issues by then.
At this track, I don’t think it is just Renault affecting the lap. The car hasn’t looked as tidy as it usually does on kerbs and around the bends. The Red Bull usually looks flawless in this area. But Mercedes and Ferrari somehow looked smoother. So I don’t think I agree with Verstappen. I think it’s just a mix of the car not being setup quite right today. But the speed on the strait certainly does play a part in it all.
John H (@john-h)
12th November 2017, 11:06
Seems like they should build a hotel within the circuit grounds.
As33
12th November 2017, 12:38
Think Max is quickly establishing himself as one of the best if not the best driver on the grid.
He is also quickly establishing himself as the biggest whingebag on the grid as well. Shame. Doesn’t help having his mentally unhinged father around giving advice, the sooner he ditches him, the better.
Patrick (@anunaki)
12th November 2017, 13:14
Giving a factual explanation about your qualy lap is not whining.
Max is straight to the point, like always
Pyon (@pyon)
12th November 2017, 14:06
@anunaki if only it was factual rather than political…
socksolid (@socksolid)
12th November 2017, 12:55
Of course paddy lowe says the engine is not the issue in f1 when their team williams has the best engines from mercedes. It is beneficial for williams that mercedes keeps their adventage so williams also keeps theirs.
Josh (@canadianjosh)
12th November 2017, 14:22
I’m pretty shocked that Max made the comment which is obvious but the timing couldn’t be worse with Toro Rosso and Renault not getting along at the moment.
Markp
12th November 2017, 15:53
Rb should build their own engine then. Maybe others loose a few tenths in the corners to them so what. It’s engine plus chassis plus driver….the whole package. Engines are every bit as important as chassis. Engines were important long before aero came into F1. If they want equal engines then others should have equal aero.
socksolid (@socksolid)
13th November 2017, 13:11
F1 has never been about building your engines. It is about building your own chassis. The engine, tires, fuel and lots of other bits have always come outside the team. And the most succesful teams have got their engines elsewhere. Williams, mclaren, lotus etc… Not to mention building engines has never been this expensive. sigh