Today is the big day, the 24 hours that decide a World Championship – that of Formula 1 – which lasted from March to mid-December. A ride lasting 22 races, with the last one taking place at 14:00 Italian today in Yas Marina. Mercedes versus Red Bull. Max Verstappen versus Lewis Hamilton. In strict order of current ranking.
Yesterday the first verdict, but partial. Verstappen hit the pole with an amazing time, the result above all of the gamble studied by Red Bull, which allowed the Dutchman to make perfect use of the Soft tires with a very light set-up, thus using the extra grip of the softer compounds very well to make up for the lack of load and be faster.
The first stint of the race could be very favorable to Verstappen, who will be able to push on the softer compounds (moreover the C5, or the softer ones of the entire 2021 Pirelli range) trying to create a reassuring margin over Hamilton. Then, however, also the Pirelli simulations foresee that those who start with the Soft, must necessarily switch to the Hard tires if the intention is to make only one stop.
At that point, Mercedes could have a significant advantage. The W12 has always been the best car in exploiting the harder compounds and even in this case this assumption could come true. Furthermore, starting on Medium tires, Hamilton will make his pit stop about ten laps later than Verstappen, thus arriving in the last part of the race on fresher tires than his rival for the title.
Pole sitter Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Erik Junius
The Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolff, also thinks so, who admitted to believe and hope in a sudden degradation of Verstappen’s Soft and to believe in Hamilton’s good pace with the set of Medium tires with which he will start in the Grand Prix of this afternoon.
“I believe and hope that starting for today’s Grand Prix with Soft tires is a disadvantage. It really could be. It could be that Max runs away with the Soft tires in the first laps of the race, managing to keep the first position. But then, on the other hand. part, it could have a certain degradation. We don’t know what the result might be today, we have two different strategies “.
“On the long runs we have seen a more important degradation of the Soft compared to the Medium. This certainly makes the race exciting in terms of strategies, but also of speed, of pace. I think that in the race there will be only one pit stop. Of course, do two. it’s a variable and you should do three very fast stints. But I think making a second stop can affect the final part of the race “, concluded Wolff.
#Wolff #Red #Bull #starts #Soft #disadvantage