Very close to the last qualifying of the year now, and the third free practice session of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix showed very different work schedules between teams. Red Bull tested the entire first part of the session with a much lighter rear wing than yesterday, and ultimately opted to keep that wing but increasing the load on it to find a middle ground between what was tested. in the session and what I experienced yesterday. We will see if this wing will also be confirmed for the qualification or the one on Friday will be reassembled.
The problem with the RB16B always seems to be that of find a balance that makes the front of the car work, it has already happened many times this season, especially when mounting the high load wings to the rear. Red Bull has often corrected the problem almost in extremis, also relying heavily on Verstappen’s skills, we will see if this will be the case also in this crucial event. On the other hand, Mercedes uses the soft tire extensively, probably revealing the willingness to try and discard it for the race. Ultimately, however, the performances were still similar even in the third free practice session, let’s see the comparison between the data of Hamilton and Verstappen in their best lap, remembering that there were several aborted due to errors on both sides. .
In the first sector Hamilton continues to dominate, but if yesterday the difference was made in the fast 2-3-4 corners, today Verstappen has practically filled the gap in that area but it is cornering 1, dry 90 degrees to the left, where the seven-time world champion gains significantly by exploiting the super front of the W12. In the two long straights of the central sector the engine performances are similar for now, we will see in qualifying, while Hamilton shows even better performance in the chicane, a little surprising in such a slow stretch and where almost only the mechanics count. Probably the W12 makes a lot of use of its braking stability on the longitudinal axis to ensure better entry for its drivers in the narrow left right.
In the last sector, instead, the territory of Verstappen and Red Bull begins. Already in turn 9, yesterday the scene of great gains by Hamilton, the differences have narrowed a lot. The Englishman tackles turn 12 perfectly (in a replay of what he first saw at turn 6) but then in the fast changes with high lateral load of the following corners and Verstappen to prevail in an important way, then also holding his head at turn 15 (in full) and finding again an extension in curve 16, to close with 1 tenth and a half advantage in the third sector and about 2 tenths of disadvantage in the overall flying lap. Mercedes seems to have an advantage in the chase for pole position, but Red Bull is by no means far behind. Much will depend on how much the teams can count on the powers of their Power Units and how the evening temperatures will affect the balance of the individual cars, where Red Bull is betting perhaps more significantly.
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