Red Bull and Ferrari will once again take the lead in the Japanese Grand Prix, with Max Verstappen preceding Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz and teammate Sergio Perez in order. The pole position of the world champion came at the end of the tightest qualifying of the season, with only 57 thousandths to separate the top three. We can therefore speak of substantial parity on the flying lap between the RB18 and the F1-75, but the performance was sought through different paths.
Throughout the calendar, Suzuka can be approximated as characteristics to Silverstone, recalling the alternation of wide radius and straights, while differing in terms of optimal load, slightly higher, and average speed on the lap, with about 10 km / h in less. In Japan, Red Bull confirmed the same rear wing used in England, but the judgment on the load level chosen by the team is more complex than appearances. In fact, the Milton Keynes stable has only two versions of the rear wing, preferring to regulate the load more through the bottom and the beam-wing. The beam-wing configuration is different from that of Silverstone, as the double profile was used at Suzuka. However, I said that the Red Bull of June-July often traveled with the single flap for balance reasons.
In Japan, Red Bull has deliberately given up its superiority on the straight to have more load. The RB18 was the fastest on the corners of the first sector, where it was thought that the Ferraris would have the better, but accumulating delay on the straights of the central part of the track, which are normally the prerogative of the Anglo-Austrian cars. Red Bull has thus chosen a higher load level than its direct rivals, which could be invaluable for tire management in the race, especially in wet conditions. Much will depend, however, on the distribution of the load on the RB18, as there is the impression of a balance shifted further to the rear. Verstappen seemed to be struggling with understeer, a phenomenon that could complicate the management of the front in the race.
Ferrari for its part confirmed the aerodynamic look of Silverstone, both in terms of beam-wing and rear wing. The wing chosen corresponds to the medium load version among the five options available to the Maranello team. The decision was made, however, not before trying the most loaded wing during FP1, used after the summer break only in Zandvoort. The Rossa therefore preferred to use a more exhausted set-up, resulting in fact to be the fastest in the second sector, with Leclerc and Sainz faster respectively by 157 and 48 thousandths of Verstappen. On paper, the strategy of the Maranello team could be counterproductive for the management of the tires in the race, a verdict that, however, can only be returned on Sunday.
#Red #BullFerrari #choices #race #FormulaPassion.it