Unveiling McLaren's Concealed Competitive Edge
Race Preview: Silverstone Grand Prix
The Silverstone Grand Prix is shaping up to be an exciting event, with several teams adapting to new setups and strategies in qualifying.
According to Ferrari team principal Vasseur, both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc had to adjust their cars for a new setup in qualifying. Ferrari is optimistic about the race, expecting to suffer less in turns 7 and 8, which will help in turns 9 and 10. However, even without wind, Ferrari would still end up behind McLaren on tracks that demand maximum downforce.
Mercedes, on the other hand, is optimistic about the race, expecting less contact with the track in turns 5 and 6 at lower speeds. The team won't have to worry about conserving tires for a specific sector during the race.
McLaren had a significant advantage in corners 9 and 10 during the third training session. This advantage was partly due to their ability to keep their tires in their comfort zone, which contributed to their performance in these high-speed corners. Red Bull and Aston Martin also struggled in corners 9 and 10 behind McLaren.
George Russell, driving for Mercedes, could choose where to leave his time in the race, either in the first sector or the final section. Russell lost time in corners 7, 8, and 9 but was faster than McLaren in corner 10.
Red Bull seems to have sacrificed some downforce on Verstappen's car over the weekend. However, Verstappen was as fast as the McLarens in corners 9 and 10 and even slightly better in sector 2. Verstappen caught almost his entire deficit in the Tarzan corner. Red Bull overhauled Max Verstappen's RB21 before qualifying and made a special adjustment to his car by modifying the front suspension setup to reduce sensitivity to crosswinds, improving stability in fast corners.
Ferrari has taken measures to better protect their tires in the fast corners, reducing their delta in the critical corners from six to three tenths. However, the tires of Ferrari, especially the rear tires and the left front tire, were at their limit after the high-speed sections. Understeering was observed in corner 9 due to cooler tires, and poor traction was an issue at the corner exit.
In conclusion, the Silverstone Grand Prix is set to be a thrilling race with McLaren and Mercedes leading the pack, followed closely by Red Bull and Ferrari. The battle for position in the high-speed corners of the track will be a key factor in determining the race's outcome.
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