Silverstone has undergone quite a few transformations all through its historical past, however its soul stays the identical: a high-speed titan.
Iconic corners like Maggotts, Becketts, and Abbey have stood the take a look at of time, difficult even essentially the most expert drivers with their relentless G-forces and technical calls for.
Silverstone boasts a number of lengthy straights, equivalent to Hangar Straight, the place larger prime velocity is a beneficial asset, nevertheless it’s only one piece of the puzzle.
A low-downforce set-up is a pre-requisite, at the very least in dry situations, however as common in these trendy instances, it’s all about steadiness and aero effectivity, or how a lot drag is created for a given degree of downforce
In qualifying on Saturday, Oscar Piastri’s McLaren was the quickest automotive down Hangar Straight, and by a large margin – not solely over the second quickest automotive but in addition over his personal teammate Lando Norris.
This implies that the efficiency was an outlier and maybe linked to particular circumstances such a large slipstream that put the Aussie in a vacuum on a selected lap.
Mercedes pacesetters George Russell and Lewis Hamilton have been proper in the midst of the pack of the velocity lure readings, together with Crimson Bull’s Max Verstappen however a couple of mile per hour forward of Norris.
So the place did the silver arrows achieve an edge over their rivals in Q3?
Positively within the third sector. Russell was quickest in S2, however each Mercedes’ vehicles have been blindingly quick within the remaining sector that runs from Hangar Straight by Stowe, Vale and Membership.
However digging into the small print, Norris’ was solely seventh quickest by S1 and boasted a comparatively subdued prime velocity on this stretch, which means that the McLaren is carrying extra drag than its rivals – one thing in step with its use this weekend of a excessive downforce beam wing on its MCL38.
It’s price noting that Norris deserted his remaining flyer in Q3 after working huge out of Chapel. However McLaren’s larger downforce and extra race-based configuration may pay massive dividends this afternoon, particularly within the occasion of opposed climate.
As for Verstappen, a brand new flooring on his RB20 will deliver the Dutchman again into play in a race that might show to be a technique chess match if the rain wreaks havoc on proceedings.
In any other case, if it’s dry, then a one-stop is quickest on paper, with all three compounds being viable.
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