I wonder if DAS was a contributor to the Mercedes' tyre wear issues? Haven't heard much more about it since the opening rounds.
As mentioned earlier in thread, it didn't look as if they were using it, so doubtful it has made any difference
I wonder if DAS was a contributor to the Mercedes' tyre wear issues? Haven't heard much more about it since the opening rounds.
Definitely something going on with Vettel, you don't just magically become **** overnight. I doubt Ferrari are purposely crippling him, I also doubt that motivation is as much as issue, as you'd still expect him to be performing, but maybe 4 tenths off Leclerc if he was lacking motivation.
I wonder if the the way developed the car has just left him completely lost and unable to drive around it. Same as Red Bull when they lost the blown diffusers.
Definitely something going on with Vettel, you don't just magically become **** overnight. I doubt Ferrari are purposely crippling him, I also doubt that motivation is as much as issue, as you'd still expect him to be performing, but maybe 4 tenths off Leclerc if he was lacking motivation.
I wonder if the the way developed the car has just left him completely lost and unable to drive around it. Same as Red Bull when they lost the blown diffusers.
I do agree, I cannot believe Vettel is having a brain fart moment every race. Its' hard to put finger on, over driving, pressure, lack of encouragement/confidence from the team etc.
I think it’s part the car is not working for him (maybe they’ve based in on LeClerc?) and part he’s just given up with it.
Well put yourself in his shoes. Your team have effectively sacked you, so why would you continue to try?
Its something that has crossed my mind given the unusual cliff edge in his performance.
It's more than that. Last season Vettel and Leclerc were, to all intents and purposes, relatively close for most of the year. This season Vettel is a long way off Leclerc with a car that sometimes barely even looks derivable and shoddy build quality (loose pedals, grenading engine). When the Ferrari boss is coming on the radio to apologise to him after races (and he blanks him), it's obviously not as even (by accident or measure) as anyone would like to think.I'm not sure that Vettel really has gone over an unusual cliff edge; ever since his last championship his performance has been lacking. First he was outclassed by Dani Ric coming into the team where he was established champion, then he was mediocre at Ferrari with a performance characterised by mistakes when it mattered. It seems to me that he has had a long decline from the breathtaking form of 2013 to the dismal performance of today rather than simply falling off a cliff edge. What's different this year is that he no longer has the car under him to make up for that decline, and is up the rapidly improving Leclerc, who is probably already the third best driver on the grid.
I wouldn't be surprised to see them part company before the end of the season. It might even trigger the Sainz/Ricciardo/Alonso switches early (after the Indy 500 in two weeks, bubbles permitting) but more likely there is a driver who's stock has increased recently... Nico Hulkenberg.
It would be full 2020 if Hulkenberg gets a shot in such a great team in what might be their worst car in living memory (results wise thus far it looks even worse than the F92A) with little realistic chance of a podium.
Living memory would technically include all of F1, wouldn't it?
why the hell would Sainz want to leave McLaren early to go and drive around in that Ferrari.... I think he might want to hang on as long as he can...
I think Sainz would be fairly willing to get into the Ferrari. For Leclerc it's faster than the McLarens, particularly on race pace. I don't think Sainz would jump at the chance mid-season, but I don't think he'd protest too hard, especially if pre-season testing next season is curtailed.I was half thinking that triggering the driver swaps early might be a goer - especially if Ferrari were willing to pay enough to McLaren to get Sainz early - but why the hell would Sainz want to leave McLaren early to go and drive around in that Ferrari.... I think he might want to hang on as long as he can...
[..]
The only real loser here is Sainz....
Perhaps you're right, and it's looking better (for Leclerc) since the upgrades in Hungary. Time will tell I guess. However Leclerc has lucked into podiums to a degree rather than on genuine pace. He only got second in Austria due to some good strategy (for once), Hamilton's penalty, Albon being spun and Perez not pitting under the safety car, and in Silverstone only because of Bottas's puncture. Fantastic performance on Sunday though.