GPTECHNICAL NEWSLETTER Red Bull in Commanding Form: The
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GPTECHNICAL NEWSLETTER F1technical.net, free-to-publish magazine, issue No.3 November 2018 Red Bull in commanding form: the energy drink- owned team shines in Mexico, leaving the opposition breathless Mercedes weaponless: the dominant team of recent years struggles with tyre management without its innovative wheel rims—Full story on page 10 GPTECHNICAL NEWSLETTER The 2018 Formula One season is slowly crawling towards its end. With two more races, the Drivers’ Championship title fight is already done Only three colours for the Pirelli tyres next year and dusted after Lewis Hamilton secured his fifth title in Mexico. How- ever, Ferrari are still chasing Mercedes for the Constructors’ Champi- Formula One’s sole tyre supplier Pirelli will cut down the number of colours for its vari- onship title, albeit with a difference of 55 points, and face a steep ous compounds in 2019. The Milan-based mountain to climb if they want to claim their first title since 2008. company intends to make it easier for fans to Despite slightly anticlimactic closing stage to the season, the sport still recognize the differences between the three compounds at the given race weekend. chases for answers on many fronts. On the technical stage, Ferrari’s radical floor featuring a series of fins caused for an interesting talking Fans have been asking for simplifying the col- point over the last weeks. Next to evaluating this novelty, the Italians our scheme of tyres after this year saw seven were also busy with seeking for answers why the performance of their different dry-weather compounds including the back-up superhard compound. To make it successful SF71H was below-par for three races following the Italian clear which compound drivers are on at the Grand Prix. The Maranello-based outfit desperately wants to under- track, Pirelli introduced different colours for stand it before the winter break to find the correct design path for each compound, thus a total of seven differ- their next year’s car. ent ones. Mercedes’ unexpected surge in form since the Singapore Grand Prix In 2019, fans only need to get used to three and its sudden dip in pace after it was forced to discard its innovative colours. However, Pirelli sticks to its multiple- wheel concepts featuring a series of holes from the American Grand compound concept to be able to supply teams with the best tyres for tracks of very Prix still excites the F1 community. The FIA is expected to clarify the different nature. For those wishing to go into matter this weekend when the sport descends in Sao Paulo. a little more technical detail, each compound With Red Bull’s recent strong form, the last two Grand Prix in Sao Pau- step will be given its own name or letter to lo and Abu Dhabi might bring the 2018 season to an end in the best distinguish it. Taking the example of Silver- fashion, leading to thrilling battles between the current three top stone and Monaco, for instance, the hard Sil- teams, Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull. verstone tyre might be compound one whereas the hard Monaco compound might be compound Balázs Szabó three. Editor [email protected] The colours for the Cinturato intermedi- ate and full wet tyres remain unchanged next year – green and blue respectively. B r a z i l i a n G r a n d P r i x — P r e v i e w The country of Brazil has held 46 Grands Prix so far with the first one being a non-championship race. The event has been held continuously since it made it’s debut in 1972. Racing in Brazil has its roots between the two World Wars. The first event was held on the 6.9-mile Gavea street circuit in Rio de Janeiro in 1934. Two years lat- er, the construction work of the country’s first permanent circuit kicked off in Sao The most successful drivers Paulo. The new track at Interlagos quickly gained reputation for its long corners, and constructors demanding nature and elevation changes. King of the Brazilian Grand Prix is the When local hero Emerson Fittipaldi began to enjoy racing success in the 1970s, Frenchman Alain Prost. The quadruple demand for a Brazilian Grand Prix grew. In 1971 and 1972 Interlagos hosted non- world champion claimed victory on six championship events, before staging its first Formula One World Championship different occasions. Second on this list round in 1973. The track became a lucky charm for a host of local drivers in the is Michael Schumacher with four vic- 1970s, including José Carlos Pace, whose first and only Grand Prix victory came tories. Carlos Reutemann and Sebas- here at his home race. Following his death, the circuit was renamed in his honour. tian Vettel form the group of the three In 1978 the Brazilian Grand Prix moved to Jacarepaguá in Rio de Janeiro. Argen- -time Brazilian Grand Prix victors. tine Carlos Reutemann dominated in his Ferrari. For the following year, Formula Among the drivers with two wins in One moved back to Interlagos. After the emergence in 1980 of Rio de Janeiro rac- their pocket are Nico Rosberg, Felipe er Nelson Piquet, the decline of Interlagos and the retirement of Fittipaldi, Brazili- Massa, Mark Webber, Juan Pablo an fans lobbied to host the Brazilian GP in Piquet's home town. The flat Jacarep- Montoya, Mika Häkkinen, Ayrton Sen- aguá circuit, like Interlagos before it, proved to be extremely demanding: most na, Nigel Mansell, Nelson Piquet and corners were long and fast, some were slightly banked and the track had a very Emerson Fittipaldi. abrasive surface. McLaren and Ferrari are the most suc- Fans succeeded and the event moved to Jacarepaguá in 1981 and stayed there for cessful constructors in the history of a period of nine years. However, the Sao Paulo-born Ayrton Senna’s success the Brazilian Grand Prix. The British prompted the owners of the Interlagos circuit to revamp the track and heavily outfit has won 12 races there while its invest in its infrastructure and modernization. The layout was shortened, the sur- Italian rival squad has eleven victories. face was smoothed and the Grand Prix returned to Sao Paulo in 1990 where it has Williams is a six-time Brazilian Grand remained since. Prix winning team. Red Bull managed to claim triumph on four occasions Until today, five Brazilian drivers have won in front of their passionate and ador- while Mercedes on three occasions. ing fans, with Emerson Fittipaldi, Nelson Piquet, Ayrton Senna and Felipe Massa Renault, Benetton and Brabham have each winning twice and Jose Carlos Pace winning once. Interesting facts Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world. It is named after a tree; brazilwood. Brazil has 26 states and one federal district. The capital of Brazil is Brasilia, built in 1960. Brazil shares a border with nine countries – every South American country except Chile and Ecuador. The highest point is Pico da Neblina at 2994 metres (9820 feet). Virtually every Brazilian city has a soccer stadium because they are crazy about soccer. Brazil is ranked number 9 in the world soccer standings. Brazil has won the World Cup five times and perhaps its most famous player is Pele. The Amazon River is the second longest river in the world and the world’s largest river by volume. Brazil has 64 national parks and more than 200 conservation units. Brazil has the fifth largest population in the world estimated to be over 200 million people. There are 13 cities with more than one million people in Brazil. Track layout The Autodromo José Carlos Pace track has a total length of 4.309km. During Sunday’s race, driv- ers will need to circulate 71 times to complete the race distance of 305.909km. The circuit is run counter-clockwise, putting extra pressure and unusual loads on drivers’ shoul- ders and neck muscles. The course is made up of 15 turns, of which 10 are left-handed ones. The 15 turns of the track are a mixture of speeds, but medium-speed corners are the dominating type. The lap record is held by Max Verstappen. The Dutchman clocked a 1:11.044 in the 2017 Brazilian Grand Prix. The start is usually relatively calm, the distance from the pole position to the apex of Turn 1 is 334.5m. The start line is on a slight incline, meaning the drivers must hold the brake ahead of the start. Drivers must adhere to a speed limit of 80kph through the 387.1-metre-long pit lane. Abu Dhabi Grand Prix—Preview The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is a unique event, starting at sunset and finishing in the dusk, with the sun setting during the early phase of the race. The Grand Prix takes place on the ultra-modern Yas Marina Circuit. The inaugural race was Formula One’s first ever day-night race. This track, surrounded by the desert sands, is quite spectacular in an exceptional setting with a stunning hotel that overlooks the flat circuit. Especially during Friday practice and the race, the temperatures will go in the opposite direction to those we usually experience. The first sector features a mix of mid to high-speed corners, the second one is about straight-line speed, braking and traction and the third sector looks like a street circuit and calls for grip and downforce. History The circuit was designed by Hermann Tilke, and is situated on the peninsula of Yas Island, about 30 minutes from the capital of the UAE, Abu Dhabi.