910 replies to this topic

[Atreiu]

What do Donington and Interlagos have to do with Portimao?

They resurfaced portimao. It's a very smooth oily track according to Norris with the track falling away dramatically in 90% of the corners. Drivers have been complaining about low grip, lack of tire temperature and looking like they were on ice in the dry. You think adding water here wouldn't be carnage? Lewis said this is probably one of the toughest tracks with the lack of visiblity of braking markers, blind corners, blind crest. Great, so lets add water, make the track even slipperier, visiblity non-existent, tire temperature non-existent and expect something other than carnage.

When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. And if it rains for F1, deal with it.

Personally, I don’t give a blip about blind corners, elevation changes and the impact of rain on this new surface. I want a great race even if it means putting up with certain limit of disruption. It’s not like the circuit is unsafe and unforgiving to the slightest error.

Modern carnage isn’t even the same it used to be.

[vlado]

If they are predicting rain, we should at least expect overcast weather.. so colder track temps ? 

[efuloni]

If it doesnt rain, will we have an all dry season? I guess it didnt raing during any race and the next ones are a long shot, right?

[Marklar]

start of Budapest had rain, and Styria quali

[wj_gibson]

Carnage indeed. This is the last track that should have a wet race. The elevation change alone will cause hydroplaning.

I’m fairly sure there have been wet races in the past in Belgium and Austria.

[absinthedude]

They seemed to manage it reasonably OK at Donington Park in 1993 and that is not exactly a flat circuit

 

As much as I like Donington, it doesn't seem to have the elevation changes that Portimao has. If elevation changes are indeed likely to increase chances of aqualpaning, it's something worth thinking about in the event of wet races.

 

So further questions....have there been wet races here for other racing formuale and how was the track surface? Is drainage sufficient? Because regardless of elevation changes, if the drainage is great there won't be standing water.

[wj_gibson]

Elevation changes do not increase the chances of aquaplaning, folks. Portimao has less elevation change than the Nurburgring, and F1 managed several wet races there perfectly well.

 

The issue is always one of drainage - i.e. what volume of running water the drainage system can process from the surface without causing aquaplaning. And at what point the volume of rainfall exceeds that capacity. 
 

Though it’s going to be a moot point anyway if the current weather forecast for no rain until 5pm is accurate.

Edited by wj_gibson, 25 October 2020 - 11:19.

[Goron3]

I have a friend on the way to the circuit and the traffic is horrendous. In two hours they've progressed by about 50m.

 

He's expecting to miss the start of the race. Reminds me of France a couple of years back.

[FrontWing]

But in colder conditions, especially with a few drops of water, you'd expect that to take performance towards the softer tyre.

You'd think so, but it's performance has been weird this weekend.

[registered]

Never understood the purpose of these jet fly overs

[THEWALL]

HAHHAHA, Mercedes reminding Bottas of his place.