9 replies to this topic

[zfh10]

The pace that Ferrari showed during the race at Imola has made me wonder about what circuits will favour Michelin or Bridgestone for the remainder of the season.
I'm not from Europe, so I'd like to hear some thoughts on what tracks are expected to be hot , warm and cool .
I know a lot of this depends on the weather on the day, but some generalisations and predictions would be interesting.
If we have some more cool conditions like Imola, then Ferrari will walk to the title again, much as I hate to even think about it!
I'm thinking that maybe Spain, Hungary, Brasil and Turkey being the really hot tracks that we would expect Michelin to dominate? Maybe France too?

I really don't know what sort of track temps we can expect for Spa, British and North American tracks. China is a mystery. Japan is a Bridgestone track you would think. Your thoughts?


08 May Spain, Barcelona
22 May Monaco, Monte Carlo
29 May Europe, Nürburgring
12 June Canada, Montreal
19 June USA, Indianapolis
03 July France, Magny-Cours
10 July Great Britain, Silverstone
24 July Germany, Hockenheim
31 July Hungary, Hungaroring
21 August Turkey, Istanbul
04 September Italy, Monza
11 September Belgium, Spa-Francorchamps
25 September Brazil, Interlagos
09 October Japan, Suzuka
16 October China, Shanghai

[TT6]

Correct me, but I think the warmish, normal weather will be the most probable scenario from this on. Something like this:

08 May Spain, Barcelona: Most likely warm, might be luke warm
22 May Monaco, Monte Carlo: Most likely warm
29 May Europe, Nürburgring: Most likely warm, might be cold too
12 June Canada, Montreal: Most likely warm
19 June USA, Indianapolis: Most likely warm
03 July France, Magny-Cours: Most likely warm, risk of rain
10 July Great Britain, Silverstone: Most likely warm, might be cold or hot, severe risk of rain
24 July Germany, Hockenheim: Most likely warm, might be hot
31 July Hungary, Hungaroring: Most likely hot
21 August Turkey, Istanbul: Most likely hot
04 September Italy, Monza: Most likely warm, might be hot, might be rainy, might be luke warm
11 September Belgium, Spa-Francorchamps: Most likely cold, might be luke warm, definately rain
25 September Brazil, Interlagos: Most likely warm, maybe hot, might be rainy
09 October Japan, Suzuka: Most likely warm, may be rainy
16 October China, Shanghai: Most likely warm, may be rainy

[Uwe]

29 May Europe, Nürburgring: Most likely warm, might be cold too

Hmm. Climate statistics for Cologne can be found here. Now bear in mind that the Ring has about 2°C lower temperatures which would make for an temperature average about 11° - 14°C. But weather is often extreme at the Ring. So if the sun shines it can be really hot, but it can also be pissing down dogs and cats.

If I had to predict the weather for Nurby I'd say: the probability for snow is fairly low. But not absent. ;)

[TT6]

Originally posted by Uwe
Now bear in mind that the Ring has about 2°C lower temperatures which would make for an temperature average about 11° - 14°C. But weather is often extreme at the Ring. So if the sun shines it can be really hot, but it can also be pissing down dogs and cats.

I took that into account, thus I wrote "might be cold too".

Temperature average is not very good starting point because the races tend to take place in the afternoon which is the warmest time of the day.

The mosty probable scenario for the summer race is relatively warm, also in the Nûrburgring.

[Gilles4Ever]

BTW what track temperature is considered too hot for Bridgestone?

[A Wheel Nut]

Forecast for Spain looks as cold as Imola.

[A Wheel Nut]

Originally posted by Gilles4Ever
BTW what track temperature is considered too hot for Bridgestone?

Sunshine.

[ASD]

Originally posted by A Wheel Nut
Sunshine.

Wheel nut - your sig probably says more about Bridgestone: their tyres are developing. They were not the same for Imola as for the previous races, were they? I wouldn't neceesarily expect them to perform as badly in a later hot race as they did in Malaysia and Bahrain.

For my money, BTW, the most important gain Bridgestone made for Imola was not the tyres grip (hence speed) but their durability (nothwithstanding the different conditions).


TT6 - thanks for the weather forecasts. Don't forget possibility of fog in Great Britain.

[zfh10]

Originally posted by A Wheel Nut
Forecast for Spain looks as cold as Imola.

really? that surprises me.

[zfh10]

Originally posted by TT6
Correct me, but I think the warmish, normal weather will be the most probable scenario from this on. Something like this:

08 May Spain, Barcelona: Most likely warm, might be luke warm
22 May Monaco, Monte Carlo: Most likely warm
29 May Europe, Nürburgring: Most likely warm, might be cold too
12 June Canada, Montreal: Most likely warm
19 June USA, Indianapolis: Most likely warm
03 July France, Magny-Cours: Most likely warm, risk of rain
10 July Great Britain, Silverstone: Most likely warm, might be cold or hot, severe risk of rain
24 July Germany, Hockenheim: Most likely warm, might be hot
31 July Hungary, Hungaroring: Most likely hot
21 August Turkey, Istanbul: Most likely hot
04 September Italy, Monza: Most likely warm, might be hot, might be rainy, might be luke warm
11 September Belgium, Spa-Francorchamps: Most likely cold, might be luke warm, definately rain
25 September Brazil, Interlagos: Most likely warm, maybe hot, might be rainy
09 October Japan, Suzuka: Most likely warm, may be rainy
16 October China, Shanghai: Most likely warm, may be rainy

I heard 2nd-hand that Michelin tires were underperforming at Imola during braking. I'd like to know the physics of how you can incorporate that into your tire design.

I did a net search for Barelona weather forecasts and I found that maximum temperature predictions were only about 17-20 degrees celsius for the next week or so. I guess this makes Ferrari/Bridgestone red-hot favourites for the next race.
I thought it would be hotter than that, but I guess it is Spring and not yet Summer in Europe.

I think Michelin are going to have to work very very hard to improve performance in 'not-hot' conditions, Bridgestone seem to have a super-tyre for mild conditions as we saw at Imola...