FORMULA 1 ARAMCO UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX...Austin...PRACTICE 1/2/3..▄▀▄▀▄▀ SPOILERS▄▀▄▀▄▀

Tsunoda's autumn themed skid lid with Acura visor glare strip. I like . . . .

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So circuit boss is sensitive about Gasly comments. So defensive after Moto GP riders voiced serious concerns lol!

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/cota-boss-bumps-arent-an-issue-for-f1-cars-after-motogp-complaints/6699286/

By: Alex Kalinauckas
Oct 22, 2021, 5:15 AM
Austin circuit boss Bobby Epstein says bumps “aren't an issue” for Formula 1 cars, following concerns about the surface being expressed by drivers ahead of the 2021 US Grand Prix.

AlphaTauri racer Pierre Gasly said ahead of the Texas race that the event “could be quite complicated” for drivers because Austin’s bumps, which have always been encountered at the Circuit of the Americas track because it is built on shifting land, “seem even more severe now” after he watched the recent MotoGP event at the same venue.

The topic was much discussed in the drivers’ pre-event press conferences at Austin on Thursday, but Epstein dismissed the concerns – particularly after FIA-mandated work to mill the track surface at the depression between Turn 2 and Turn 3 and the depressions at Turns 4, 6, 10 and 14 had been completed in the run up to the event.


When asked by Autosport if COTA would have to complete additional work to address concerns about its track surface, Epstein replied: “Gasly may have said something, but he hasn't driven the track.

“So, the bumps aren't an issue for the cars first [of all].

“And Michael Masi [F1 race director] has been out and sent people and they've checked it and they asked us to grind two or three areas of concern.

“And that work was done already Monday and Tuesday this week.

“So, it's still a problem for bikes – there's two sort of dip areas – but cars have no problem.

“I think if you ask [Gasly] after he drives he'll say they've done a lot harder surfaces than this.

Epstein added that his track will “resurface for the bikes by April” to add to work completed since F1 last visited Texas in 2019, which led to resurfacing at the pit exit and run to the first corner, plus the runs between Turns 9 and 10 and Turns 11-12, as well as from midway through Turn 15 to halfway through Turn 19.

“We're closing for three weeks in January,” Epstein continued. “We've already resurfaced a lot, we did a lot last year so there's more to do.


“But we should ask Gasly after he goes out, can you drive this? Ask him how Monaco was.”

 

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/f1-drivers-welcome-plan-to-delete-lap-times-set-under-double-yellow-flags/6697216/

F1 drivers welcome plan to delete lap times set under double yellow flags
By: Adam Cooper
Oct 21, 2021, 3:11 PM
Formula 1 drivers have welcomed the FIA’s plan to delete any lap times achieved by cars that pass through a double waved yellow zone in practice and in qualifying.
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As previously reported the idea of deleting times emerged in Turkey after Fernando Alonso controversially escaped sanction following a post-qualifying investigation of a yellow flag offence.

After informal discussions between teams and race director Michael Masi on the morning of the race in Istanbul, the subject was debated further in a sporting advisory group meeting last week, when all teams agreed that it would be a good solution.

Masi has now formally confirmed that the system, similar to that for track limits offences, will be used from this weekend’s US GP.

His race director’s notes for the Austin weekend read: “Any driver passing through a double waved yellow marshalling sector must reduce speed significantly and be prepared to change direction or stop.

“In order for the stewards to be satisfied that any such driver has complied with these requirements it must be clear that he has not attempted to set a meaningful lap time. For practical purposes any driver in a double yellow sector will have that lap time deleted."

A section reading “this means the driver should abandon the lap (this does not necessarily mean he has to pit as the track could well be clear the following lap)” has been removed.

Drivers agree that the new initiative is a positive one.

 

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I think the bumps is going to be hard to control, its the terrain that makes them. over time the soft ground just naturally moves with the weight put on them over time. any of the highways you drive down there - I notice the ripples ... I'm sure at 200mph its a bump.

 

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Vettel had suspension damage due the bumps on this circuit. I have no sympathy for the circuit management. They should provide the best possible surface. Their bump issues are 'old news'

 

I thought there was work recently(post MotoGP) from T2>10 to fix the bad stuff....??

 

Will RedBull show winning pace today?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/59004329

United States Grand Prix: Red Bull need more pace to beat Hamilton - Verstappen

Verstappen, 24, said: "We know we still have a bit of work to do.

"I'm not concerned because there is nothing we can do about it. But we have to find a bit more performance."

Verstappen has led the championship for much of the season but has not won or qualified fastest since the Dutch Grand Prix at the beginning of September - four races ago.

By contrast, a Mercedes has been on pole for two of the last three races and the team have won the last two, with Hamilton victorious in Russia and team-mate Valtteri Bottas last time out in Turkey.

Across all metrics, there is a clear trend showing Mercedes have begun to eke out a small performance advantage since they introduced an update package to their car at the British Grand Prix in July.

 

Regarding all these new helmet designs (which I like): Did they scrap the rule that you can change your helmet only once a season?

 

Mercedes are possibly stalling the floor / found a legal way to do it per Brundle on its new speed.

 

If you need a link - this is working http://sportsnest.co/0-formula-1-grand-prix/

 

Alonso's car dead in the water

 

It's America, we needed a break for commercials.

sjd

 

crowd looks solid for a Friday

 

Merc looking very brisk thus far...

 

I'm kind of the opposite. make your car adapt to the track. that was what F-1 was all about. or how I was brought up on it.

 

Mick is doing a good impersonation of his teammate this weekend

 

Sure so lets just add bumps for the fun of it lol. No. Fix the circuit as it was to be in design.

 

Fast Mercedes. Too bad Bottas has to endure a new test motor for LH lol

 

So far it looks like it's going to be a Mercedes cakewalk as most of the pundits predicted.

 

Difference between Mercedes and Aston today. Mercedes own the concept overall they both race. Aston is no where. Copying is not going to work the shortcut Billionaire. Next year will be interesting with the 'new' cars.

Rake adjustment is making the Mercedes so fast! Well explained and shown on SKY.
Toto saying live they have been doin such things for sometime.

No new parts are in the motors they are changing out. He just told SKY the airvalve speculation etc is BS!

 

They've clearly found something different. I think this was originally seen as a Red Bull advantage circuit...then it was a 50/50 race when discussed at Monza...now it looks like a significant Merc advantage. I don't think it's about the floor...the car was sliding around quite a bit. That new engine has extra grunt (perhaps making it more fragile?)