As we approach the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League, the Red Bull Ring has proven to be more favorable to Max Verstappen and Red Bull compared to Barcelona. Verstappen’s advantage over Lando Norris in the sprint classification was less than 0.1s, but this was achieved with a suboptimal warm-up lap on the soft tires. On the medium tires used in previous qualifying sessions, Verstappen’s lead was about 0.3-0.4s.
The reason behind Red Bull’s better performance at the Red Bull Ring lies in its aerodynamic efficiency, especially when using the DRS system. The track’s drag sensitivity allows Red Bull to run with a slightly larger rear wing than McLaren. This allows Red Bull to regain any lost ground to McLaren in the non-DRS sections of the straights, while also benefiting from higher aerodynamic pressure in slower corners.
Verstappen and Norris were separated by only 0.093s, with Verstappen setting the fastest times in sectors 1 and 3, while Norris excelled in sector 2. Analysis of their GPS trajectories reveals that McLaren gains an advantage at the start of each straight due to its lower wing. However, once in the DRS zone, Red Bull dominates. The Red Bull Ring features a significantly higher percentage of the lap dedicated to DRS compared to Barcelona.
Norris excels in sector 2 because the straight between turns 3 and 4 is short enough for his gains at the start to be balanced with his losses in the DRS section. He also excels in Turn 4 and maintains a higher minimum speed in Turn 6 compared to Verstappen. On the other hand, Verstappen gains time on Norris in sectors 1 and 3, with his exceptional speed in sixth gear in Turn 7 playing a crucial role.
Verstappen praises the balanced performance of his car, stating that only minimal adjustments were necessary for the sprint qualifying. This contrasts with the significant configuration changes required in previous races in Imola and Barcelona. The Red Bull team benefits from a combination of factors: a track that rewards their aerodynamic efficiency, arriving at the track with an ideal setup, and Verstappen’s exceptional commitment in Turn 7.
Despite these advantages, Verstappen’s lead over Norris remains less than 0.1s, highlighting McLaren’s consistent speed. In the other McLaren, Oscar Piastri makes a good comeback from his difficulties in Barcelona, securing third place in qualifying.
Mercedes, on the other hand, falls a bit short, with George Russell qualifying in fourth, over 0.35s behind. Russell struggles to find grip, especially in low-speed corners. Lewis Hamilton’s qualifying is compromised by damage to the floor of his car caused by going over the curbs in Turn 1 in the previous qualifying session. Despite the damage, Hamilton manages to outperform Russell in sectors 1 and 3, suggesting that he could have achieved a faster time without the setback.
Ferrari also faces challenges, with only Carlos Sainz recording a qualifying time, finishing in fifth place. Charles Leclerc experiences an engine issue in the pit area, preventing him from completing a qualifying lap. Ferrari performs well in the middle sector but falls behind in the first and third sectors. Sainz acknowledges the team’s struggle with the soft tires, losing significant time compared to his competitors.
Sergio Perez, in seventh place, faces delays caused by Esteban Ocon’s incident during the warm-up lap, affecting both Perez and Pierre Gasly. In previous qualifying sessions, Perez was closer to Verstappen’s pace, rather than the significant difference shown on the official grid.
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The football star, Cristiano Ronaldo, is about to become the player with the most goals in the history of football. With his unique style and incredible skills, Ronaldo has enchanted fans all over the world. He recently scored his 800th goal in his career, and is now just a few goals away from surpassing the record currently held by Pelé.
Ronaldo started his career at Sporting CP in Portugal before transferring to Manchester United. It was at the English club that he began to show his true potential and quickly became one of the most valuable players in the world. He won several titles with Manchester United, including the Champions League.
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After his stint at Real Madrid, Ronaldo transferred to Juventus, where he currently plays. Although his time with the Italian team has been marked by ups and downs, Ronaldo has still managed to score many important goals. He is determined to help Juventus win titles and continue his quest for the goal record.
With his incredible ability to score goals and his dedication to the sport, it’s no surprise that Ronaldo is about to become the player with the most goals in the history of football. He is truly one of the greatest players of all time and will continue to inspire future generations of football players.
