The Circuit
Turn 1 is medium speed – around 130kph – leading into the high speed Turns 2/3 which should be flat out in qualifying and only something for the drivers to think about when they are on heavy fuel loads.
Turn 2 is a defining corner for set-up. You need sufficient front wing to eradicate high speed understeer and this defines how much front wing is used as the other corners can all use less than this one.
Turn 5 has one of the bigger braking demands on the circuit; down from around 300kph into a sharp left immediately followed by the even tighter right of Turn 6.
Good engine pickup out of Turn 7 is vital for to enter the longest straight of the track. Turn 7 is a second gear corner, taken at around 70kph.
Turns 8 + 9 come at the end of one of the longest straights in Formula 1 and the fastest part of the circuit, with a maximum speed of around 320kph. This is followed by heavy braking down to second gear and around 80kph, with the drivers using the kerbs aggressively through this tricky sequence.
Another long straight with a top speed of over 300kph leads into a heavy braking zone for Turn 11, which forms the first part of a tight left-right-left sequence requiring good change of direction from the car.
The final sector of the circuit between Turns 11 + 21 is all very low speed with a lot of second gear corners; very reminiscent of a street course without strictly being one.
The Car
The recent tracks - Suzuka, Korea, India have been a high-medium downforce level whereas Yas Marina is more towards a Monaco level of downforce - almost maximum because of the section between Turn 11 and 21 which is all very low speed with a lot of second gear corners.
Turn 2 is the crucial corner for determining how much front wing is used. More front wing is required here than for any other corner, so you need sufficient front wing for Turn 2 without causing too much detriment elsewhere.
The kerbs are more pronounced than seen at some other tracks, in particular Turns 8, 9 and through the last sector. A soft car which rides the kerbs well helps here, but it’s a trade-off between having a soft car which will ride over the kerbs and one which is stiff enough for the driver to have a sharp change of direction which is necessary for the chicanes – 8-9 and 11-13.
There are reasonable braking demands, especially into Turns 5, 8, 11 which have quite high speed approaches to the low speed corners. Temperatures will need to be monitored as will wear; these are not likely to be an issue, but more attention is paid to them here than at other tracks.
The consecutive allocation of the medium and soft compound Pirelli tyres should not present too many issues, with both tyres likely to suit the circuit – opening up the potential strategy permutations.
The day to night schedule makes ambient conditions vary significantly and grip levels, tyre warm up and air pressure will change. The engine needs to respond to this new set of parameters, so careful engine management and flexibility is crucial.
Broj krugova: 55
Dužina staze: 5.554 km
Dužina trke: 305.355 km
Vremenska prognoza:
FP1: 10:00
FP2: 14:00
FP3: 11:00
Kvalifikacije: 14:00
Trka: 14:00
Edited by alpiner, 01 November 2012 - 23:27.
