EBE Chapter 52 Have you adapted yet?
Chapter 52 Have you adapted yet?
Tanger received a photo with Alan Tam and Jimmy Butler.
During the pre-game warm-up, Jimmy Butler took this photo with Tom Cher and Toni.
Tang Che: I would never ask anyone to take a photo with me.
Jimmy Butler played 38 minutes in this game, scoring 23 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists, shooting 9 of 15 from the field, with a plus-minus of +36, the highest in the game. His performance was quite outstanding.
After watching the whole game, Tang Che had only one feeling: this Jiba really looks like Jordan!
Years later, when Michael Jordan faces Jimmy Butler, he'll remember that night Pippen took him to Houston for some fun. (crossed out)
After the race, Tangche immediately flew back to Europe to begin preparations for the Spanish Grand Prix.
With the help of Tang Che, the team's simulation has improved considerably. Although the coupling with reality is still a bit poor, it can already provide some reference.
Furthermore, even though the coupling between the simulator and reality remains poor, drivers still have to run on the simulator because it is the only tool that can help them familiarize themselves with the track before a race.
However, compared to other circuits, teams and drivers are more familiar with the Barcelona circuit in Spain, because the first pre-season test was conducted at the Barcelona circuit, and teams and drivers have some understanding of the characteristics of the Barcelona circuit.
If the AT03 is still the same AT03 as before the major upgrade in Imola, then pushing at full speed on the Barcelona circuit will only result in one thing—spin!
Why? You'll understand once you understand the characteristics of the track.
The Barcelona-Catalunya circuit is located in Montemelo, near Barcelona, Spain. It has hosted the Spanish Grand Prix of Formula 1 since 1991 and is one of the oldest and most iconic circuits in the Formula 1 calendar.
The track underwent a major modification in 2021. The modified track is 4.675 kilometers long per lap, includes two sections of the DRS zone, and has a total of 16 corners, including 9 right corners and 7 left corners. The longest straight is a 1.047-kilometer main straight with a maximum gradient of 6%, mainly concentrated on the uphill section of Turn 9.
The 2021 renovation retained the final deceleration corner before Turn 16, widened the run-off area of Turn 4 to improve safety, redesigned the inside curb of Turn 3 to reduce drivers' cornering gains, and removed the artificial turf in the area between Turns 14 and 15, replacing it with asphalt run-off area.
The Barcelona circuit is hailed as the most comprehensive "testing ground" for F1 cars. Its three major stages cover all scenarios from high speed to low-speed technical corners, placing balanced demands on the car's power, downforce, braking, tire management, and chassis stability. This is the core reason why it has long been the only venue for F1 winter testing.
The first stage (turns 1-4) primarily tests drivers' speed and cornering abilities. Drivers enter the heavy braking zone of Turn 1 from the end of the main straight at speeds exceeding 330 km/h, reducing their speed to approximately 100 km/h before transitioning through Turn 2 into the most challenging Turn 3. Turn 3 is a long-radius, high-speed right-hand corner lasting approximately 5 seconds, with lateral G-forces reaching 4G at full throttle, posing an extreme test to the car's aerodynamic balance and tire grip. Turn 4 is a moderate-speed right-hand corner, leading directly into the second stage.
The second stage (turns 5-9) is a combination of medium-speed corners with varying paces. Turns 5 and 6 (S-curves) require precise control of the racing line, while turns 7 and 8 (lower speed turns) test braking performance and acceleration out of the corner. Turn 9 is the most famous blind corner of the entire course, requiring drivers to turn well in advance without seeing the apex. The uphill characteristics compress the car's suspension travel, and any slight mistake could lead to a runaway. The revised Turn 10 in 2021 transformed from a sharp hairpin into a smooth, long left turn, improving the transition speed between the second and third stages and making exit speed at Turn 9 even more crucial.
The third stage (turns 10-16) is a typical low-speed technical stage and a crucial area for determining lap times. Turns 11-12 require excellent steering precision, while the long right turn 13 tests the tires' sustained grip. Turns 14-15 are the slowest corners of the race, with speeds only around 60 km/h, requiring drivers to brake hard and control the throttle precisely. The final carousel, turn 16, will severely reduce top speed on the main straight, which is one of the main reasons why the Barcelona circuit has long been criticized for its difficult overtaking.
The Barcelona circuit is one of the most tire-wearing tracks of the year, with an extremely rough and abrasive surface. Combined with the continuous lateral loads from numerous high-speed corners, it places extremely high demands on tire durability. The left front tire bears the greatest pressure, as the two long, high-speed right corners, Turn 3 and Turn 9, keep the left front tire under extreme working conditions for extended periods.
Understanding the characteristics of the track reveals that it demands downforce, cornering stability, and tire management. The AT03 before the upgrade suffered from insufficient downforce, low cornering stability, and high tire consumption, essentially being relentlessly attacked by the Barcelona circuit to the point of exhaustion.
The upgraded AT03 is different. The upgraded AT03 has significantly improved downforce and cornering stability, making it more suitable for the Barcelona circuit.
How much has the upgraded AT03 improved its suitability for Barcelona?
When Kakuta was running the simulator, he spun multiple times at turns 3 and 9, which require high downforce, and broke down. He then frantically smashed his keyboard and was summoned for a talk by team leader Franz Tost.
Professionals should be bold in drawing conclusions! The upgraded AT03 is still not adapted to the Barcelona circuit!
AT03: Don't summarize yet! Don't summarize yet! The simulation isn't fully completed yet! The simulation data isn't very valuable! Besides, the team has prepared an upgrade package for the Barcelona circuit! Wait until I use the upgrade package and drive on the track before summarizing!
Indeed, whether they adapt or remain at a disadvantage will only be known once they reach the Barcelona circuit.
Let's go! Race in Barcelona!
Nine teams upgraded their cars at this race!
Guess which team's two cars didn't get upgraded?
Two Haas!
Ferrari has brought a comprehensive upgrade package that includes a new floor, a low-drag rear wing and rear brake winglets, while slightly reducing the cross-section of the side cases to optimize airflow efficiency and reduce the weight of the car.
Red Bull adopted a more conservative optimization strategy, mainly updating the details of the floor edge and the design of the front wing flaps, and further lowering the car's center of gravity through component weight reduction;
Mercedes redesigned the base structure, modified the entrance shape and expansion angle of the Venturi Tunnel, and added slots and reinforcing ribs to the edge of the floor.
The Alfa Romeo team made minor adjustments to the floor structure, minor modifications to the front wing assembly, front suspension fairing, brake ventilation ducts and rear wing, and further reduced the car's weight through component adjustments.
……
What does such a large-scale upgrade mean?
This means the situation in the paddock may be reshuffled again!