[forzaferrari]

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/ferra...p-1027466/

[Monster Hesh]

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Here's hoping for another equally crazy race this year, Just look at last years lap chart.

The first hosted race here was a real let down. I think there was some 'gentlemen's agreement' to take it easy in the first F1 race. Because every support race was insane. Last year all caution was lifted and it provided an amazing show (IMO).

This track has grown on me, mainly because of the F1 game. I enjoy driving it, and over the past week trying to nail some quick laps for the upcoming esports event, my time on it has rocketed. Mainly to refine my car setup settings, I think I've finally got them right. Can consistently get a reasonable lap time. In the game, it's all about staying off the curbs, they are on the inside of the corners and they destroy your lap.

It's all about traction, with a majority or low and low-medium corners, low speed stability is critical. There is so much full throttle, straight line speed from low wing level and aero efficiency is all sector 1 and 3. Sector 2: a surprising amount of time can be lost if running too little wing however. They were trailed in China practices, they could very well be raced here, the spoon wings. Merc a regular sight, new to Ferrari.

Early speculation for one lap pace, Merc back ontop, comfortably. 
Toro Rosso shine again, traction and slipperiness even more beneficial here than Bahrain. 
Ferraris lead on the speedtraps recently should give them some hope at this track.
Renault is a big question, they allowed their engines to be turned up last event, immediately after doing so, RIC's PU fails. Did they still run higher modes for the rest of the weekend. I don't know, but they were featured high up the speed traps figures.

[Antilochos]

Well, I think the Ferrari's will be leading this one if they get the qualifying good, with a spicy fight behind them between Mercedes and Red Bull. Question mark for the Renault engine of course.

[Monster Hesh]

With relatively stable and controllable temps over the weekend. If you are right Anti, then this championship is certainly on!

Although maybe race day will play into Ferrari hands. My weather ting is saying Sunday is way cooler than Fri 22C and Sat 23C at 18 cloudy degrees. Could make for some tyre warming troubles, especially after any safety car periods.

[forzaferrari]

https://formulaone21.wordpress.com/2018/...preview-2/

[Monster Hesh]

Just for reference. 

[Monster Hesh]

Bit of a study of the baku rear wings.

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/ferra...gs-1029740

[PapaofGags]

https://f1broadcasting.co/

F1 broadcasting blog "Martin Brundle to miss three races"

"Writing on his Twitter, Brundle said “I’m not in Azerbaijan this weekend (or Sochi and Suzuka later in the year) but my great and very talented friends at SkyF1 are of course."

"It is unclear if Brundle’s absence from this weekend’s proceedings, or Russia and Japan later this season, is on health grounds, or whether there is a scheduling conflict that prevents him from attending, although it is slightly odd that Brundle’s absence was unreferenced during Sky’s Chinese Grand Prix coverage.
Nevertheless, his reduced schedule gives him around a three week break between China and Spain, and a further four weeks between Singapore and USA."

Hope he's ok.

[Monster Hesh]

McLaren to trial top-speed fix in practice.

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/135603...n-practice

I'd say if they mean business to reduce the drag concept, we'll see the removal of the sidepod stegosaurus vanes, and the numerous rear wing end plate louvers, slots and tangs....

[PapaofGags]

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/merce...u-1030396/

"Mercedes has implemented "short-term" fixes to its Formula 1 car for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in the light of its struggles in recent races."