Evil tactics or aero flaw ?

[Nitrodaze]

"tactically taking air off an opponents front wing" is the central point I am making in this thread .
If you steal the air , and you're too close to him he may hit you , whether you leave the rules-required one car width or not .

In no way does that absolutely absolve the guy following from guilt in the incident , however , it does show that the guy ahead has his role in creating the low pressure that causes it .


One question here now comes to mind .
Who were the drivers in the Seb/Valterie and Kimi/Lewis tangles who were the ones making the passes ?

Bagwan, it cuts both ways. Drivers of cars behind know they are susceptible to losing their downforce at the front while trying to pass cars in front at a chicane. It is part of the weakness of being behind without the aid of battery boost etc. Removing the air that provide downforce to the car behind is a risky but highly effective defensive tactics. It is not stealing it a such but merely depriving the car behind of it strategically. No rules against it and there should not be one l think.

[Bagwan]

Bagwan, it cuts both ways. Drivers of cars behind know they are susceptible to losing their downforce at the front while trying to pass cars in front at a chicane. It is part of the weakness of being behind without the aid of battery boost etc. Removing the air that provide downforce to the car behind is a risky but highly effective defensive tactics. It is not stealing it a such but merely depriving the car behind of it strategically. No rules against it and there should not be one l think.

It does , Daze (sorry , couldn't resist) .
It does cut both ways .

Drivers ahead take the risk if they go around the outside whilst making a pass , and that risk is made more severe the closer in they chose to position their car .
Driver being passed around the outside take the risk that the opposition will leave them enough undisturbed air to come down to a speed at which they can negotiate the corner inside , in that space which is technically allowed .

The race for that corner was won by Bottas , who , but for a few feet more room , would have sailed it through the next corner ahead easily .
And , Sebastian might have been properly compromised , as Valterie had planned , onto the marbles mid-corner , leaving him vulnerable to the guy behind him .