Silverstone's High-Speed Corners Face Power Limitations
Lewis Hamilton, the record nine-time winner of the British Grand Prix, has indicated that the Silverstone circuit will present a "completely different" challenge this year. The track, renowned for its demanding high-speed corners, is expected to see cars running with reduced engine power due to energy recovery strategies.
Drivers have discussed in their internal chats the anticipated decrease in power deployment, especially on the long straights. Hamilton noted that the cars will be recovering energy through challenging turns like Copse and Becketts. This means that battery power will be depleted before the end of some high-speed sections, leaving cars to rely solely on their internal combustion engines.
This year's engines feature an almost equal split between internal combustion and electrical power, with 350kW (470bhp) from electricity and just over 400kW from the engine.
Impact on Iconic Sections
Hamilton elaborated on the effect this will have: "If you look at the speed traces, we start losing deployment going into Copse. Normally the engine is screaming going into there and you are holding on for dear life. This year most likely we will be downshifting from seventh to sixth to keep the revs higher. It will be a long straight from Nine (Copse) and (to) 10 (Maggotts) with no deployment."
He added that Maggotts and Becketts will also feel different, requiring drivers to "lift and coast through there for a period of time." Hamilton expressed hope that these power limitations could be addressed for future seasons, acknowledging that the most enjoyable parts of the track—Copse, Becketts, and Stowe—will be affected by power drops.
Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin echoed these concerns, highlighting that the cars will have significantly less power than last year, even less than F2 cars, when deployment is cut. He described it as a "challenge."
Potential for Enhanced Racing, Despite Driver Concerns
However, Mercedes driver George Russell, who recently won in Austria, suggested that these changes could positively impact the racing. He noted that while some tracks might see slower straight-line speeds, the racing itself could become more engaging, citing Melbourne as an example of an exciting, energy-starved race.
Russell believes that most spectators, including hardcore fans, might not even notice the difference from the outside, only becoming apparent during onboard camera views or by listening to the engine sounds. He also pointed out that the FIA's decision to disallow straight-line mode between certain turns, reportedly for safety reasons, exacerbates the issue. A proposal to reverse this decision was rejected by five of the 11 teams, despite Mercedes being in favor.
The FIA has already made decisions to adjust the internal-combustion to electrical power ratio over the next two seasons to mitigate these issues.
Lego Car Parade Sparks Humor and Controversy
In a lighter note, the pre-race drivers' parade on Sunday will feature drivers in individual cars made of Lego bricks, a promotional event similar to last year's Miami Grand Prix. Each car, limited to 25km/h, is constructed from 28,000 bricks.
Hamilton, however, expressed reservations about participating, remarking off-microphone to Valtteri Bottas, "I'm not driving." When asked directly, he humorously called it "the most dangerous part of the weekend," recalling a previous incident where Charles Leclerc drove and drivers crashed into each other. Despite his playful reluctance, a Ferrari spokesperson confirmed that "Lewis will be taking part in the Lego 'race'."
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