TRACKSIDE VIEW
Every now and again, it’s important to get some perspective. Standing at the exit of a sodden Tamburello for FP1, it comes in the form of appreciating the difference between an underwhelming Mercedes and an underwhelming Formula 1 car full stop.
Not counting the half-baked attempt during Barcelona testing to artificially wet the track, which then dried almost immediately in the Spanish sun, this is the first time all the 2022 machines have taken to a rain-soaked circuit. Unhelpfully for the drivers, the puddles have formed at the first apex of the chicane and on corner exit. In other words, right on the racing line.
Despite this and the latest extreme porpoising to hit the W13, Lewis Hamilton appears to find an affinity with the low-grip conditions, his dayglo helmet popping into view to help separate the Silver Arrow from a similarly shaded overcast sky. Even though he is among many struggling with low tyre temperatures, he still seems able to rely on the front axle as he darts into the left-right. The car has by no measure set the world alight so far, but it at least looks convincing at these lower speeds.
Compare that to the Aston Martin. It’s been easy to lampoon the AMR22 given its lowly positions in every meaningful session classification so far this season.
But seemingly with good reason, because the treacherous conditions expose a particularly tricky ride.
For the sake of comparison, let’s focus on Sebastian Vettel. Initially it’s the ears hardest at work for Autosport since the German must quickly lift off on corner exit as the cold full-wet rear Pirellis repeatedly break traction with little notice.
After 25 minutes, he reappears as the first driver to brave a set of intermediates. Five laps into his brief stint, Vettel is forced into a huge save exiting this infamous turn as he hurriedly applies opposite lock to avoid the approaching wet grass. Thirteen minutes later, he aborts the second apex altogether and runs over the gravel after a clumsy entry.
It appears that the Aston, another ‘porpoiser’, is running a super-stiff set-up and that doesn’t change for the duration of the hour. Whereas Hamilton’s front axle gently leans into the corner with a more compliant tune, the slower speeds exaggerate how Vettel has to hang on to a car that is easily deflected and wants to retaliate against its driver.
“VETTEL IS FORCED INTO A HUGE SAVE AS HE HURRIEDLY APPLIES OPPOSITE LOCK”