Red Bull's (AUT) Qualifying Advantage Solved?

[40YearFan]

Hi everybody. Long-time reader, first-time poster

I just read an article discussing why Red Bull lose their qualifying advantage in the race. I wondered if it was actually possible to change the engine mapping (is that the right word?) from the cockpit pre-race.

Also, i'm curious to see who you think will start (or continue) getting pole after the FIA curb the exhaust blowing after Monaco.

The article i'm talking about: http://tinyurl.com/4yhcj7qCheers,
40YearFan

[GTRMagic]

Link fixed...

http://tinyurl.com/4yhcj7q

[Dan Fielden]

I think McLaren are the best team on the grid at adjusting to changes in the middle of a season. They are also the best team at developing a car throughout a season. THeir car suits Monaco anyway and they aren't a million miles away from red-bull on race pace as it stands. All the teams will be affected by this but i feel this could be McLarens trump card!

[Marbot]

That article explains very well why it is that Red Bull are quicker in qualifying than they are in the race. Something that will be more than handy in Monaco, should they still be allowed to use that particular engine map.

[VIVA GT]

A very interesting article, and I do think it explains well their qualifying advantage.
I'm also now wondering if Vettel was also able to use this for his out lap following his first tyre stop in the race. His two overtakes made him look like he was on another level, but maybe now we know this, then there's possibly another explanation. It may also explain why he was so much slower (or only just about fast enough) later in the race, as he was having to conserve fuel (to make up for the extra he burned in that lap)?

[Marbot]

I think that the overtaking was generally down to one driver having less worn tyres or softer tyres than another driver. Button quickly got passed Webber and Alonso. Vettel also quickly got passed those on older or harder tyres.

Christian Horner says that their qualifying form is down to the cars ability to use its tyres well in qualifying whilst still having an acceptable tyre performance in the race. But then again, maybe he would say that!?

[JamesH]

Not convinced by that article at all. Basically because I am not convinced that the level of advantage seen by RB can be explained by a slightly better blown diffuser.

The article states they maintain 95-100% of the exhaust gas whilst off throttle. That seems a monstrously high figure, implying that the engine is still running (almost) flat out even when the throttle is released - I cannot see how they get that volume of gas out without some big bangs going on.

The difference between the oppositions 70-80% to RB's 95-100 is also not that great. It may be 15-20%, but that is on a aero device that only supplies some of the downforce on the car - I dont have an exact figures, but lets say 10%. So 20% of 10% is 0.5% overall. Now, that's not available throughout the whole lap - only when off throttle. Say 25% of the lap, so we now have a 0.5% advantage for only 25% of the lap, so overall, 0.125% overall advantage.

The RB shows more than that in qualifying.

Something else is going on.