''The ability by the team and/or tire manufacturer to correctly anticipate these variables is crucial. Everyone makes its own predictions, hoping to be as close as possible to reality.''
During the race, each team relies on a strategic engineer who re-enters data in the simulation software, monitors gaps between said predictions and the actual numbers, adjusts tire deterioration in real time and provides decision makers with the most accurate picture possible.
''We really have our work cut out for us this year!'' Mékies exclaims. ''This is the guy we're going to ask for an option to do one more stop if we're wasting too much time behind a slow driver. He will crunch all the numbers at that specific point and give me a theoretical picture of the impact of such a strategy.''
''There's a bit of luck involved at times. Some ordinary race plans can turn out to be brilliant due to a safety car on the track or another driver's exit like in Monaco. The strategy also depends on the risks we want to take. For example, if we must defend the 8th place, we probably won't adopt the same strategy as McLaren, which will fight for 4th place. Team philosophies play a big role.''
The two types of Pirelli tires are quite different this year, which spices things up during the races.
Mékies concludes by saying: ''It all adds further weight to race strategies. That's why you see the extra emphasis and the fierce battles on the track. Fans love it and so do we. It's more fun this way. Our decisions and actions suddenly have a greater impact. It's a double-edge sword, obviously, and the challenge is a lot bigger than last season. Plenty more work has to be done now, both before and during the races”.
“The difference in 2011 is that we can overtake drivers with the DRS (Drag Reduction System) and KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System). We can use a strategy that will put us in traffic because we have the ability to pass, which wasn't really the case up until this year,” Mékies concluded.
During the race, each team relies on a strategic engineer who re-enters data in the simulation software, monitors gaps between said predictions and the actual numbers, adjusts tire deterioration in real time and provides decision makers with the most accurate picture possible.
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| Pit stop Toro Rosso (Photo : Red Bull) |
''We really have our work cut out for us this year!'' Mékies exclaims. ''This is the guy we're going to ask for an option to do one more stop if we're wasting too much time behind a slow driver. He will crunch all the numbers at that specific point and give me a theoretical picture of the impact of such a strategy.''
''There's a bit of luck involved at times. Some ordinary race plans can turn out to be brilliant due to a safety car on the track or another driver's exit like in Monaco. The strategy also depends on the risks we want to take. For example, if we must defend the 8th place, we probably won't adopt the same strategy as McLaren, which will fight for 4th place. Team philosophies play a big role.''
The two types of Pirelli tires are quite different this year, which spices things up during the races.
Mékies concludes by saying: ''It all adds further weight to race strategies. That's why you see the extra emphasis and the fierce battles on the track. Fans love it and so do we. It's more fun this way. Our decisions and actions suddenly have a greater impact. It's a double-edge sword, obviously, and the challenge is a lot bigger than last season. Plenty more work has to be done now, both before and during the races”.
“The difference in 2011 is that we can overtake drivers with the DRS (Drag Reduction System) and KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System). We can use a strategy that will put us in traffic because we have the ability to pass, which wasn't really the case up until this year,” Mékies concluded.