Schumacher/Montoya pass at Melbourne

[DC_McGregor]

At the last Formula 1 race at Melbourne, we had a great example of a blocking line by Juan Montoya and a great example of ducking under to pass on the exit by Michael Schumacher. I didn't comment on it before since I was waiting to see if there was any resonses to the previous posts. There were none.

I'll give a belated analysis of that sequence just in case there is another example at this week's race.

On the previous laps, Michael wasn't close enough to make an inside pass. Michael "showed the flag" anyway to keep the pressure up - pulled to the inside as though he were going to attempt the inside passing line - and Juan ignored it, taking the proper late apex line.

On the lap in question, Juan was balked by a lapped car as he entered the front straight and Michael got a better launch. This time Juan took a blocking line in about the middle of the track and Michael took the outside line. When Juan made his apex, Michael was already turning inside him. Juan properly left room for Michael and made the best exit he could with his line and Micheal rocketed by on the outside of the following curve.

There are a couple of points to be made.

First, in the pass as executed, Juan, properly, did not attempt to block on the exit of the corner. Michael was already on his inside and any attempt to block would probably resulted in an accident.

Second, had Michael been just a tad further back, Juan could have tried to hold his car in the middle of the road on the exit making the attempted pass more difficult. Even though this line would have been slower yet. If Juan could force Michael to lift to avoid contact, the pass might have been blocked. Under the circumstances of the actual pass, it would have been a bad idea for Juan to attempt this.

Superb racing by both drivers.

Robert

[racecar1]

Hi Mac, just found this Forum (I know, a little slow, no comment &( ). Read your other posts too... ;) ;)
Yes that was a brilliant driving exhibition by both, and helped to offset all that racing we missed because so many cars were out at the start.
Michael was down on power to the Williams yet was faster overall. In this situation, its not the car with horsepower that is in the "driver's seat" over a long race. If the driver following is good at analyzing, and a brilliant driver, then a pass is (usually) inevitable. But there are some things the lead driver can do and Montoya did them well.
Montoya made the best of his situation by not resorting to blocking lines for a number of laps. He knew Schumacher was thinking championship points so would not take the chances Montoya himself would - that was his strategic advantage. He also knew the best passing zone was right after the area his car had an advantage over Schumacher.
Blocking lines, even the milder and somewhat effective middle of the road position, result in slower lap times and guarantee the better handling car behind will be all over you for the duration
=[
Its a vicious circle. Because you are forced to take lines that put too many demands on your tires, further degrading lap times as the following car just has to do as Micheal was doing - showing a nose but at the last minute resuming normal lines which keep the tires cool and ready for the "moment of truth".
Montoya said Schumacher motored on by as he was "parked out there", or something to that effect. The pressure on the tires from the chase meant Montoya could no longer hold a tight line, his tires made it impossible (added to the fact that his car could not handle as well to start with).
Michael would have studied the Williams' handling characteristics by that time and figured that out. His pass looked daring but it really was as low risk as you can get.