Formula 1 2013: Round 3 - Chinese Grand Prix

Rascasse

Sutil complained about Kimi blocking in P3 earlier. BBC didn't show it though. Were they at it again in qualifying?

vectra

2007 grid

Lewis
Kimi
Massa
Alonso


2013

Lewis
Kimi
Alonso

vectra

vectra wrote: »

2007 grid

Lewis
Kimi
Massa
Alonso


2013

Lewis
Kimi
Alonso

2007 championship final standings

Kimi
Hamilton
Alonso

:pac:

vectra

Jesus..
Kimi could do with losing a few pounds ( or stone )

frostie500

Good performance by Lewis to take the pole but that was a dire hour of qualifying

Rascasse

Bit of a screw up from Vettel. Didn't set a time so probably 2 places lower than he could have been. Plus he locked up the tyres. Obviously he can change them for the grid, but I wonder if that set is good enough to be used at all tomorrow, or if they are lost?

frostie500

frostie500 wrote: »

Good performance by Lewis to take the pole but that was a dire hour of qualifying

I wouldn't be too surprised if they reduce the time at the end of the season. Still not as bad at the one-lap qualifying or the 6 minutes at the end of the hour like in the 90s. :pac:

Jordan 199

Ricciardo did an excellent job.

Andrew76

Rascasse wrote: »

Bit of a screw up from Vettel. Didn't set a time so probably 2 places lower than he could have been. Plus he locked up the tyres. Obviously he can change them for the grid, but I wonder if that set is good enough to be used at all tomorrow, or if they are lost?

He just said there was a problem with the brakes and not much damage to the tyre, wasn't going that fast anyway. Boring as hell quali.

Rascasse

Niki Lauda on BBC saying no more team orders at Merc. If one of them has a problem or is conserving engine/tyres they will tell the drivers and it's up to them what to do.

Not sure I completely believe him.

frostie500

Deleted User wrote: »

I wouldn't be too surprised if they reduce the time at the end of the season. Still not as bad at the one-lap qualifying or the 6 minutes at the end of the hour like in the 90s. :pac:

I just think the easiest solution to the qualifying is that they do away with making you start on the tyres you qualify on in Q3 and then just give everyone in Q3 one additional set of option tyres that will be taken off you at the end of the session. That way they would effectively have to be used in the ten minutes and we'd end up with a real flat out blast for pole

frostie500

frostie500 wrote: »

I just think the easiest solution to the qualifying is that they do away with making you start on the tyres you qualify on in Q3 and then just give everyone in Q3 one additional set of option tyres that will be taken off you at the end of the session. That way they would effectively have to be used in the ten minutes and we'd end up with a real flat out blast for pole

And maybe have everyone start on their Q2 tyres?

cadaliac

Great interview by Kimi, if not arrogant.
Great job by Hami.
Alonso, again, solid.
I would watch out for red bull(s) - as Ferrari said "never trust the red bulls":pac:

As much as I dislike Lewis Hamilton, I cannot help but admire his driving ability and skill. I think they (Mercedes) will be the real deal this year. I also wonder just how much development was laid down in the team by Michael Schumacher and Ross Brawn combo over the last two years.
Nicko Rosberg has always impressed me but seems if he just can't make the top 1%.
He seems to lack that killer instinct.

McLaren seem to be at sea with the developments of the car and Button is at the blunt edge again, although Pirez is having a bit of a mare this weekend.

3 world champions side by side tomorrow. I expect a good race.

Let's wait about 25 hours and see how Rosberg gets on, there's no points for qualifying.

Scotty #

cadaliac wrote: »

Nicko Rosberg has always impressed me but seems if he just can't make the top 1%.

He had his one and only won at this track last year. I tried to put a few quid on him there to win tomorrow but it seems no bookies take bets on F1 anymore. Due to all the race fixing of course.

frostie500

Deleted User wrote: »

And maybe have everyone start on their Q2 tyres?

Having the drivers start on their Q3 tyres made sense a few years ago in the Bridgestone era but with the Pirelli tyres designed to have such a short life span I just dont understand why they make the drivers start on them at all. Id like to get everyone back to starting on fresh rubber as it wouldnt make a massive difference anyway

Scotty #

Scotty # wrote: »

He had his one and only won at this track last year. I tried to put a few quid on him there to win tomorrow but it seems no bookies take bets on F1 anymore. Due to all the race fixing of course.

Odd, Paddy Power, Ladbrokes and William Hill are all I've checked so far and they're all taking bets. Maybe they just don't like you?

cadaliac

They will hardly ask for a fuel sample from Webber...will they? That would be a conspiracy!!
re Niko: yes he is a solid driver but I kept watching him last year and I've gone off him now.
after all he was matching times with MS all season, and bettering him.
Why won't paddy powers take a bet on F1? ffs

Scotty #

Deleted User wrote: »

Odd, Paddy Power, Ladbrokes and William Hill are all I've checked so far and they're all taking bets. Maybe they just don't like you?

I see some UK ones are NR 14/1. Lower than I expected. Button 25/1 might be worth a fiver?

cadaliac

Scotty # wrote: »

I see some UK ones are NR 14/1. Lower than I expected. Button 25/1 might be worth a fiver?

Button each way only though, and even at that, wasting your money imo.
Great price for Rosberg considering he has a fast car and in fourth.

Vettel at 5/1 is awfully good value. That said there's 5 drivers I could easily see winning tomorrow and another couple with a shout if things go their way.

Cookie_Monster

More bull**** tyre management instead of making an effort :mad:
They really really need to do something about the tyres, its ruining yet another gp already.

vectra

I suppose that is one way of keeping him out of harms way from Golden Boy.

http://www.espn.co.uk/china/motorsport/story/105404.html?CMP=chrome

"The team admitted it had not put sufficient fuel in the car," the stewards said. "As specified in the technical delegate's report, only 150ml of fuel was on board which was insufficient to provide the 1 litre fuel sample and drive the car back to the pits under its own power.

paddy147

Webber not having enough fuel.

Come on now..I can see whats going on here

Purposely underfueled/fcuked over by his own team,for his public outbursts to Vettel and Redbull last time out,

We all know that Vettel is the golden boy and Red Bull will protect him and fcuk Webber over if it comes to it.





On that note.......it would be interesting (nice for Webber) to see Vettel being taken out of it on the race start down to the 1st corner,or someone chop his front wing off or puncture his tyre so he has to pit.

KARMA perhaps.

paddy147

I think Suzzy Perry put it very well on BBC1 earlier on.


"Regarding the Red Bull situation with Webber and Vettel,there may be no I in Team but there is in WIN"



So glad to see Suzzy back on the Beeb doing motorsport...used to love her doing the MotoGP grid walks and interviewing the riders.:)

Shes a genuine motorsport nutter and also a very good bikerider herself.:D

losthorizon

Very impressed with her. She really knows her stuff.

funkyouup

She looked like she was poured into those jeans too:)

Killinator

If Vettel isn't attempting pole position you know something is wrong with the system!

deecaz

Rascasse wrote: »

I wonder why they didn't let him try to get back to the pits? He stopped at the hairpin not too far from the pits. He starts at the back regardless so might as well try to get back.

If webber had made it back to the pits, and did another run he wouldn't have been penalised? Am I right they only take the 1 litre sample after the final run and the cars go into parc ferme?

cherryghost

I predict Ricciardo will pussyfoot around Vettel on the first lap and instead they'll collide.

losthorizon

cherryghost wrote: »

I predict Ricciardo will pussyfoot around Vettel on the first lap and instead they'll collide hopefully.

Fixed that for you!

lolie

Killinator wrote: »

If Vettel isn't attempting pole position you know something is wrong with the system!

Yeah pretty **** Q3 alright, something needs to be done to avoid that in the future.
At least it should make it interesting early on with the different tyre strategies.

Surely redbull wouldnt be so stupid as to destroy Webbers chances. Hopefully he can make a decent start for once and move up early on and maybe have a decent fight with vettel.
Forgot he was put to the back instead of starting 14th.
At least his countryman might get a few points.

recyclebin

A simple solution would be to tweak the rules so as the top 10 would be allowed new tyres for the race but they should have to use the same compound as the tyres they set their fastest laps on.

Vettel having to race Button for the win might end up being what puts both of them into the podium hunt. It's going to be a fun race.

People can complain about certain things but at the very least the first half of the race is going to be wide open to an extent that I haven't seen in 15 years, I wouldn't be taking bets on any of them.

paddy147

lolie wrote: »

Yeah pretty **** Q3 alright, something needs to be done to avoid that in the future.
At least it should make it interesting early on with the different tyre strategies.

Surely redbull wouldnt be so stupid as to destroy Webbers chances. Hopefully he can make a decent start for once and move up early on and maybe have a decent fight with vettel.
Forgot he was put to the back instead of starting 14th.
At least his countryman might get a few points.

Change the rules over to current 2013 MotoGP grid starting rules.

All practice session times are added up to give an overall combined time,and therefor make up the grid places for the race.

That wil mean all of the F1 cars have to go balls out ALL THE TIME..:D

Ghost Train

It's still early in the season, I think the tyre situation will sort itself out. It might be good if Vettel suffers due to his grid position and next time out he wont be so conservative. Or maybe it will pay off for him in which case he'll look great, kind of. It will be nice if the race goes down to the last few laps of the race with the tyres being a factor.

Jordan 199

Slattsy wrote: »

Hey,

Does anyone know what time SkyF1 show race replay at on Sunday?

12.30pm.

Rascasse

deecaz wrote: »

If webber had made it back to the pits, and did another run he wouldn't have been penalised? Am I right they only take the 1 litre sample after the final run and the cars go into parc ferme?

If he made it back he would have likely started 14th as the team would have wanted to look for the problem and not just send him out again. I think the FIA can look for a sample at any time, but I've never heard of a car being pulled in during qualifying for a fuel sample test. It would take too long.

Ghost Train wrote: »

It's still early in the season, I think the tyre situation will sort itself out. It might be good if Vettel suffers due to his grid position and next time out he wont be so conservative. Or maybe it will pay off for him in which case he'll look great, kind of. It will be nice if the race goes down to the last few laps of the race with the tyres being a factor.

I don't think Vettel was being conservative, in fact I was expecting more to do the same as it seems the obvious thing to do. Most of the cars outside the top ten will start on mediums meaning that the eight on softs will be in traffic, or right behind the backmarkers, after they pit on laps 3-10.

Total time for a pitstop is 21 18 seconds, so that is the number to be keeping an eye out for when Vettel pits first. If he comes out in front, on a clear track and a little bit of a gap (as I suspect he might if it's a clean race) then I think it could be very hard to beat him.

The best hope HAM/RAI/ALO have is that the softs last with good pace until lap 10+, and/or Vettel gets held up behind BUT/RIC/GRO.

Rascasse

Webber starting from the pit lane. From Sky:

Mark Webber will start Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix from the pitlane after Red Bull decided to make changes to his car.

The World Champions broke Parc Ferme regulations to change the gearbox on the Australian's RB9 and have also changed its suspension set-up, rear wing assembly and fuel pump.

Clearly trying to raise the top speed of his car by changing the gearbox (presumably just the ratios) & wing as both the RB's are amongst the slowest in the speed trap (19th & 20th) and often hit the limiter in the DRS zone.

Northern Monkey

Dc's pit walk has improved. Funny to see him getting the jump on Brundle with Ricardo.

Northern Monkey

Northern Monkey wrote: »

Dc's pit walk has improved. Funny to see him getting the jump on Brundle with Ricardo.

Yeah, as Brundle just said, it's his own fault. Back in 97 when he started the grid walk, it was empty. Now everyone is having a piece of the action. He's already been shafted by drivers a couple of times this morning.

Ghost Train

Rascasse wrote: »

I don't think Vettel was being conservative, in fact I was expecting more to do the same as it seems the obvious thing to do. Most of the cars outside the top ten will start on mediums meaning that the eight on softs will be in traffic, or right behind the backmarkers, after they pit on laps 3-10.

Well he was conserving his tires... and didn't even go for a slow lap. Not taking any risk at all. Really looking forward to seeing how the first few laps shape out.

Was interesting watching the tires on Lewis's pole lap, sides looked worn at the end of the lap

vectra

Morning.

HazDanz

I've stayed up all night doing an essay, going to keep up for this! Feels like it's going to be eventful. Wonder how well Massa will run today - love for him to get a great result.

HazDanz

HazDanz wrote: »

I've stayed up all night doing an essay, going to keep up for this! Feels like it's going to be eventful. Wonder how well Massa will run today - love for him to get a great result.

Massa just keeps letting me down. You can see why the team backs Alonso. Last race was his chance to shine and he was mediocre.

Scotty #

Thought they had to do 3 laps before being allowed change tyres?

decisions

Felipe

Grim.

superb pass from Massa

donspeekinglesh

Scotty # wrote: »

Thought they had to do 3 laps before being allowed change tyres?

Just the one lap I think.