Seems like it's going to be interesting tomorrow :)
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Seems like it's going to be interesting tomorrow :)
Good job from Lewis and Kimi but with the softer tyres on, I am not sure if its worth getting pole as after about 5 laps they are all going to be 10th backwards.
With these tyres it appears Qualifying is becoming pointless.
As for Mark. Well its was important for Red Bull to make sure Webber cant try for some revenge so best to get him as far away as possible.
Horner claimed afterwards that there was actually a leak. If that's true, they shouldn't be punished. The thing I wonder about is that RB said a couple of days ago that Mark was actually short on fuel at Malaysia, too (so not only the Mercs). Could it be that Webbo's style is a bit harder on the tank's contents?Quote:
Originally Posted by kfzmeister
I don't think that's more than an outlandish conspiracy theory. They were prepared to order the reignin champ to play #2 for the sake of constructor's points. Why should they now throw them away by stranding Mark in Q2? I think they either gambled with a marginal load and lost or there was a technical fault.Quote:
Originally Posted by steveaki13
And it isn't the first time they messed up refuelling either. Vettel went to the back because of it last year at Abu Dhabi and the same happened to Lewis at Barcelona. Seems to happen in the noblest families...
It was said tongue firmly in cheek. ;)
Speaking of sabotaging to the detriment of constructor's points:
[quote="Bernie Ecclestone"]
“]
Ecclestone slams Red Bull tactics
Red Bull probably just made an honest screw-up here... although with impeccable timing to lend itself to a conspiracy theory.
But don't think every team doesn't have the capacity nor will to sabotage one driver for the sake of another.
:laugh: Bernie.
Fair play
Webbos last season at RB. For sure.
How can he or anyone else for that matter just put this behind......
I wouldn't listen to that man. The last time he's been sane, Nixon was still President...Quote:
Originally Posted by Ranger
f1.com Webber originally qualified 14th but moved to the back of the grid for failing to provide a one-litre fuel sample after qualifying Q: has some little Fwit threated to quit if beaten by webber
Q: has some little dwit failed to find an outlet for his hatred?Quote:
Originally Posted by CNR
I don't really see the benefit of opting for medium tyres like Button and Vettel have done, if you need to use both sets of tyres anyway. Like we saw with Sutil in Australia, the end of the race can be painful with a good position slipping through your hands if you run the worse tyres in the end. I'd like to get rid of them in the beginning. :) Ok, maybe except in Monaco, where you'd like to try to hold everyone up at the end of the race, like Vettel did in 2011 in different circumstances.
Anyway, I guess Kimi's best qualifying position since his comeback. And encouraging effort considering he has often lost better race positions due to compromised grid position. A golden opportunity to capitalize now.
Ricciardo also impressive. He really needs to get a string of similar performances together now to catch the attention of top teams.
Those, who start on the comedy softs will have to pit after 5-7 laps, so they will drop back right into midfield traffic and are likely to lose quite some time. If you can avoid switching to the bubble gum tires until 5 laps from home, you have a better chance of making it as the track will be well rubbered in by then.Quote:
Originally Posted by jens
The softs are much more ridicuous here than the softer compund was at Melbourne.
Plus the benefit of running them when light on fuel of course.Quote:
Originally Posted by dj_bytedisaster
I'm pretty surprised that Vettel didn't go for a time on the softs, I thought he might have the potential to start on the second row there. For McLaren, Sauber and Torro Rosso that Q3 tactic was more expected. Sets up an interesting race anyway. The key for the first guys on primes will be taking it really easy to start with, so they have something left to make the most of the clear air when they get it.
RB behaving like dorkminder's :crazy: :p :Quote:
Originally Posted by kfzmeister
That's exactly what I was thinking. I can understand Button doing it but yep was also very surprised at Seb, I can only imagine that they didn't think they would get beyond the third row and decided to take a calculated gamble. It could yet turn out to be a master stroke of genius... can't wait to see how it plays out tomorow.Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyL
Final starting grid for tomorrow :
1. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes
2. Kimi Raikkonen Lotus-Renault
3. Fernando Alonso Ferrari
4. Nico Rosberg Mercedes
5. Felipe Massa Ferrari
6. Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault
7. Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari
8. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes
9. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault
10. Nico Hulkenberg Sauber-Ferrari
11. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes
12. Sergio Perez McLaren-Mercedes
13. Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes
14. Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault
15. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari
16. Valtteri Bottas Williams-Renault
17. Esteban Gutierrez Sauber-Ferrari
18. Jules Bianchi Marussia-Cosworth
19. Max Chilton Marussia-Cosworth
20. Charles Pic Caterham-Renault
21. Giedo van der Garde Caterham-Renault
22. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault
Final starting grid for tomorrow :
1. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes
2. Kimi Raikkonen Lotus-Renault
3. Fernando Alonso Ferrari
4. Nico Rosberg Mercedes
5. Felipe Massa Ferrari
6. Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault
7. Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari
8. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes
9. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault
10. Nico Hulkenberg Sauber-Ferrari
11. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes
12. Sergio Perez McLaren-Mercedes
13. Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes
14. Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault
15. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari
16. Valtteri Bottas Williams-Renault
17. Esteban Gutierrez Sauber-Ferrari
18. Jules Bianchi Marussia-Cosworth
19. Max Chilton Marussia-Cosworth
20. Charles Pic Caterham-Renault
21. Giedo van der Garde Caterham-Renault
22. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault
and you also run into the possibility of a first lap incident by running p6 and down, p9 is right in the middle of the dangerzone IMO the top guys will probably get away cleanly while the back end of the top 10 and wild card ricciado will surely make for an interesting first few corners. That being said, Kimi vs Alonso at the start has not ended well in recent races, and Massa seems to be able to make excellent starts these days.Quote:
Originally Posted by Zico
Watch out for the Button/Vettel/Hulkenberg duel too.
Vettel has not shown to be the best guy starting in a pack, or running in a pack
^^^ agree with all of this and will only ad that this is in addition to having three guys at the front all WDCs that the first stint should be a very interesting look for both Ferraris attacking hopeing (with Kimi's help) to get the boss to have to push and we wii see how well those rears hold out on the Merc package! :dork:
Photos from qualifying: Photo Album - Imgur
It's a bit of a gamble, true. But considering that RB has been of somewhat lackluster form all weekend, it's the best shot they have. A 2nd or 3rd row start on those ridiculousd Maoam tires would have been even worse. With their crazy-arse low top-/high cornering-speed characteristics, the RB's need to get into the lead. Starting ninth with only Ricciardo and Button to wrestle down is the best shot they have to get to the front, especially if 'Nando & Co. do them the favour of losing time in the midfield pack. Button, Ricciardo, Vettel and Hulk will get to the pointy end of the pack by default, when the Maoam-shod cars have to dive in after a handful of laps. Lewis, Nando & Co will have to wrestle past the midfielders after pitting and, as Sutil so aptly proved at Melbourne, actually trying to race with this year's Pirelli's is not the best idea. They are only good for cruising, which Vettel & Co can do if they survive the first lap.Quote:
Originally Posted by truefan72
I hear that RB had to take the 3kg of fuel from Mark's car and put it in Vettel's! ;)
I predict a 7-12 lap first stint from those starting on options. :dozey:
The tires are a gamble regardless. Those in the top cars on the harder tires may fall prey to cars behind them, and have little if any chance of staying up with the cars in front. If they average close to 1 second slower it's going to be really hard not to shuffle back once DRS is activated.
12 laps is extremely optimistic isn't it? By that time the lap times will be measured in geological units.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr Alca-Tazizzle
Interesting article/ quote from Bernie. He's helping fuel the self destruct fire at RB with his comments. If they really did deliberately underfuel Webo's car, they certainly did not maximize Vettel's gain from it. Poor guy has to start from 9th? Is Grosjean nearby? Lol
Edit: Mark now reported to start from pitlane. They changed gear ratios, gearbox and suspension ! :eek:
I wasn't aware they were even lasting seven laps in practice.Quote:
Originally Posted by dj_bytedisaster
As expected same strategy as Abu Dhabi. If we have a few Safety Cars, we might yet see a good finish from Webbo.Quote:
Originally Posted by kfzmeister
I'm going out on a limb, but I think that a few cars starting on dption will be running 7 laps and more through conservation. These are somewhat long laps at Shanghai however. :uhoh: :p :Quote:
Originally Posted by ShiftingGears
QuakeNet Web IRC (qwebirc)
Morning people
Morning everyone :)
I think anywhere from about laps 5-8 or 9 will see most drivers on softs pit.
It is really all about those on hard tyres and how late they can leave it before switching to softs. Obviously a SC and you would probably see everyone pit, but if at the end of the race you can only do 4-5 laps on softs you might pass some people, however if you have to pit 10+laps from the end of the race, I think a Sutil Oz style srop could happen.
morning gurlz :D
Hello Persons :s ailor:
When is Fred going to get the call to let Felipe through? :)
Hello.
Terrible Kimi