GPWizard F1 Forum
F1 News & Discussions => General F1 Discussion => Topic started by: Scott on April 18, 2014, 09:32:41 AM
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Ferd on top FP1, and just behind Hamilton in FP2
...must be due to the new chief at Ferrari? :crazy:
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/formula1/27076346
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Heh he works quick! Kimi still down a bit which is a shame, and I'm not rubbing it in about our little bet. Remember, I put money on Lotus this year!
Towards the end of FP2 there were some interesting times coming from the leaders in relation to tyre deg. It looked like the Bulls had less deg than others, and were able to put more consistent times in on 10-lap runs on the medium tyre. Probably not enough to really hurt the Mercs, but might make for an interesting race.
Hopefully too some more fights to come between Lewis and Nico - especially up that 1,100m straight. That reminds me - on Sky F1, Crofty mentioned a tweet from someone asking why the cars weren't reaching 8th gear on the straight. He said the cars are geared for the whole year now, not able to tweak race by race - which didn't really answer the question. If this is the longest straight of the season, surely they'd reach 8th gear even if gear ratios are locked down for the whole season, no? Who can answer that?
I quite like the Chinese track - nice mix of fast and long corners. But the weather's always so lacklustre, makes the cars and track look a bit crap. It would be better at night… Actually reading that back I think I'm just spoilt. :)
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Looks like Maldo had a bad day...crashing while making steering wheel adjustments and then totally blowing the turn on pit entry. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt on the steering wheel error, especially since it didn't damage the car, but pit entry is something every driver should have learned ever since Lewis started the craze way back in his first year of F1. Seems each year someone puts it in the gravel or wall there. Better to get that curse out of the way during practice though...hopefully nobody will do it in the race.
http://www.crash.net/f1/news/203365/1/maldonado-plays-down-practice-crash.html
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Hopefully too some more fights to come between Lewis and Nico - especially up that 1,100m straight. That reminds me - on Sky F1, Crofty mentioned a tweet from someone asking why the cars weren't reaching 8th gear on the straight. He said the cars are geared for the whole year now, not able to tweak race by race - which didn't really answer the question. If this is the longest straight of the season, surely they'd reach 8th gear even if gear ratios are locked down for the whole season, no? Who can answer that?
It may be the longest straight, but the rest of the track requires much more downforce than other circuits like Monza and Bahrain. So even though it is a longer straight, the cars will not be going as fast, thus a lower gear.
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Hopefully too some more fights to come between Lewis and Nico - especially up that 1,100m straight. That reminds me - on Sky F1, Crofty mentioned a tweet from someone asking why the cars weren't reaching 8th gear on the straight. He said the cars are geared for the whole year now, not able to tweak race by race - which didn't really answer the question. If this is the longest straight of the season, surely they'd reach 8th gear even if gear ratios are locked down for the whole season, no? Who can answer that?
It may be the longest straight, but the rest of the track requires much more downforce than other circuits like Monza and Bahrain. So even though it is a longer straight, the cars will not be going as fast, thus a lower gear.
Why of course, thank you PG, or is it Gabriel? Anyway thanks.
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Hopefully too some more fights to come between Lewis and Nico - especially up that 1,100m straight. That reminds me - on Sky F1, Crofty mentioned a tweet from someone asking why the cars weren't reaching 8th gear on the straight. He said the cars are geared for the whole year now, not able to tweak race by race - which didn't really answer the question. If this is the longest straight of the season, surely they'd reach 8th gear even if gear ratios are locked down for the whole season, no? Who can answer that?
It may be the longest straight, but the rest of the track requires much more downforce than other circuits like Monza and Bahrain. So even though it is a longer straight, the cars will not be going as fast, thus a lower gear.
Why of course, thank you PG, or is it Gabriel? Anyway thanks.
:good: :good: :good: PG, please keep it up :)
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Another one of these tracks with oceans of tarmac.... I've never liked the place, although it's better than the Bahrain circuit.
Qualifying could be a bit of a lottery, in view of the weather forecast, but I can't see any massive surprises, as I don't think that the Mercedes powered teams will have quite the advantage that they did over the others in Bahrain. Expect Hamilton and Rosberg at the front, but I wonder if Ferrari can get a podium finish for Alonso?
As for Maldonado, he's just no good when the car is off the pace. He showed this in 2011 and 2013 at Williams, as is demonstrating the same behaviour at Lotus. He's just disinterested, and that's why he's making such careless errors.
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As for Maldonado, he's just no good when the car is off the pace. He showed this in 2011 and 2013 at Williams, as is demonstrating the same behaviour at Lotus. He's just disinterested, and that's why he's making such careless errors.
I thought he was just a lousy driver with a lot of money :DntKnw: :crazy: :crazy:
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Maldo's weekend going from bad to worse....had to sit out Q because his car was lacking an important part - the engine. :crazy:
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I found the design of the circuit fascinating right from its inception. I have been disappointed by the racing, or relative lack thereof since. The circuit has not to my memory, produced any truly exciting racing in its history. I will watch the race and hope that perhaps with the changes to the rules for 2014, this year will be a change for the better.
We qualifying has jumbled the field a bit, but not too significantly.
The grid:
1. Hamilton Mercedes-Mercedes 1m 53.860s
2. Ricciardo Red Bull-Renault 1m 54.455s
3. Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1m 54.960s
4. Rosberg Mercedes-Mercedes 1m 55.143s
5. Alonso Ferrari-Ferrari 1m 55.637s
6. Massa Williams-Mercedes 1m 56.147s
7. Bottas Williams-Mercedes 1m 56.282s
8. Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 1m 56.366s
9. Vergne Toro Rosso-Renault 1m 56.773s
10. Grosjean Lotus-Renault 1m 57.079s
11. Raikkonen Ferrari-Ferrari 1m 56.860s
12. Button McLaren-Mercedes 1m 56.963s
13. Kvyat Toro Rosso-Renault 1m 57.289s
14. Sutil Sauber-Ferrari 1m 57.393s
15. Magnussen McLaren-Mercedes 1m 57.675s
16. Perez Force India-Mercedes 1m 58.264s
17. Gutierrez Sauber-Ferrari 1m 58.988s
18. Kobayashi Caterham-Renault 1m 59.260s
19. Bianchi Marussia-Ferrari 1m 59.326s
20. Ericsson Caterham-Renault 2m 00.646s
21. Chilton Marussia-Ferrari 2m 00.865s
22. Maldonado Lotus-Renault no time Q1*
It is a bit difficult to say that any teammate out qualified the other here because of the rain coming and going during each session. The only real surprises, which did not appear to be related to this aspect of it, are the McLarens both missed the top 10, and Kimi too.
It does look like Red Bull have made a huge leap forward. It will be very interesting to see how the first stint plays out with the two of them between Hamilton and Rosberg.
Alonso is a good starter. That having been said, so is Massa and I have to wonder if one or perhaps even both Williams could get the Ferrari at the start.
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Maldo's weekend going from bad to worse....had to sit out Q because his car was lacking an important part - the engine. :crazy:
If you have seen his practice crash, you would surely understand why this driver is making a mockery of the flawed system called pay drivers. Out there tons of better drivers are present in the pipeline, just because of his 35million PDVSA money-train he is driving a car, that can be pushed upto Q3, if you are a good and reasonable driver. Romain Grosjean is an excellent example of transforming himself from a first corner nut-case to an excellent calculative and a brilliant driver. Pastor Maldonado had more than enough chances to correct himself. If I was a person from PDVSA I would severed all ties from this maniac who has not only made PDVSA look ridiculous but also brought shame to his country.
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Maldo's weekend going from bad to worse....had to sit out Q because his car was lacking an important part - the engine. :crazy:
The mechanic finally found a way to prevent Pastor the Disaster from pranging the car during Quali.
Since the FIA says that it wants to make F1 more "relevant" to street driving, maybe they could use Maldo's FP1 incident in an advert warning of the dangers of distracted driving. :confused:
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Really really bad weekend for Maldonado all round.
No other incidents of major note, other than Rosberg clearly getting frustrated. He knows that he should have been on the front row in dry conditions, and I think that he overdrove in the wet trying too hard to beat Hamilton. He's on the back foot now, given that he has to pass both Red Bulls tomorrow, and keep an eye the fast starting Alonso and Massa.
Grosjean getting into the top ten was a massive achievement, but it wasn't really an upturn in performance from Lotus, because a number of other drivers and cars underperformed in the damp conditions, notably Raikkonen (who also had gearbox trouble) and both McLarens.
Hamilton should walk this tomorrow if it's dry and his car has no problems. The battle will be watching Rosberg fight he was up to second, and to see whether Red Bull has the dry race pace to fend off Alonso for a podium finish.
I wonder how many laps Maldonado will manage :D?
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Hamilton should walk this tomorrow if it's dry and his car has no problems. The battle will be watching Rosberg fight he was up to second, and to see whether Red Bull has the dry race pace to fend off Alonso for a podium finish.
How on earth can some one be so precise about a race? No wonder you are doing great in GG..Sometimes you just make me feel you got a crystal ball telling you all :'(
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Got to hand it to you Irisado, you nailed what, the first 5 cars? Betcha wish you had doubled up today. :good: :good:
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Interesting start that quickly deteriorated into a parade.
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Interesting start that quickly deteriorated into a parade.
I hope that isn't how the rest of the season unfolds. I'd hate to think all the rule changes bring more of the same.
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Ricciardo thinks he may have something for the Mercs on the European tracks like Monaco, Hungary and even Silverstone where down force is more important.
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I'm still trying to figure out the "We can't tell right from left" pit stop that Massa got from Williams.
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My review of the F1 2014 Chinese Grand Prix!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fos1udqeFSw
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Interesting start that quickly deteriorated into a parade.
I am with you on this one.
There was potential for more racing - Hamilton aside, but alas . . .
Massa's start was impressive. It looked at first that he had moved over into Alonso, but in the replays showed from Rosberg's onboard, Massa had the spot and was going straight, matching Alonso and were wheel-to-wheel quite literally and Alonso actually moved to the right and into Massa. I think too that that collision had an impact on Massa's stop with regard to the wheel nut being stuck in the wheel; although, not the wrong side wheel.
I was torn - still a Ferrari supporter of 50 years, and yet a Massa supporter too. Massa and not Fernando should have been P3 at the end of lap 1.
I am truly impressed by Ricciardo. Everything about him spells CHAMPION. Out performing Vettel and smiling even when things haven't gone as he would have liked, and never a negative word about the team, or situations.
I hope that isn't how the rest of the season unfolds. I'd hate to think all the rule changes bring more of the same.
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Rule changes will bring something like this always as because there will always a team, who will do a better job than others, and thus will look like they are out of reach, but eventually other team would catch up. What I am astonished about is the level of reliability seen all across the grid, I mean its just a 4th race, and look how reliable the car have already become. Its a very complex power unit to say the least, and there are many components that should have gone wrong, but somehow the engine people manage to make them ultra-reliable.
And it was Lewis's weekend, there is no other way of putting it, he just did everything right, and the way he drove, was simply astonishing. Rosberg's charge through the field does show how superior Mercedes are, but Ferrari & Red Bull have cut back significant amount of advantage from the Mercedes, so we will be up for great battle unless teams have given up on development.
Fernando Alonso made a statement on his team-mate, and showed just how much integrated he is with team, to squeeze out the best out of that Ferrari.
Kobayashi's move on Vettel was a one of the memories I will have from this grand prix, because I cannot remember a car, who will finish in the 5th place is being overtaken by a car who will finish in the lower rank. And icing on the cake was Kobayashi being told to pull away, which he did, embarrassing RBR, and then prompting them to pit. For me that was the racing spirit of the Caterham, when they sniff a little opportunity they seize it, even it was for a moment.
There is a trend I have noticed in the last two years, when Force India thrive, Sauber struggles and vice versa. Last year it was acutely shown, this there is almost the same story with Sauber, but I have a feeling they will not be able to turn around things last year, which really worries me about the survival of the team.
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How on earth can some one be so precise about a race? No wonder you are doing great in GG..Sometimes you just make me feel you got a crystal ball telling you all :'(
Because some of the new tracks in particular produce very predictable results, so there's not too much that can go wrong with a dry race. As you might have guessed, I do have a good memory for a lot of races, as long as they pre-date 2009, so I do my homework ;).
Got to hand it to you Irisado, you nailed what, the first 5 cars? Betcha wish you had doubled up today. :good: :good:
Yes and no. There are easier races to predict than the Chinese Grand Prix ;).
That race was really dull. On a par with 2013 levels of boredom. I almost stopped watching it, but I was kept entertained by Vettel being beaten by his team mate again, and being overtaken by Kobayashi's lapped Caterham.
The only other highlights were the start, all a bit close, and the chequered flag being shown a lap too early! Maybe the organisers were so bored that they thought, let's end this parade with a lap to go, nobody will notice :D.
Ferrari's improvement in the dry was sustained in the race, Massa was really unlucky, and Sauber are really in the doldrums with no pace at all. Not much else to write home about really, other than the fact that 20 cars finished. So much for early season unreliability spicing things up eh?
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I am still trying to stay positive about the rule changes. We have seen some good racing in earlier races and there was some good mid-pack action in China. My problem is still with the tyres. Did you see the amount of marbles after just a few laps? This restricts overtaking because the marbles define a single racing line. I also still feel it is a nonsense that the 'pinnacle of motor sport' uses tyres that lose grip after 6 laps (or just two laps if you drive a McLaren).
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The rule changes have worked well on the whole, it was just a very dull race this time around. China nearly always produces processions and predictable results in the dry. I'm not suggesting that other races will follow the pattern that we saw on Sunday.
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How on earth can some one be so precise about a race? No wonder you are doing great in GG..Sometimes you just make me feel you got a crystal ball telling you all :'(
Because some of the new tracks in particular produce very predictable results, so there's not too much that can go wrong with a dry race. As you might have guessed, I do have a good memory for a lot of races, as long as they pre-date 2009, so I do my homework ;).
Yes I know how precisely you can recall previous races, and aren't we glad to have you on-board. :good: :good:
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The rule changes have worked well on the whole, it was just a very dull race this time around. China nearly always produces processions and predictable results in the dry. I'm not suggesting that other races will follow the pattern that we saw on Sunday.
China has never produced an exciting race that I can recall. One of the problems with the circuit when it comes to exciting racing is the fact that there are 3 long straights and if you are losing out in the speed trap by more than a couple of miles per hour, all of the handling you can get in the corners, which are not too tricky in China, will not help you keep up with the faster cars, not even with the DRS open.