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[Gaz]

The gap between the lap times for the Red Bulls and the rest of the pack is astonishing - 5-6 tenths to Button. Alonso is getting close to them through sheer force of will.

I would really like to know what is giving the RBRs such a massive advantage.

they can adjust their ride hight on the fly that will be worth a huge ammount in quali and during the race.

[Jamie]

But they may have advantages, but they also may have some disadvantages.....So we will see tomorrow!!!

[EwanM]

Vettel does what does best which, although fascinating to watch, was rather sad as it Webber had the possibility of Pole.
Let's hope that Mark and Seb have a good battle tomorrow at the front. I mean, if Mark gets through and stays there then he'll win the race - it's not like Vettel can pass him or anything.

Alonso's time was superb today, but I think Massa would have been right up there if he hadn't suffered tyre temperature issues.

The gap between Red Bull and Ferrari and the rest of the field is quite substantial, however the changing conditions in Q3 may have exaggerated it a little. Then again, if this is the true gap then congrats to RB and SF for masking their pace... One of the many downsides of Friday Practice.

[Jamie]

Vettel does what does best which, although fascinating to watch, was rather sad as it Webber had the possibility of Pole.
Let's hope that Mark and Seb have a good battle tomorrow at the front. I mean, if Mark gets through and stays there then he'll win the race - it's not like Vettel can pass him or anything.

Alonso's time was superb today, but I think Massa would have been right up there if he hadn't suffered tyre temperature issues.

The gap between Red Bull and Ferrari and the rest of the field is quite substantial, however the changing conditions in Q3 may have exaggerated it a little. Then again, if this is the true gap then congrats to RB and SF for masking their pace... One of the many downsides of Friday Practice.

But not race pace, there race pace is some what different. As we said, McLaren 2005. Amazing car, but it blows up. I just have doubt about there real pace.

[EwanM]

Vettel does what does best which, although fascinating to watch, was rather sad as it Webber had the possibility of Pole.
Let's hope that Mark and Seb have a good battle tomorrow at the front. I mean, if Mark gets through and stays there then he'll win the race - it's not like Vettel can pass him or anything.

Alonso's time was superb today, but I think Massa would have been right up there if he hadn't suffered tyre temperature issues.

The gap between Red Bull and Ferrari and the rest of the field is quite substantial, however the changing conditions in Q3 may have exaggerated it a little. Then again, if this is the true gap then congrats to RB and SF for masking their pace... One of the many downsides of Friday Practice.

But not race pace, there race pace is some what different. As we said, McLaren 2005. Amazing car, but it blows up. I just have doubt about there real pace.

Yeah that is true, I was referring to outright low-fuel pace. Sorry if I didn't make myself clear.

[texasmr2]

Bahrain dispells any issue with RBR's race pace doesn't it?

[Jamie]

Vettel does what does best which, although fascinating to watch, was rather sad as it Webber had the possibility of Pole.
Let's hope that Mark and Seb have a good battle tomorrow at the front. I mean, if Mark gets through and stays there then he'll win the race - it's not like Vettel can pass him or anything.

Alonso's time was superb today, but I think Massa would have been right up there if he hadn't suffered tyre temperature issues.

The gap between Red Bull and Ferrari and the rest of the field is quite substantial, however the changing conditions in Q3 may have exaggerated it a little. Then again, if this is the true gap then congrats to RB and SF for masking their pace... One of the many downsides of Friday Practice.

But not race pace, there race pace is some what different. As we said, McLaren 2005. Amazing car, but it blows up. I just have doubt about there real pace.

Yeah that is true, I was referring to outright low-fuel pace. Sorry if I didn't make myself clear.

There is just doubt, like i have small doubts over the Ferrari with there cooling systems. But i do hope we have got rid of those gremlins, but i have a small niggle that Red Bull is all about there company. And this has got red bull on every news paper. it sounds silly but they just don't seem to have that certainty were you know they will win...For instance Nico @ Williams, he got there in friday practice but came up with nothing when it came down to the day...I feel they will have nothing when it comes to the race...plus we do not want a boring season of RBR uno @ every race?

I am most certainly glad that Alonso has the belief he can still beat them!!
I hope he can, because boy he does deserve it!!

Ferrari i think are show boating a little by testing two different formulas for the car. As Massa is different and seem to be in a different car, i can see RBR have gone for Vettels set up from last race? But will that make them, both be gone half way through tomorrow? And With JB? Real pace, a real pace that Macca boys can count on, i feel a podium for the brit and can shut all those tabloids up!!!

[vaptin]

Good man Alonso, but yeah those redbulls look mega.

Hmm, its that ride height thing, hopefully then when Ferrari sort there's out properly they'll be right up there. I suppose then it's perfectly legal to set the height deliberately low in quali, raise it for the start of the race before having it adjusted down to the quali height at the end? Whitmarsh said he initially thought it would be illegal.

Gotta hope Alonso provides a good start tomorrow, if he gets in front of one he's got the pace to stay there.

I hope the marshalls and the safety car are on the ball tomorrow as Sutil's in the top tend.

More on that ride-height system:

"There's evidence there are ride-height control systems which many people thought weren't permissible," he said.

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said he could "absolutely guarantee" their car had no such system.

"It looks like Red Bull and some other cars are able to run lower in qualifying than you would expect if they're then going to fill the car with fuel afterwards," Whitmarsh said.

"As you can imagine, we're working quite hard on those systems now.

Horner said on Saturday: "There are funny things happening at McLaren - Lewis managing Mark, Ron reckoning we have a fuel problem and now Martin reckons we have a ride-height control."

Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn said after qualifying that he thought governing body the FIA should issue a rules clarification on the subject of ride-height controls to end the suspicion and speculation.

It's getting a bit fesity, I think the most interesting point is red bull haven't said a ride-height system is legal they've denied having one.

[cap-dude]

Hamilton and Massa both having really bad off days. No usual that you see those two having probelms in qualifying.

It would seem the probelm is tyre temperture. So after all the fuss over trying to get the tyres to last, it's the Red Bull that is harder on it's tyres that actually has the advantage. I mean lets be honest, Malaysia, China and Barcelona are the tracks we go to next. I'd suspect Vettel will probably take another 3 pole posistions.


There isn't really much else to talk about. The usual suspects dominate the top spots. With Williams, Renault and Force India fighting for scraps. Sauber continue to un-impress, and STR are there-a-bouts.

The pace of the HRT cars was much better, and considering how little track time they've had, it's promising. Hopefully they don't become a team that just falls apart mid-season.

[bud]

haha Alonso fans better just chill their only hope is 3rd unless Redbull break down again. Cant wait to see the Lambs at the track tomorrow when their team doesnt win! hopefully its an Aussie RBR that wins though

[vaptin]

haha Alonso fans better just chill their only hope is 3rd unless Redbull break down again. Cant wait to see the Lambs at the track tomorrow when their team doesnt win! hopefully its an Aussie RBR that wins though

No, if Alonso gets a good start he can get into second (in Front of Webber) and hold that position.

By your reasoning is McLaren's best hope 4th and 11th?

[Gaz]

Vettel does what does best which, although fascinating to watch, was rather sad as it Webber had the possibility of Pole.
Let's hope that Mark and Seb have a good battle tomorrow at the front. I mean, if Mark gets through and stays there then he'll win the race - it's not like Vettel can pass him or anything.

Alonso's time was superb today, but I think Massa would have been right up there if he hadn't suffered tyre temperature issues.

The gap between Red Bull and Ferrari and the rest of the field is quite substantial, however the changing conditions in Q3 may have exaggerated it a little. Then again, if this is the true gap then congrats to RB and SF for masking their pace... One of the many downsides of Friday Practice.

Your not far from wrong with your vettle comment

Hes a fast lap specialist not a racing driver.

[cap-dude]

haha Alonso fans better just chill their only hope is 3rd unless Redbull break down again. Cant wait to see the Lambs at the track tomorrow when their team doesnt win! hopefully its an Aussie RBR that wins though

No, if Alonso gets a good start he can get into second (in Front of Webber) and hold that position.

By your reasoning is McLaren's best hope 4th and 11th?

Exactly. We know the Ferrari's race pace is much better than their qualifying pace. Alonso could very much so jump Webber into turn 1, with Webber on the dirty side. Then try and jump Vettel during the pit stops.

But I do however doubt it. I think it'll be a Vettel victory myself.

[antoniob]

Vettel does what does best which, although fascinating to watch, was rather sad as it Webber had the possibility of Pole.
Let's hope that Mark and Seb have a good battle tomorrow at the front. I mean, if Mark gets through and stays there then he'll win the race - it's not like Vettel can pass him or anything.

Alonso's time was superb today, but I think Massa would have been right up there if he hadn't suffered tyre temperature issues.

The gap between Red Bull and Ferrari and the rest of the field is quite substantial, however the changing conditions in Q3 may have exaggerated it a little. Then again, if this is the true gap then congrats to RB and SF for masking their pace... One of the many downsides of Friday Practice.

Your not far from wrong with your vettle comment

Hes a fast lap specialist not a racing driver.

[Gaz]

Vettel does what does best which, although fascinating to watch, was rather sad as it Webber had the possibility of Pole.
Let's hope that Mark and Seb have a good battle tomorrow at the front. I mean, if Mark gets through and stays there then he'll win the race - it's not like Vettel can pass him or anything.

Alonso's time was superb today, but I think Massa would have been right up there if he hadn't suffered tyre temperature issues.

The gap between Red Bull and Ferrari and the rest of the field is quite substantial, however the changing conditions in Q3 may have exaggerated it a little. Then again, if this is the true gap then congrats to RB and SF for masking their pace... One of the many downsides of Friday Practice.

Your not far from wrong with your vettle comment

Hes a fast lap specialist not a racing driver.

i'm 100% correct with the above statment/comment.