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[f1ea]

Please do accept my apology, since I specifically mentioned Lewis in my response to your claim that 4 tenths wasn't a lot of time difference between Hamilton and Button. I simply wanted to have you know that there were mechanical issues with Mr. Hamilton's car.

no prob.

But it doesnt seem like there were (mech issues in the mclaren); from the press conference:

Q: You were shaking your head when we were talking about KERS. Is that because you didn’t use it or were thinking ‘wow, without it’?
LH: No, I used it for half my lap and I ran out towards the end of the lap. I didn’t have any more. No, I had probably, like, 40 per cent still left. That is a little bit of time but nothing which would get me close enough to them. That is a staggering lap time they did, so well done to Sebastian but like I said I’ll catch you up.

so basically what i have been saying is that the kers and wing thingy are simply adding an unknown factor... an unknown possibility for a failure or mistake or problem........ not really performance (ie front row pretty much didnt use kers, Heidfeld out of q1 due to an issue, alonso used it but would he say it was a factor? i doubt it etc).

i guess its something that will improve over the season and the teams/drivers will get to handle it cleanly, but so far its rubbish. Adds nothing to the racing.

[Gaz]

Whitmarsh confirmed there were issues with KERS.

When KERS Failes its not just the loss in boost that has a negative effect to on lap time.

It causes Brake Balance issues as when its working KERS is effectively an additional break for the rear. Also its just dead weight that isn't really positioned to be blast.

Now these may or may not of got him in touch with Vettle, but they should be considered.

[texasmr2]

Yes I agree that the lack of testing has left alot of room for improvement ie the drivers getting fully adjusted to the KERS and MRW. I wonder if the temps are still abnormaly low there?

[smokin]

So no change from the first half of last year then, if qualifying is anything to go by. Vettel dominates his teammate (and the rest of the field), Hamilton outpaces Button, Alonso comfortably beats Massa with Ferrari suffering inexplicable early season woes and Rosberg faster than Schumacher.

The same teams and the same drivers at the top with the same order.

I can't see the race giving the same results, though, with the tyre, KERS and MRW variables added into the mix. I also can't believe that the Ferrari will be so bad in race trim - it looked almost uncontrollable in some of the onboard shots. I see Vettel in front at the first corner and, barring mishaps, cruising to an easy win. Alonso will make up places at the start, Hamilton will flatter to deceive, taking himself out or someone else taking him out when he puts his nose where it doesn't belong, and Jenson and Rosberg having quiet but productive races. The only unguessable factor for me is Webber who could finish anywhere from second to DNF. He and Lewis have a history of dicing over the line and it could be them who have a coming together.

I'm going for Vettel, Webber, Alonso, Button, Rosberg as the top five with a question mark against Webber.

I hope I'm wrong, not so much for the places but more for the hope of an exciting race.

[stonemonkey]

......

so basically what i have been saying is that the kers and wing thingy are simply adding an unknown factor... an unknown possibility for a failure or mistake or problem........ not really performance (ie front row pretty much didnt use kers, Heidfeld out of q1 due to an issue, alonso used it but would he say it was a factor? i doubt it etc).

i guess its something that will improve over the season and the teams/drivers will get to handle it cleanly, but so far its rubbish. Adds nothing to the racing.

We've not been racing yet.

[scotty]

Tell you what, any drivers in the top 10 who damaged their tyres in Q3 (Massa and a couple of others) are going to have a rough first stint tomorrow, if what has been said about flatspots completely ruining the tyres proves to be correct. The track temperature is going to be important too, judging by what a lot of drivers were saying after qualifying. Supposed to be a bit warmer tomorrow but we'll see...

Hamilton and Alonso are my guys to watch tomorrow (for different reasons) and i already mentioned Schumacher in the tyres thread. Toro Rosso could spring a surprise too, they were very consistent over longer runs in testing apparently.

First corner is going to be hectic, there are a lot of loose cannons close together in the midfield...

I can't wait!

[vlad]

I'm hoping for another Kobayashi show!

[racechick]

So no change from the first half of last year then, if qualifying is anything to go by. Vettel dominates his teammate (and the rest of the field), Hamilton outpaces Button, Alonso comfortably beats Massa with Ferrari suffering inexplicable early season woes and Rosberg faster than Schumacher.

The same teams and the same drivers at the top with the same order.

I can't see the race giving the same results, though, with the tyre, KERS and MRW variables added into the mix. I also can't believe that the Ferrari will be so bad in race trim - it looked almost uncontrollable in some of the onboard shots. I see Vettel in front at the first corner and, barring mishaps, cruising to an easy win. Alonso will make up places at the start, Hamilton will flatter to deceive, taking himself out or someone else taking him out when he puts his nose where it doesn't belong, and Jenson and Rosberg having quiet but productive races. The only unguessable factor for me is Webber who could finish anywhere from second to DNF. He and Lewis have a history of dicing over the line and it could be them who have a coming together.

I'm going for Vettel, Webber, Alonso, Button, Rosberg as the top five with a question mark against Webber.

I hope I'm wrong, not so much for the places but more for the hope of an exciting race.

There will be a risk at the start of course, and as I said before Webber is Lewis' risk, he took him out twice last year. As to Lewis' nose going where it shouldnt go, its gained him far more places than its lost him. Its how he drives, its what makes him so good. I still wont be able to watch though.

[scotty]

Japan '08 all over again would do me nicely

edit - on that note, i heard the other day that every year since 2002, the pole sitter has made it to turn 1 first...

[CarBore]

It will be ironic in the extreme if the MRW or DRS or AWR or ????? ends up being a nemisis for Red Bull. Given the pace they've shown, perhaps now we can understand why they were so keen to get it banned.

As long as Lewis can stay within a second on the opening 2 laps of Seb, then, all he needs to do after that is use his (insert acronym for stupid flappy rear wing thingy) and his KERS to reel back the too fast RB. I'm sure it will be very annoying for Red Bull if Lewis can use those 2 devices to keep nipping at the heels of the much faster RB7.

I think Vettel will be mostly concerned with the first few corners. Seeing as he's nearly a second ahead over one lap and fastest in the section leading to the DRS zone I can't see him being less than 1 second ahead after 2 laps assuming he makes it through the first few corners without incident.

Also does the DRS have limitations on use after a safety car? Melbourne usually sees a few and people will definitely be in the 1 sec zone following the sc.

[Jensonb]

Jenson and Lewis are pretty close.... have to say their races will depend on strategy

I don't think 4 tenths is pretty close given the fact that Lewis had no KERS in Q3.

It is pretty close, Jenson had traffic on his run.

[Hexagram]

Japan '08 all over again would do me nicely

edit - on that note, i heard the other day that every year since 2002, the pole sitter has made it to turn 1 first...

Don't be such a killjoy

[smokin]

There will be a risk at the start of course, and as I said before Webber is Lewis' risk, he took him out twice last year. As to Lewis' nose going where it shouldnt go, its gained him far more places than its lost him. Its how he drives, its what makes him so good. I still wont be able to watch though.

True, but, as has been said in another thread, the safety and strength of a modern F1 car mitigates against the exciting style of a Hamilton. With death and serious injury as a consequence virtually taken off the table the driver being overtaken has no qualms about defending past the line where a crash is inevitable. I wasn't saying that Hamilton makes risky overtaking manoeuvres only that the margin for success has shrunk to almost zero. Here's hoping that flappy rear wings widen that margin!

[smokin]

Also does the DRS have limitations on use after a safety car? Melbourne usually sees a few and people will definitely be in the 1 sec zone following the sc.

I think I read somewhere that DRS cannot be used for two laps after the SC comes in.

EDIT: http://www.planetf1.com/editorial/6818277/PF1-s-Guide-To-The-New-2011-Rules

[racechick]

There will be a risk at the start of course, and as I said before Webber is Lewis' risk, he took him out twice last year. As to Lewis' nose going where it shouldnt go, its gained him far more places than its lost him. Its how he drives, its what makes him so good. I still wont be able to watch though.

True, but, as has been said in another thread, the safety and strength of a modern F1 car mitigates against the exciting style of a Hamilton. With death and serious injury as a consequence virtually taken off the table the driver being overtaken has no qualms about defending past the line where a crash is inevitable. I wasn't saying that Hamilton makes risky overtaking manoeuvres only that the margin for success has shrunk to almost zero. Here's hoping that flappy rear wings widen that margin!

Yes you're right. Driver skill makes less and less difference. I guess thats why they have to keep inventing gismos. So excited but nervous about tomorrow.