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[nish2280]

I have a feeling Hamilton will be first to turn 1, followed by Webber and then Vettel. This season there seems to be a large disadvantage from starting on the wrong side of the track.

Webber seems to really like this track, maybe even with KERS Vettel might not have caught him because the gap between them was relatively large.

[vlad]

Vettel certainly had problems with KERS, the times reveal it! Webber forgot how to smile...
I think Alonso has a great chance to be on podium again, Hamilton has that terrible flat spot again. His mistake, again.

youd save yourself a ton of trouble if you started crying about it once hamiltons beaten vettel to turn 1
and webber wins the race.

We'll see...

[McLaren]

Red Bulls look that good that even if KERS doesn't work and they get a terrible start and go into the first corner 4th and 5th still can't see them not winning.Don't forget its just about the longest start to first corner race there is.

[Yoruba]

If it's all about tyre management...all we should be talking about who is going to lose out tomorrow with regards to the tyre allotment.
Ferrari - I'm pretty sure the Ferraris don't have any Softs for the race so there goes Alonso's podium unless something drastic happens.
Mclaren - JB may pull something out during the race in terms of pace, but he's gotta admit that he's nowhere near Hamilton's pace when it matters. Hamilton's flat spot on his tyre is surely going to slow him a bit, allowing the RBs to pull out a couple more seconds, which will be crucial during the pit stops.
Red Bull - Adrian Nuewy. Need I say more? With or without KERS, they still are the team to beat. Webber may lose the 1st corner to Vettel or Hammy but eventually, both RBs still having a pair of unused Softs, willl eat up the rivals come closing time.

Again unless something drastic happens, (still waiting for the first SC deployment this year) my hat goes off to Adrian Nuewy for handing SV another title.

[spankyham]

Ferrari - I'm pretty sure the Ferraris don't have any Softs for the race so there goes Alonso's podium unless something drastic happens.

Both Ferrari's are fine for options. In fact, both cars only ran a total of 3 racing laps on their allocation of options.

I think we are in for a cracker of a race. Personally I think Seb really has his work cut out tomorrow through the race and especially the start. No KERS and nearly half a klick to turn 1 from the dirty side, that's a tough ask. What's more, a long DRS for this race and no KERS to defend, gives someone behind him a double boost to pass him. I really hope Marks KERS doesn't give him trouble.

Lots of accolades to Adrian for designing a brilliant car, but, he really has to take the blame for their KERS problems, and, I just can't see how they can fix it - because of AN's design.

Be very interesting to see how the front left on Lewis's car is. That is the most important tyre on this track.

Nando did a great lap, but, he too is on the dirty side. I think we'll see him prioritize getting safely thought turn 1, take any opportunity if it's there, and try and settle into a fast race.

[SennaVille]

Does anyone else think that Martin Whitmarsh is looking really ill lately?

I usually quite fancy him, but he was interviewed briefly on the beeb this morning and he just seemed to look really pale and gaunt.

[What's Burning?]

Lewis is looking a bit buffoonish sporting a manscaped beard.

[What's Burning?]

Does anyone else think that Martin Whitmarsh is looking really ill lately?

I usually quite fancy him, but he was interviewed briefly on the beeb this morning and he just seemed to look really pale and gaunt.

Perhaps it's the being a second off pace despite your best effort syndrome? That or he picked something up from Steve Jobs.

[SennaVille]

Does anyone else think that Martin Whitmarsh is looking really ill lately?

I usually quite fancy him, but he was interviewed briefly on the beeb this morning and he just seemed to look really pale and gaunt.

Perhaps it's the being a second off pace despite your best effort syndrome? That or he picked something up from Steve Jobs.

Or maybe Bernie bit his neck.

[What's Burning?]

Does anyone else think that Martin Whitmarsh is looking really ill lately?

I usually quite fancy him, but he was interviewed briefly on the beeb this morning and he just seemed to look really pale and gaunt.

Perhaps it's the being a second off pace despite your best effort syndrome? That or he picked something up from Steve Jobs.

Or maybe Bernie bit his neck.

Bernie couldn't reach his neck.

[spankyham]

Does anyone else think that Martin Whitmarsh is looking really ill lately?

I usually quite fancy him, but he was interviewed briefly on the beeb this morning and he just seemed to look really pale and gaunt.

I look a lot like Martin when he's well

[smokin]

The sport has managed to take one of its best aspects, qualifying and turn it into a borefest. It's absolutely pointless and it's become all about tire management instead of racing.

Congratulations to Ferrari, they've finally been able to join McLaren for the title of alsorans and they've made a tremendous jump int their qualifying trim. Red Bull have themselves a very dominant car and it's looking very much like a double double for them.

Pirelli's tyres ruined qualifying, no two ways about it. It's become a one-shot sprint punctuated with periods of boredom while the ones with no hope of pole set a time. Schumacher even went out on primes, for goodness sake. A world away from the all-cars-on-the-track, last-one-across-the-line, hold-your-breath dice of yesteryear.

The Barcelona track characteristics, where I think Brundle said that the race has been won from pole for the last ten years, certainly exaggerated this effect but the signs have been there from all the races this season.

I hope Pirelli learn from this and deliver rubber which provides excitement both in qualy and in the race but I'm not optimistic. Qualifying as a spectacle is on life support if not dead.

[vaptin]

It's the FIA's fault, for being so stingy with the number of tyres available.

I'll take the trade off from fast degrading tyres, which must be protected in quali but produce exciting races anyday.

[sennasational]

The sport has managed to take one of its best aspects, qualifying and turn it into a borefest. It's absolutely pointless and it's become all about tire management instead of racing.

Congratulations to Ferrari, they've finally been able to join McLaren for the title of alsorans and they've made a tremendous jump int their qualifying trim. Red Bull have themselves a very dominant car and it's looking very much like a double double for them.

Pirelli's tyres ruined qualifying, no two ways about it. It's become a one-shot sprint punctuated with periods of boredom while the ones with no hope of pole set a time. Schumacher even went out on primes, for goodness sake. A world away from the all-cars-on-the-track, last-one-across-the-line, hold-your-breath dice of yesteryear.

The Barcelona track characteristics, where I think Brundle said that the race has been won from pole for the last ten years, certainly exaggerated this effect but the signs have been there from all the races this season.

I hope Pirelli learn from this and deliver rubber which provides excitement both in qualy and in the race but I'm not optimistic. Qualifying as a spectacle is on life support if not dead.

I'd happily have exchanged the exciting qualifying for more exciting racing. At least there is a chance to win from outside the top 10 (sort of). It could easily be rectified if they remove the stupid qualifying tyre rule and perhaps throw an extra couple sets of tyres into the mix. The qualifying this year is an easier task to make more exciting than the racing of the last couple of seasons.

[What's Burning?]

It's the FIA's fault, for being so stingy with the number of tyres available.

I'll take the trade off from fast degrading tyres, which must be protected in quali but produce exciting races anyday.

It's only "exciting" when you've got cars on different strategies, but all of the top finishers are on the same strategy with everyone holding back on a new set of options. We're going to see a lot more of what we saw today. Unless they add a set of qualifying tires, or they perhaps throw in three separate available compounds for each race.