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[TheOak]

Yea, they do loose some grip for every lap they're used but come on. If Hamiltons situation with tyre degradation really was so bad that he simply cannot go to Q3 with "long first stint" fuel strategy because his quali lap would then be utter s*** is pretty far fetched. I mean he maintains blistering pace through race distance so it really can't be that bad.

It's impossible in the real world to pit both of your cars at once, so somebody needs to get a heavier load of fuel. Because of the differences between the driving styles of Hamilton and Kovalainen, the latter is always going to have to go heavier on fuel. You also have to factor safety cars etc. into your strategy. That means that although you can bring your drivers into the pits over two laps, you're leaving yourself open to being a victim of a safety car scenario. One driver has to carry two laps extra fuel because of that. Therefore, the smallest difference you can have in fuel levels between your two cars in the real world is three laps.

The evidence suggests that Hamilton's tyre degradation is higher, for he tends to set his fastest laps earlier in a stint than one of the Ferrari drivers. You don't even have to look at data to prove this, for you can see with your own eyes the Ferrari getting closer to Hamilton towards the ends of the stints, and, earlier in the season, Hamilton's tyres looking a hell of a lot more worn that Kovalainen's tyres and the tyres on the Ferrari.

There is no way McLaren could put Kovalainen on the short-fuel strategy. Being on this means that you have to build up a lead very quickly over your rival. As Kovalainen's race pace is so poor, he would not be able to build up a suitable gap and would be passed in the pits. Kovalainen has s*** in his own nest this season, I'm afraid.

You bring up some good points. Ferrari have gotten themselves in trouble several times when the safety car has come out and they've had to pit both cars at the same time.

[Denthúl]

Yea, they do loose some grip for every lap they're used but come on. If Hamiltons situation with tyre degradation really was so bad that he simply cannot go to Q3 with "long first stint" fuel strategy because his quali lap would then be utter s*** is pretty far fetched. I mean he maintains blistering pace through race distance so it really can't be that bad.

It's impossible in the real world to pit both of your cars at once, so somebody needs to get a heavier load of fuel. Because of the differences between the driving styles of Hamilton and Kovalainen, the latter is always going to have to go heavier on fuel. You also have to factor safety cars etc. into your strategy. That means that although you can bring your drivers into the pits over two laps, you're leaving yourself open to being a victim of a safety car scenario. One driver has to carry two laps extra fuel because of that. Therefore, the smallest difference you can have in fuel levels between your two cars in the real world is three laps.

The evidence suggests that Hamilton's tyre degradation is higher, for he tends to set his fastest laps earlier in a stint than one of the Ferrari drivers. You don't even have to look at data to prove this, for you can see with your own eyes the Ferrari getting closer to Hamilton towards the ends of the stints, and, earlier in the season, Hamilton's tyres looking a hell of a lot more worn that Kovalainen's tyres and the tyres on the Ferrari.

There is no way McLaren could put Kovalainen on the short-fuel strategy. Being on this means that you have to build up a lead very quickly over your rival. As Kovalainen's race pace is so poor, he would not be able to build up a suitable gap and would be passed in the pits. Kovalainen has s*** in his own nest this season, I'm afraid.

You bring up some good points. Ferrari have gotten themselves in trouble several times when the safety car has come out and they've had to pit both cars at the same time.

I think McLaren queued their cars at Canada this year, too. Sometimes it's better to do that than have one guy pit and the other have to do an extra lap, then get stuck at the back of the field behind all the cars that have already pitted.

[Hanwombat]

Yea, they do loose some grip for every lap they're used but come on. If Hamiltons situation with tyre degradation really was so bad that he simply cannot go to Q3 with "long first stint" fuel strategy because his quali lap would then be utter s*** is pretty far fetched. I mean he maintains blistering pace through race distance so it really can't be that bad.

It's impossible in the real world to pit both of your cars at once, so somebody needs to get a heavier load of fuel. Because of the differences between the driving styles of Hamilton and Kovalainen, the latter is always going to have to go heavier on fuel. You also have to factor safety cars etc. into your strategy. That means that although you can bring your drivers into the pits over two laps, you're leaving yourself open to being a victim of a safety car scenario. One driver has to carry two laps extra fuel because of that. Therefore, the smallest difference you can have in fuel levels between your two cars in the real world is three laps.

The evidence suggests that Hamilton's tyre degradation is higher, for he tends to set his fastest laps earlier in a stint than one of the Ferrari drivers. You don't even have to look at data to prove this, for you can see with your own eyes the Ferrari getting closer to Hamilton towards the ends of the stints, and, earlier in the season, Hamilton's tyres looking a hell of a lot more worn that Kovalainen's tyres and the tyres on the Ferrari.

There is no way McLaren could put Kovalainen on the short-fuel strategy. Being on this means that you have to build up a lead very quickly over your rival. As Kovalainen's race pace is so poor, he would not be able to build up a suitable gap and would be passed in the pits. Kovalainen has s*** in his own nest this season, I'm afraid.

Sassy bird