FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[Denthúl]

This takes away everything Massa has worked for in Qualis... It's so unfair to him. And they could even do worse like this, by not having their man in front, to help Alonso...

Desperate times and all that. I think most teams in this situation would probably consider it.

[Hammer278]

This takes away everything Massa has worked for in Qualis... It's so unfair to him. And they could even do worse like this, by not having their man in front, to help Alonso...

The guy has sold his soul for the seat, so whatever indignity he has to suffer, you can't say he doesn't deserve it. He can beat Alonso all he wants on track, in the end he's the official lapdog of Ferrari and that's how this team has always worked anyway.

[Nin-Chin]

Sky Sports F1 has learnt that Ferrari are considering triggering a grid penalty against Felipe Massa that would see Fernando Alonso move to the clean side of the U.S. GP grid.

The news comes after concerns about a marked discrepancy in grip on the grid at the new Circuit of The Americas.

Massa and Fernando Alonso are currently scheduled to line up sixth and eighth respectively - with both drivers on the 'dirty' side.

However, if the gearbox on Massa's car was to be changed then both would line up on the other side, on the racing line of the start-finish straight where more rubber has been laid down.


It is not known whether there is a specific problem with the gearbox on Massa's car; the obvious conclusion to draw is that Ferrari are trying to give Alonso the best possible chance to make up ground in the race.

There is nothing in F1's rules that prevents a team from changing a car's gearbox for sporting reasons.

Speaking on Sunday morning, a Ferrari spokesperson said: "We are just evaluating this option."

Alonso currently stands 10 points behind Sebastian Vettel in the Drivers' Championship. Vettel starts on pole position for the race - on the clean side of the grid - and assuming he can hold that position, then his rival will need to finish fourth or higher to keep the title battle alive.

Assuming Ferrari did change the gearbox, Massa would receive a five-place penalty dropping him to 11th on the grid. Alonso, meanwhile, would be promoted to seventh.

Somewhat ironically, Massa himself spoke of the fears of starting from the dirty side of the grid on Saturday night, telling reporters: "We did a practice start there at the end of qualifying and it showed that acceleration was worse even than from a wet track."

According to Sky Sports F1 commentary expert Mark Hughes, writing in the Sunday Times, such is the disadvantage of starting from the dirty side of the grid, that 'Red Bull's analysis suggests that the blunted acceleration resulting from the extra wheelspin would cost the equivalent of three grid rows.'

However, were Massa to shift position, it may prompt a reactive strike in reponse, with Sky Sports News' Rachel Brookes tweeting 'other teams may find one of their driver needs a gearbox change & positions would change again!'

Coverage of the U.S. GP begins exclusively live on Sky Sports F1 from 5.30pm

[Hammer278]

Sky Sports F1 has learnt that Ferrari are considering triggering a grid penalty against Felipe Massa that would see Fernando Alonso move to the clean side of the U.S. GP grid.

Somewhat ironically, Massa himself spoke of the fears of starting from the dirty side of the grid on Saturday night, telling reporters: "We did a practice start there at the end of qualifying and it showed that acceleration was worse even than from a wet track."

According to Sky Sports F1 commentary expert Mark Hughes, writing in the Sunday Times, such is the disadvantage of starting from the dirty side of the grid, that 'Red Bull's analysis suggests that the blunted acceleration resulting from the extra wheelspin would cost the equivalent of three grid rows.'

More to follow...

That has to be an exaggeration, so each car on the dirty side could lose up to 3 places at the start? This is a new track for both sides of the grid....at most there's a bit more dirt offline, it's not like everyone on the right side will get a perfect acceleration of the grid since this is a new track for them as well! Unless the surface of the track differs in each half!? Which is preposterous.

[vlad]

I think they are overreacting a bit. They said that twice about Abu Dhabi GP too, and look what start Kimi had this year.

[spankyham]

Sky Sports F1 has learnt that Ferrari are considering triggering a grid penalty against Felipe Massa that would see Fernando Alonso move to the clean side of the U.S. GP grid.

Somewhat ironically, Massa himself spoke of the fears of starting from the dirty side of the grid on Saturday night, telling reporters: "We did a practice start there at the end of qualifying and it showed that acceleration was worse even than from a wet track."

According to Sky Sports F1 commentary expert Mark Hughes, writing in the Sunday Times, such is the disadvantage of starting from the dirty side of the grid, that 'Red Bull's analysis suggests that the blunted acceleration resulting from the extra wheelspin would cost the equivalent of three grid rows.'

More to follow...

That has to be an exaggeration, so each car on the dirty side could lose up to 3 places at the start? This is a new track for both sides of the grid....at most there's a bit more dirt offline, it's not like everyone on the right side will get a perfect acceleration of the grid since this is a new track for them as well! Unless the surface of the track differs in each half!? Which is preposterous.

You're mostly right Hammer, having said that, the dirty side will be worse than normal simply because the track is so new/green.

If Ferrari does this I wonder if RB will try and counter by changing Webbers gearbox. I don't think it would be worth it because that would mean moving Nando ahead yet again and ahead of Mark. I'd love to be a fly on the wall if/when Helmut had to break that news to Mark.

[vlad]

Jenson Button did a practice start from the right side of the start-finish line and is not as convinced.

"I am the only car who has done a start on the clean side of the grid and that wasn't good either. There is just such low grip," he said.

"On the straights we are not putting rubber down. We might be cleaning the circuit but there is no rubber down, so it is very, very slippery. And the slippiest part of the circuit is the pitlane.

"You come out of the pitlane and in qualifying it is the first time we have run with 100kph limit, and you would say 100kph is too fast for the pitlane. There is just no grip and it is the same for the start.

"I don't think one side of the grid is going to have a better start than the other. The dirty side has had a lot of rubber put down from all the practice starts that were done this morning."

Source: autosport.com

[Hammer278]

Jenson Button did a practice start from the right side of the start-finish line and is not as convinced.

"I am the only car who has done a start on the clean side of the grid and that wasn't good either. There is just such low grip," he said.

"On the straights we are not putting rubber down. We might be cleaning the circuit but there is no rubber down, so it is very, very slippery. And the slippiest part of the circuit is the pitlane.

"You come out of the pitlane and in qualifying it is the first time we have run with 100kph limit, and you would say 100kph is too fast for the pitlane. There is just no grip and it is the same for the start.

"I don't think one side of the grid is going to have a better start than the other. The dirty side has had a lot of rubber put down from all the practice starts that were done this morning."

Source: autosport.com

[andrew]

Jenson Button did a practice start from the right side of the start-finish line and is not as convinced.

"I am the only car who has done a start on the clean side of the grid and that wasn't good either. There is just such low grip," he said.

"On the straights we are not putting rubber down. We might be cleaning the circuit but there is no rubber down, so it is very, very slippery. And the slippiest part of the circuit is the pitlane.

"You come out of the pitlane and in qualifying it is the first time we have run with 100kph limit, and you would say 100kph is too fast for the pitlane. There is just no grip and it is the same for the start.

"I don't think one side of the grid is going to have a better start than the other. The dirty side has had a lot of rubber put down from all the practice starts that were done this morning."

Source: autosport.com

New trmac is always slippery.

I think they are overreacting a bit. They said that twice about Abu Dhabi GP too, and look what start Kimi had this year.

I wonder how much is psychological games to try and outwit the drivers on the not-so-slippery side of the grid? I'd be surprised if there was a massive difference like some drivers have been saying.

[vlad]

Can they ever be normal and let them enjoy their racing, not complaining about everything???

Hamilton and Vettel told to modify helmets in Austin


Two of F1′s biggest names had to pull out the gaffer-tape in Austin to fix up their offending helmet liveries.

The always-controversial Lewis Hamilton’s US-themed helmet attracted the most attention for its H.A.M. slogan, which according to street slang means ‘Hard as a motherf***er’.

“In light of the FIA’s recent reminder to all drivers not to swear, stencilling the letters on the back of his helmet was a particularly provocative act on Hamilton’s part and one which no doubt irritated his team,” journalist Tom Cary wrote in the Telegraph.

A McLaren spokesman said the decision to cover up the logo was taken “by mutual consent”.

“We just stuck some red tape over it,” confirmed helmet manufacturer Arai’s Peter Burger to Auto Motor und Sport.

Pole sitter Sebastian Vettel also had to modify his special US-themed ‘wooden’ helmet livery in Austin, to remove the words ‘Gives you wings’ from the top.

Bernie Ecclestone forbids drivers or teams from advertising on the very top of the helmets, so as not to spoil the onboard camera view.

As a quick fix, Arai’s Burger covered the energy drink company’s slogan with black tape, but soon sourced some tape with a wood-style finish for qualifying and the race.

Source: *censored*.net

[andrew]

I can understand Vettel having to change his as the drivers are not allowed advertising on the very tops of the helmets right in the camera view but Hamilons one is a bit odd. First time I've ever heard that bit of slang.

[Denthúl]

Adam Cooper ‏@adamcooperf1

#F1 I hear via good source that Ferrari will indeed go for the Massa penalty. All they have to do is break the seal, not change 'box

Guess we just need to wait for confirmation to see whether or not this is accurate.

[vlad]

I hope Massa outscores Alonso. Just for a payback.

[Denthúl]

I hope Massa outscores Alonso. Just for a payback.

What are your thoughts on pitting a driver early to get them out of the way of another?

[darwin dali]

Sky Sports F1 has learnt that Ferrari are considering triggering a grid penalty against Felipe Massa that would see Fernando Alonso move to the clean side of the U.S. GP grid.

Somewhat ironically, Massa himself spoke of the fears of starting from the dirty side of the grid on Saturday night, telling reporters: "We did a practice start there at the end of qualifying and it showed that acceleration was worse even than from a wet track."

According to Sky Sports F1 commentary expert Mark Hughes, writing in the Sunday Times, such is the disadvantage of starting from the dirty side of the grid, that 'Red Bull's analysis suggests that the blunted acceleration resulting from the extra wheelspin would cost the equivalent of three grid rows.'

More to follow...

That has to be an exaggeration, so each car on the dirty side could lose up to 3 places at the start? This is a new track for both sides of the grid....at most there's a bit more dirt offline, it's not like everyone on the right side will get a perfect acceleration of the grid since this is a new track for them as well! Unless the surface of the track differs in each half!? Which is preposterous.

You're mostly right Hammer, having said that, the dirty side will be worse than normal simply because the track is so new/green.

If Ferrari does this I wonder if RB will try and counter by changing Webbers gearbox. I don't think it would be worth it because that would mean moving Nando ahead yet again and ahead of Mark. I'd love to be a fly on the wall if/when Helmut had to break that news to Mark.

WTF are you talking about? MW is already on the clean side last time I looked at the grid...