FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[What's Burning?]

Vettel was just focusing on Hamilton's times. He could have gone much faster. You could see it on his laps after the first pit-stop.

Maybe so, but from more detailed analysis it is emerging that the Achilles Heel of the Red Bull may be it's rear tyre wear, which seems to be more severe than that of its immediate competitors. This even despite the fact they were not running kERS, unlike the McLarens for example.

Also of note, the Ferrari's struggled with greater tyre wear than anticipated and also issues with temperature (Which maybe track-specific). Meanwhile, the McLarens showed every sign that the tyres removed from their cars after their first stints (Longer than the Red Bull of Vettel's) could have gone on even longer - both Hamilton's and Button's, suggesting that one of the McLaren's strength may be that it is kind to its tyres. Which may explain its other apparent strength - once again, McLaren seem to have a faster racer than qualifier. The long run pace of the McLaren is very good.

Good but not as good as the Saubers!

[vlad]

Yep!

And, yes, on the second stint Vettel remained even longer on track than Hamilton.

[CarBore]

Being kinder on tyres is an advantage to a point. Like Sauber being able to 1 stop. However if you can run slightly long like McLaren vs Red Bull the fact is you still need to stop the same number of times. It gives you a slight tactical advantage of a larger window to stop in. I guarantee McLaren would trade their wear for red Bull's pure pace at the drop of a hat.

It does leave us with the weird senario where McLaren have 'spare' milage on the tyre which they would rather have more pace to fully use the tyres vs Red Bull reigning in their ultimate speed over a race distance to keep the tyres.

Regarding Vettel's 2nd stint being longer remember red bull went soft hard soft. Not soft soft hard as McLaren did.

[xkv]

It would be interesting to see what the Sauber's tyres looked like at the end of the race versus Red Bulls...is that just a faint dream?

[racechick]

Being kinder on tyres is an advantage to a point. Like Sauber being able to 1 stop. However if you can run slightly long like McLaren vs Red Bull the fact is you still need to stop the same number of times. It gives you a slight tactical advantage of a larger window to stop in. I guarantee McLaren would trade their wear for red Bull's pure pace at the drop of a hat.

It does leave us with the weird senario where McLaren have 'spare' milage on the tyre which they would rather have more pace to fully use the tyres vs Red Bull reigning in their ultimate speed over a race distance to keep the tyres.

Maybe on some tracks that slight advantage might be a bigger advantage and be enough to save a pitstop?

[vlad]

Being kinder on tyres is an advantage to a point. Like Sauber being able to 1 stop. However if you can run slightly long like McLaren vs Red Bull the fact is you still need to stop the same number of times. It gives you a slight tactical advantage of a larger window to stop in. I guarantee McLaren would trade their wear for red Bull's pure pace at the drop of a hat.

It does leave us with the weird senario where McLaren have 'spare' milage on the tyre which they would rather have more pace to fully use the tyres vs Red Bull reigning in their ultimate speed over a race distance to keep the tyres.

Regarding Vettel's 2nd stint being longer remember red bull went soft hard soft. Not soft soft hard as McLaren did.

I think both Vettel and Hamiltod had the same tyre strategy.

[What's Burning?]

Pirelli's Paul Hembery believes that, instead of the general two or three-stop strategies which were seen in Australia two weekends ago, Formula 1 teams may be forced to make three to four pit visits in the upcoming race at Sepang. Furthermore, not one but two additional sets of tyres will be available on Friday.

“We were absolutely thrilled by our Grand Prix debut in Australia, but we're aware that Malaysia should be a very different proposition, with higher temperatures and increased degradation,” the Pirelli Motorsport Director explained on Monday morning.

Once again, the Hard and Soft Slick compounds will be available this weekend.

“We said all along that we would be seeing two to three pit-stops in Australia, but in Malaysia I think that figure is likely to increase to three to four. They say that it's never a question of ‘if’ it rains at Sepang but ‘when’, so the performance of our Wet tyres could be crucial this weekend and we're certainly looking forward to seeing them out on-track.”

He went on to explain that two extra sets of tyres will be made available per car for Friday free practice, with drivers then being left with the usual six sets to last for both qualifying and the race.

“We never believe in standing still at Pirelli, which is why the teams will have two extra sets of Slick tyres available to them during Friday's free practice sessions for evaluation purposes,” Hembery continued.

“With testing not allowed during the season, this gives us a valuable opportunity to gather more data and feedback, while it also gives the teams an interesting taste of what could be coming in the future.”

[darwin dali]

4 pit stops, what I said all along

[vlad]

Probably rain in Malaysia on race weekend!

[texasmr2]

Probably rain in Malaysia on race weekend!

[Hammer278]

4 pit stops, what I said all along

Someone kept ridiculing the possibility of 4 stops during the off season.

Hint: His avatar represents bacon.

[FRAFPDD]

4 pit stops, what I said all along

Someone kept ridiculing the possibility of 4 stops during the off season.

Hint: His avatar represents bacon.

Tex , If you get it, you get it.

[scotty]

4 pit stops, what I said all along

Someone kept ridiculing the possibility of 4 stops during the off season.

Hint: His avatar represents bacon.

Tex , If you get it, you get it.

[What's Burning?]

Need I remind you all that 4 spots means 5 sets of tires... 5 sets... that's basically two minutes spent getting in and out of pit lane.

Perez will prove you all wrong.

[FRAFPDD]

Need I remind you all that 4 spots means 5 sets of tires... 5 sets... that's basically two minutes spent getting in and out of pit lane.

Perez will prove you all wrong.

I dont think its just Perez, Kobayashi has shown he can make tyres last like the proffesor, and be as racy as Hamilton! Its cause he qualified in the top ten that he probably couldnt make just one stop. Goodness me imagine if he did, hed of finished.........5th!

Although the main point of my reply is to say i dunno man, malaysia is a lot harder on tyres then id imagine australia to be. But im hoping to dear god Sauber is that kind to its tyres everywhere, all i wanted this year was for Mclaren to be competitiev, Kobayashi to have an even better car under him, and schumacher to have likewise. So far it looks like the first two are on course......Just waitin for Brawn to play ball.