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Nick_L

By Nick_L
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myoozikk

myoozikk

Posted
Posted

perfect place for it IMHO. The start finish straight is pretty short like Melbourne's. I think DRS overtaking there wouldn't really happen. I am surprised at the detection area. Right after a braking point & a tight corner. I'd think most people would become within 1 second.

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p1nseeker

p1nseeker

Posted
Posted

The problem with DRS on the start / finish straight is turn one is fast and you're a long way round before you need to get on the brakes. So it would be a bit dangerous to have reduced downforce on the rear going into a high speed bend.

It's an interesting point though; should DRS be used to create more over taking opportunities or enhance existing ones?

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Dudley

Dudley

Posted
Posted

perfect place for it IMHO. The start finish straight is pretty short like Melbourne's. I think DRS overtaking there wouldn't really happen. I am surprised at the detection area. Right after a braking point & a tight corner. I'd think most people would become within 1 second.

Braking points and tight corners don't close people up time wise. They get closer in distance but they're (obviously) travelling slower.

So it shouldn't make a difference. 1 second will just be 25m rather than 100m.

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Sidewaysbob

Sidewaysbob

Posted
Posted

China, don't mention the disidents :blah:

So then, with barely enough time to draw breath and wash the champagne out of the race suits. The team have upped sticks and moved to the Shanghai International Circuit in China for the 3rd race of the year.

With such a tight turn around between races there is very little change the teams can make to the cars for this race. Obviously Renault will be flying a new car out for Petrov, but for the teams at the back of the grid such as HRT and Virgin, just getting a car to the race is an effort.

So there are unlikely to be any new aero bits or mechanical updates from any of the teams here, which in reality, means that the cars are going to be in the same spec as they were in Malaysia. That’s not to say the big boys won’t be sending the odd drawing office assistant out with a new rear wing element or exhaust manifold as hand luggage, but new floors and engine covers will have to wait for the return to Europe and the Turkish GP.

China can throw up the odd interesting race, especially if it rains. Last year Buttons smooth style on a slippery track helped him to his second win and the first McLaren 1-2 of the season. Vettel got the pole in the dry, but rain on race day left the Redbulls struggling.

Based on Malaysia which is a similar sort of circuit to China, the long fast straight and between sweeping corners is going to suit the Redbulls and McLarens. Button looks like he could be the one to take the challenge to Vettel on circuits where conserving tires is going to be at a premium, whilst Alonso and Hamilton will race the back sides off their cars.

I think the Redbull have the stronger long run pace, where the McLaren can’t stay as fast for as long on the harder tires. Meanwhile the Ferrari seems to have a problem with tire management full stop, they can’t seem to get the hard tires to work in qualifying which means they’re using up soft sets to make it into Q3. This leaves them with less option in the race and they’ve having to come back from further down the grid which in turn works the tires harder.

Renault look like their whizzy little start software has lost none of its zip with Heidfeld in the car. A blinding start last week from both of the Renaults set them up for two top ten finished until Petrov forgot where he was and though he was at Aintree not Sepang :sherlock::bye:

Can Renault do it again and get another podium? I don’t see why not, as long as they can get into Q3 they should be able to move up the order when the red lights go out.

Of course Renaults gain is Mercedes loss. They got both cars home in Malaysia, but they were an awfully long way back when you think how much money has been thrown at the team so far. There has been a lot of discussion of late over Schumacher and “What in the name of Stirling Mosses underpants is he doing coming back. The mans a fool !” Personally I didn’t think he’s a fool for coming back. Yeah he’s in a midfield dog of a car that doesn’t look like it’s going to go any faster any time soon. But he’s still out there giving it the beans and trying to drive other cars off the road. He’s lost none of that vim and vigour of old. Sure he’s missing the endless testing and win whatever the cost from the Ferrari days. And I can’t see an 8th world championship anytime soon. But He’s still got a smile when he gets out of the car, he doesn’t bad mouth the team or other drivers. So I guess he’s just doing it because it’s an enjoyable thing to do. Also it’s not like the old days when there was a 40% chance that someone would die during the race. It’s far far safer than it was 30 years ago when Lauda and Prost came back after a break.

As I said, I respect Schumacher for what he’s done, I still don’t like him as a person but I have no problem at all with him being there.

Williams still need to get their act together. What was a promising design and direction looks like it’s turned into an utter failure. That and the fact the firing of Hulkenburg for Malder what’s name is looking more and more like the stupid move everyone said it was.

Force India, two races two points from the rookie. Good stuff.

Torro Rosso, looked fast, then didn’t, rubbish drivers still.

Lotus are making noises about a new diffuser, when they should be talking about firing Trulli.

Virgin are being very quite

And Liuzzi is saying the HRT is still going to blow Virgin away at the next race.

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Dom B

Dom B

Posted
Posted

Can I just point out (because I love picking holes in Bob's reports) that actually McLaren will almost certainly be running a new floor in China. They built it after the first race and tried it in practice in Malaysia but reverted to the Melbourne version (the one made of titanium) for the actual race. They will do further tests in China practice and will probably run the new revision in the race this time. Thats what Whitmarsh said anyway.

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Cheeko

Cheeko

Posted
Posted

I think Di Resta is shaping up to be a front runner of the future, he's got the racing pedigree and I think he's doing an awesome job. Although he's got that robotic, Stephen Hendry air about him which makes me think he'll be one of those race winners from the front that everyone loves to hate too.

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Sidewaysbob

Sidewaysbob

Posted
Posted

Can I just point out (because I love picking holes in Bob's reports) that actually McLaren will almost certainly be running a new floor in China. They built it after the first race and tried it in practice in Malaysia but reverted to the Melbourne version (the one made of titanium) for the actual race. They will do further tests in China practice and will probably run the new revision in the race this time. Thats what Whitmarsh said anyway.

I stand corrected, i was unaware of that. Have an extra 5 points :):hug:

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kiroquai

kiroquai

Posted
Posted

This could have proven very nasty indeed.

Sergio Perez has revealed that he was lucky to escape without injury from his Malaysian Grand Prix accident - after debris from another car penetrated his cockpit.

The Mexican appeared to be on course for another points scoring finish in Sepang' date=' but was forced out of the race when his car stopped after being struck by a part from another competitor.

It was only post-race examination of the car that revealed just how fortunate Perez had been – with what is suspected to have been ballast from another car having gone through the tub and entered the cockpit.

The damage to the chassis meant it could not be used again, so Sauber has prepared a new tub for Perez for the Chinese GP.

"I think it was something very unsafe," said Perez in China. "I was really lucky to get away with no damage (injury) after we saw what had happened to the chassis.

"It came through very easy, so I am happy that nothing else happened to me. For this weekend we have a new chassis.

"We didn't see what part it was. We reckon it was ballast, as nothing else could do such damage."

Perez said he did not have time to avoid whatever he hit – and that his outfit do not know exactly whose car it had fallen off of.

"Something was there on the track – we don't know if it was from a Toro Rosso or another team. When [Jaime'] Alguersuari drove into it, it just came straight at me and into my car.

"It was a very dangerous situation because it came into the computer software box and it stopped just before my seat."

Despite the disappointment of Malaysia, Perez is pleased with his early-season progress – and reckons Sauber can regularly challenge for points.

"I think the team is doing a great job," he said. "We had a good start to the season, but were a bit unlucky in the last race for me.

"But still, we were in a good position for points and I am looking forward for this weekend. I hope we can score some good points."

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probeater

probeater

Posted
Posted

Anyone know places in central London that will be showing the qualifying this weekend? Sports Bar probably the best bet?

Qualifying is at 6am iirc, doubt many places will be open at that time.

Best bet is to probably find an emptyish independant pub in the afternoon (for the repeat) then commandeer a TV screen. It helps to have a few mates with you as otherwise you may get heckling from tards wanting to watch football.

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morcs

morcs

Posted
Posted

The cinema at Stab City in Birmingham used to show Grand Prixs in super hi def for not a bad fee. Think they stopped doing it though, which is a shame because in-car view looks incredible at projector sizes, and I never got to try it :(

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morcs

morcs

Posted
Posted

Indeed!

Drag yourself out into the lounge, close all the doors so nobody hears, put the coffee on and wake up with a tingling sensation as "The Chain" plays. Awesome.

I'm sure these were all earlier last year.

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kiroquai

kiroquai

Posted
Posted

I've got to fit a 500-mile road journey around this weekend's action. Should be fun!

But yeah, definitely something about watching it live. Getting up early to catch P1 is like the start of my weekend... just with a very knackered day of work in the middle!

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JPR

JPR

Posted
Posted

love watching it live, the few times I can't I will always watch the replay but it's never the same. I know the reality is cheering a driver on hoping for a good pit stop or a bad one for the guy in front makes no difference, but it just feels all the more futile and pointless on a replay, everything is decided already.

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JohnC

JohnC

Posted
Posted

The cinema at Stab City in Birmingham used to show Grand Prixs in super hi def

They didn't. It's only really begun HD broadcasting this year.

love watching it live, the few times I can't I will always watch the replay but it's never the same. I know the reality is cheering a driver on hoping for a good pit stop or a bad one for the guy in front makes no difference, but it just feels all the more futile and pointless on a replay, everything is decided already.

I know what you mean. So much so that if I can't see a race live, I don't even bother with a replay. It lust feels like a waste of time.

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