2011 F1 Season thread

[punjabiplaya]

i like seeing the gap closing to the others

before it was just red bull, then everyone else

 

[LTC8K6]

It's still just Red Bull, then everyone else...RB are nearly 1 second faster than everyone else.

 

[RockinZ28]

DVR set to record Vettel vs Weber.

 

[punjabiplaya]

It's still just Red Bull, then everyone else...RB are nearly 1 second faster than everyone else.

ah yeah, I was looking at the gap between Lewis, Alonso, and Jenson

 

[RiDE]

You know it's bad when Alonso looked that happy with 4th in qualy. :awe:

 

[The Boston Dangler]

incredible start by alonso, but he just kept getting slower all race. vettel's and particularly hamilton's strategies were right on.

 

[DivideBYZero]

It's still just Red Bull, then everyone else...RB are nearly 1 second faster than everyone else.

Meh, only during qualifying. They don't have that pace in race trim.

 

[JulesMaximus]

incredible start by alonso, but he just kept getting slower all race. vettel's and particularly hamilton's strategies were right on.

Agreed. I was hoping Alonso could achieve a better result with that brilliant start but it seems like Ferrari just doesn't have the best race strategy or strategists. It seems like they react to what other teams do instead of sticking to their own plan.

I was really hoping Hamilton would reel in Vettel and overtake him but I think he just didn't have the car.

It was an exciting race though.

 

[punjabiplaya]

Agreed. I was hoping Alonso could achieve a better result with that brilliant start but it seems like Ferrari just doesn't have the best race strategy or strategists. It seems like they react to what other teams do instead of sticking to their own plan.

I was really hoping Hamilton would reel in Vettel and overtake him but I think he just didn't have the car.

It was an exciting race though.

Agreed. With the new Pirellis it seems like race strategy is extremely important now and Ferrari needs better strategists

 

[LTC8K6]

Meh, only during qualifying. They don't have that pace in race trim.

KERS problems, apparently. You'd think they'd have fixed that thing by now, or removed it.

 

[LTC8K6]

Ferrari has rear wing troubles, it seems. They had planned to be able to use that new wing and set up the car around it, then it got taken away, leaving them compromised.

Hopefully they can get it back again, but it will certainly not be at Monaco.

 

[Skurge]

KERS problems, apparently. You'd think they'd have fixed that thing by now, or removed it.

Apparantly its a combination of things.

http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2011/...-qualifying-but-mclaren-is-close-in-the-race/

 

[LTC8K6]

Apparantly its a combination of things.

http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2011/...-qualifying-but-mclaren-is-close-in-the-race/

Well, it was pretty clear in the race that Vettel was leaving Hamilton behind handily coming out of the corner leading to the DRS straight, leaving Hamilton way too far behind to do anything.

Vettel just walked away from Hamilton exiting that corner.

 

[Majunior]

For qualifying results, my money lands squarely on the RBR team. Their pace is completely untouchable. Once the race starts, it's much more difficult to judge. McLaren have shown that their pace and strategy are equal to the RBR team. I think that after a few more races, we're going to see a much closer field points wise, for the top 5 (alonso).

Personally, I would love to see Jensen back up on top. Aside from the questionable issue with Massa in turkey, he's a squeaky clean, efficient driver. His passing maneuvers are beautiful text book examples of how to race. He just doesn't have the same ability to push that LH has.

 

[JulesMaximus]

For qualifying results, my money lands squarely on the RBR team. Their pace is completely untouchable. Once the race starts, it's much more difficult to judge. McLaren have shown that their pace and strategy are equal to the RBR team. I think that after a few more races, we're going to see a much closer field points wise, for the top 5 (alonso).

Personally, I would love to see Jensen back up on top. Aside from the questionable issue with Massa in turkey, he's a squeaky clean, efficient driver. His passing maneuvers are beautiful text book examples of how to race. He just doesn't have the same ability to push that LH has.

Yeah, the Red Bulls seem to be on par with the other cars when running full of fuel and just as prone to wearing out the tires. When they get lighter toward the end of the race they seem to get back some of that dominant speed but by then the tires are worn out.

 

[Skurge]

anyone think qually will be closer in monaco cause there are fewer places to use DRS?

 

[The Boston Dangler]

anyone think qually will be closer in monaco cause there are fewer places to use DRS?

i don't expect any change from what we've seen all year.

 

[Majunior]

Sounds like DRS zone is being moved from the tunnel to the start/finish straight in Monaco.

"Formula 1 drivers will be banned from using the DRS in the tunnel at this weekend's Monaco Grand Prix after the FIA reacted to drivers' concerns on Monday, AUTOSPORT can reveal.

On the back of continued fears from drivers that it could be too dangerous to use the DRS through the tunnel in practice and qualifying, FIA race director Charlie Whiting wrote to the Grand Prix Drivers' Association members on Monday to tell them he agreed with their stance.
...
The FIA will lay down a ban on DRS between two points on the Monaco circuit - distance markers 1350m and 2020m - which is the area around the tunnel.

DRS use will be free elsewhere and the overtaking zone will be laid out on the start-finish straight - because the more obvious tunnel area was too dangerous."
Source - http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/91681



I think it's a good choice, personally.
1) That's a lot of potential passing we won't get to see clearly.
2) DRS through a high speed turn sounds like a bad idea.
3) Even without the reduced down force of DRS, In years past we've seen tragic results of cars going off-line to pass in the tunnel. Not to mention the increase off-line rubber from the Pirelli tires this year.

 

[JulesMaximus]

anyone think qually will be closer in monaco cause there are fewer places to use DRS?

I can only think of three possible places they could use DRS in Monaco, the tunnel (which will probably be the DRS zone for the race), the front straight and the climb up the hill toward Massenet.

Hmm, guess the post before mine proves me wrong. I was kind of second guessing myself on the tunnel anyway because it is not straight, has little run off, and is downhill.

Should be a good race.

Anyone know a good place to watch it from in Palm Springs/Rancho Mirage?

 

[The Boston Dangler]

in monaco, a truck has burned causing damage to the pavement at turn 1 (sainte devote)
http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2011/05/25/255/

 

[The Boston Dangler]

monaco gp us tv times (all times eastern):

practice 1: 4 am, thursday, speedtv.com
practice 2: 8 am, thursday, speed
practice 3: 5 am, saturday, speedtv.com
qualifying: 8 am, saturday, speed
race: 8 am, sunday, speed

 

[punjabiplaya]

exciting practice. I never really liked Alonso (as a person) but as a driver he's epic. I want to see him win in Monaco, but I also want to see how much of a difference Newey's RB7 makes vs others' cars.

 

[PlasmaBomb]

Qualifying is on.

 

[punjabiplaya]

vettel by a lot, that kid is unstoppable

 

[PlasmaBomb]

vettel by a lot, that kid is unstoppable

Spoiler

It was an odd qualifying, Hamilton didn't really get a clean run. A lot of people missed out a hot lap due to the red flag changing their running schedule.