I think "get in front" and you will probably win, likely hasn't changed a lot.
If you can get into the lead in clean air with a decent car, it's difficult to catch you.
The lead changed hands multiple times, right down to the very final lap. Since the entire lap was under full throttle (according to the race winner), conserving momentum, choosing the optimum line through the corners, and slipstreaming one’s rivals was crucial. The smallest mistake could drop a car back several yards from their rivals, and the student-racers were evidently concentrating hard for the 20 minute race.
Lewis got in front but didn't win. Why?
Chevrolet announced 123 pieces to its bodywork design, Honda nearly 200. Evidence could be found all up and down the streets along Tampa Bay.
The first half of the race was slowed by five full-course cautions. It seemed every challenge made by one driver led to broken pieces of another's kit. At one point the count was seven damaged Honda front wings, two for Chevrolet. By race's end there were several more than that.
It was silly to drop the medium tires on lap 3 or whatever. Then they got the cars back out in traffic and Vettel ran away. I think it's a strategy hiccup and Merc will be way out front again in the next few races. Maybe just 10 seconds this time.
Speaking to an Italian newspaper, veteran actor Robert De Niro has reportedly signed up to play Enzo Ferrari in an upcoming film biopic portraying the legendary Italian. It'll be called, simply, Ferrari.
De Niro, 71, told Italy's Il Messaggero that he will take on the role of one of the car world's giants, in a film spanning 1945 to the 1980s, the latter being of course, the era of the Ferrari F40.
While that doesn't necessarily have to do with F1, I still like the news. De Niro is a great actor and I could see him doing well in the role. I mean, we know he can act Italian (Godfarther 2).
Safety car not questionable at all - no point in racing, when you can't overtake on the main straight. Car was right on the track and had to be removed.
i fell asleep
Rosberg does have a point though - the best result for Mercedes is where no other team interferes with their 1-2. By not opening the gap sufficiently, Lewis (or his race engineer) have put the result for the team at an unnecessary risk - this is something I would be disappointed about as well.
Rosberg probably saw no point in attacking Lewis, since it would probably cost him second place, to run for any length of time behind him - just closing the gap to DRS range is quite costly from a tire point of view. That would have compromised his position even more, compared to Seb. Had Lewis opened the gap, Rosberg could have attacked, since there would have been more of a buffer to cover an undercut, and more liberty to go racing.
Like this, we were denied a battle for the lead, and Mercedes have taken an unnecessary risk at giving away points. I quite understand Rosberg as feeling unwell in that position, where he does nothing but play Hamilton's rear guard.
Should have watched WEC then. Race ended with 5secs between first and second after 6hrs. There was plenty more overtaking for the lead in that race with plenty of drama. The Neel Jani, Marcel Fassler fight was going on for like 10 laps swapping positions.
Although Lewis may believe Nico is a greater title threat than Vettel the fact is Vettel is still very close in points so Lewis attempting to aid Vettel in an effort to hurt Nico doesn't make sense.
Looks to me that Lewis was just managing his tires knowing he had pace in hand if needed. I'm beginning to believe the Nico is a pussy and will never be able to beat Lewis in equal cars. Lewis owns Nico and they both know it.
Clearly Merc increased there pace relative to Ferrari and I'd surmise about half the increase was due to new parts and the other half to a more favorable track.
Brian