Malaysian GP Practice ***spoiler*

Honda looks like they're still in trouble..

 

It will be interesting to see if Renault can keep up with Ferrari in Qualifying. I am really suprised both Fisi and HK were 2nd and 3rd. Obviously practice doesn't mean a thing if you can't back it up with a solid qualifying session.

 

No. it's pretty clear Renault is just fast over a single lap, not over a race distance. i think they're almost 3 secs off the pace of the F2007...

 

And what changed between their 1-2 in 2006 and this year? Ah yes, Alonso left.

 

i'm actually starting to think it's due to the change of tyres..

 

Good point. If anything the Michelins were built for the Renault just as the Bridgestones were built for the Ferrari.

Still I don't think it is coincidence that Renault goes down as McLaren is on the up.

 

yes, but don't forget, Mclaren has been developing it's 2007 car since the last quarter of 2006. they should not have any excuses if they don't succeed this year.

they have a champ on board, experienced test driver, future champ on board, and tonnes of sponsor money to throw around.

 

Hey, that sounds like Toyota!

...hmm, not exactly.

 

McLaren should have no excuses. I think the Tyres really have impacted Renault, but so have the unexceptional driving talent at that team. Fischella really blows.

 

Yeah I think it's mainly the tire change. Also, look at Mclaren, two new drivers and they look to be better than they were last year. They also had two drivers who weren't known for developing a car. I don't think the overall performance of a team would drop if one driver leaves, with all other things being equal. There are alot of things that go on behind the public eye.

 

Remember when Fisi was thought to be the next big thing? Lmao...

Also, does anyone know how Wurz can drive an F1 car comfortably? He's like 6'1 or 6'2, did Williams have to build him a specific car so he could fit?

 

Wurz should be kicked off the planet.

 

With the lying down position I don't think a driver's height is that much of an issue anymore. He probably has his feet in the nose wing.

 

I think Kubica is also quite tall for F1 and IIRC he said that the 3 races he did last season there was a bit of a problem with his height. Only in 2007 when the team he would be in for the whole season were some changes made beforehand to accomodate his height.

 

With the laying down position you can basically "save" some room by angling the knees and the back more or less.

Last year I sat in a Sauber F1 chassis from 05 and it was amazing how much space there was longitudinally (not latitudally!) to adjust for different driver height. Basically for my 5.3 frame they moved the paddles all the way up. So somebody like Wurz could have easily fit with the paddles all the way down towards the front axle.

Also when you look at Ferrari's Clienti Corsi program, there are a few very tall owners who don't seem to have an issue at all.

 

Thanks I realized that and that speed had the 2nd practice live, so I watched it I love being able to see the white stripe for the soft tires.

 

Friday Ferrari and McLaren time table
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Cool info Yellowbird. Where is this info available?

 

Thank you YB for always posting great information.

 

Friday Ferrari Media & Press bulletin

 

Cool, where can we get that?

-edit
BTW Massa got caught speeding yesterday. 84 km/h in a 60 zone. At 200 Euros per click thats a 4800 Euro fine!! (almost $6500)

Alonso got busted twice yesterday, but for much lesser offenses. 3.3 and 1.4 km/h over for a total fine of 1000 Euro.

edit 2
And FP3 is almost half way done. Massa P1 over Hamilton and Alonso. Kimi hasn't taken to the track yet.

 

P3 times:

Code:

Pos  Driver        Team                    Time              Laps
 1.  Hamilton      McLaren-Mercedes   (B)  1:34.811           14
 2.  Massa         Ferrari            (B)  1:34.953 + 0.142   15
 3.  Alonso        McLaren-Mercedes   (B)  1:35.311 + 0.500   11
 4.  Kubica        BMW Sauber         (B)  1:35.385 + 0.574   16
 5.  Raikkonen     Ferrari            (B)  1:35.498 + 0.687    7
 6.  Rosberg       Williams-Toyota    (B)  1:35.770 + 0.959   16
 7.  Heidfeld      BMW Sauber         (B)  1:36.160 + 1.349   20
 8.  Davidson      Super Aguri-Honda  (B)  1:36.195 + 1.384   19
 9.  R.Schumacher  Toyota             (B)  1:36.245 + 1.434   20
10.  Webber        Red Bull-Renault   (B)  1:36.257 + 1.446   17
11.  Coulthard     Red Bull-Renault   (B)  1:36.273 + 1.462   13
12.  Liuzzi        Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B)  1:36.297 + 1.486   18
13.  Fisichella    Renault            (B)  1:36.434 + 1.623   15
14.  Wurz          Williams-Toyota    (B)  1:36.473 + 1.662   16
15.  Speed         Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B)  1:36.501 + 1.690   14
16.  Sato          Super Aguri-Honda  (B)  1:36.545 + 1.734   18
17.  Button        Honda              (B)  1:36.658 + 1.847   20
18.  Kovalainen    Renault            (B)  1:36.876 + 2.065    6
19.  Barrichello   Honda              (B)  1:36.972 + 2.161   19
20.  Trulli        Toyota             (B)  1:37.473 + 2.662   16
21.  Sutil         Spyker-Ferrari     (B)  1:38.018 + 3.207   20
22.  Albers        Spyker-Ferrari     (B)  1:38.225 + 3.414   20

 

great info YellowBird. any hi-res pics?

 

damn! what an experience. was it easy to get in/get out of the cockpit?

 

Not harder than any order single seater cockpit. You step on the seat, lower yourself down, arms folded in front of you and once you sit down you tuck the arms in, then find the pedals with the feet. I really liked the halfway laying position.