http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/formula_one/14363956.stm Comes down to tires and temps. Vettel has alot of work ahead of him it could be a bit closer possibly.
------- Next the hotter races: Singapore, Japan, Korea, India, Abu Dhabi, Brazil. It's a mix that makes for an intriguing prospect. Certainly Ferrari are very upbeat about their prospects in Suzuka, a track that places huge demands on the tyres. "If we could go to Suzuka with everyone's cars as they are now," says one Ferrari insider, "we would walk it. I'm convinced of that." ------- A Ferrari 1 - 2 at Suzuka would be pure magic!!!! After all the efforts Ferrari has been putting in after the earthquake... it will be brilliant to also give the Japanese tifosi a 1 - 2 at Suzuka.
I'm still not sold on the idea of red bull domination being over. I hope it's true. The last few races have been incredible.
I agree. I do not think the field has picked up that much speed over such a short period of time. I think Red Bull, overall, this has the fastest car with the fastest driver. Different tracks, with different conditions, will suit different cars, but all things being equal, Red Bull walks the field. I do hope, however, the remainder of the season is as good as the last few races have been...I'm just not that optimistic. Mark
+1 The championship may be over bar the shouting, but we're seeing some damn good racing IMO. I am!.... I reckon hot temperatures will result in the gap between the big three being even smaller! Cheers, Ian
I think Redbull are still the class of the field, they've been there, or there-abouts every race so far (I don't think they've been off the podium yet?). I suspect they have less development potential in there car than the others. Ferrari & McLaren are finding the 10ths of a second that Redbull already had. Should be some interested races coming up though. Should I take chance on a last minute blast to Monza for a repeat of last years performance.....
Nice and sunny if you don't mind. I've done the rainy race this year. I've just checked Easyjet, and the prices aren't very friendly.
To which my theory still is: all Vettel has to do is finish 3rd or 4th in the remaining races. I figured RB would be detuning his engine to make sure it lasts, that he gets finishes, Hamilton doesn't have it in him to win every remaining race.
Hamilton won't be a serious contender again until he quits being a prima donna and comparing himself to senna constantly.
I'm not sold either. I'm still convinced that the Mclaren is stupendously quick as long as the track is cold/wet. Ferrari & Mclaren have definitely caught up to Red Bull RE qualifying speed, it's close now but RB is still quickest in that regard. Spa most likely won't give us an accurate reading as it'll be cold once again, or wet. Monza should be a warmer GP, although a Ferrari win hopefully will be on the cards. I want Vettel to take the title again this year. Japan and Brazil will be hit and miss weather wise, as will Singapore actually being in that area where it can rain absolute bat**** crazy, and then be dry again 5 minutes later...but there won't be any sun to dry the wet track quicker.
I disagree. It's a fact that either the bulls or Vettel is not good in the rain. The past few races have been rainy. So will Spa probably.
What you also have to remember that Redbull are now focusing a large proportion of their resources on their 2012 car. They will be looking at maintaining their healthy points gab from now on. So although it looks like the others have caught up with Redbull, it could well be the case that they are in fact half a year behind come the start of next season, again!
It's not the rain, it's the temperature. As discussed before, the RB being very kind to the tires has the disadvantage of not bringing them up to temperature in cold conditions. Conversely, the McLaren puts a lot of stress on the tires, which kills them quickly under normal/hot conditions, but keeps them at the right temperature when it's cold.
No way. Short of injuring himself, Vettel will get the title this year. The other teams and drivers will equalize each other's points while Vettel still carries something like 10 points home every race. It will be more fun for us to watch as somebody else will be on the podium, but the chase for the title is over. Has been over for several races actually. The thing that interests me a lot more (and to which I won't be getting an answer for at least half a year): Will RB be dominant again next year?
I'm not going to take anything away from Button and Lewis, but Mclaren's design philosophy for many years now has been to focus on strong mechanical grip (hence the best slow speed conner grip in the field). This approach always has a huge benefit in wet or damp conditions, and along with that this year, they have the other advantage of warming their tyres up fast.
Maybe yes. Redbull have had a amazing car from the get-go, and the natural traction it had out of corners was leaving the Mclaren dead in the water earlier on, even with KERS DRS enabled. Mclaren and Ferrari have done well to reel it in, but like has been stated as long as different winners keep taking points from each other, Vettel is sitting pretty. Redbull may be relaxing in the knowledge they have a WDC in the bag, and may now be working like beavers on their next show stopping 2012 car.
+1 Whether it turns out to be another show stopping, quick out of the shoot, etc car remains to be seen of course...... IIRC, didn't Mclaren make the same "mistake" a few years back? - They won (easily) one year and developed the ultimate successor..... 'Twas *crap* - They eventually reverted to the previous years car (?) Cheers, Ian
Yes I think they did. This years car was pretty radical at the start, looked ace, till they realized it was miles of the pace, so they did a quick about turn, no doubt armed with alot of Red Bull photos..
TBH, and I said this at the launch, I never liked it - IMO, there's nothing "pretty" there....And those sidepods are just ugly. Had it been painted red, my opinion may have changed of course I'll certainly hand it to 'em for trying something a little different though. As to "lots of RBR photos" I read somewhere that the photog's make most of their $ taking "spy" shots to order for the teams Cheers, Ian
