The F1 Thread

[Nando]

It made it too easy for those who had great traction out of 9, but it created some terrific battles between some in the final couple of corners.

Vettel's going to take some stopping this season, fair play to him as he's been faultless so far.

 

[Nando]

Sutil is in the shit, reportedly hit a member of Genii (owners of Renault) in the neck with a glass bottle.

 

[Nando]

Good job by Mark today, Seb knocked off his perch at last!

Can't see anybody getting near the pair of them tomorrow though.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Quite interesting qualifying I thought. Great last lap by Alonso to split the McLarens but the loss of one set of the option tyre could cost him.

Red Bull look out of sight again though. Who knows, we might actually see some overtaking at Spain for a change.

I do quite like the circuit, but that chicane before the pit lane entrance is shite. It looks like they have ruined a perfectly good corner for no great reason.

 

[Nando]

No idea where Alonso pulled that from, not sure he does himself!

We need one of Lewis/Alonso/Button to jump at least one of the Red Bull's to make it slightly more interesting. Schumi should be decent towards the end of the race if he can stay in contention in the first stint.

 

[The Bear]

The last corner used to be brilliantly fast I agree. Hiwever the slow exit of the chicane now means cars have more of an overtaking opportunity down the straight, especially with KERS and DRS.

 

[Wombat del combate]

Schumi should be decent towards the end of the race if he can stay in contention in the first stint.

Interesting tactics in Q3 for sure. I thought him and Alonso were given some unfair criticism in Q1 for using a set of super-softs when in actual fact their times when their original times were very close to elimination.

 

[The Bear]

Why is it Eddie Jordan can't talk to someone without touching them or grabbing their arm. It'd really do my head in if it was me. Stop touching me you old weirdo!

 

[Nando]

Fucking hell Fernando!!

 

[Wombat del combate]

Awesome start. Similarly, Schumacher has made up a lot of ground - I heard that he switched to (used?) softs?

 

[Nando]

Top work from Seb.

 

[Wombat del combate]

Fascinating race that's going to go to the flag. Amazing to think Alonso was racing for the elad and is now over a minute behind. Honourable mention to Heidfeld for a drive from the pit lane to (currently) eighth.

 

[Nando]

Heidfeld starts last, Petrov sixth. Heidfeld now ahead of him due to having x number of new tyres. Qualifying is becoming rather pointless at the moment.

 

[broughtonwolf]

www.sennamovie.co.uk - out in cinemas 3rd June.

Really looking forward to this.

 

[Psychowolf]

Monaco next, practice starts tomorrow. DRS has been banned for the tunnel and I believe the DRS zone will be the start straight, could be wrong though.

I'm really not sure what I make of this season so far. Some races have been incredibly exciting and some a little dull. I can't thank Alonso enough for his start last week as it made the race so much more interesting. Had Vettel been in front from the start I can't see anything other than a clear race to victory again. Alonso caused a great 4 way battle for the first stint and kept it interesting. Getting slightly bored of Vettel being so good though at the moment. Rest of the pack always has some great racing involved but once Vettel is in the clear he's gone. Hamilton does his best to cling onto his coat tails but the RBR is just too quick.

Due to the nature of Monaco, the Red Bull in the corners and Vettel himself I can't see anything more than another victory for him. Monaco's always exciting but it's not exactly easy to overtake so hopefully the DRS zone can make for some interesting moves into the first corner. Still, here's hoping for an exciting race and someone other than Vettel winning.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

The start straight at Monaco isn't really long enough for DRS to make a lot of difference. The absolute key will be qualifying at Monaco as overtaking is an absolute swine. Otherwise, when the tyres go off there could be tries on the run up from casino square or around Mirabeau and through the tunnel, which could be interesting. Miss that, and I don't remember many manouvres through the swimming pool or into rascasse.

 

[Psychowolf]

I think traction out of the last corner will make the difference for DRS. That though depends on where the activation line is, if it's soon enough it might just be long enough of a straight to help if the car gets better traction out of the corner. At most I think it will put a car into the position to make a late break and it will then be down to who's braver. Turkey showed that good traction out of the corner coupled with DRS is a massive boost compared to just a longer DRS zone as seen in Spain. Thinking about it though you could very well be right and it just won't be long enough.

 

[Nando]

I've never seen somebody overtake at St Devote. It would have been better leading down to Mirabeu, if not for the massive bump on the racing line.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

the line to St Devote is very narrow because of the kink in the road on that hill. Very easy to put it into the barrier.

 

[Psychowolf]

Thing is the DRS is only there to give drivers the opportunity to pass. While you never really see overtaking going into St Devote, it seems to me the FIA want it to happen. If they thought the DRS wasn't going to work I don't think they would have allowed it at all as it would prove nothing and be a waste. The danger of putting it in the wall is also another reason I don't see them risking if they thought it wouldn't work. If it works, it will take a brave man to go for the move. I see many cutting the corner though and taking the pit exit route round the corner and handing position back if the DRS proves to work.