[Kaotik]

Originally Posted by UniversalTruth

Of course, but if corner speed is high enough, that inevitably will keep you close enough to the opponent and inevitably in slipstream or by using DRS you will overtake...
It is visible that Renault engine is weak in comparison to both Ferrari and Mercedes. Even redbulls' speed in straight was lower.

It won't help if others go as fast without DRS as was the case - as for Renault, yes, it's weaker, but it didn't stop for example Williams from being 6th and 8th fastest on the speed trap

[jimbo75]

The cars are performing where they are on pace tbh. I think Renault flattered to deceive in the early part of the season when everybody was in a mess due to the tyres. They are clearly the 4th fastest team, but that's it.

McLaren had a short phase where it looked like they'd go on the kind of run Red Bull has, but it was too short. I reckon the Ferrari and McLaren are almost identical on pace and the only thing keeping Alonso close is the desire to win the championship. If Hamilton still had a chance he'd be pushing harder, but the Red Bull is a good 3-4 tenths faster. Vettel isn't even at 95% of max sadly and could easily find another tenth if he really needed it.

[Kaotik]

Regardless if Lotus/Renault is 4th fastest car or not, Kimi would have had a lot better race pace if he wasn't stuck behind Massa with no tools to pass him, to quote Sky commentators freely from the first part of the race (before the top 10 came to change tyres), "whenever Kimi drops a bit more behind Massa, his pace gets on the same level as Red Bulls until he hits Massas dirty air again"

[AlphaWolf]

If he could manage that pace in qualifying he wouldn't have to worry about it.

[Dr Evil]

Red Bull and Vettel are executing on a lovely level
Alonso is putting up a good fight, but seems to be tall order at the moment.

[UniversalTruth]

Originally Posted by Kaotik

Regardless if Lotus/Renault is 4th fastest car or not, Kimi would have had a lot better race pace if he wasn't stuck behind Massa with no tools to pass him, to quote Sky commentators freely from the first part of the race (before the top 10 came to change tyres), "whenever Kimi drops a bit more behind Massa, his pace gets on the same level as Red Bulls until he hits Massas dirty air again"

I would like to argue that it wasn't Felipe's true pace either. Something to his Ferrari happened and he wasn't able to show full potential.

[Kaotik]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feXak...ature=youtu.be

Lotus confirms Kimi continuing there next season

[DJ12]

Originally Posted by Dr Evil

Red Bull and Vettel are executing on a lovely level
Alonso is putting up a good fight, but seems to be tall order at the moment.

I wouldn't be at all surprised to hear they have found a way to blow the diffuser to the same level that was possible last year.

[fantasista]

Originally Posted by Dr Evil

Red Bull and Vettel are executing on a lovely level
Alonso is putting up a good fight, but seems to be tall order at the moment.

Alonso is a deity. ANOTHER incredible drive for him on Sunday in an inferior car. Unless something catastrophic happens to Vettel, though, I think he has the title wrapped up; they seem to have solved their reliability problems and Ferrari's upgrades aren't doing enough for them. The solution? Ferrari needs to sign, or somehow do away with, Adrian Newey.

[UniversalTruth]

Basically, Vettel and Red Bull deny rumours about going to Ferrari.

[jimbo75]

Fingers crossed for a Hamilton pole if we're to have any kind of "race" this weekend. Lotus could surprise in qualifying, apparently...

[Colourless]

Originally Posted by jimbo75

Fingers crossed for a Hamilton pole if we're to have any kind of "race" this weekend. Lotus could surprise in qualifying, apparently...

And Lewis got that pole for you. Now, lets see what happens with Vettel.

[jimbo75]

Yep he really seemed to be hooked up today. It'll be interesting to see if he can keep the red bulls behind him. It'll also be interesting to see if Vettel plays it smart and settles for finishing ahead of Alonso, who surely needs a miracle now. Could be a decent race but I'm afraid it could be curtains for the championship.

edit - apparantly Vettel stopped out on the track at the end of qualifying, so maybe the stewards can breathe some new life into the championship...

[DJ12]

I'm sure Ferrari International Assistance will see him sent to the back of the grid, and for once I will be happy with the injustice of it all.

Alonso must win the championship

[jimbo75]

Decision on it in the next few minutes.

Rumours of it being a fuel issue - remember Hamilton got put to the back of the grid earlier in the season for running out of fuel and stopping on the track.

[jimbo75]

He's been thrown out of qualifying, will start from the back of the grid (or possibly the pit lane). Well that made things a lot more interesting!

Incredibly poor stuff from RBR, you expect these kind of suicides from McLaren but not them.

[UniversalTruth]

Originally Posted by DJ12

Alonso must win the championship

Amen.

I have told ya.

Originally Posted by UniversalTruth

I was thinking about disqualifying Vettel

Hip hip hoorey Hip hip hoorey.

I hope he doesn't finish the race at all.

Although this news made my day,

Originally Posted by jimbo75

Incredibly poor stuff from RBR, you expect these kind of suicides from McLaren but not them.

I would prefer to think that they are not so stupid but instead it is a big conspiracy in order to introduce more drama to the final races.

[Kaotik]

I'm not sure which would be worse, Alonso winning or Vettel winning the championship, neither is really a good option IMO (Alonso has had more than his fair share of luck and the attitude is one of the worst among the top drivers (like "yeah, i really worked hard for this victory and this was like best race ever" when he has been given free victory after clear leaders car breaking up few laps before the end), and Vettel is risking becoming a dick because of 3rd championship in a row)

Regardless, the penalty while fair, sucks, as Kimi has to start on the dirtier side of the track now - he said he rather takes the 5th than for example 4th which was quite close, simply because the track should be so much better to start from on the 5th places side

[UniversalTruth]

Hmm, why do I have the impression that the asphalt there is as clean as and smooth as glass? Do I miss some images which show any dust there?

[jimbo75]

I'll generally support the underdog and while Alonso was far ahead I was basically hoping anyone would catch him up. It was obvious to me that he was ahead on merit however as that Ferrari was a dog in the first quarter.

When Vettel started catching up in the last few races, it made me realise just how much the car matters again. Alonso has driven the wheels off that Ferrari all season but he has no answer to RBR or Newey. I hope he wins it because domination by one driver is never good, and Vettel isn't exactly the most charitable of drivers either. Really, Alonso deserves it after the way he drove the car in the first half of the championship. When you look at Vettel and Hamilton, they had some awful performances when the car wasn't good but Alonso has been brilliant in a bad car most of the season.

[UniversalTruth]

Ferrari's new front wing is a piece-of-art.









http://www.f1technical.net/forum/vie...?p=388499&f=12

[Tahir2]

Interesting Christian Horner firmly shifts responsibility to Renault.
Renault ordered the car to be stopped to protect the engine.
Renault are the ones that put fuel in the car and advise how much should go in.
The force majeure reason stood up according to what Christian is saying but not enough fuel was extracted and the FIA has a lot of data available that we do not see so unlikely a cover up by Red Bull.
Christian Horner does believe the penalty was fair as not enough fuel could be provided for scrutiny as the rules stipulate.

[Dr Evil]

Quite incredible fail by Red Bull. I wonder how pissed Vettel was when he heard the reason and the penalty? Hamilton has been very strong and I don't see other's beating him. Curious to see if Alonso can drive another great race and gain some places and what Vettel can achieve from the back. Should be an interesting race.

[Bludd]

So Alonso's poor qualifying is saved by Red Bull and Renault dropping the ball? It's bitter-sweet but I'll take it.

[UniversalTruth]

Originally Posted by Bludd

So Alonso's poor qualifying is saved by Red Bull and Renault dropping the ball? It's bitter-sweet but I'll take it.

Sorry, that's where Ferrari has always been in qualifyings. Do you remember Monaco few years ago when Fernando was like a second behind in qualifying and despite this he was quickest in race? Back then, they gave a gift- the victory to vettel with thaat insane decision to allow them to change tyres...
So, my point being is that it is neither poor, nor means anything...
We will see.