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Post by Wß on Mar 29, 2017 15:26:59 GMT
From Australia to Spain, teams will have identical tire allocations: seven sets of the softest compound available, four sets of the middle compound, and two of the hardest compound.
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Post by racechick on Mar 29, 2017 15:31:49 GMT
Preview to Chinese GP 2017
The season is up and running, with a few surprises........those Ferrari's are fast!! Now the circus moves on to China.
Let's look at the track first. A Herman Tilke track, when it was completed in 2004, it was the most expensive F1 track ever to be built costing $240 mil. It has since been surpassed. The track is in the shape of the Chinese character 上 (Shang) meaning above. Hai means sea. Shanghai, above the sea.
In 2005 the Shanghai circuit hosted the last race of the season. The drivers championship had already been sealed by Alonso in his Renault, but McLaren were in with a chance of the constructors. Disaster struck on lap 18 when Juan Pablo Montoya hit a protruding drain cover and ended his race.
Hamilton is a multiple winner at the Shanghai circuit having won there 4 times. Multiple winners Hamilton (4) Alonso (2) Rosberg (2)
But last year wasn't kind to him. Starting from the back of the grid due to mechanical problems, he then tangled with Nasr on the first lap, he had to complete almost a whole lap with his wing tucked under the car. He managed to recover to 7th but it was an easy win for Rosberg. Ricciardo was also unfortunate, having passed pole sitter Rosberg, he suffered a tyre blow out. And the Ferrari's managed to collide with each other, though they could both continue. So drama aplenty last year, what can we expect this year?
We learnt at Melbourne that the Ferrari's were quick. We learnt that the Mercedes couldn't outrun the Ferrari, and that the Mercedes car wasn't happy on the ultra tyres. We also learnt that overtaking, even following close, without DRS was not an easy task. But that was Melbourne. This is Shanghai. Shanghai does offer overtaking opportunities. So perhaps after this race we will have more idea about the overtaking ability of these cars. We may also get a better idea of the relative performance of the teams. Mercedes were in a class of their own last year. What will be the state of play this time?
And what of team mates? Ricciardo seemed to have the measure of Verstappen until his little slip up. Bottas wasn't on Hamilton's pace most of the weekend but ran close in the latter stages of the race. Vettel was the one taking it to Mercedes not Raikkonen. It was just the first race. It will be intriguing to see how things develop.
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Post by RyRy on Mar 29, 2017 15:45:24 GMT
I've always liked the Chinese GP, tends to push teams. The last sector is the part I like, not that keen on the middle sector although it does have a few challenging corners.
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Post by Hammer on Mar 29, 2017 16:00:37 GMT
China always delivers! (Good F1 races at least). If we see very little overtaking here, we're in big big trouble. But I fully expect lots of overtaking as usual...as they say, it's tougher to follow through corners but slip streaming has also become more effective.
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Post by racechick on Mar 29, 2017 16:06:28 GMT
Yeah agree. If they can't overtake here we're stuffed. I hope we aren't stuffed! I bet Brawn will be taking a keen look at this. He's not a fan of DRS, but if it's all he's got , then he has some serious thinking ahead. Let's hope we have a stunner of a race with lots of non DRS overtaking!
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Post by RyRy on Mar 29, 2017 16:25:47 GMT
China always delivers! (Good F1 races at least). If we see very little overtaking here, we're in big big trouble. But I fully expect lots of overtaking as usual...as they say, it's tougher to follow through corners but slip streaming has also become more effective. Most overtakes at China happen under braking which really isn't as impressive compared to overtaking through corners/twisty sections like we see in lower categories and that's because they lack the downforce which makes minor mistakes result in a loss in position.
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Post by Hammer on Mar 29, 2017 16:30:36 GMT
No, they happen through slip streaming. The cars are usually alongside when they start braking and that's thanks to the DRS/slip streaming. We see a fair bit of overtaking at the first corner too.
BUt yes if you want lower category sort of racing, F1 has moved even further away from that thanks to wider cars and more downforce.
I've always wondered....why not increase braking distances 2x and just give them all really tiny front and rear wings? The obvious answer is the eye candy factor...but I'd trade that for a lot more overtaking. Less downforce, higher braking distances....it's why Moto GP works so well.
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Post by racechick on Mar 29, 2017 16:35:53 GMT
That would be cool! That would sort the men out from the boys. In terms of braking distances.
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Post by dogued on Mar 30, 2017 14:47:25 GMT
Moto GP works because you can fit half the field of bikes across the track through some corners! The room is there for a couple of different lines. Take the USGP turn 1 for example, it's wide and has at least 2 lines through it, and there are some great overtakes there. If they cut F1 cars down to 1.4m wide then you'd be heading in the right direction.
Anyway.. China... Mercedes can turn the engine back up now that they saved half a race on Lewis's in Melbourne. Ferrari do not have the power for this track. Even in Melb, Mercedes were 2-6km/h faster during Qualifying.
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Post by Wß on Mar 30, 2017 18:09:34 GMT
Temperatures and getting the tires lit in the right window will be key here. I don't doubt we'll see another Mercedes pole and I think it will be an all Mercedes front row given the PU demands here. If Ferrari do manage a win here, then they're the real deal contender for the season.
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Post by stonemonkey on Apr 2, 2017 9:07:55 GMT
No, they happen through slip streaming. The cars are usually alongside when they start braking and that's thanks to the DRS/slip streaming. We see a fair bit of overtaking at the first corner too. BUt yes if you want lower category sort of racing, F1 has moved even further away from that thanks to wider cars and more downforce. I've always wondered....why not increase braking distances 2x and just give them all really tiny front and rear wings? The obvious answer is the eye candy factor...but I'd trade that for a lot more overtaking. Less downforce, higher braking distances....it's why Moto GP works so well. Even though im not a big fan of the wings, I'd prefer to see them get rid of the diffuser and the floor section around the rear wheels to reduce down force and wake, and it would give the cars a different look with the body going to a tight waist.
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Post by Wß on Apr 2, 2017 12:33:14 GMT
We knew it was going to be an issue. The drivers reiterated that in winter testing. Verstappen said it wasn't an issue at all, no different than last year. The arrogance? Or is it the exuberance of youth?
Another pole for Hamilton though, one closer to the all time record. It's falling this year, for certain.
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Post by Wß on Apr 3, 2017 22:05:33 GMT
This guy is hurting more than they let on.
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Post by racechick on Apr 4, 2017 11:26:02 GMT
Ok you experts. I need some advice..........for the interforum prediction game. I've done mine. But I'm thinking I maybe should switch two of my choices Ferrari/ Red Bull. Or rather Danni and Vettel. Who will be fastest here? I know the Ferrari engine is faster, and there's that long straight. But Danni was great here last year. And he's good at breaking . I've taken a bit of a gamble and want to know if I'm way out. So can I have your thoughts please? I don't like changing things once I've made a choice , I think it's unlucky. But still I'd like to know what you think.
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Post by Wß on Apr 4, 2017 11:30:15 GMT
You're answering your own question. You're just subconsciously wishing Red Bull to be better than Ferrari. It's a power track and there's no way to make up for that in sector 2. But I'd read as much as you can over the next couple of days. Now, the pole time, that's going to be very interesting! Don't expect the gaps to be anywhere near Australia.
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Post by racechick on Apr 4, 2017 11:43:34 GMT
You know me too well WB!
But, but, but.......
I've done my pole guess. Just went for it!!
I'm reading lots. But there's only two days left.
And Vettel might crash.
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foxylady
Junior Member
Posts: 26
Likes: 6
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Post by foxylady on Apr 4, 2017 13:52:18 GMT
You know me too well WB! But, but, but....... I've done my pole guess. Just went for it!! I'm reading lots. But there's only two days left. And Vettel might crash.
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foxylady
Junior Member
Posts: 26
Likes: 6
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Post by foxylady on Apr 4, 2017 13:53:37 GMT
Can I post my pole guess yet
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Post by racechick on Apr 4, 2017 14:12:41 GMT
Can I post my pole guess yet The pole guess is for an interforum prediction game. It's very easy to sign up for it. Read about it in the 'interforum prediction game' thread. this link should take you to it. f1forum.org/thread/509/interforum-league-2016?page=16&scrollTo=23334 It's different to the game you entered last race. That game is just for people on this forum.
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Post by Wß on Apr 4, 2017 15:16:22 GMT
I'll create the China pool thread in a bit. I was off last week and lots of work to catch up on.
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