Topic: 2017 Formula 1 Thread

[sminp]

It's been glossed over a bit due to the performance of Bottas but what a great performance by the Renaults and in particular Hulkenberg.

[gazzalfc]

Yeah nice to see Enstone break the Q3 hoodoo. Palmer messed up his engine setting so might have done even better.

Merc have admitted over the team radios that they have this super engine setting for Q3.

[TepidT2O]

Someone's had an engine mode they've been keeping quiet all weekend..


The Mercs seemed off the pace and ended up quite a distance ahead.

[RedSince86]

Someone's had an engine mode they've been keeping quiet all weekend..


The Mercs seemed off the pace and ended up quite a distance ahead.

[TepidT2O]

What do these engine modes actually do?

Does it just alter the fuel air mix?  The pressure on the turbo?

How do they actually work?

[sminp]

What do these engine modes actually do?

Does it just alter the fuel air mix?  The pressure on the turbo?

How do they actually work?

My understanding is that it alters the fuel mix. It wouldn't surprise me if it was a lot more complex than that though with the fuel mix still being the main thing.

Whatever happened to the guy (Adamski?) who worked at one of the teams? He'd probably be able to answer this question.

[rocco]

What do these engine modes actually do?

Does it just alter the fuel air mix?  The pressure on the turbo?

How do they actually work?

Speed increase .

change to its power unit ?
Increaed bhp more on the dyno ?

[RedSince86]

My understanding is that it alters the fuel mix. It wouldn't surprise me if it was a lot more complex than that though with the fuel mix still being the main thing.

Whatever happened to the guy (Adamski?) who worked at one of the teams? He'd probably be able to answer this question.

He's at Mercedes now.

[classycarra]

Great effort by bottas there. Mercedes too quick over one lap. Raikonnen isn't good enough

Noone looks good driving a car with understeer. Seems a bit hyperbolic

Was great fun on the sky coverage. Just as the biases english commentator was saying 'at what point does bottas feel disheartened that he's not getting near hamilton (at which point Botta was about 0.050 behind!)

Said to my mate that Bottas would get pole before Q3 started, and after that I knew it'd happen. British bias is always hilarious, especially when it comes back to bite them on the arse.

[Beav]

Great lap by Bottas. Hamilton was up on his second run then lost 2 tenths in the middle sector I think, and that was it, Bottas by a few hundredths. Great for him to get his first pole.

Surprised at the gap to Ferrari. 4 tenths is enormous for a team that splt the Mercs a week ago. Cant imagine theyve all of a sudden fallen behind, so wouldnt discount them being involved tomorrow. But a little worrying if they have more tracks/conditions where they cant match the Mercedes on one lap pace.

[classycarra]

Toto Wolff thought that Ferrari had their balance set up to preserve the rear tyres rather than for an electric lap, and more set up to be race ready (able to go longer first stint).

If Vettel doesn't split the two Mercs early, it's gonna be difficult though

[Upinsmoke]

Noone looks good driving a car with understeer. Seems a bit hyperbolic

I don't see the hyperbole, he's consistently 2-300 tenths off his team mate and even slower in race trim. Infact he had one less set of supers because he went through an extra set in quali 1.

[classycarra]

I don't see the hyperbole, he's consistently 2-300 tenths off his team mate and even slower in race trim. Infact he had one less set of supers because he went through an extra set in quali 1.

So on the occasions Raikkonen outperformed Vettel last season, did that make Vettel worse than 'not good enough'?

[Upinsmoke]

So on the occasions Raikkonen outperformed Vettel last season, did that make Vettel worse than 'not good enough'?

Key word occasions.

Feel free to compare every qualifying session and race performance since they've been teammates though, I think one has been consistently down. If ferrari want to have a stab at the constructors then they need to be a little closer

[paulrazor]

In fairness kimi out qualified seb more often than not last season. Kimi was ahead in the championship most of the season.

[Upinsmoke]

In fairness kimi out qualified seb more often than not last season. Kimi was ahead in the championship most of the season.

Yeah he did, especially the latter part but seb consistently finished races higher 10 to 3. And if you combine both quali and race finishes last year seb has a higher overall score.

I like raikonnen but in the early part of this season he's just been too down in qualifying where Vettel has split the Mercedes and now he finds himself behind a red bull. Plus Vettel has looked competitive in race trim yet Kimi isn't as much so.

[paulrazor]

Kimi tends to struggle in wet dry conditions. I'll admit this season he looks a bit off colour. Needs some big performances. He hasn't won in yonks

[classycarra]

Agreed, he does. Think he'll do well today. He's had a slow start, but he often does in the first two.

But let's not forget he is a clear number two driver for a team whose tactics were a disaster last season (and have been mixed in first two). This affected Vettel badly last season, and obviously the number two driver suffered even worse.

This season he has started a bit slowly, but we haven't even finished three races. Calling him not good enough is laughably hyperbolic, resorting to extremes to make a point as I said. It's up there with the Sky commentator suggesting Bottas is gonna be feeling demoralised that Hamilton keeps doing better than him, only for Bottas to get pole minutes later.

[paulrazor]

Is he really number 2? At least for a slow start he has still a 4th and a 5th

[classycarra]

Is he really number 2? At least for a slow start he has still a 4th and a 5th

I don't know.I love Kimi, personally, but that's the sense I get from Ferrari. Considering Ferrari messed his China strategy up, and prevented a potential 4th or 3rd finish, I agree it's not the worst results.

Both him and Bottas are feeling their way into the season.

[paulrazor]

Seems that way

Hopefully goes well today. He usually does well in Bahrain. No wins but something like 8 podiums. He did some jaw dropping bsllsy over takes last year. He kinda botched the start so may have got closer by the end to rosberg

[classycarra]

Seems that way

Hopefully goes well today. He usually does well in Bahrain. No wins but something like 8 podiums. He did some jaw dropping bsllsy over takes last year. He kinda botched the start so may have got closer by the end to rosberg

Starts will be interesting. Don't remember Melbourne, but in China both Ferrari's were sluggish compared to the Mercs - a reversal of last season's starts.

For the sake of the spectacle, I hope someone splits the Mercs at the start

[west_london_red]

Toto Wolff thought that Ferrari had their balance set up to preserve the rear tyres rather than for an electric lap, and more set up to be race ready (able to go longer first stint).

If Vettel doesn't split the two Mercs early, it's gonna be difficult though

I think at least one of the Ferraris may go for a 1 stop compared to the Mercs which will have to do 2 with their tyre wear.

[gazzalfc]

Bernie walking round the grid like a lonely old man. Looked very sad

[TepidT2O]

Bernie walking round the grid like a lonely old man. Looked very sad

He's 86


His face has melted, he can't help it

[Upinsmoke]

This grid walk with Webber and Coulthard is no better than the past time I tuned in. Honestly I'd fuck Coulthard off, he's too wooden.

[Upinsmoke]

Bernie walking round the grid like a lonely old man. Looked very sad

Sure his millions will cheer him up

[classycarra]

I love the pre race national anthem procession... - words never uttered by F1 fans

[classycarra]

This grid walk with Webber and Coulthard is no better than the past time I tuned in. Honestly I'd fuck Coulthard off, he's too wooden.

He owns the race package on C4, so that's unlikely mate!

He has good contacts/relationships at least

[TepidT2O]

Vandoorne not going to start..

Engine failure....

The fourth this weekend for Honda...

Shameful

[classycarra]

Van Doorne not racing today. Not even worth pushing for ten to fifteen minutes to get the car out there, even for a test session. Honda should be ashamed. One thing having a terribly slow engine. ANother entirely to have a truly shite engine that is also unreliable

[paulrazor]

I bet last night. 2 on vandoorne to be first retirement. 10/1

4 on first retirement to be McLaren 4/1

[classycarra]

Great first lap. Bottas at risk of overthinking defending from Vettel. Smart of Vettel to be all over the back of him, to pressure a mistake.

Red Bulls started pretty well, especially Verstappen, but more importantly both shut up shop, and did a number on Kimi. Kimi needs to get back Massa in first couple of laps.

Massa remains a classy starter in the new conditions

Couldn't tell if Hamilton was slow, or Vettel fast off the line. Suspect it was the latter

[classycarra]

Seeing the start again, Hamilton looked overly cautious going into turn one after last years contact with Bottas

[classycarra]

Bout time, cmon Kimi. Hopefully Bottas holds up the front five long enough for Kimi to join and make it more interesting between the three teams

[classycarra]

Would love to see Verstappen getting wheel to wheel with Hamilton. It looks on

[classycarra]

I'm a bit dubious about this from Ferrari/Vettel. Am prepared to be proven wrong

Hope West London Red is right about Raikkonen trying one stop. He's on, if he's managing to preserve the tyres in the clean air right now. Would make for a fun last third of the race

[gazzalfc]

Vestappen out!!!

Brake failure

[Upinsmoke]

Great stop by Seb and brake failure for max!

[classycarra]

Fuck, that's annoying. Probably a safety car too. Was hoping for some good clean racing, not shite pit stop overtakes