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[Psychotext]

Race
1. Kimi
2. Vettel
3. Lewis

That would be amazing. Would be an awesome result for the sport.

 

[Leonsito]

I have read comments about the incredible good tyre degradation of the Ferrari again today, but I dont think they can caught Mercedes by surprise after what happened 15 days ago... But it would be great, Kimi deserves a shot at a win with Ferrari.

 

[massivekettle]

That would be amazing. Would be an awesome result for the sport.

Yes and no. I don't want to go from one team dominating to the next. This is why a season like 2010 was so acclaimed (despite the very little on-track action amongst rivals); the top 3 teams were really close and each track suited a specific car/driver. If Ferrari wins in China (which is at the other end of the spectrum from Malysia), then I think it's time to cut the crap and stop putting Mercedes onto that imaginary pedestal.

I have read comments about the incredible good tyre degradation of the Ferrari again today, but I dont think they can caught Mercedes by surprise after what happened 15 days ago... But it would be great, Kimi deserves a shot at a win with Ferrari.

Based on FP2, Ferrari will be able to 2-stop, probably doing Soft-Soft-Medium, whilst Mercedes will most likely have to 3-stop.

 

[kharma45]

I've a bet on Hamilton to win. I don't want him to but at least if he does I'll get something from it.

 

[Psychotext]

Yes and no. I don't want to go from one team dominating to the next

I don't think anyone could even vaguely argue that Ferrari are going to stand a chance of dominating. The reason it would be amazing is if we get back to the real chance of a championship fight between multiple drivers in multiple teams.

That aside, the pedestal Mercedes are on isn't imaginary. Their pace is incredible, but they're not without some problems in tyre management.

 

[Ganzlinger]

If you look closely, he's actually holding a Sauber contract.

Brilliant

 

[Tubie]

Alonso's car is already done.

Wonder if they'll be able to fix it before the qualifiers.

 

[RoKKeR]

Forgot how beautiful China's paddock is.

 

[brotkasten]

Alonso's car is already done.

Wonder if they'll be able to fix it before the qualifiers.

Don't worry, Ron Dennis is right on it! He'll fix the car himself.


Quali looks like Merc 1-2, Fer 3-4.

And Red Bull still with overheating brakes.

 

[Pimpwerx]

So...Bangkok was cool.

A bit of an understatement there. Gonna try to kick my jet lag tonight, so staying up for qualies.

Looks like I'm moving to Bangkok sometime this year, so I might be doing the Sepang & Shanghai double each year. Good times. Good luck to Lewis tonight. PEACE.

 

[theignoramus]

I just noticed the race performance ratings stuff on F1's site, woah. Basically taking us as close as possible to real time driver telemetry. Fucking cool.

 

[brotkasten]

So...Bangkok was cool.

A bit of an understatement there. Gonna try to kick my jet lag tonight, so staying up for qualies.

Looks like I'm moving to Bangkok sometime this year, so I might be doing the Sepang & Shanghai double each year. Good times. Good luck to Lewis tonight. PEACE.

I just wanted to thank you for your reports from the last race. I really enjoyed them.

 

[Pimpwerx]

I just wanted to thank you for your reports from the last race. I really enjoyed them.

My pleasure. I'm just glad someone read them. The only thing I had energy for at the end of each day was a pint with the guys and posting some random musings from the day. That heat is some next level shit. That track was an oven. Shanghai was in the 50s F° when I connected through there Wed. PEACE.

 

[Ark]

I thought the session started at 7am, but it starts at 8am, so now I have to sit through an hour of Sky build up ;_;

Actually to be fair, this is nowhere near as bad as the last time I watched a Sky buildup.

 

[brotkasten]

I thought the session started at 7am, but it starts at 8am, so now I have to sit through an hour of Sky build up ;_;

Actually to be fair, this is nowhere near as bad as the last time I watched a Sky buildup.

Hah, same here! I checked for the local start time on GPUpdate yesterday and it said 8 am. Turns out it's 9 am here.

But hey, at least we have ad breaks to keep us entertained, right?

E: Decided to watch Gametrailers First Fifteen instead, until quali starts.

 

[Hasney]

Playing Xenoblade. Makes it fly by.

 

[Juicy Bob]

No F1 for me this weekend as the better half and myself are in Silverstone for the WEC.

Looking forward to catching the highlights of Qualy tonight and the race tomorrow night, but it'll be tough to avoid the result...

 

[Risgroo]

I thought the session started at 7am, but it starts at 8am, so now I have to sit through an hour of Sky build up ;_;

Actually to be fair, this is nowhere near as bad as the last time I watched a Sky buildup.

Good, good. Let the Lazenby flow through you.

No F1 for me this weekend as the better half and myself are in Silverstone for the WEC.

Looking forward to catching the highlights of Qualy tonight and the race tomorrow night, but it'll be tough to avoid the result...

Oooh, have fun! And get some Webber pics for us.

 

[Ark]

Hah, same here! I checked for the local start time on GPUpdate yesterday and it said 8 am. Turns out it's 9 am here.

But hey, at least we have ad breaks to keep us entertained, right?

E: Decided to watch Gametrailers First Fifteen instead, until quali starts.

The upside of this is that I've finally seen an interview with Arrivabene and he is chill as fuck. He thanked the Sky viewers at the end of the interview, no one ever does that!

 

[Hasney]

The upside of this is that I've finally seen an interview with Arrivabene and he is chill as fuck. He thanked the Sky viewers at the end of the interview, no one ever does that!

Seriously, he's like a Mafia boss and it's fantastic. He's quickly becoming my favourite team boss.

 

[brotkasten]

The upside of this is that I've finally seen an interview with Arrivabene and he is chill as fuck. He thanked the Sky viewers at the end of the interview, no one ever does that!

Great now I missed the interview. The episode was still good, though.

As for him being a Mafia boss, how many other team principals have tattoos visible on them?

 

[Dilly]

Arrivebene is cool.

If he told my to do anything, I'd work my ass off. If Domenicali told me to do anything, I'd continue my siesta.

 

[Pryce]

Vettel a half second better that Bottas on the same tire. The Ferrari's better again.

 

[Zeknurn]

Mercedes saving tyres. Yeah, they've won the race.

 

[Hasney]

Button outqualifies Alonso again in that back of the grid battle.

 

[Pryce]

Button beats Alonso again.

 

[jey_16]

Fucking Lol.....McLaren eliminated again, i thought they were going to make Q2 this time?

Mercedes going to destroy everyone

 

[Aiii]

Button outqualifies Alonso again in that back of the grid battle.

By .004 though. They are nicely on pace with each other.

Good to see McLaren improving each race though.

 

[Paradise Brunch]

Button outqualifies Alonso again in that back of the grid battle.

Only four thousandth of a second though.

 

[Zeknurn]

Chinese fans best fans.

 

[cmr-94]

SKY being fucking useless saying Mclaren haven't improved

 

[massivekettle]

Mercedes saving tyres. Yeah, they've won the race.

Ferrari can make softs last 15-ish laps. Given the soft is 1.5s faster per lap, I'd say they have the race under control from the second row..

SKY being fucking useless saying Mclaren haven't improved

They may have improved in absolute time but not in position. Therefore, rather meaningless.

 

[brotkasten]

By .004 though. They are nicely on pace with each other.

Good to see McLaren improving each race though.

Still a disappointment, because they expected to make it to Q2.

And Ferrari looks bad on the medium tyre, damn.

 

[Risgroo]

Based Button.

Fucking Lol.....McLaren eliminated again, i thought they were going to make Q2 this time?

Mercedes going to destroy everyone

At least they're closer to the field, and that big-ass straight can't be good for the Honda
I expect them to be close to Q3 in Spain.

 

[aspiegamer]

For a car down 100bhp three tenths is pretty damn close to advancing for the Hondas.

Actually a fairly tight spread across the field (excluding Ferrari and Mercedes). Within about a second for all. More expected for the European tracks.

 

[cmr-94]

They may have improved in absolute time but not in position. Therefore, rather meaningless.

How can they improve position until they improve in absolute time. the fact is they have improved massively

 

[massivekettle]

Based Button.

At least they're closer to the field, and that big-ass straight can't be good for the Honda
I expect them to be close to Q3 in Spain.

Aside from that straight, China is not so much about power/top speed. I would expect that McLaren will struggle slightly more in Bahrain given the stop/go nature of the track.

How can they improve position until they improve in absolute time. the fact is they have improved massively

They have improved, that's undeniable, but in pure pace it still leaves them in Q1.

 

[jey_16]

For a car down 100bhp three tenths is pretty damn close to advancing for the Hondas.

Actually a fairly tight spread across the field (excluding Ferrari and Mercedes). Within about a second for all. More expected for the European tracks.

do we actually know how much they are down on HP? Its just an excuse being used for how shit the car is.

If it was down 100HP then they would not be this close to Hulkenburg

 

[aspiegamer]

do we actually know how much they are down on HP? Its just an excuse being used for how shit the car is.

If it was down 100HP then they would not be this close to Hulkenburg

Given they can't even match the Manors in the speed trap once assumes that aero efficiency isn't the issue. Mind you there's no solid proof the car itself can perform on its own. Once we get away from the raw power tracks we'll have a better idea.

Jenson sounded very downbeat in an interview. I can see disappointment from not advancing but this weekend has been nothing but good news for those guys in terms of performance.

 

[Paradise Brunch]

Lotus looking dangerous, they manage to get ahead of both Williams.

Damn at Ferrari laptime on soft.

 

[navanman]

Brundle says the Renault engine has 40hp more on the dyno by loses it as soon as its installed in the car. Very strange and would cost them 4/10 second pace.

 

[Pryce]

Vettel and Rai right behind Rosberg. If their tires can hold up like they did in Malaysia, Rosberg will be in trouble.

 

[Risgroo]

Jos Verstappen scares me.

Aside from that straight, China is not so much about power/top speed. I would expect that McLaren will struggle slightly more in Bahrain given the stop/go nature of the track.

They have improved, that's undeniable, but in pure pace it still leaves them in Q1.

Hmm, yeah. They probably won't find any performance in a week either :/

 

[Lach]

WOHOO!
Both Sauber in Q3!

 

[Zeknurn]

Well done Sauber

 

[navanman]

Ferrari engine just as powerful as Mercedes this year. Some reckon it is even more powerful.
Sauber with a 2014 car with new engine is now a top 10 car.

 

[Aiii]

Brundle says the Renault engine has 40hp more on the dyno by loses it as soon as its installed in the car. Very strange and would cost them 4/10 second pace.

It's obvious it's an absolute dogshit engine for sure.

 

[massivekettle]

Ferrari engine just as powerful as Mercedes this year. Some reckon it is even more powerful.

Agreed. Mercedes seems the more versatile engine still, but Ferrari is there or thereabouts in terms of raw power.

 

[brotkasten]

Agreed. Mercedes seems the more versatile engine still, but Ferrari is there or thereabouts in terms of raw power.

My question and concern is if the reliability is just as good. I guess we'll see in Europe.

 

[navanman]

That is some lap.