The Official Chinese GP Thread 2012***SPOILERS***

[MGJohn]

stephen300o said:

SlipStream77 said:

On the forum, EJ reckons people shouldn't blame the tyres entirely for Kimi's sudden lack of pace.

Apparently he's rusty and he lost concentration!

Eddie is there for entertainment, I don't think many take what he says seriously. The look on Coulthard's face when EJ comes up with these gems is priceless.

I believe I saw his Ice Cream cornet drop into his lap which must have upset his concentration. EJ, as always was spot on....
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It's not just the tyres .....
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[IainT]

TheHeretic said:

Use Psychology said:

i think that's what he's aiming for. good result today for LH considering the 5 place advantage over his teammate and main WDC competitor that he earned in qualifying was eliminated by the penalty.

He did well, especially in traffic, considering last year. As for the penalty, it is the same for everyone. JB suffered from a gash pits top, so both drivers suffered during the race.

It was interesting seeing how much impact being behind others had on both JB and LH. No-one can tell what would have happened is JBs pit wasn't crap or LH hadn't had the penalty but, for JB particularly, the potentiol for so much more was ther in the race. For LH not so much as it was out of the team's hands and I suspect he'd be the happier of the two in terms of the race if not the finishing order.

Not often I feel sorry for MSC but I did today.

[TheHeretic]

IainT said:

It was interesting seeing how much impact being behind others had on both JB and LH. No-one can tell what would have happened is JBs pit wasn't crap or LH hadn't had the penalty but, for JB particularly, the potentiol for so much more was ther in the race. For LH not so much as it was out of the team's hands and I suspect he'd be the happier of the two in terms of the race if not the finishing order.

Not often I feel sorry for MSC but I did today.

As much as the traffic jam created a lap or 2 of manic overtaking once Kimi had gotten out of the way, I thought it did ruin somewhat a possible grandstand finish.

[DanB7290]

Quick question, on the Lotus cars, under the ACBC logo, there were the letters "N F O" (could have been N F D), any idea what they stand for? Guessing its to do with the Lotus situation

[andygo]

McClure said:

Fingers having a whinge over the radio on the cool-down - "we had no straight line pace... ...it was ridiculous"

And yet JB couldn't DRS him..

Mind you Fing was DRS'ing at the same time, but even so, thought the Maccamobile might have had a higher top speed.

I thought Webber was lucky to finish after doing Fings actually. Its very hard to drive when you are laughing so much

[Marcia]

McAndy said:

Marcia said:

Just watched the race again and Edwards voice doesn't grate on me as much as it did the first 2 races.

He certainly wasn't as shouty in race two as he was in race one. Somebody must have had a word.

He did get quite shouty,but i think the difference being he didn't seem to get quite as tongue tied this time,he's starting to find his feet now,i think.

[FourWheelDrift]

andygo said:

And yet JB couldn't DRS him..

That's because he was using his KERS off the last corner onto the back straight and then his DRS behind Raikonnen to stay ahead.

[Use Psychology]

IainT said:

It was interesting seeing how much impact being behind others had on both JB and LH. No-one can tell what would have happened is JBs pit wasn't crap or LH hadn't had the penalty but, for JB particularly, the potentiol for so much more was ther in the race. For LH not so much as it was out of the team's hands and I suspect he'd be the happier of the two in terms of the race if not the finishing order.

Not often I feel sorry for MSC but I did today.

JB seemed to get a very good rhythm where each lap he'd come up to the next car and DRS past on the straight, LH seemed to be stuck behind them for much longer and come across them in the twisty bits (i.e. held up more). Anyway, LH closed a big gap to JB by the end of the race.

[tank slapper]

DanB7290 said:

Quick question, on the Lotus cars, under the ACBC logo, there were the letters "N F O" (could have been N F D), any idea what they stand for? Guessing its to do with the Lotus situation

Lotus NYO is the name they use for the Chinese market.

[TheHeretic]

Use Psychology said:

JB seemed to get a very good rhythm where each lap he'd come up to the next car and DRS past on the straight, LH seemed to be stuck behind them for much longer and come across them in the twisty bits (i.e. held up more). Anyway, LH closed a big gap to JB by the end of the race.

The gap that was pretty much lost by the gash pitstop? JB only came out a few in front of LH and Webber after the last stop, then they all got stuck in the jam. Once Kimi broke off, they all started their stuff.

[MGJohn]

IainT said:

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Not often I feel sorry for MSC but I did today.
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Yes his run of bad luck continues this season ~ none of it self inflicted. He took today's bad luck in good style although no doubt his real feelings may have been rather stronger and if so, he did not let on at all.

Would have been interesting to see how his race would have shaped up as he used some restraint in those dozen or so first laps. May even have closed in on his team mate.

Sadly, fate decreed we shall never know. I suspect it would have been a Mercedes 1-2.

There's been some really good races in the past season or three. Today's was simply one of the best.

Long may it continue.
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[IainT]

MGJohn said:

Yes his run of bad luck continues this season ~ none of it self inflicted. He took today's bad luck in good style although no doubt his real feelings may have been rather stronger and if so, he did not let on at all.

Impossible to tell but I think he was genuinely happy for Nico even though he was disappointed for his own race.

[MGJohn]

heebeegeetee said:

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No John, unlike you I have no criticisms of Hamilton's first season whatsoever. To expect him to have done more is extremely churlish in my book, but we'll have to agree to differ.
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Who mentioned a particular season?

Anyway, enough of that. The man himself has made it quite clear several times recently that this modification to his racing techniques is what is required now if he is not to remain a single WDC winner. It appears to be making a good start. First pass the post will come. A return of the 'old' Hamilton 'yellow helmet coming through' approach could negate all that in a fraction of a second. Maybe even with very serious consequences if one day his good luck deserts him.

On TV today, his father clearly confirmed all this. Seems very logical to me.

[hotmelt]

Use Psychology said:

JB seemed to get a very good rhythm where each lap he'd come up to the next car and DRS past on the straight, LH seemed to be stuck behind them for much longer and come across them in the twisty bits (i.e. held up more). Anyway, LH closed a big gap to JB by the end of the race.

Seemed like JB had higher straight line speed than LH.

[pits]

Awesome race, but christ alive Vettel at the end of the race his little speech, came across like a spoilt little brat.

[DanDC5]

MGJohn said:

IainT said:

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Not often I feel sorry for MSC but I did today.
.

Yes his run of bad luck continues this season ~ none of it self inflicted. He took today's bad luck in good style although no doubt his real feelings may have been rather stronger and if so, he did not let on at all.

Would have been interesting to see how his race would have shaped up as he used some restraint in those dozen or so first laps. May even have closed in on his team mate.

Sadly, fate decreed we shall never know. I suspect it would have been a Mercedes 1-2.

There's been some really good races in the past season or three. Today's was simply one of the best.

Long may it continue.
.

This.

I do think we'll see Schumacher on the podium this year, and after today I think there's a good chance it could be next weekend. I'm sure he'll be keen to get a good result with the car now seeming to have race pace aswell.

[gowmonster]

tank slapper said:

DanB7290 said:

Quick question, on the Lotus cars, under the ACBC logo, there were the letters "N F O" (could have been N F D), any idea what they stand for? Guessing its to do with the Lotus situation

Lotus NYO is the name they use for the Chinese market.

Should be Lotus Y U NO Lotus any more?

[heebeegeetee]

MGJohn said:

Who mentioned a particular season?

You have previously, and afaiaa his first f1 season was the only championship of any sort that has slipped from his grasp.

The record of the old Hamilton was bloody good, but then he slipped into something else over the past couple of years. He morphed from being the consummate overtaker into a driver who could not pass Massa (of all people) cleanly to save his life.

Perhaps the original Hamilton has gone for good and something else is emerging. I'm sure he'll win some races and my comment was rather tongue in cheek, but the current Hamilton is one who is leading the points, which infers he's the best driver, yet has been beaten in three races out of three.

We'll see what develops.

[Rollcage]

FourWheelDrift said:

Father and son racers - http://en.espnf1.com/f1/motorsport/story/31079.htm...


didn't mention Jonathan and Jolyon Palmer and JP never won and race in F1 and Jolyon hasn't arrived yet.

Do you think he ever will?

[ukaskew]

FisiP1 said:

I think this race proved how idiotic DRS can be when you have a car geared for straightline speed holding up 7 others who all have DRS open but are geared too short.

Not really a complaint, just amusing to see the flaps drop open every lap in unison and achieve nothing for so long.

I had a different view on this, Vettel was second in the train, and is driving one of the slowest cars in terms of straight line speed. That messes the whole line of cars up, as they all have DRS open so are cancelling each other out, but the one car that can't use it isn't getting passed because the car behind him isn't quick enough.

Plenty of other drivers proved that DRS worked as intended, such as Button.