The Official Chinese GP Thread 2013***SPOILERS***
Discussion
Galileo said:
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My money is Alonso winning this one. Hamilton or Raikkonen 2nd/3rd. I think the Red Bulls will get mugged by the DRS and short gearing, and struggle to make it into the top 4.
That or trip over each other like they have done before.
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Yes, Alonso's creeping off early doors in more ways than one on Sunday means he's dropped below the focus horizon following Sunday's last laps larking about by Red Bull.My money is Alonso winning this one. Hamilton or Raikkonen 2nd/3rd. I think the Red Bulls will get mugged by the DRS and short gearing, and struggle to make it into the top 4.
That or trip over each other like they have done before.
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I for one will not be taking the last race result as the shape of things to come. The Ferrari cars would appear to be 'without' excuses so far this season. So, it's down to their drivers to shape up.
Long wait though ~ three weeks too much but probably welcomed by the teams.
Was disappointed by massa last week. Even the McLaren seemed capable of keeping them at a 10 second distance. So, hoping for ore from McLaren, more from Sutil, as well as seeing more improvement from the McLaren's, even if they won't, (I don't think), be challenging for the win.
Inevitably the eyes of the F1 world will be on Vettel and Webber. I'm hoping for more of the same to be honest, (battling for position, not the weaselling afterwards).
Inevitably the eyes of the F1 world will be on Vettel and Webber. I'm hoping for more of the same to be honest, (battling for position, not the weaselling afterwards).
P-Jay said:
I know I'll be on the edge of my seat every time Webber and Seb are near each other - well, apart from I'm getting Married that weekend so I'll probably miss it.
Cancel and rearrange the event at once! You're not a fit and proper F1 enthusiast if you miss a single round. Priorities .. I'm sure your other half will fully understand... 
More seriously, hope all goes well and for the future.
P-Jay said:
I know I'll be on the edge of my seat every time Webber and Seb are near each other - well, apart from I'm getting Married that weekend so I'll probably miss it.
Thats why I'll be getting married the week before I'll be watching it on the honeymoon 
shortly before the divorce 
Congrats to you and your missus-to-be by the way
Webber and Vettel to end up in the kitty litter at the first corner, Alonso to capitalise and get the win with Massa following him 6mm behind for the entire race with his engineer saying 'Fellipe Baby, you're faster than Alonso but your manager is sh*t and your contract sucks'.
Button will claim a podium but remind everyone they are still a long way behind and Kimi will come home 4th having got a bit bored half way through.
Sutil and DiResta will battle until the second stops and then be told to hold station. Neither will and by the third stop, their wheelnuts will be buggered due to overheating again.
Bianchi will grab a well deserved point.
Button will claim a podium but remind everyone they are still a long way behind and Kimi will come home 4th having got a bit bored half way through.
Sutil and DiResta will battle until the second stops and then be told to hold station. Neither will and by the third stop, their wheelnuts will be buggered due to overheating again.
Bianchi will grab a well deserved point.
I reckon the Merc will be good here going on past form, I'd expect at least one podium.
As others have said the McLaren will go well, I expect them to have a shed load of new parts too.
On past form I'm not sure the Lotus will be right at the front here, they seem to end up 3rd or 4th best, battling with the Ferraris. Remember Kimi falling off the cliff last year ? Grosjean soldiered home to 6th though.
Not sure about Red Bull, they struggled last year but weren't too bad in previous years. I think a podium would be a good result for them.
As others have said the McLaren will go well, I expect them to have a shed load of new parts too.
On past form I'm not sure the Lotus will be right at the front here, they seem to end up 3rd or 4th best, battling with the Ferraris. Remember Kimi falling off the cliff last year ? Grosjean soldiered home to 6th though.
Not sure about Red Bull, they struggled last year but weren't too bad in previous years. I think a podium would be a good result for them.
I hope Red Bull take a different approach from now on: "You can race, but just don't crash".
Considering how neither driver seem keen on obeying team orders, they should just ditch it, and let them race Hammy/Button style. They've already shown they can go wheel-to-wheel without taking each other out.
Oh, and sort out the freaking gearing! Otherwise Ferrari and Mercedes will eat them up the super-long back straight.
Vettel has historically done well at China, Webber has been comparatively a little behind. The long straights would favour the likes of Mercedes and Ferrari. And while Massa has been driving well, he's a bit inconsistent and Alonso is still top dog at the Dancing Donkey. Hamilton seems to have the measure of Rosberg, at least for the time being. My early predictions:
Q:
1. Vettel
2. Webber
3. Hamilton
4. Alonso
5. Rosberg
6. Massa
R:
1. Alonso
2. Vettel
3. Hamilton
4. Webber
5. Rosberg
6. Raikkonen
Considering how neither driver seem keen on obeying team orders, they should just ditch it, and let them race Hammy/Button style. They've already shown they can go wheel-to-wheel without taking each other out.
Oh, and sort out the freaking gearing! Otherwise Ferrari and Mercedes will eat them up the super-long back straight.
Vettel has historically done well at China, Webber has been comparatively a little behind. The long straights would favour the likes of Mercedes and Ferrari. And while Massa has been driving well, he's a bit inconsistent and Alonso is still top dog at the Dancing Donkey. Hamilton seems to have the measure of Rosberg, at least for the time being. My early predictions:
Q:
1. Vettel
2. Webber
3. Hamilton
4. Alonso
5. Rosberg
6. Massa
R:
1. Alonso
2. Vettel
3. Hamilton
4. Webber
5. Rosberg
6. Raikkonen
Mini1275 said:
I think we'll see both Mercedes on the podium here with Lewis taking the win.
Quali:
Hamilton
Rosberg
Vettel
Webber
Massa
Race:
Hamilton
Webber
Rosberg
Vettel
Alonso
Be very interested to hear your reasons for that double podium for Mercedes.Quali:
Hamilton
Rosberg
Vettel
Webber
Massa
Race:
Hamilton
Webber
Rosberg
Vettel
Alonso
I am not taking the 1-2-3-4-5-6 placings in Malaysia as true form. Alonso took himself out of the mix and the poor showing of both FI and Lotus cars, plus the sole remaining Ferrari was a mystery to me.
I do not expect to see a RB 1-2 this time either. I think there will be a better showing by Ferrari and I will not be surprised to see both Mclarens improve on form. For various reasons, McLaren and M-B are the teams I want to see do well and I'm not a great fan of the Alonso/Ferrari combination. Having said that, I'll probably have a few quid on the Spaniard as I do not think that car/driver combination has shown its true race form fully so far. I will not be surprised if the surly Spaniard occupies the top of the Podium in two weeks time.
I expect to see a subdued Vettel and a fired up Webber for at least a race or two. If, and I think it's a big if, Vettel soon settles into his usual go-getter self and again is successful then it's back to the drawing board for me ... again.
... All part of life's rich wossaname...
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