The Official 2017 Singapore Grand Prix Thread **Spoilers**
Discussion
HustleRussell said:
Derek Smith said:
I can't fathom Vet's tactics with the softs. First f all I thought it was sandbagging, but not for a whole session.
I'm confused.
Should be an interesting qually. The assumption is probably that the Mercs will improve, the Ferraris will challenge the Mercs and the RBs will be a tenth or two in front. But what does someone confused by tyres know.
I'm not sure if this is what you were asking but anywho- I was listening to BBC F1 live audio coverage during FP2 and it was suggested on there that some teams were assessing the soft tyre to cover the potential early safety car scenario. If there's a safety car in the early laps of the driver has to stop early for a puncture etc it is probable that he could pretty much cover the whole race distance on the softs. I'm confused.
Should be an interesting qually. The assumption is probably that the Mercs will improve, the Ferraris will challenge the Mercs and the RBs will be a tenth or two in front. But what does someone confused by tyres know.
It is likely, maybe all but definite, that there will be a pace car, or two, early on.
rdjohn said:
Fabulous pictures, exceptional detail.
It disappoints me that someone like SKY F1, do not devote a program to this sort of stuff every so often. Dr Z is obviously aware of how things have developed over the season, most of us are left in the dark.
was it Sky who when talking about the new engine regs in 2014, claimed the new turbo charged engines didn't have spark plugs ? It disappoints me that someone like SKY F1, do not devote a program to this sort of stuff every so often. Dr Z is obviously aware of how things have developed over the season, most of us are left in the dark.
ash73 said:
I watched Danny and Lewis' laps early in FP2 and the RBR looked planted with good traction and less input at the wheel, fingers crossed Danny is in the fight for pole. Wonder who Max will take out this weekend?
I thought Lewis's lap looked right on the edge, I don't think Merc have much up their sleeve.RB one two?
Didn't get much chance to see practice today - it was on in the background but I was busy.
However it seemed that every time I looked up Bottas was having a nightmare correcting the car. His Merc looked a proper pig today. Didn't get to see much of Lewis so can't make a call.
If they can manage to dial most of that out tomorrow P3, then maybe all is not lost to the seemingly planted red bulls. That however is the big IF given their recent history at this circuit... not a highly likely outcome IMHO. I would expect qualli to be a top 3 for Lewis and top 6 for Valtteri.
However it seemed that every time I looked up Bottas was having a nightmare correcting the car. His Merc looked a proper pig today. Didn't get to see much of Lewis so can't make a call.
If they can manage to dial most of that out tomorrow P3, then maybe all is not lost to the seemingly planted red bulls. That however is the big IF given their recent history at this circuit... not a highly likely outcome IMHO. I would expect qualli to be a top 3 for Lewis and top 6 for Valtteri.
HustleRussell said:
It's not going to be easy for the Mercedes drivers tomorrow but they're going to be on row two anyway. I reckon we could have Vettel and a Red Bull on the front row though.
How so? If one red bull can get up there then the other can not withstanding penalties. If kimi gets out of bed on the right side he could qualify well too, if Mercedes are struggling to get the car to turn again (which it looked like in practice) I'd see them row 3 at best with a chance of a stinker if one of them can't hook a lap up in any of the sessions (not unknown for LH).Derek Smith said:
HustleRussell said:
Derek Smith said:
I can't fathom Vet's tactics with the softs. First f all I thought it was sandbagging, but not for a whole session.
I'm confused.
Should be an interesting qually. The assumption is probably that the Mercs will improve, the Ferraris will challenge the Mercs and the RBs will be a tenth or two in front. But what does someone confused by tyres know.
I'm not sure if this is what you were asking but anywho- I was listening to BBC F1 live audio coverage during FP2 and it was suggested on there that some teams were assessing the soft tyre to cover the potential early safety car scenario. If there's a safety car in the early laps of the driver has to stop early for a puncture etc it is probable that he could pretty much cover the whole race distance on the softs. I'm confused.
Should be an interesting qually. The assumption is probably that the Mercs will improve, the Ferraris will challenge the Mercs and the RBs will be a tenth or two in front. But what does someone confused by tyres know.
It is likely, maybe all but definite, that there will be a pace car, or two, early on.
While everyone else was on Ultras, Lewis set a time on Softs that put him 3rd fastest. Having seen the potential Seb went out on Softs to cover him, at that time he was 5th fastest, that time remained his best time of the session. Neither did a liong run on then, presumably thinking that if they have track position in the race, no one will be able to pass them on Super.
At the moment, I agree, it looks like RB's race to lose.
I know it's not this simple, but the Mercs looked stiff and a bit nervous, seemed to run wide soon as they touched the curbs. Lewis's fast laps looked almost frustrating, he was so close to all the exit walls that it looked like he was struggling to get on the power early.
The Red Bull's (DRs in particular) just seem to cope with the curbs and squat and grip on the power.
For most of both sessions it looked like Max was over driving and generally just about getting away with it. He really does struggle with it all when Ricciardo is quicker.
Ricciardo looked terrific and I can imaging him driving away from the pack. He's having a brilliant year and it's great to see.
Not sure we've seen Ferrari's pace yet, but as John said earlier, Lewis put fast laps in on the soft tyre. At the time it only 0.2 off the Red Bull's (on US or SS?) but they opened the gap up afterwards. I don't think we've seen a glimmer of hope like that from either red car yet but they were certainly running a program so maybe we see raw speed today.
Should be a brilliant qualifying. I wonder if we'll start seeing a few cars into the walls today.... and what odds a safety car tomorrow?
The Red Bull's (DRs in particular) just seem to cope with the curbs and squat and grip on the power.
For most of both sessions it looked like Max was over driving and generally just about getting away with it. He really does struggle with it all when Ricciardo is quicker.
Ricciardo looked terrific and I can imaging him driving away from the pack. He's having a brilliant year and it's great to see.
Not sure we've seen Ferrari's pace yet, but as John said earlier, Lewis put fast laps in on the soft tyre. At the time it only 0.2 off the Red Bull's (on US or SS?) but they opened the gap up afterwards. I don't think we've seen a glimmer of hope like that from either red car yet but they were certainly running a program so maybe we see raw speed today.
Should be a brilliant qualifying. I wonder if we'll start seeing a few cars into the walls today.... and what odds a safety car tomorrow?
rdjohn said:
Derek Smith said:
HustleRussell said:
Derek Smith said:
I can't fathom Vet's tactics with the softs. First f all I thought it was sandbagging, but not for a whole session.
I'm confused.
Should be an interesting qually. The assumption is probably that the Mercs will improve, the Ferraris will challenge the Mercs and the RBs will be a tenth or two in front. But what does someone confused by tyres know.
I'm not sure if this is what you were asking but anywho- I was listening to BBC F1 live audio coverage during FP2 and it was suggested on there that some teams were assessing the soft tyre to cover the potential early safety car scenario. If there's a safety car in the early laps of the driver has to stop early for a puncture etc it is probable that he could pretty much cover the whole race distance on the softs. I'm confused.
Should be an interesting qually. The assumption is probably that the Mercs will improve, the Ferraris will challenge the Mercs and the RBs will be a tenth or two in front. But what does someone confused by tyres know.
It is likely, maybe all but definite, that there will be a pace car, or two, early on.
While everyone else was on Ultras, Lewis set a time on Softs that put him 3rd fastest. Having seen the potential Seb went out on Softs to cover him, at that time he was 5th fastest, that time remained his best time of the session. Neither did a liong run on then, presumably thinking that if they have track position in the race, no one will be able to pass them on Super.
At the moment, I agree, it looks like RB's race to lose.
However, remember how Ricciardo was catching Rosberg by 2-3 seconds a lap in his 4th stint but still wasn't close enough to attempt an overtake by the end? If you have a handle on the degradation of the Soft tyre, you will have an idea of how early you can stop in the 1st stint to be able to make it more comfortably to the end and cover off possible threats from a 2-stopping competitor. The problem Merc had last year was they weren't sure Rosberg could make it but it was too late to pit him, so had to leave him out and hope he makes it.
It's not an easy place to overtake (unless your rival is 2-3 seconds a lap quicker), so looking at the Soft for a 1-stop is a viable option. However, only Vettel and Hamilton will have a more clear idea of how that tyre behaves here and will be able to nurse it better if the situation calls for it. But I expect the critical thing would be to stay out of undercut in the 1st stint. The 1-stopping option is less desirable if you get undercut and your rival is gaining time on you in their 2nd stint. Even so, with the more durable Pirellis, it might turn out fine.
Hungrymc said:
Ricciardo looked terrific and I can imaging him driving away from the pack.
Hope he has something left in the tank for today, the time he put in to top FP2 was mental. Well, generally the pace these cars are showing here is much faster than average already.Dr Z said:
rdjohn said:
Derek Smith said:
HustleRussell said:
Derek Smith said:
I can't fathom Vet's tactics with the softs. First f all I thought it was sandbagging, but not for a whole session.
I'm confused.
Should be an interesting qually. The assumption is probably that the Mercs will improve, the Ferraris will challenge the Mercs and the RBs will be a tenth or two in front. But what does someone confused by tyres know.
I'm not sure if this is what you were asking but anywho- I was listening to BBC F1 live audio coverage during FP2 and it was suggested on there that some teams were assessing the soft tyre to cover the potential early safety car scenario. If there's a safety car in the early laps of the driver has to stop early for a puncture etc it is probable that he could pretty much cover the whole race distance on the softs. I'm confused.
Should be an interesting qually. The assumption is probably that the Mercs will improve, the Ferraris will challenge the Mercs and the RBs will be a tenth or two in front. But what does someone confused by tyres know.
It is likely, maybe all but definite, that there will be a pace car, or two, early on.
While everyone else was on Ultras, Lewis set a time on Softs that put him 3rd fastest. Having seen the potential Seb went out on Softs to cover him, at that time he was 5th fastest, that time remained his best time of the session. Neither did a liong run on then, presumably thinking that if they have track position in the race, no one will be able to pass them on Super.
At the moment, I agree, it looks like RB's race to lose.
However, remember how Ricciardo was catching Rosberg by 2-3 seconds a lap in his 4th stint but still wasn't close enough to attempt an overtake by the end? If you have a handle on the degradation of the Soft tyre, you will have an idea of how early you can stop in the 1st stint to be able to make it more comfortably to the end and cover off possible threats from a 2-stopping competitor. The problem Merc had last year was they weren't sure Rosberg could make it but it was too late to pit him, so had to leave him out and hope he makes it.
It's not an easy place to overtake (unless your rival is 2-3 seconds a lap quicker), so looking at the Soft for a 1-stop is a viable option. However, only Vettel and Hamilton will have a more clear idea of how that tyre behaves here and will be able to nurse it better if the situation calls for it. But I expect the critical thing would be to stay out of undercut in the 1st stint. The 1-stopping option is less desirable if you get undercut and your rival is gaining time on you in their 2nd stint. Even so, with the more durable Pirellis, it might turn out fine.
Hungrymc said:
Ricciardo looked terrific and I can imaging him driving away from the pack.
Hope he has something left in the tank for today, the time he put in to top FP2 was mental. Well, generally the pace these cars are showing here is much faster than average already.I doubt there are any fixed tactics and the teams that responds well to the situation as it unfolds - crisis management perhaps - will win the race.
Gassing Station | Formula 1 | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff