The Official 2017 Singapore Grand Prix Thread **Spoilers**
Discussion
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/mercedes-weakne...
Just saw this. Hamilton's thoughts on how the rest of the season might go.
Just saw this. Hamilton's thoughts on how the rest of the season might go.
Hamilton said:
Malaysia, I think we should be OK, then we have Japan, high downforce circuit, could be close – [the] Red Bulls are very, very strong at that circuit, it won't definitely be our strongest circuit.
Austin, I think we'll be fine. I think Brazil would be a place where these guys will be particularly strong. Ferrari will be particularly strong. Honestly, I think it's going to be very close in the next races.
It's hard to predict. Maybe when you go to Mexico, for example, you've put your maximum downforce on, but because it's so high [in altitude] there's little drag and maybe the cars that have a bit more downforce might just have the edge on us.
But it's all hearsay. We'll find out when we get there.
It is along the lines of what my thoughts were, except he thinks they'll be good in COTA, which is fair enough I guess.Austin, I think we'll be fine. I think Brazil would be a place where these guys will be particularly strong. Ferrari will be particularly strong. Honestly, I think it's going to be very close in the next races.
It's hard to predict. Maybe when you go to Mexico, for example, you've put your maximum downforce on, but because it's so high [in altitude] there's little drag and maybe the cars that have a bit more downforce might just have the edge on us.
But it's all hearsay. We'll find out when we get there.
theAmerican said:
Vettel started in 2nd too. Kimi, Max and Fernando started in 1st. Dr Z said:
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/mercedes-weakne...
Just saw this. Hamilton's thoughts on how the rest of the season might go.
So still all to play for. It's not over.Just saw this. Hamilton's thoughts on how the rest of the season might go.
Hamilton said:
Malaysia, I think we should be OK, then we have Japan, high downforce circuit, could be close – [the] Red Bulls are very, very strong at that circuit, it won't definitely be our strongest circuit.
Austin, I think we'll be fine. I think Brazil would be a place where these guys will be particularly strong. Ferrari will be particularly strong. Honestly, I think it's going to be very close in the next races.
It's hard to predict. Maybe when you go to Mexico, for example, you've put your maximum downforce on, but because it's so high [in altitude] there's little drag and maybe the cars that have a bit more downforce might just have the edge on us.
But it's all hearsay. We'll find out when we get there.
It is along the lines of what my thoughts were, except he thinks they'll be good in COTA, which is fair enough I guess.Austin, I think we'll be fine. I think Brazil would be a place where these guys will be particularly strong. Ferrari will be particularly strong. Honestly, I think it's going to be very close in the next races.
It's hard to predict. Maybe when you go to Mexico, for example, you've put your maximum downforce on, but because it's so high [in altitude] there's little drag and maybe the cars that have a bit more downforce might just have the edge on us.
But it's all hearsay. We'll find out when we get there.
Its interesting that Max has managed to get so much under Vettel's skin, Vettel seems to have a real problem with Max. Is this related to the rumour that Max has a pre contract for Ferrari? Is Vettel worried that Max will become his team mate for Ferrari? If Max is anywhere near Vettel in the remaining races this season I'm expecting more fireworks...
Vettel seemingly is one of the main reasons Kimi has been kept at Ferrari this season and next season rather than pulling in a more competitive team mate who could contribute more to the constructors championship.
Vettel seemingly is one of the main reasons Kimi has been kept at Ferrari this season and next season rather than pulling in a more competitive team mate who could contribute more to the constructors championship.
I've finally been able to sit down and watch the start of the race.
Each and every time you see it, it still doesn't look like it would happen...
Vettel seems to make a bad start. Verstappen an okay or good start and Raikkonnen a great start.
I'm sure if the respective drivers could do the start again they'd make some different choices - Vettel wouldn't squeeze Verstappen and Kimi might keep a little further to the left.
I've raced at club level and whilst not attempting to draw a direct comparison the speed at which things can happen and go wrong make it difficult to process. The wet only makes it harder.
Vettel had a bad start and was determined not to let Verstappen get ahead. Unfortunately Raikkonnen had an amazing start and suddenly they ran out of a lot of space rapidly.
I like the idea that the Nascar driver (I think) in the Channel4 race review show said about having a spotter. Of course there was a lot of adrenaline and events unfolding at an unreal pace down to the first corner, but someone could have tried to say to Vettel to stop moving left or something and suddenly it would have been averted. Of course F1 might disallow that as the drivers aren't supposed to be coached or whatever, but it does raise an interesting idea which could minimise such incidents occurring.
In the end it was a racing incident.
In the circumstances, with the rain and having never gone round there in the wet before maybe they should have been allowed a second green flag lap?
Each and every time you see it, it still doesn't look like it would happen...
Vettel seems to make a bad start. Verstappen an okay or good start and Raikkonnen a great start.
I'm sure if the respective drivers could do the start again they'd make some different choices - Vettel wouldn't squeeze Verstappen and Kimi might keep a little further to the left.
I've raced at club level and whilst not attempting to draw a direct comparison the speed at which things can happen and go wrong make it difficult to process. The wet only makes it harder.
Vettel had a bad start and was determined not to let Verstappen get ahead. Unfortunately Raikkonnen had an amazing start and suddenly they ran out of a lot of space rapidly.
I like the idea that the Nascar driver (I think) in the Channel4 race review show said about having a spotter. Of course there was a lot of adrenaline and events unfolding at an unreal pace down to the first corner, but someone could have tried to say to Vettel to stop moving left or something and suddenly it would have been averted. Of course F1 might disallow that as the drivers aren't supposed to be coached or whatever, but it does raise an interesting idea which could minimise such incidents occurring.
In the end it was a racing incident.
In the circumstances, with the rain and having never gone round there in the wet before maybe they should have been allowed a second green flag lap?
Notice both Alonso and Hamilton went for a wide line to the right of the circuit.
This paid off for Hamilton but alas Alonso got tagged.
Even with the rain Alonso would not be able to stick with the Mercedes or Red Bull especially when things started to dry out.
A 3rd or 4th would have been his placing IF the first corner tag didn't happen and the Honda lasted
This paid off for Hamilton but alas Alonso got tagged.
Even with the rain Alonso would not be able to stick with the Mercedes or Red Bull especially when things started to dry out.
A 3rd or 4th would have been his placing IF the first corner tag didn't happen and the Honda lasted
ELUSIVEJIM said:
Notice both Alonso and Hamilton went for a wide line to the right of the circuit.
This paid off for Hamilton but alas Alonso got tagged.
Even with the rain Alonso would not be able to stick with the Mercedes or Red Bull especially when things started to dry out.
A 3rd or 4th would have been his placing IF the first corner tag didn't happen and the Honda lasted
To be fair they both just tried to avoid the carnage happening on the inside of the corner. Unfortunately sometimes you get tagged but sometimes you don't.This paid off for Hamilton but alas Alonso got tagged.
Even with the rain Alonso would not be able to stick with the Mercedes or Red Bull especially when things started to dry out.
A 3rd or 4th would have been his placing IF the first corner tag didn't happen and the Honda lasted
eps said:
I like the idea that the Nascar driver (I think) in the Channel4 race review show said about having a spotter.
I heard about this on the autosport podcast. I can't think that it would help on a start procedure. Things happen just so fast, it's not like rolling starts where everyone is up to speed or regular laps where cars are slowly moving about the pecking order. A GP standing start has to be about the most intense few seconds in sport-there just wouldn't be the time to call it out and react to itAgree that the NASCAR type spotter would not have helped in this case. Too much going on with so little time to react. I'm in the "racing incident " camp but I do think Vettel is spooked by Max and that combined with wet conditions (nullifying his apparent advantage from Friday led him to be overly aggressive.
ELUSIVEJIM said:
Notice both Alonso and Hamilton went for a wide line to the right of the circuit.
This paid off for Hamilton but alas Alonso got tagged.
Even with the rain Alonso would not be able to stick with the Mercedes or Red Bull especially when things started to dry out.
A 3rd or 4th would have been his placing IF the first corner tag didn't happen and the Honda lasted
I had an each-way bet (only a couple of £) on Alonso at 500/1, had a hunch he'd be relatively quick here, thought I'd be in with a bit of a chance when the rain came. Never mind...This paid off for Hamilton but alas Alonso got tagged.
Even with the rain Alonso would not be able to stick with the Mercedes or Red Bull especially when things started to dry out.
A 3rd or 4th would have been his placing IF the first corner tag didn't happen and the Honda lasted
Gareth1974 said:
I had an each-way bet (only a couple of £) on Alonso at 500/1, had a hunch he'd be relatively quick here, thought I'd be in with a bit of a chance when the rain came. Never mind...
I think Alonso and McLaren would have thought a podium would have been reachable especially with the rain.Unfortunately he was taken out in the first corner as we know.
However would the car have lasted the whole race??
Perhaps Alonso going out early was better for Honda
ELUSIVEJIM said:
Gareth1974 said:
I had an each-way bet (only a couple of £) on Alonso at 500/1, had a hunch he'd be relatively quick here, thought I'd be in with a bit of a chance when the rain came. Never mind...
I think Alonso and McLaren would have thought a podium would have been reachable especially with the rain.Unfortunately he was taken out in the first corner as we know.
However would the car have lasted the whole race??
Perhaps Alonso going out early was better for Honda
Speaking of which, has it been discussed why exactly the Renaults balled up the first free pit stop? Hulkenburg really should have had 3rd should he not?
ELUSIVEJIM said:
Gareth1974 said:
I had an each-way bet (only a couple of £) on Alonso at 500/1, had a hunch he'd be relatively quick here, thought I'd be in with a bit of a chance when the rain came. Never mind...
I think Alonso and McLaren would have thought a podium would have been reachable especially with the rain.Unfortunately he was taken out in the first corner as we know.
However would the car have lasted the whole race??
Perhaps Alonso going out early was better for Honda
M3ax said:
Agree that the NASCAR type spotter would not have helped in this case. Too much going on with so little time to react. I'm in the "racing incident " camp but I do think Vettel is spooked by Max and that combined with wet conditions (nullifying his apparent advantage from Friday led him to be overly aggressive.
I dont like the spotter idea, I think by the time you're thinking you need a spotter you should be looking at why the drivers can't see for themselves. This is still (just about) open cockpit racing. Also with the over-a-second drama of turn 1 the last thing many drivers want is more input in the form of someone yelling in their ear about something they may already be aware of.
p1stonhead said:
Autosport, not an unimpeachable authority I accept, came out firmly on the side of the accident being down to Vettel. 'Vettel blunder', 'How Vettel shot himself in the foot', 'Vettel was the trigger', 'Short of vanishing into the ether, Verstappen could do nothing' and, from the point of view of Hamilton, 'The reward was a victory snatched from the jaws of likely defeat'.
I've read the race report a couple of times and there seems to be gentle criticism of the stewards' decision not to punish Vettel, suggesting that they decided that 'Vettel had already been punished enough'. From an entirely selfish point of view, I would have hated Vettel to lose more points as I want to see a battle down to the wire.
Interesting edition this week with a bit on the McL/Honda parting of the ways.
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