F1 2010: Chinese GP.

[Ferry_vO]

Weird crash in free practice today, as Sebastien Buemi Looses both front wheels on his STR when braking at high speed:

84-egMy9GTM

[Wing_Z]

That is weird.
Still watching the recorded sessions - interesting to hear Christian Horner say so emphatically: "No ride height control here!"
Equally interesting to hear suddenly about the "Wing Stalling Device" on McLaren, worth 4-5/10ths per lap!
Mercedes power also surely has a big advantage on this track with 33hp over RBR.

[Panther_99FS]

Those "legal" Adrian Newey cars sure have had a lot "interesting" failures this season......

[wombat666]

Interesting to see how useless the supposed 'wheel tethers' are, both wheels cleared the 'safety fences' by a decent margin.
:173go1:

[Wing_Z]

Turns out it was a right front upright failure, which then immediately overstressed the other side, so off they went.
The tethers attach the wheel hub to the suspension; if the entire front end falls off they do no good.
Virtually unheard of...
Several cars seem to look a little stressed just before turn 1: max braking at high speed, then they hit that bump.
Lotus and Virgin lost bits there too.

The TV cameraman was a little lucky - the wheel hit the camera while he was focusing on the car, and went over his head.

[Wing_Z]

...and a RBR front row lockout!
That's put paid to all those rumours - it's just a better car.
Alonso did well to put the Ferrari 3rd on the grid, but I suspect he's hurt the engine in so doing.
What happened to the Mercedes-powered cars??

[wombat666]

<table class="raceResults" summary="" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td>1</td> <td>5</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">Sebastian Vettel</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">RBR-Renault</td> <td>1:36.317</td><td> 1:35.280</td><td> 1:34.558</td> <td>21</td> </tr> <tr> <td>2</td> <td>6</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">Mark Webber</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">RBR-Renault</td> <td>1:35.978</td><td> 1:35.100</td><td> 1:34.806</td> <td>17</td> </tr> <tr> <td>3</td> <td>8</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">Fernando Alonso</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">Ferrari</td> <td>1:35.987</td><td> 1:35.235</td><td> 1:34.913</td> <td>15</td> </tr> <tr> <td>4</td> <td>4</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">Nico Rosberg</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">Mercedes GP</td> <td>1:35.952</td><td> 1:35.134</td><td> 1:34.923</td> <td>17</td> </tr> <tr> <td>5</td> <td>1</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">Jenson Button</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">McLaren-Mercedes</td> <td>1:36.122</td><td> 1:35.443</td><td> 1:34.979</td> <td>17</td> </tr> <tr> <td>6</td> <td>2</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">Lewis Hamilton</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">McLaren-Mercedes</td> <td>1:35.641</td><td> 1:34.928</td><td> 1:35.034</td> <td>13</td> </tr> <tr> <td>7</td> <td>7</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">Felipe Massa</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">Ferrari</td> <td>1:36.076</td><td> 1:35.290</td><td> 1:35.180</td> <td>19</td> </tr> <tr> <td>8</td> <td>11</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">Robert Kubica</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">Renault</td> <td>1:36.348</td><td> 1:35.550</td><td> 1:35.364</td> <td>21</td> </tr> <tr> <td>9</td> <td>3</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">Michael Schumacher</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">Mercedes GP</td> <td>1:36.484</td><td> 1:35.715</td><td> 1:35.646</td> <td>21</td> </tr> <tr> <td>10</td> <td>14</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">Adrian Sutil</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">Force India-Mercedes</td> <td>1:36.671</td><td> 1:35.665</td><td> 1:35.963</td> <td>23</td> </tr> <tr> <td>11</td> <td>9</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">Rubens Barrichello</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">Williams-Cosworth</td> <td>1:36.664</td><td> 1:35.748</td><td>
</td> <td>15</td> </tr> <tr> <td>12</td> <td>17</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">Jaime Alguersuari</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">STR-Ferrari</td> <td>1:36.618</td><td> 1:36.047</td><td>
</td> <td>17</td> </tr> <tr> <td>13</td> <td>16</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">Sebastien Buemi</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">STR-Ferrari</td> <td>1:36.793</td><td> 1:36.149</td><td>
</td> <td>17</td> </tr> <tr> <td>14</td> <td>12</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">Vitaly Petrov</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">Renault</td> <td>1:37.031</td><td> 1:36.311</td><td>
</td> <td>10</td> </tr> <tr> <td>15</td> <td>23</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">Kamui Kobayashi</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">BMW Sauber-Ferrari</td> <td>1:37.044</td><td> 1:36.422</td><td>
</td> <td>16</td> </tr> <tr> <td>16</td> <td>10</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">Nico Hulkenberg</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">Williams-Cosworth</td> <td>1:37.049</td><td> 1:36.647</td><td>
</td> <td>14</td> </tr> <tr> <td>17</td> <td>22</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">Pedro de la Rosa</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">BMW Sauber-Ferrari</td> <td>1:37.050</td><td> 1:37.020</td><td>
</td> <td>15</td> </tr> <tr> <td>18</td> <td>15</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">Vitantonio Liuzzi</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">Force India-Mercedes</td> <td>1:37.161</td><td>
</td><td>
</td> <td>9</td> </tr> <tr> <td>19</td> <td>24</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">Timo Glock</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">Virgin-Cosworth</td> <td>1:39.278</td><td>
</td><td>
</td> <td>6</td> </tr> <tr> <td>20</td> <td>18</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">Jarno Trulli</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">Lotus-Cosworth</td> <td>1:39.399</td><td>
</td><td>
</td> <td>9</td> </tr> <tr> <td>21</td> <td>19</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">Heikki Kovalainen</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">Lotus-Cosworth</td> <td>1:39.520</td><td>
</td><td>
</td> <td>8</td> </tr> <tr> <td>22</td> <td>25</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">Lucas di Grassi</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">Virgin-Cosworth</td> <td>1:39.783</td><td>
</td><td>
</td> <td>6</td> </tr> <tr> <td>23</td> <td>21</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">Bruno Senna</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">HRT-Cosworth</td> <td>1:40.469</td><td>
</td><td>
</td> <td>10</td> </tr> <tr> <td>24</td> <td>20</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">Karun Chandhok</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">HRT-Cosworth</td> <td>1:40.578</td><td>
</td><td>
</td> <td>7</td></tr></tbody></table>

[Panther_99FS]

Looks like that Nico is finally coming of age! :jump:

[Panther_99FS]

What happened to the Mercedes-powered cars??

If you look at the last 2 races - it's arguable that Renault might be the better engine (rememeber hard Petrov and Kubica have been to pass)

[Cazzie]

Looks like that Nico is finally coming of age! :jump:

At Shummie's expense. :icon_lol:

He's out-Q'd him every race, hasn't he.

Hoping for rain, I just love F-1 in the rain.

[wombat666]

Looks like that Nico is finally coming of age! :jump:

'Britney' is certainly staking his claim to the #1 driver's slot at Brawn.
:ernae:

[Wing_Z]

If you look at the last 2 races - it's arguable that Renault might be the better engine (rememeber hard Petrov and Kubica have been to pass)
RBR Renault are supposed to be giving away 30hp to the Mercedes powered cars.
Their top speed isn't in the top 6 anywhere on this track.

And with three long straights you'd have thought it would make a big difference, especially McLaren with their cute "F-duct" wing stalling device adding to top speed.

Yet it's in sector 3 with that long back straight that Vettel has the advantage over everyone else.
The RBR chassis (+Vettel) must be working incredibly well through the turn 12/13 "snail" complex at the start of S3.



Hoping for rain, I just love F-1 in the rain.
It's on the cards - only problem is Vettel said, with a wide grin: he is too!

[Panther_99FS]

Not sure still ...
Renault team cars might have more downforce hence the lower top speed and difficulty to pass (again Kubica & Petrov).

[Panther_99FS]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kimiraikkonen/4529468438/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kimiraikkonen/4528729663/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kimiraikkonen/4523732276/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kimiraikkonen/4529468312/sizes/o/

[Wing_Z]

Pos No Driver Team Laps Time/Retired Grid Pts
1 1 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 56 Winner 5 25
2 2 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 56 +1.5 secs 6 18
3 4 Nico Rosberg Mercedes GP 56 +9.4 secs 4 15
4 8 Fernando Alonso Ferrari 56 +11.8 secs 3 12
5 11 Robert Kubica Renault 56 +22.2 secs 8 10
6 5 Sebastian Vettel RBR-Renault 56 +33.3 secs 1 8
7 12 Vitaly Petrov Renault 56 +47.6 secs 14 6
8 6 Mark Webber RBR-Renault 56 +52.1 secs 2 4
9 7 Felipe Massa Ferrari 56 +57.7 secs 7 2
10 3 Michael Schumacher Mercedes GP 56 +61.7 secs 9 1
11 14 Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 56 +62.8 secs 10
12 9 Rubens Barrichello Williams-Cosworth 56 +63.6 secs 11
13 17 Jaime Alguersuari STR-Ferrari 56 +71.4 secs 12
14 19 Heikki Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth 55 +1 Lap 21
15 10 Nico Hulkenberg Williams-Cosworth 55 +1 Lap 16
16 21 Bruno Senna HRT-Cosworth 54 +2 Laps 23
17 20 Karun Chandhok HRT-Cosworth 52 +4 Laps 24
Ret 18 Jarno Trulli Lotus-Cosworth 26 +30 Laps 20
Ret 25 Lucas di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth 8 +48 Laps 22
Ret 22 Pedro de la Rosa BMW Sauber-Ferrari 7 +49 Laps 17
Ret 16 Sebastien Buemi STR-Ferrari 0 +56 Laps 13
Ret 23 Kamui Kobayashi BMW Sauber-Ferrari 0 +56 Laps 15
Ret 15 Vitantonio Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes 0 +56 Laps 18
Ret 24 Timo Glock Virgin-Cosworth 0 +56 Laps 19

Pos Team Points
1 McLaren-Mercedes 109
2 Ferrari 90
3 RBR-Renault 73
4 Mercedes GP 60
5 Renault 46
6 Force India-Mercedes 18
7 Williams-Cosworth 6
8 STR-Ferrari 2

[Cazzie]

What a glorious event an F-1 race is in the rain. :jump:

But one thing I am so tired of, flat cookie-cutter road courses! I guess its spectators first and the hell with what a fan wants. But I want courses that go uphill and downhill with some scenery (meaning trees) around the course, but not near enough for driver danger. F-1 is losing those tracks and it's a pisser.

Caz

[Panther_99FS]

Interesting race - And I would've thought some of the more "grippier" cars would've been on top....

Set-up perhaps :ques:

[Panther_99FS]

Oh and I forgot...."Great peformance yet again by Nico Rosberg!!" :d

[Panther_99FS]

Vettel & Hamilton reprimanded for pit lane crash...
http://formula-one.speedtv.com/article/f1-hamilton-and-vettel-reprimanded-for-pit-lane-clash/

[Panther_99FS]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kimiraikkonen/4530594057/sizes/l/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kimiraikkonen/4530293985/sizes/o/

[Wing_Z]

Hamilton's antics in and around the pitlane were somewhat Banzai...maybe that's what F1 needs more of.
See his father is out of the picture, Lewis is looking for a new manager. Perhaps the family discontent is fueling some of his strange behaviour...
Extraordinary to see Alonso in P4 - after a drive-through penalty!
Schumacher is starting to look like the guy that, y'know, used to be good. Rosberg sure has grown up.

[Cazzie]

As I stated, F-1 in the rain is a hoot!

Jenson came through and why was Vettel reprimanded? Lewis was the one in fault.

And Petrov finally finished a race and got 6 points in doing so, congrats to the Mad Russian holding it in line today.

Caz

[Wing_Z]

As I stated, F-1 in the rain is a hoot!
Jenson came through and why was Vettel reprimanded? Lewis was the one in fault.
And Petrov finally finished a race and got 6 points in doing so, congrats to the Mad Russian holding it in line today.
Caz
Vettel got a little annoyed by Hamilton squeezing between his wheels in the pitlane I suspect.
(Having moments before, been cut off by that bizarre last-minute chop into the pits)
So he squeeeeezed him, virtually into the next pitbox, where the mechanics had to look lively to avoid being run over!
Hence the reprimand.
Actually it's great that there are racing drivers in the Stewards Box.
They understand what's good for racing.
In previous years this would've earned Lewis a billion dollar fine and 6-place demotion.

[demorier]

Be interesting to see how those penalties pan out for the next race.

[lefty]

What next race ? Bernie doesn't seem to know where it will be - can the teams get back to Europe ?

[Wing_Z]

Britain has the answer: send in the Ark Royal
http://www.latimes.com/sns-ap-eu-iceland-volcano,0,5603908.story
What a sight that would be, a couple of dozen F1 teams with cars and transporters lined up on deck!