F1 2011!

[THE_STIG]

Yeah, long range forecasts predict a wet/dry race. Just hoping we don't have a repeat of 2009.

Yea that was very annoying and the half points did not help anything either

[Anakha56]

http://www.planetf1.com/news/3213/68551 ... use-of-DRS

Massa against excessive use of DRS

Felipe Massa admits he would prefer not to see the drag reduction system used on both of Sepang's long straights.

The DRS was first used two weeks ago in Melbourne, but such is the layout of the Albert Park circuit, that the system could only be used on the start-finish straight.

However, at the upcoming Malyasian GP at Sepang, there are two straights on which the DRS could be used. The FIA are yet to announce their DRS policy for the race, but Massa is hopeful that the system won't be overused.

"The situation will be interesting here, because for the moment the plan is to be allowed to use DRS during the race on the straight in front of the pits, but at Sepang the straight that runs back the other way is actually longer. It is also true that it would offer a higher chance of overtaking," the Brazilian told Ferrari's official website.

"So we are waiting for the final decision from the FIA to see if we use DRS on the front straight, the back one or both.

"The right decision could make the race more interesting for drivers and the spectators too.

"Personally, I am not sure that allowing DRS on both straights is the best option, because I think it might actually make overtaking too easy.

"You have to get the right balance between helping the chances of overtaking and having almost too much passing.

"At Sepang, the two straights follow one another, so if you are quicker than the car ahead, you might not even try and pass on the first straight, preferring to get well prepared and as close as possible, before then having a simple overtaking move on the second straight."

According to Ferrari's deputy technical director Pat Fry, the key to effectively using the system is positioning, with the 15mph benefit to the pursuing driver useless if the driver has not got themselves into the right area.

"After testing through the winter, most of the teams are all closing in on a similar level of drag reduction so the increase in speed provided by the system is delivering between 20 and 25 km/h (12-16mph)," he explained.

"I think it has made overtaking slightly easier, particularly when you are stuck in traffic, trying to get past backmarkers, but as we saw on the main straight in Melbourne, it is still difficult to overtake cars with a similar overall performance level to your own.

"You need to be somewhere in the order of three-tenths of a second behind another car going into the final corner before the DRS zone, to stand a chance of pulling alongside them by the end of the start-finish straight," he added.

Why do I get the feeling he is worried that he will be overtaken twice in a straight line by the car behind him and the car behind that one...

[Siemens]

He is just scared. Instead he should use it to his own advantage.

The FIA are yet to announce their DRS policy for the race

Is it just me or is the FIA a bit unprofessional? 4 days away from one of the biggest sporting events on the planet and they are still thinking about what rules to use for the race? Yet when it comes to smaller details like a bit of dirt on a car they're all over it.

[Anakha56]

Comparison of the RB6 and RB7:

http://translate.google.com/translate?j ... D0&act=url

Some very good side shots...

[THE_STIG]

http://www.planetf1.com/news/3213/68551 ... use-of-DRS

Massa against excessive use of DRS....

Why do I get the feeling he is worried that he will be overtaken twice in a straight line by the car behind him and the car behind that one...

Well that is because he knows that the car is well crap

[THE_STIG]

The RB6 is remarkably similar to the RB7, the main difference is the lack of the F-duct on the RB7 and it has a sightly narrower nose and lacks a double diffuser.

[Anakha56]

The explanation as to how Red Bull runs their wings so low:

http://www.planetf1.com/news/3213/68582 ... complaints

Horner tired of front wing complaints
Friday 8th April 2011

Christian Horner appears to be growing a tad irritated with rivals questioning the legality of his RB7's front wing.

Rivals have, over the last two seasons, accused Red Bull Racing of running an illegal front wing, which flexes beyond the maximum limit.

And although the accusations prompted the FIA to increase the loads used during their tests, after which they declared the wing legal, there are still complaints in the paddock.

"I know a few people that I have spoken to say it flexes more than what they expect is correct, but I haven't really spent much time looking at it," said Jenson Button in Malaysia on Thursday.

And Horner is getting rather tired of the comments, which seem to be mainly coming from the McLaren garage.

"Right, shall I explain it in very basic words how it works..." he told Autosport.

"McLaren have developed a car that has a very low rear ride height, and therefore a low front wing for them doesn't work.

"We run quite a high rake angle in our car, so inevitably when the rear of the car is higher, the front of the car is going to be lower to the ground.

"It is obvious science, and therefore our wing complies fully with the regulations. It will look lower to the ground because the rake in our car is higher. It is simple mathematics.

"They (McLaren) have developed a car that is effectively a different philosophy to ours and so the benefit that we see from the front wing is different to the one that they would see from the front wing. That is the basis behind it fundamentally."

The team boss added that the only test that is important to Red Bull is the FIA's - and they've already passed that.

"We take it is a compliment to be honest as you," he said of others talking about his team's RB7.

"I think our front wing has been tested more than any other in the pit lane and it complies with the regulations, and that is what we have to do.

"We don't have to pass a McLaren test, we have to pass an FIA one - and it complies fully with that."

[Siemens]

Here, pick a face that indicates how you feel about the race on Sunday:
http://www.myfacewhen.com/
Mine: http://www.myfacewhen.com/363/

[Ron2K]

Prac 1

01. Mark Webber Red Bull 1:37.651 22 laps
02. Lewis Hamilton McLaren 1:39.316 16 laps
03. Michael Schumacher Mercedes GP 1:39.791 29 laps
04. Nico Hulkenberg Force India F1 1:40.377 23 laps
05. Pastor Maldonado Williams 1:40.443 31 laps
06. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:40.453 22 laps
07. Nick Heidfeld Renault 1:40.525 6 laps
08. Rubens Barrichello Williams 1:40.581 21 laps
09. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1:40.601 23 laps
10. Nico Rosberg Mercedes GP 1:40.646 29 laps
11. Adrian Sutil Force India F1 1:40.734 21 laps
12. Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso 1:40.748 23 laps
13. Jaime Alguersuari Toro Rosso 1:40.770 24 laps
14. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber 1:40.872 27 laps
15. Jenson Button McLaren 1:40.927 16 laps
16. Jarno Trulli Team Lotus 1:41.620 21 laps
17. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull 1:41.627 18 laps
18. Sergio Perez Sauber 1:41.642 24 laps
19. Timo Glock Virgin Racing 1:42.154 18 laps
20. Jerome d' Ambrosio Virgin Racing 1:42.540 20 laps
21. Davide Valsecchi Team Lotus 1:44.054 18 laps
22. Vitantonio Liuzzi Hispania 1:45.228 20 laps
23. Narain Karthikeyan Hispania 1:46.267 10 laps
24. Vitaly Petrov Renault 01:47.932 4 laps

Prac 2

01. Mark Webber Red Bull 1:36.876 24 laps
02. Jenson Button McLaren 1:36.881 30 laps
03. Lewis Hamilton McLaren 1:37.010 23 laps
04. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull 1:37.090 30 laps
05. Michael Schumacher Mercedes GP 1:38.088 26 laps
06. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:38.089 31 laps
07. Nico Rosberg Mercedes GP 1:38.565 25 laps
08. Nick Heidfeld Renault 1:38.570 16 laps
09. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1:38.583 27 laps
10. Jaime Alguersuari Toro Rosso 1:38.846 31 laps
11. Pastor Maldonado Williams 1:38.968 25 laps
12. Rubens Barrichello Williams 1:39.187 30 laps
13. Vitaly Petrov Renault 1:39.267 17 laps
14. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber 1:39.398 29 laps
15. Sergio Perez Sauber 1:39.603 34 laps
16. Paul di Resta Force India 1:39.625 31 laps
17. Adrian Sutil Force India 1:39.809 28 laps
18. Sebastien Buemi Toro Rosso 1:40.115 31 laps
19. Timo Glock Virgin Racing 1:40.866 24 laps
20. Jarno Trulli Team Lotus 1:41.890 19 laps
21. Narain Karthikeyan Hispania 1:43.197 15 laps
22. Vitantonio Liuzzi Hispania 1:43.991 14 laps
23. Heikki Kovalainen Team Lotus 1:44.886 4 laps
24. Jerome d' Ambrosio Virgin Racing no time

[THE_STIG]

It looks as if it will be McLaren vs RBR for the front row. Mercedes seem to be stronger but they always seem to crumble when it comes to qualifying, and Ferrari are not really on the pace and the rain will make that worse as they predict rain for tomorrow and Sunday.

[Siemens]

Lol Webber is really gunning it. while the rest is like ... meh.

[THE_STIG]

He does seem to have it this weekend, but as always Vettel will come alive in qualifying. I hope McLaren are a bit closer to them this time, I don't want to see Vettel disappearing into the distance....

[Anakha56]

Webber has a point to prove while Vettel (according to reports) is gathering data on the tires.

[THE_STIG]

Vettel is just sand bagging, wait for qualifying....

[Siemens]

http://www.supersport.com/motorsport/fo ... aris_hopes

The reason why they wont win is because of his attitude.

[THE_STIG]

Fernando is so negative whenever something does not go his way. He always goes and sulks, as he did in Abu-Dhabi last year

[Siemens]

He should never have left Renault. I think it all psychologically became too much after he left.

[Siemens]

What a qualifier! Those times are practically equal for the top 4. Tomorrow will be interesting to say the least. Can't wait!

[THE_STIG]

Hamilton almost had pole, but Vettel just managed to beat it. Ha ha ha the Ferrari was rubbish they even went onto soft tires in Q1 and Hamilton was still able to match them with hard tires. Tomorrow will be interesting especially up at the front with McLaren so close to RBR there is just a few hundreds of a second between them in pace.

[Siemens]

Very well done to Button! That's my boy! And he is now 2nd in the drivers standings. He just had a terrible start actually. They say it's the tires however I can't truly believe that seeing how Hamilton was performing at that time.

Also Kobayashi was very entertaining. I wish they showed more of him. He really does like to put up a good fight. I wonder how he would perform in a McLaren or a RedBull.

[THE_STIG]

Fing FIA, they go and give Hamilton a penalty for defending his position. They also gave Alonso the same penalty but he was not affected(coincidence you say, I don't think so ) read here for more. I think that is a load of <insert variable>

Anyway the FIA aside, the race was quite enjoyable, Button had a brilliant drive(I knew he could do it _) and Vettel as always dominated. The start was very exciting especially with the start those Renaults got , how did they do that.

[Siemens]

This is just messed up!!!! Changing direction more than once to defend a position is worthy of a penalty? Why the <word> didn't Massa get one at Australia for doing the same towards Button? Either I'm misinterpreting the reason behind this or the FIA should rethink their logic. This is a sport isn't it? Defending is err... mandatory. Otherwise it would be no competition.
Alonso should just back up. He is ruining F1 for everyone.

I keep underestimating those Renaults when I see the qualifying.

[Siemens]

There is a bright side to this however... Kobayashi moves up 1 spot AND he can tell his kids that he beat Michael Schumacher and Hamilton in 1 race.

[Siemens]

This is just stupid. It's like a Goalkeeper gets a yellow card for making a save.

[Ron2K]

Thoughts on the race:

• Vettel drove like a real champ.
• Alonso drove like a real chop.
• The Kobayashi vs Schumacher duel was great to watch - passing and repassing each other.
• Petrov, towards the end of the race, drove like jee (jee calls speed bumps "wheeeeee's".)