Italian GP 2010 - Monza

[ringo]

I don't think so. He's good on heavy fuel.
He has a way of swimming through traffic. Take Hockenheim for instance, overtaking Webber on the outside on lap1.

Another thing is that he doesn't have to do a complete overtake to overtake someone.
Let me explain; approaching ascari, all he has to do is come beside another driver. Being beside them on the inside automatically compromises their turn, they'll have to let him through or mess up their exit, where they could be overtaken on the straight.

The low down-force setup could work. Just needs a ballsy driver making the right moves.

edit: What tyres is Hamilton on?

[andartop]

...And a driver who is not prone to binning it by overdriving, especially in the last laps. Oh, and a bit of luck not to get involved in a first or second chicane incident.

Seriously though, I can't see why all the fuss about what happened or did not happen to Lewis in Q3. Give the guy a break and let's see how he fares tomorrow. More often than not he finishes in a higher position than he has qualified, so I think he is looking good for a podium, especially given the apparent lack of pace from the Bulls.

Let's just hope Vettel will manage to stay away from other cars. Nothing personal, I just can't stand another thread with 30 pages of "Vettel can't overtake", "Yes he can", "No he can't" and dozens of HD frame by frame analyses of who had the racing line and who should have given more space...

[PlatinumZealot]

He has a 15kph over Button. But also note that:

1. his car is less affected by dirty air. His downforce will lessen but not as much of a percentage as the full DF cars. So in turns his car will get slightly more difficult but if he can keep it together he should be able to keep a consistent lap time even in dirty air.

Makes me wonder, why then he ended up behind Webber in Q3. Can't keep it together?
IMHO, overtaking for Hamilton will be very hard, at least Variante Ascari / Parabolica will be difficult for him to keep up.

It still would be easier for him than anybody else. He only has to position his car in the proper parts of the turn to overtake as stated by Ringo; he doesn't necessarily have to overtake in the turn itself. Then once the two cars are side by side it's a drag race to the next corner.

I can see him sniping off drivers one by one. He's only the greatest overtaker of all time you know.

[ell66]

obviosuly most the talk is about hamlton and his settings, he needs to make hay in the few laps IMO.
however im very curious to see how jenson fares. the tiniest of mistakes in the first couple of laps (where he's not been particulary strong pace wise) and surley the others would just drive straigt past him?
lets just hope those eratic red bulls dnt ruin anyones race at the first corner.

[ringo]

He'll have to look out for Massa.
Massa looks to be as fast as Alonso here, and i don't think Massa will have tyre issues.
Button best try stay as close to Alonso as he can.

Can't wait for the race tommorow, i hope no one crashes out.

[zeph]

Hamilton sandwiched between Webber and Vettel? All taken out in the first corner? It could happen...

[ringo]

Anything is possible with that first turn.

Well at least he and webber know it's not worth challenging for that turn. So does Vettel.
Maybe they'll tip toe through.
Around the lesmos can be trouble, we saw what happened with Glock and Truli last year, when they got a little frisky near the end.

[timbo]

1. his car is less affected by dirty air. His downforce will lessen but not as much of a percentage as the full DF cars. So in turns his car will get slightly more difficult but if he can keep it together he should be able to keep a consistent lap time even in dirty air.

2. Other cars cannot follow him closely. That is, the air pressure behind is car is greater.

I don't think 1 gets along with 2 very well=)
And ain't 3 the same as 1?

[Confused_Andy]

I think it bodes well for Hamilton to be back there, we know the McLaren is a mighty overtaker, the front end stability behind cars is incredible. He's also got one of the highest top speeds and Massa aint really much of a challenge for Hamilton.

Hopefully a podium for at least one of the McLaren boys if not both.

[timd]

I just watched Alonso's pole lap again on BBC.

He put together a blinder. Watch him handle the car slide end of first half of the lap, Ascari i believe (im terrible with corner and street names ). I could feel my arse clentch and i wasnt even in it

Very nice.

[univex]

Hamilton is only 5kph faster than Webber through the speed trap. Yet Webber is 10kph faster than Button and only 1 tenth sower in sector three around parabolica.

If Webber can hang on to Button, 10kph may be enough to overtake if the Renault doesn't hit the rev limiter. Same can be said for LH if he gets behind Button, 15kph is a lot of extra speed. Button would have to have a poor lap though.

[djos]

Lewis may be ultimately fast down the straights but the cars with F-Ducts are going to be faster thru the corners and get better traction out of the corners and reach their v-max sooner + the improved traction means better tire life.

I predict Lewis to burn his tires up very quickly and Jenson/Mark/Alonso to make theirs work for much longer.

[ell66]

Lewis may be ultimately fast down the straights but the cars with F-Ducts are going to be faster thru the corners and get better traction out of the corners and reach their v-max sooner + the improved traction means better tire life.

I predict Lewis to burn his tires up very quickly and Jenson/Mark/Alonso to make theirs work for much longer.

i dont think so.
first of all, webber, alonso, massa etc...are closer to hamiltons wing levels than they are buttons. so really that only applis to jenson.
however, there have been no reports of tyre degredation, and with there not being that much to choose between the prime and options, it really wont play much of a role at all.

[djos]

i dont think so.
first of all, webber, alonso, massa etc...are closer to hamiltons wing levels than they are buttons. so really that only applis to jenson.
however, there have been no reports of tyre degredation, and with there not being that much to choose between the prime and options, it really wont play much of a role at all.

Note the following words from Hamilton:

"We chose to go with the lighter downforce level, which doesn't have the F-duct, and the car is sliding everywhere so I struggled quite a lot on each tyre and I just didn't have the downforce.

Now imagine what a nightmare that will be on full fuel!

[univex]

i dont think so.
first of all, webber, alonso, massa etc...are closer to hamiltons wing levels than they are buttons. so really that only applis to jenson.
however, there have been no reports of tyre degredation, and with there not being that much to choose between the prime and options, it really wont play much of a role at all.

Remember the Macca relies much more on its wings for downforce when compared to the RB. The RB's produce a large amount of downforce on the body itself.

Button will have more downforce for sure, though Webber will not be that far behind.