Chinese GP 2011 - Shanghai

[Ray]

It does not detract from driver skill, it is a skill required from a driver to manage their tyres !!!

I respectfully disagree.

So you don't think Hamilton showed any skill in how he was able to attack all those drivers and make his way through the field? Remember I don't think he got a single overtake due to the DRS.

Vettel mostly made a two stopper work, that was his choice and it got him second. Hamilton beat him because ultimately a three stopper was quicker AND he showed the skill in passing to make his way through the field.

Look at the Ferrari's - 6th and 7th on the same strategy as Vettel. They made a bad call in the way they ran their race. **BUT** it would have worked had Lewis and the others not been able to make those overtakes.

He showed skill, but Vettel had radio problems the whole second half of the race and Rocky told him with about 14-15 laps to go he had to stay out. He didn't chose the strategy necessarily, it very well may have fallen in his lap and he had no choice but to suffer.

[mach11]

Hamilton's key overtake was on Button - that was pure class. The rest were not as sophisticated because he had a big tyre advantage.

+1

That led him to victory in this race...

whatever it may be, tyres, fuel at the end of the day overtaking moves like this proves that racing takes place at the track...

what ever be the strategy... it does not matter... at one point rosberg was 5 sec ahead... but then some great laps by hamilton and fine overtaking led him to victory...

[spinmastermic]

Over the top and loving it

[myurr]

I think Red Bull screwed up. Plan a was a two stop, I think it was for McLaren as well but when they saw the degredation on the day they switched to a three stopper knowing it would be quicker. They did an unusually short second stint, much shorter than they needed to, because they switched strategies and wanted the undercut. It was that move that actually brought the race alive.

[beelsebob]

Ditto for Webber actually, from 18th to 3rd was a great drive. Like Lewis it was the second half of the race where they had a slight tyre advantage that they translated into much much better pace than their peers. Lewis for my driver of the day, just shading Webber and Rosberg.

Yeah, driver of the day. Only managed to finish 7.5 seconds in front of the guy who started 18th with no KERS. Webber by far was the class of the field.

The guy who started 18th with no KERS but fresh tyres for *every* stint.

[volarchico]

@Ray and @andrew...sheesh, the hatred and bitterness! Your team finished 2nd and 3rd...be happy! So what if myurr thinks Hamilton drove well? You don't have to agree with him, but no need to be rolling your eyes at him. And yes of course Webber drove really well! Geeze...relax all and enjoy the race.

[myurr]

What an amazing race after a while. Im hoping Alonso is investigated for the DRS incident.

Why? It is race control that control where the DRS is activated.

Actually there is an override button, and DRS won't be activated unless the driver is activating it. Alonso would not have been casually pressing the button at that time.

[FrukostScones]

Yeah, driver of the day. Only managed to finish 7.5 seconds in front of the guy who started 18th with no KERS. Webber by far was the class of the field.

I think the red bull is faster without kers.

Button first stop was so freaky!

[hollowBallistix]

For me, F1 has gone from overtaking being rare now it is over the top.

Over the top ? are you mental ! that's what it's all about !!! it's racing not a procession !!!

Tyre management has everything to do with it, everyone has the same choice before the race weekend starts, even if everyone had only a single tyre choice & limited supply, tyre management would still be a factor !!

[andrew]

@Ray and @andrew...sheesh, the hatred and bitterness! Your team finished 2nd and 3rd...be happy! So what if myurr thinks Hamilton drove well? You don't have to agree with him, but no need to be rolling your eyes at him. And yes of course Webber drove really well! Geeze...relax all and enjoy the race.

Neither of us are complaining that Myurr thought Hamilton drove well. However, it is undeniable that things went his way with Red Bull messing up the strategy and the tyres dying. I think this is what we'll see al through the season. Whoever is in the right place at the right time will get lucky with the tyres.

[MrBlacky]

What happened with Alonsos DRS? Didn't see that on TV.

[beelsebob]

For me, F1 has gone from overtaking being rare now it is over the top.

Over the top ? are you mental ! that's what it's all about !!! it's racing not a procession !!!

Yes and no – it has to still be hard to pass for a pass to be exciting. Personally, I think the balance is dead right at this point.

[Ray]

@Ray and @andrew...sheesh, the hatred and bitterness! Your team finished 2nd and 3rd...be happy! So what if myurr thinks Hamilton drove well? You don't have to agree with him, but no need to be rolling your eyes at him. And yes of course Webber drove really well! Geeze...relax all and enjoy the race.

I'm not hating. Lewis drove a great race no doubt, but Webber finished 7.5 seconds behind him. More sets of tires or not, with the double whammy of broken KERS in qualy, buried down in 18th position at the beginning of the race and battling without putting a single wheel wrong how in the hell can anyone say that his wasn't the drive of the day? Makes no sense.

[beelsebob]

Whoever is in the right place at the right time will get lucky with the tyres.

No, what people are arguing is that when being in the right place at the right time requires passing significant numbers of cars on track - including your own team mate on the same tyres, that's called driving very skilfully.

[Just_a_fan]

[ I'm not convinced Vettel was on a 2 stop strategy. His 2nd stint was more than pushing it in terms of length, that much was obvious when he pitted. His radio was clearly not working so I am wondering if he wasn't able to tell the team he needed to stop until it was too late.

Either that or Red Bull screwed up.

Horner said after the race that they decided on a 2 stop strategy and were 4 laps from making it work (i.e. Hamilton passed Vettel with 4 laps to go). So it appears to be a RB screw up (in effect)

For me, F1 has gone from overtaking being rare now it is over the top.

I've said this for a long time - overtaking is not the key part of what makes a race enjoyable to watch. It's chances to overtake that matters because that's where the driver can make the difference.