Chinese GP 2011 - Shanghai

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volarchico
volarchico
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Joined: 26 Feb 2010, 07:27

Re: Chinese GP 2011 - Shanghai

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Tumbarello wrote:LOL Webber said it was good that Hamilton won in the press conference! LOL
That was priceless. As soon as it came out of his mouth, you could tell he was backtracking and trying to figure out a way to be political about it!!

myurr
myurr
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Joined: 20 Mar 2008, 21:58

Re: Chinese GP 2011 - Shanghai

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Ray wrote:
septerra wrote: I believe it was right before the final corner.
Yeah, right before the last corner but the world feed didn't show how long it was open. Might have pooped open due to malfunction. Though one of the Speed commentators did say a driver can activate it any time they wish but must answer to Charlie for it. Don't think it helped him pass Schumacher though. Strange it opened there.
There's an override in case the system fails so that the FIA can tell a team manually that they're allowed to use the DRS in the designated zone and the driver can still activate it. It looks like Ferrari have deployed this, probably by accident, in the wrong zone.

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raymondu999
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Joined: 04 Feb 2010, 07:31

Re: Chinese GP 2011 - Shanghai

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Amazing race. The result isn't to my liking - I would've preferred Seb to take his 5th win in a row - but I can't take away from the fact that this is a great race. I think with regards to the RB strategy for Vettel, is that they ran him too short on the 1st stint. If McL made the tyres last that length, on a 3-stopper, then their 1st stint should've been longer. Then after that they would've been able to keep pace a bit better on the 2nd stint. I still think Hamilton would've chased him down eventually, but it would've been maybe side-by-side with 1 lap to go or the last lap, and a much less precarious race for Vettel in terms of his tyres would have been in better shape by pitting a bit later.

I think RB had a 2-stopper Plan A, and either couldn't change to Plan B (3-stopper) either by brain fade from the pitwall, or by radio comms failure.
Last edited by raymondu999 on 17 Apr 2011, 11:23, edited 1 time in total.
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Giblet
Giblet
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Joined: 19 Mar 2007, 01:47
Location: Canada

Re: Chinese GP 2011 - Shanghai

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Ray wrote:. Lewis didn't do anything other than take advantage of Vettel's radio problems and possible strategy miscommunication.

Lack of radio won't affect strategy. The pit board is still there with all the needed info lap by lap.
Before I do anything I ask myself “Would an idiot do that?” And if the answer is yes, I do not do that thing. - Dwight Schrute

myurr
myurr
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Joined: 20 Mar 2008, 21:58

Re: Chinese GP 2011 - Shanghai

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@a_previous_poster_some_pages_ago - Yes Alonso does seem to be struggling at the starts. Massa's not been having any problems though.

volarchico
volarchico
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Joined: 26 Feb 2010, 07:27

Re: Chinese GP 2011 - Shanghai

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Yeah, Webber's achievement is quite good! But also expected... He is in the fastest car (based on qualifying) starting behind a bunch of slower drivers. If he DIDN'T pass a bunch of people and make up a lot of positions, something would have had to be seriously wrong. Don't get me wrong...his drive was still really impressive. If I had to pick just one driver of the race, it would be him.

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Ray
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Joined: 22 Nov 2006, 06:33
Location: Atlanta

Re: Chinese GP 2011 - Shanghai

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Yeah, that is my point. Webber started 18th. He was 30 seconds adrift by lap 10, yet managed to finish less than 8 seconds behind the winner and less than 3 seconds behind the pole sitter. To compare Lewis' drive to Webber's is lunacy. Fresh tires or not. Especially for a driver that is universally thought of if not the best certainly one of about 3 or so elite drivers today.

ESPImperium
ESPImperium
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Joined: 06 Apr 2008, 00:08
Location: Glasgow, Scotland

Re: Chinese GP 2011 - Shanghai

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Be it Hamilton or Webber, both drove a blinder today. Personally its Webber who drove to driver of the day.

Key points from the race from my point of view:
* Alonso and his out of area DRS activation
* Have Pirelli got their mandate right??
* Red Bull and KERS again not working
* McLaren on the resurgence???

Also very glad to see Hispania making a double race finish.

piast9
piast9
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Joined: 16 Mar 2010, 00:39

Re: Chinese GP 2011 - Shanghai

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Ray wrote:Yeah, right before the last corner but the world feed didn't show how long it was open. Might have pooped open due to malfunction. Though one of the Speed commentators did say a driver can activate it any time they wish but must answer to Charlie for it. Don't think it helped him pass Schumacher though. Strange it opened there.
Whatever happened it requires the investigation. If FIA allowed DRS by mistake in area where it shouldn't be allowed that has to be fixed. If Ferrari managed somehow engaging DRS without race control permission it needs to be penalized.

andrew
andrew
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Joined: 16 Feb 2010, 15:08
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland - WhiteBlue Country (not the region)

Re: Chinese GP 2011 - Shanghai

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Giblet wrote:
Ray wrote:. Lewis didn't do anything other than take advantage of Vettel's radio problems and possible strategy miscommunication.

Lack of radio won't affect strategy. The pit board is still there with all the needed info lap by lap.
Vettel could hear the pitwall but the pitwall couldn't hear him. He had no way of requesting a stop the ideal time, but according to Horner (a fellow who couldn't lie straight in his bed) they were on a 2 stopper anyway.

beelsebob
beelsebob
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Joined: 23 Mar 2011, 15:49
Location: Cupertino, California

Re: Chinese GP 2011 - Shanghai

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Ray wrote:Yeah, that is my point. Webber started 18th. He was 30 seconds adrift by lap 10, yet managed to finish less than 8 seconds behind the winner and less than 3 seconds behind the pole sitter. To compare Lewis' drive to Webber's is lunacy. Fresh tires or not. Especially for a driver that is universally thought of if not the best certainly one of about 3 or so elite drivers today.
Pardon? You're suggesting that making up 20 seconds by having massively better tyres is somehow impressive? Sorry, but with these Pirellis, the state of the tyre is everything.

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Ray
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Joined: 22 Nov 2006, 06:33
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Re: Chinese GP 2011 - Shanghai

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Did Vettel have KERS towards the end? His bar filled up at the line with 4-5 to go but I never saw it drop after that? Was that the problem that he might have been trying to tell his crew about?

dave34m
dave34m
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Joined: 04 Aug 2008, 10:46

Re: Chinese GP 2011 - Shanghai

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volarchico wrote:Yeah, Webber's achievement is quite good! But also expected... He is in the fastest car (based on qualifying) starting behind a bunch of slower drivers. If he DIDN'T pass a bunch of people and make up a lot of positions, something would have had to be seriously wrong. Don't get me wrong...his drive was still really impressive. If I had to pick just one driver of the race, it would be him.
Yeah was just thinking the same, most of cars he should have passed anyway and once he got to Schum, Alonso and co he had the best car of the field and new tyres so really if he hadnt got near the podium it would have been pretty poor. Getting 3rd was very good in the end but Hamilton really was the driver of the day for me. Really great drive and one I'm sure he'll remember for a long time

MrBlacky
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Re: Chinese GP 2011 - Shanghai

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septerra
septerra
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Joined: 11 Apr 2011, 12:04

Re: Chinese GP 2011 - Shanghai

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piast9 wrote:
Ray wrote:Yeah, right before the last corner but the world feed didn't show how long it was open. Might have pooped open due to malfunction. Though one of the Speed commentators did say a driver can activate it any time they wish but must answer to Charlie for it. Don't think it helped him pass Schumacher though. Strange it opened there.

Like you mentioned, we have no idea about exactly how long it was open for. He seemed to be stumped trying to find a way past Michael and then we see a clip showing an open DRS and then he goes past Michael. Could be anything, lets see.