Chinese GP 2011 - Shanghai

[murtoidf1]

Having seen the footage of the DRS, surely Alonso should be waiting for a penalty.

Sauber have been penalized for much less.

Depends if it was activated by the driver or a malfunction.

We've have crashgate, we've had spygate, we've had passgate.

Now we have ... wait for it ... flapgate.

i don;t think it really matters if it was a malfunction or not. Sauber have done things by accident and still been punished, and they didn't even gain an advantage from it.

[Vasco]

Looking back at the start, did Vettel not swerve a bit too much?

[thestig84]

Looking back at the start, did Vettel not swerve a bit too much?

Yes I think his starts are overly aggressive however the FIA have said the moving around rule does not apply for the start. Second race in a row where Hamilton has come very close to contact with Vettel due to his weaving.

[fenix4life]

The DRS was good today but only because they shortened the zone. If they left it the original larger distance then we would have seen stupidly easy overtakes with no excitement and very little skill involved.

Not sure it was good for everyone. Watched some footage of Heidfeld and he was already at max speed when using KERS and behind his predecessor before activating DRS.
When he pushed the green button nothing happened as he was already bouncing the limitor at 322 so looks like its only usefull if used at the first part. Why not having activated it during the first half of the straight just enough to give him some better acceleration.

Of course their are some other example like for instance webber who did has some nice benefit of more then 10 kph when activating it but that could have been due to the lack of kers.

I think the straight was just too long and activation was too late. Activation on the pitstraight was maybe more logical as the startspeed of the straight is much lower. The long straight was already started at 250 so they only could gain 70 at max for some teams where the pitstraight started way below 200.

[max2slow]

exellent performence from lewis and marc...the pirelli's worked perfect for those two..

[myurr]

The DRS was good today but only because they shortened the zone. If they left it the original larger distance then we would have seen stupidly easy overtakes with no excitement and very little skill involved.

Not sure it was good for everyone. Watched some footage of Heidfeld and he was already at max speed when using KERS and behind his predecessor before activating DRS.
When he pushed the green button nothing happened as he was already bouncing the limitor at 322 so looks like its only usefull if used at the first part. Why not having activated it during the first half of the straight just enough to give him some better acceleration.

That was his and Renault's choice - they set the gear ratio's so that they'd have the fastest car without the DRS. They didn't allow enough headroom for a DRS boost, but that was their choice.

I thought the placement was just about perfect as it did exactly what it was supposed to - allow cars to close up and have the opportunity to try and pass without making it a sure fire thing. We repeatedly saw drivers able to pull alongside but then have to fight through the next couple of corners in order to make the pass. That is how it should be.

[thestig84]

Exactly Myurr you have made my point better then me

[Giblet]

DRS Question - If you are a backmarker unlapping yourself, can you use DRS. I you are on the lead lap can you use to pass a backmarker?

Can you use it to pass any car that is in front of you in the OT zone?

I wondered this as either DiResta or someone (can't remember) was getting back on the lead lap past Vettel.

[andrew]

DRS Question - If you are a backmarker unlapping yourself, can you use DRS. I you are on the lead lap can you use to pass a backmarker?

Can you use it to pass any car that is in front of you in the OT zone?

I wondered this as either DiResta or someone (can't remember) was getting back on the lead lap past Vettel.

As long as a driver is within 1 second of the car behind they can use it. Just as well Eddie Irvine didn't have DRS at the Japanese GP in 1993.

[piast9]

As long as a driver is within 1 second of the car behind they can use it. Just as well Eddie Irvine didn't have DRS at the Japanese GP in 1993.

OK, but if you are unlapping yourself you're not 1s behind but whole lap + 1s behind.

[Giblet]

This is why I am confused. The rule stats that you can deploy your DRS when following another car within one second. I am not aware of the rule stating the car has to be within one second of 'race position'.

Unlapping yourself is considered for position, as you are going back on the lead lap and actually get to finish all the race laps.

Inversely, does this mean that the leader can't ever use the DRS when passing lapped cars, as he is never truly 'behind' anyone?

[djos]

That was an epic Grand Prix imo with fantastic drives from Hamilton and particularly from Webber, it was really great stuff that we would have never seen last year!!!

Great job Pirelli !!! =D>

[raymondu999]

To imagine - if Hamilton hadn't gotten that car repaired in time, we would've had an RBR 1-2, amazingly. 2nd place from 18th would have been candidate of drive for the year.

[djos]

To imagine - if Hamilton hadn't gotten that car repaired in time, we would've had an RBR 1-2, amazingly. 2nd place from 18th would have been candidate of drive for the year.

I reckon it's got to be drive of the year already anyway, 18th to 3rd is the kind of stunt Shuey used to pull occasionally! Frankly I dont remember any other drivers managing this sort of feat in recent seasons.

[djos]

Having seen the footage of the DRS, surely Alonso should be waiting for a penalty.

Sauber have been penalized for much less.

Depends if it was activated by the driver or a malfunction.

We've have crashgate, we've had spygate, we've had passgate.

Now we have ... wait for it ... flapgate.

I was under the impression that the Electronic Nanny didn't allow it to be used until the particular timing loop had been crossed and then it was disabled once the second timing loop was passed?

FiA any one? (irony is that it's a MacLaren TAG System )