Starts (why Mark Webber is losing out)

[strad]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm I would have expected some comment

[Donuts]

And now he´s being retained because RBR knows it´s better to have one super strong guy that gets the drivers title and then have one that picks up the pieces in case something goes wrong.

Webber is absolutely perfect for Red Bull. Just like Massa is to Ferrari.
Mclaren has in some way showed that the chance of --- happening is greater when you have two solid drivers capable of taking another title.

But in Mclarens defense, they have probably the best duo ever in F1 due to the nature of both drivers. They respect each other very much and it shows on track.
Bit different then Senna vs Prost

I would change "is" to "was". Being that much behind in points is hardly ideal when fighting for the WCC.

[jamsbong]

short video of the drivers explaining how they set up for the start/launch
click photo for video

Buemi gave such a detail explanation. He even describe there is a beep to remind him to release 2nd clutch pedal fully. I guess it is the same beep that reminds driver to upshift.

Coming back to Webber:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/formula ... 100582.stm

Looks like he is still learning the Pirelli tyres. I guess everyone is learning it. Somehow, Vettel has just learned a bit faster than others. Even Mr. Smooth and Gentle to tyre (Button) is not as good as Vettel. Next year, if Pirelli tyres have the same behaviour as this year, I bet the championship will not be a runaway for Vettel.

[RB7ate9]

Looks like he is still learning the Pirelli tyres. I guess everyone is learning it. Somehow, Vettel has just learned a bit faster than others. Even Mr. Smooth and Gentle to tyre (Button) is not as good as Vettel. Next year, if Pirelli tyres have the same behaviour as this year, I bet the championship will not be a runaway for Vettel.

This is what I'm hoping as well. With the loss of the EBD and the stability of the rules somewhat, I'm hoping that the rest of the field (read: Webber) will be able to come to better grips with the Pirellis and be more competitive. I'm hoping that 2012 will be similar to 2010 in terms of closeness between contenders.

I definitely agree that Button may be Mr.Tyre-Lover next year and really do well on the SSofts and Mediums.

As for Vettel, I think that's one of the talents that he has. A young, bright driver, he studies very diligently all of the aspects of the car and I'm sure he spent a lot of time thinking and talking with the engineers about the Pirellis during pre-season testing.

I just hope the Mayans were wrong about 2012. Unless they were right and 2012 sees the end of Formula 1 as we know it (i.e. American GP and the true beginning of the Vettel era).

[ringo]

i think the tyre will be more like the bridgestones next year.
squarer edge and more durable.

[raymondu999]

Actually Pirelli have gone on record saying that they will be less durable, to account for the fact that teams will understand already how to make their cars less harsh on the Pirellis. They will all move "down" a step. i.e. the current supersoft will be next year's softs, the current soft will be next year's mediums, the current mediums will be next year's hard, with a compound softer than this year's supersoft taking up the supersoft mantle

[raymondu999]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/formula ... 100582.stm

[Richard]

Thanks for the video strad

[Lycoming]

Vettel arguably uses his tyres best. He is pretty smooth as well, on his pole lap in shanghai in turn 1 he smoothly moves the wheel to full lock, then holds it there and doesnt move it again until the exit, whereas even ultrasmooth button made a small correction on his hot lap.

[raymondu999]

Very fair point you make there. At the same time I think he's more capable than Button of wrestling a car that's twitchy at the rear; he doesn't seem to mind it; and even Mark has said that also.

I think it was Hamashima of Bridgestone who praised Vettel's 2009 or 2010 Shanghai pole lap; he commented that Vettel made sure he managed his driving to be very smooth through the first snail in Shanghai; and this meant the tyres could stay with him for the whole lap.

[RB7ate9]

Does anyone have video of Mark's starts from the cockpit view, showing revs and what not? I'm curious about the use of KERS in the start. I remember Vettel and Webber in a Red Bull video talking about KERS' advantage accelerating off the line. Would it help in the start, or is it still down to clutch and tires?

[strad]

Once they hit 100kph they hit the KERS for added acceleration.

[RB7ate9]

Once they hit 100kph they hit the KERS for added acceleration.

Why do they wait until 100kph? is it to avoid wheelspin?

[Richard]

Some say the limit is due to wheelspin, others say it is a FOTA agreement so non-KERS teams don't look too stupid.

I've concluded it is probably a bit of both.

[Lycoming]

Very fair point you make there. At the same time I think he's more capable than Button of wrestling a car that's twitchy at the rear; he doesn't seem to mind it; and even Mark has said that also.

Absolutely true. You can see jenson's pace plummet when hes not happy with his setup, and he shows when he isn't happy with setup. Not saying vettel always has a perfect setup but he does seem generally more accommodating.

Once they hit 100kph they hit the KERS for added acceleration.

Why do they wait until 100kph? is it to avoid wheelspin?

yes, basically.

below 100 kph or so, they aren't at full throttle because at those speeds all it does is spin the wheel. They can't put the power down. The maximum force the engine can exert to accelerate the car is equal to the force of friction between the rear tires and the track. Below 100 there isn't enough downforce, and the engine force greatly exceeds traction. thus, if you cant put down all the engine has to offer, there's no point adding the KERS boost because the situation is the same, you can't put the power down.

I do hope that you're joking about that FOTA thing.