Malaysian GP 2012 - Sepang International Circuit

[CHT]

Vettel is slower than pretty much the rest of the field.

I thought that the RBs race pace has been pretty good in practice. I wouldn't write him off yet.

The rb will have a strong race tomorrow. They will have the advantage of a lighter car due to better fuel efficiency and vettel might even do a 2 stop for tomorrow race. With drs qualifying is no longer that important for this track.

[bhall]

I don't see why everyone seems to think Vettel needs the rain [...]

I don't think anyone does. His apparent strategy just seems to be more flexible in this regard. But, he could lose a place or two if it doesn't rain. Such is the risk/reward scenario.

[beelsebob]

I don't see why everyone seems to think Vettel needs the rain [...]

I don't think anyone does. His apparent strategy just seems to be more flexible in this regard.

Does it?

If it rains before the start, Hamilton is better off due to binning his flat spotted tyres.
If it rains anywhere up to around lap 15, they're roughly even.
If it rains anywhere between hamilton's first pit and vettel's first, vettel's won something.
If it rains anywhere after vettel's first pit, and before Hamilton's second, hamilton's won something.
...

Sure it looks like rain will help him, if you only consider that rain might happen when the leaders have pitted and he hasn't. If rain comes later than that, then he starts looking like a retard for driving around on hards, and wets, and never getting to use the mediums.

[Mr.S]

Depends though. The advantage of a hard tyre is just that - you don't get held up, as upyou are slower. Too many unknowns right now though. We don't know what the gap between tyres will be tomorrow.

Not as simple as that as the tyres will wear at different rates. It could be that the hard is the tyre to be on so whilst the rest of the pack are holding Vettel up, he'll then have to run the final stint on the worse race tyre with everyone else running faster than him and challenging toward the end of the stint. And they're so slow down the straights that if another car can get close they should be able to get past.

Like I said. We just don't know. Too many unknowns. I think Red Bull may have gone for their Monza 2011 tactic - gear for DRS-closed terminal velocity rather than DRS-open.

Webber has the best S3 time even ahead of the Mercedes. Red Bull is very quick over the straight & their DRS is working very well. They dont have the downforce. Not as much as Mclaren. Its clear. This race is Mclaren's to loose.

[Unc1e_M0nty]

I don't see why everyone seems to think Vettel needs the rain – he will run the first 20 odd laps on hard tyres, somewhat slower than everyone else. He won't be held up, because he'll be somewhat slower than those around him. The opposition will run the final 20 laps of the race on hard tyres, and be somewhat slower than him. In his final pit stop, he will overtake a bunch of people, and probably come out around 3rd ish. It'll then be a simple matter of whether he can overtake (likely the 2 McLarens) with his fresher, better rubber in the final 12-18 laps.

I dont think Vettel will get 20 laps out of the hard tyre with a full tank, my guess would be 14 or 16 its a 3 stopper after all, they should do more later in the race with lighter tanks and more rubber on the track.

All the other teams will get free data on the harder tyre with one Red Bull using each tyre.

[SiLo]

I've had a poke around the f1 website, but where can we find the speed trap results?

[zoro_f1]

another one stupid manouvre from maldonado and also poor performance from senna. i wonder what the drivers thinking with such better and competitive car from last year

[NathanOlder]

Dont forget guys, Vettel said his car was faster on the harder tyres, so when it comes to the end of the race, some people on here have been saying Vettel can put the softer tyre on and catch up. But if he puts the softer tyre on, he will be slower than he could go on the harder tyres.

If you take Qualifying pace into consideration, on lighter fuel (last 10 laps of the race). Vettel couldnt go any faster on either tyre. Mclaren will be 2 tenths slower on the Harder tyre (according to Pirelli)

Taking that into consideration, How is Vettel going to be going much faster at the end of the race ?

[bhall]

I don't see why everyone seems to think Vettel needs the rain [...]

I don't think anyone does. His apparent strategy just seems to be more flexible in this regard.

Does it?

If it rains before the start, Hamilton is better off due to binning his flat spotted tyres.
If it rains anywhere up to around lap 15, they're roughly even.
If it rains anywhere between hamilton's first pit and vettel's first, vettel's won something.
If it rains anywhere after vettel's first pit, and before Hamilton's second, hamilton's won something.
...

Sure it looks like rain will help him, if you only consider that rain might happen when the leaders have pitted and he hasn't. If rain comes later than that, then he starts looking like a retard for driving around on hards, and wets, and never getting to use the mediums.

That's why it's called a gamble. They obviously thinks it's flexible and is their best chance to win, because they're doing it.

(There was no way for them to account for Hamilton's tire problems, though.)

[NathanOlder]

Speed Trap

http://www.formula1.com/results/season/ ... _trap.html

the 4 fastest cars in a straight line are the 4 cars around Vettel, Good luck passing them Seb,

Good luck holding them off more like

[Mr.S]

Speed Trap

http://www.formula1.com/results/season/ ... _trap.html

the 4 fastest cars in a straight line are the 4 cars around Vettel, Good luck passing them Seb,

Good luck holding them off more like

This is dissapointing. Mercedes barely have 1-2 km advantage. The W-duct was supposed to give them huge advantage. Their S1-S3 times in FP3 were breath-taking. Maybe they have geared their car lower & sacrificied a bit of straightline speed for downforce.

Lotus is Ridiculously quick on the straight. I wonder why. Renault Engine is down on HP,no Magic Ducts or stuff. Mercedes do have shorter rear wing so they are probably shedding less drag in comparison to a Mclaren or Lotus using only DRS.

[ParanoiD]

Interesting, another Mclaren front row. Remember Mercedes race pace was poor. Kimi looking good.

Vettel on the Harder tyre , but I heard (I think) Eric Boullier say the Harder tyre was only 2tenths slower than the Softer compound.

That would tally. VET is only about .17 slower than Webber. Would be interesting to see how the durability is though.

I think his first Q3 run was also on the hards - that's what my iPad F1 timing app was telling me anyways. Means he has 2 sets of new options.

Fantastic Vettel, the only one with the hard tyres. His lap was BRILLANT.

Hear hear

Hembery said that the Hard tyre will degrade less on the high fuel loads.

[beelsebob]

Speed Trap

http://www.formula1.com/results/season/ ... _trap.html

the 4 fastest cars in a straight line are the 4 cars around Vettel, Good luck passing them Seb,

Good luck holding them off more like

He doesn't need to pass them – he should fully expect to fall behind them a bit, and then come out of the second or third pit stops ahead of them due to having an undercut on soft tyres.

[NathanOlder]

He will if they pass him at the start. If he sits behind them untill they stop he will be stuck behing GRO, ROS & ALO , who we know are slower than Vettel. Plus Oz is anything to go by, the Mercedes is real slow on heavy fuel. So being stuck behind Rosberg for 12-15 laps would kill his chances of a win.

[tenali]

HRT 1.42.914(pedro)have really done an amazing job to get within 6.5 seconds of pole time.

But, nearly 2 seconds slower than Glock's Marusia is very dissapointing.

Hoping they catch Pic atleast.