2012 US GP - Circuit of the Americas

[raymondu999]

I think what's going to be interesting to see tomorrow will be the over/undercut. With tyres taking so long to come up to temps - the undercut might not work at all. However, if you stay out and do the "overcut" on the other guy, then when you do pit and come out - the other guy's tyres will be on song, and you will still be struggling.

[McMrocks]

I don't see Vettel pulling away so fast at the start. Even he will need some laps to get the heat into the tyres, and without that he'll struggle for grip like all the others. So maybe starting at the dirty side doesn't bring that much of a disadvantage. Perhaps Hamilton his chance to get past Vettel? Whenever there is low grip for everybody, Hamilton always seems to get most out or it.

I don't see it being anything other than vettel pulling away. Hamilton was driving on the edge during the whole of Q3, you can't maintain that over a race in my view.

It will be like in all the other races. My personal impression was that McLaren had allways problems in the first part of the race. Look at India where they had enormous problems after the start. Both didn't have the pace of Vettel.
IMO Vettel will pull away at start but at the end of the race the other teams will be more competitive.

[JimClarkFan]

I think you can, especially with the current breed of 0-deg tyres - just that it's very taxing on you mentally, and it makes you more vulnerable to making a mistake further on.

That's my point. It opens Hamilton up to far more mistakes... I hope he takes a red bull to focus his mind before the race

In all likelihood though, I see Webber going past him in the first corner... well if Webber can hook up his start.

It will be like in all the other races. My personal impression was that McLaren had allways problems in the first part of the race. Look at India where they had enormous problems after the start. Both didn't have the pace of Vettel.
IMO Vettel will pull away at start but at the end of the race the other teams will be more competitive.

Possible I guess. I just can't see it happening, though for interest sake I hope it does.

[godlameroso]

I think what's going to be interesting to see tomorrow will be the over/undercut. With tyres taking so long to come up to temps - the undercut might not work at all. However, if you stay out and do the "overcut" on the other guy, then when you do pit and come out - the other guy's tyres will be on song, and you will still be struggling.

The undercut might work, but it would be tricky, the mediums will need to be changed a bit less than half way through, but the hards can certainly do 3/4 distance.

[bhall]

[...]
atleast he should have qualified above his teammate

I think this circuit probably favors Massa, who's no slouch anyway, because it features substantial elevation changes, and, for whatever reason, he seems to thrive on such courses, e.g. Istanbul, Brazil, Spa.

[Juzh]

I think what's going to be interesting to see tomorrow will be the over/undercut. With tyres taking so long to come up to temps - the undercut might not work at all. However, if you stay out and do the "overcut" on the other guy, then when you do pit and come out - the other guy's tyres will be on song, and you will still be struggling.

Undercut 100% will not work this time. Especialy with hard vs med tyres for top 10 after pit stop, there's just no way.

[Gerhard Berger]

Massa is 2.3 kph faster in the speed trap compared to Alonso. Most of the other teammates are very closely matched in terms of top speed. Red bulls are at the bottom of the speed trap (unsurprisingly) but they are well down on top speed - some 6-8kph compared to the other front runners which is more than usual i think.

[Jersey Tom]

And btw, Pirelli F... you.

Why? Or why this week more than any other?

Lack of balls, Hembrey excuse to their tire choices just shows this.

The softer tires of the range might have a smaller operation window, but they certainly heat up faster.

Don't assume that just because the drivers are going on about not being able to "get heat in the tires", that heat in the tires is the actual problem.

I'd bet that the track being brand new pavement just is lacking in grip, and will until it's been run in. The drivers feel this, but instead of just saying precisely what the car response is.. they attribute it to "cold tires" or some such excuse.

From a tire company perspective (particularly as a sole supplier) there is no reason to throw soft rubber at this track. May even do the opposite of what they'd want...

[JimClarkFan]

Massa is 2.3 kph faster in the speed trap compared to Alonso. Most of the other teammates are very closely matched in terms of top speed. Red bulls are at the bottom of the speed trap (unsurprisingly) but they are well down on top speed - some 6-8kph compared to the other front runners which is more than usual i think.

In that case, if Ham gets up the inside turn one then I feel the red bulls will have a hard time passing. Do you know the top speed difference on the straights of Red bull vs Macca or Ferrari.

[siskue2005]

[...]
atleast he should have qualified above his teammate

I think this circuit probably favors Massa, who's no slouch anyway, because it features substantial elevation changes, and, for whatever reason, he seems to thrive on such courses, e.g. Istanbul, Brazil, Spa.

exactly, i was thinking something along that line
he is mighty arounf Turkey and Brazil
guess we will see the same trend in Brazil aswell and could see his challenge for race win there
would love to see him win his home GP with MS along in podium

[raymondu999]

In that case, if Ham gets up the inside turn one then I feel the red bulls will have a hard time passing. Do you know the top speed difference on the straights of Red bull vs Macca or Ferrari.

He'll have a fight on his hands to hold on to P2 - let alone taking P1. The dirty side is apparently like the wet.

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

[Juzh]

Massa is 2.3 kph faster in the speed trap compared to Alonso. Most of the other teammates are very closely matched in terms of top speed. Red bulls are at the bottom of the speed trap (unsurprisingly) but they are well down on top speed - some 6-8kph compared to the other front runners which is more than usual i think.

Worn out engines maybe? we dont know. Fact is, lower top speed will have no effect in race trim for vetel if he manages to lead after 1st lap, as i doubt any car will hit more than 310 clicks with no drs during the race. Shorter gearing is also better for pure acceleration.

[beelsebob]

Another Question:
Wouldn't it be stupid if the team with a such good car wouldn't win the Championship?

Yes it would – which is why McLaren are looking very stupid right now. They had the car and driver to take half the races this year.

[shelly]

I am no tyre expert, maybe JT could give some insights: wht if tomorrow is much hotter? would the car putting less heat into the tyres be more confortable (i.e. ferrari, lotus) with mclaren and redbull struggling for an excessive wear?

[Gerhard Berger]

exactly, MS was mighty in all the wet quly sessions
it takes great skill to drive in wet / slippery and low grip conditions

and guess who topped the 2 wet qualifying sessions this season? and guess who won the 1 wet race season?

and guess who has won most number of wet races in the current F1 grid? and who has won the least amount of wet races in the current grid?

The first one is Schumacher - an all time wet weather great.

who's won the least amount of wet races? well i think that is a tie between Karthikeyen, Pic, Kovaleinen, De La Rosa, Glock, Ricciardo, Vergne, Kobayashi, Perez, Hulkenberg, Di Resta, Rosberg, Webber and Gorsjean who have all won a grand total of 0 wet races.

Could you answer my questions now please?