2012 US GP - Circuit of the Americas

[Raptor22]

It makes no sense to come up with such unspecific statements. The RB8 was quicker in qualifying trim and the MP4-27 obviously faster on race pace. People who try to portrait it different are not recognizing the facts.

I disagree. The RB8 was clearly faster in qually trim, and arguably faster in race trim. Both Vettel and Webber were setting very similar paces, while Hamilton could just about keep up with that pace in race trim, and Button couldn't even with newer, softer tyres.

To me, that says, the RB8 was faster in qually trim, and faster in race trim (but to a lesser extent). Hamilton's driving then made sufficient difference to win the race.

So the Mclaren holding a tighter line through sector 1 and 2 the beginning of Sectors 2 twisty's had nothing to do with the McLaren having more downforce...

[Nando]

So the Mclaren holding a tighter line through sector 1 and 2 the beginning of Sectors 2 twisty's had nothing to do with the McLaren having more downforce...

I think that has more to do with the fact that there is two lines.

One is wider but slightly faster (speed wise), the other is tighter but a shorter route.

Hamilton took a different line there all race. Kimi did as well going into the complex (first left hander)
He took it way more straight then most other guys.

Vettel most of the time drove very defensively as well. To hell with the entry, put it all on the exit and that allowed him to get away just enough to keep Hamilton at bay.
Then you have the obvious dirty air. Stay behind Vettel and you have no grip or take a tighter line and keep some of it.

Look at T2 here.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVibTH1y2k8[/youtube]

[beelsebob]

So the Mclaren holding a tighter line through sector 1 and 2 the beginning of Sectors 2 twisty's had nothing to do with the McLaren having more downforce...

On the contrary, the explanation I have heard for this is in fact Hamilton using a new technique to make the car turn in through high speed turns, where he throws it into a deliberate slight slide, and waits for the grip to catch up. When it does, the car is now pointing in a different direction. That allowed him to make much faster direction changes through the high speed than Vettel was doing.

[raymondu999]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfmOeKrW ... ture=g-u-u[/youtube]

[myurr]

So the Mclaren holding a tighter line through sector 1 and 2 the beginning of Sectors 2 twisty's had nothing to do with the McLaren having more downforce...

On the contrary, the explanation I have heard for this is in fact Hamilton using a new technique to make the car turn in through high speed turns, where he throws it into a deliberate slight slide, and waits for the grip to catch up. When it does, the car is now pointing in a different direction. That allowed him to make much faster direction changes through the high speed than Vettel was doing.

Brundle mentioned this during the race and said that Hamilton is probably driving better than ever before at the moment.

[turbof1]

Probably the marginal tyre wear also played a role into sliding. If the tyres would go off faster he would not be able to do that lap after lap.

[beelsebob]

Probably the marginal tyre wear also played a role into sliding. If the tyres would go off faster he would not be able to do that lap after lap.

Indeed, I did comment that the tyre wear being minimal did rather play into Hamilton's ability to extract everything from the car constantly.

[raymondu999]

I don't think in this case it's so much a case of doing the slide-entry technique but rather avoiding dirty air. By criscrossing lines against Vettel's - he avoids dirty air for quite a bit. I don't remember if it was on a website or on TV - Hamilton was talking about overtaking in China - and he says that you hug the inside exiting the long T13 at China, because this avoids the dirty air.

IMO Vettel also does the entry oversteer thing. Several journalists - primarily Mark Hughes has always commented how Vettel slides the entry and then slams the throttle to get the exhaust going - which then squelches out the slide. Mind you he says Hamilton does this too.

[sAx]

Did anyone catch the exact wording of Vettel's rant after the Karthikeyan/Hamilton situation? I didn't manage to completely understand it ...
Thanks

"Unbelievable how silly this formula 1 is these days, with this stupid overtake." - Apparently!

[Nando]

Somebody call the WAAAAAAAAAAAAMBULANCE

[McMrocks]

Dear Sebastian Vettel. You're sitting in a car which benefits especially in Qualifying very much from DRS. Also I can remember many Situations where you have a advantage due to DRS.

[Twaddle]

Maybe I'm getting a little too cynical in my old age, but I couldn't help thinking that after Hamilton passed Vettel he was intentionally keeping him close behind to keep him pushing and see if the RB could be persuaded to fail.

[raymondu999]

I think Hamilton knew that Vettel wouldn't risk a lunge - and so he just took it easy.

[bhall]

Dear Sebastian Vettel. You're sitting in a car which benefits especially in Qualifying very much from DRS. Also I can remember many Situations where you have a advantage due to DRS.

Perfect.

[Intego]

Thank you sAx!

Maybe that comment was either childish or huffy or whatelse. But it's a bit astonishing that the FOM chose that to broadcast ...