2012 Brazilian GP - Interlagos

[CHT]

On the other end of the field, does anyone know the situation with Caterham and Marussia? Does Caterham need both cars to beat both Marussias? I went to the scoring to see how it was, forgetting they were both at 0

Caterham needs a 12th.

losing P10 in constructor to Marussia going to be a big blow to Caterham budget for 2013. Based on 2011 figures, it should be around $50m. I am not sure where they are going to find the money to fund both F1 and Caterham road car project. Perhaps running 2 paid drivers will be a must for the team.

[godlameroso]

I think this track will suit the Saubers, I also think Ferrari will do well here. If you recall there was a 6hr endurance race, the Toyota pretty much ran away with it, this toyota was designed on the same wind tunnel that Ferrari has been using. So I wouldn't be surprised to see Ferrari do well. In addition there are only 3 heavy braking events per lap, Ferrari's weakness, this is further mitigated by the fact at no point during heavy braking do cars go below 120kph. Finally Interlagos has a lot of high speed sweepers, Silverstone, Spain and Suzuka, all tracks with high speed sweepers, all tracks where Ferrari was reasonably fast

[turbof1]

Any weather updates?

[beelsebob]

Any weather updates?

Saturday: Thunder Storms
Sunday: light rain.

[JimClarkFan]

Any weather updates?

Saturday: Thunder Storms
Sunday: light rain.

If previous form this season is anything to go by then this will suit Alonso [-o< .

Still think we are going to see Vettel world champion this year though.

[turbof1]

Any weather updates?

Saturday: Thunder Storms
Sunday: light rain.

Alonso did his rain dance then. Anything could happen. Interlagos is very traiterous when enough rain has fallen, more so then most other circuits due aquaplaning being a big factor.

[WhiteBlue]

Also this theory wouldn't necessarily be "support backmarkers with crap, because they will be title contenders in a few years", but could be "don't solve the issues right now".

That is something that crossed my mind when I read what Mateschitz had to say. Red Bull have no business with Magneti Marelli but Ferrari and Fiat obviously do. I reckon that Didi would feel more comfortable with a supplier that is not in bed with their biggest rival. It is also strange that Ferrari are not suffering from the same problem as Red Bull, Lotus and Caterham do. They are also supposed to run MM alternators. I'm not saying that Magneti Marelli are doing something fishy but the Red Bull camp seems to be somewhat concerned about this saga. But back to the technical problem.
The problem with bearings is the methods you use for designing them. You basically take a statistical approach and design for a certain life span. With very small things going wrong your life figures can come out at 1% or less of what you have figured. It is a nasty problem to have.
So even without the concerns they may have about MM Newey would probably feel much better id they had McLaren's supplier. Those guys do not have any alternator problems at all.

[FrukostScones]

SAT: light rain; SUN: heavy rain. Damn: only two/four hours two get the race completed. End of the season will be difficult/dissatisfying probably.

[KATO]

Also this theory wouldn't necessarily be "support backmarkers with crap, because they will be title contenders in a few years", but could be "don't solve the issues right now".

That is something that crossed my mind when I read what Mateschitz had to say. Red Bull have no business with Magneti Marelli but Ferrari and Fiat obviously do. I reckon that Didi would feel more comfortable with a supplier that is not in bed with their biggest rival. It is also strange that Ferrari are not suffering from the same problem as Red Bull, Lotus and Caterham do. They are also supposed to run MM alternators. I'm not saying that Magneti Marelli are doing something fishy but the Red Bull camp seems to be somewhat concerned about this saga. But back to the technical problem.
The problem with bearings is the methods you use for designing them. You basically take a statistical approach and design for a certain life span. With very small things going wrong your life figures can come out at 1% or less of what you have figured. It is a nasty problem to have.
So even without the concerns they may have about MM Newey would probably feel much better id they had McLaren's supplier. Those guys do not have any alternator problems at all.

Mclaren Electronic Systems.. They supply NASCAR and many other companies also Raly teams and take their job very seriously those Old Chaps have a record that is spot on-!!

IDE switch....

[raymondu999]

If previous form this season is anything to go by then this will suit Alonso [-o< .

Still think we are going to see Vettel world champion this year though.

I think you're underrating the RB8 as a rain car

[f1316]

If previous form this season is anything to go by then this will suit Alonso [-o< .

Still think we are going to see Vettel world champion this year though.

I think you're underrating the RB8 as a rain car

I don't think he is. Basically, he's saying the RB will still be good enough for top four.

But the only evidence we have so far seems to indicate the Ferrari/Alonso package is the best in the rain. The only wet race was won by Alonso and the two wet qualifyings saw him on pole.

Yes, the RB is a better car now, better at getting heat into its tyres, but we haven't had a chance to evaluate the improved RB in the rain. We've certainly seen that the Ferrari's pace is better in the wet realtive to its dry performance.

I'm not even sure it's worth bothering making predictions, but if it rains (and doesn't rain too much), I just say it's game on. Could be awesome to watch.

[CHT]

If previous form this season is anything to go by then this will suit Alonso [-o< .

Still think we are going to see Vettel world champion this year though.

I think you're underrating the RB8 as a rain car

I don't think he is. Basically, he's saying the RB will still be good enough for top four.

But the only evidence we have so far seems to indicate the Ferrari/Alonso package is the best in the rain. The only wet race was won by Alonso and the two wet qualifyings saw him on pole.

Yes, the RB is a better car now, better at getting heat into its tyres, but we haven't had a chance to evaluate the improved RB in the rain. We've certainly seen that the Ferrari's pace is better in the wet realtive to its dry performance.

I'm not even sure it's worth bothering making predictions, but if it rains (and doesn't rain too much), I just say it's game on. Could be awesome to watch.

I think Sauber/Perez package was quicker than alonso in Malaysia. So Perez could also be fighting for podium this weekend.

[aleks_ader]

I found that on the Twitter acount... Karma is a bitch...

Anyway... Mercedes notes about track in Sao Paolo...



Weather predictions/forecasts...

Friday
Mostly Sunny Max: 32°C
Min: 19°C

Saturday
Very cloudy Max: 33°C
Min: 19°C

Sunday
Rain Showers Max: 20°C
Min: 17°C

Qualifying is on a knife-edge just for the moment, but with the projection moving forward timewise, we are now looking at a drier scenario for the knockout session, with just a slight chance of showers.

Saturday evening, with showers crossing the region overnight and into Sunday morning. Race day will start off overcast with some light showers around, but throughout the day these will intensify, with the worst of any rainfall now set for Sunday afternoon.

To summarise, the worst of the rain is now predicted between midday and midnight local time on Sunday.

WEATHER LINK

EDIT: I just wait for todays weather update (19.00 GMT), for now looks good for intense and exited end of season! =D> Lets show begins...

[ell66]

RB7 was certainly more dominant than RB6 in comparison to the grid, but the RB6 would destroy it in race even without kers or drs. double difuser was miles more effective at producing downforce than a simple EBD.

Not at all, the RB6 was a far faster and better car relative to the grid, but that year the team an vettel made a lot more mistakes that they did in 2011.

[raymondu999]

RB7 was certainly more dominant than RB6 in comparison to the grid, but the RB6 would destroy it in race even without kers or drs. double difuser was miles more effective at producing downforce than a simple EBD.

Not at all, the RB6 was a far faster and better car relative to the grid, but that year the team an vettel made a lot more mistakes that they did in 2011.

Ah... But Nando disagrees with you