2012 Brazilian GP - Interlagos

[raymondu999]

Does anyone remember the last time Alonso went for the inside line at turn 1 at the start of a grand prix? He seems to have developed a preference for going around the outside lately.

[ajdavison2]

So the questions that that raises; 1) have the 2012 cars developed that much? 2) Is Ham simply driving that much better this year? 3)Was the EBD effect around this circuit that minimal?

[CHT]

Does anyone remember the last time Alonso went for the inside line at turn 1 at the start of a grand prix? He seems to have developed a preference for going around the outside lately.

Safer on the outside perhaps.

[Gerhard Berger]

Does anyone remember the last time Alonso went for the inside line at turn 1 at the start of a grand prix? He seems to have developed a preference for going around the outside lately.

off the top of my head, i think Barcelona this year (but he didn't really have a choice there!).

I think in tracks like Bahrain, Austin, Malaysia etc. it makes sense because he can make up even more places in the 2nd corner by having the inside line. Of course, there is always the risk that someone misses their braking point and slams into him.

[Mika1]

So the questions that that raises; 1) have the 2012 cars developed that much? 2) Is Ham simply driving that much better this year? 3)Was the EBD effect around this circuit that minimal?

After Hamilton announced his move to Mercedes, he entered God mode.

[Gerhard Berger]

So the questions that that raises; 1) have the 2012 cars developed that much? 2) Is Ham simply driving that much better this year? 3)Was the EBD effect around this circuit that minimal?

On 3) I would've thought that the off throttle EBD was very effective around the slow corners in sector 2, and that was why Red Bull got relatively comfortable 1-2s in 2010 and particularly 2011.

[bhall]

So, do we think Massa is going to have another gearbox issue or something else this time? Engine trouble, perhaps?

[Intego]

He'll do fine until Alonso will need him. If Alonso is out of the Championship Massa will be allowed to chase the podium.

[f1316]

Wet/dry/wet/dry races are very exciting and unpredictable

Not to me. I find them frustrating. I don't like races to be decided by variability and tyre decisions. I'd rather make it a clear choice to go for wet/inter/dry - and take it out on the track on pace.

Well, that's always the case when you support someone in the fastest car I liked wet/dry races in 96-99, hated them in 07-08. But surely there's no denying that, for the audience at large, it will make for interesting watching tomorrow? You know that from Bernie's reaction alone...

Anyway, I have the suspicion that Vettel compromised his set-up a little compared to Webber, just to cover off the chance of rain. It explains why Webber, who looked much slower than Vettel in Q1, was suddenly faster. I think Vettel knew he could still beat Alonso in qualifying, even with a bit of compromise.

[raymondu999]

I've never enjoyed those races, ever. I've always been a McLaren fan since 1997 - but I still didn't enjoy the victory they got in - for example, Melbourne 2010 or China 2010. To win via strategy, in my personal opinion - has always been a cop out. One which I do not enjoy.

[Intego]

I think we all love amazing, changing, thrilling races, but in a world championship fight between two double titulars and a point difference of only 13 points (EDIT: circa 5 points until 2009!) we want to see a winner on merit not on gambling. It would be fantastic during the season (and it was 2010 in Korea, 2011 in Canada, and this year in Malaysia), but if the deciding final race was a roulette, we would argue about ifs and woulds for years. No, thanks!

EDIT: Obviously not ALL of us ...

[raymondu999]

Yes - what Intego said.

[myurr]

Wet/dry/wet/dry races are very exciting and unpredictable

Not to me. I find them frustrating. I don't like races to be decided by variability and tyre decisions. I'd rather make it a clear choice to go for wet/inter/dry - and take it out on the track on pace.

Well, that's always the case when you support someone in the fastest car I liked wet/dry races in 96-99, hated them in 07-08. But surely there's no denying that, for the audience at large, it will make for interesting watching tomorrow? You know that from Bernie's reaction alone...

Anyway, I have the suspicion that Vettel compromised his set-up a little compared to Webber, just to cover off the chance of rain. It explains why Webber, who looked much slower than Vettel in Q1, was suddenly faster. I think Vettel knew he could still beat Alonso in qualifying, even with a bit of compromise.

Vettel was very slow heating his tyres up in Q1 though, he was well off the pace until the very end of the session when the track was not far off dry. He's also slightly faster in a straight line than Webber, so hasn't compromised his gearing. I honestly think it was just pressure - he made a small mistake on his first run and then had to play it a tiny bit safe on his final run rather than push to the absolute limit. Webber could just go for it without it having to worry about the risks of pushing.

On a damp track on slick tyres it looked like Alonso and the McLarens were at the front of the time sheets, with Massa just behind along with the Force Indias.

My view on the whole wet / dry thing - for me the wet track is a big equaller, taking away Vettel's car advantage and giving Alonso a fighting chance. So I hope that it's wet all race long and that Vettel has to earn his title. Changing conditions aren't that desirable, as they do add a bit too much of an element of luck. But they've always been a part of F1, just like safety cars, mechanical failures and other drivers making mistakes. It's not always fair but it's up to the driver to make the most of the situation.

[LionKing]

So the questions that that raises; 1) have the 2012 cars developed that much? 2) Is Ham simply driving that much better this year? 3)Was the EBD effect around this circuit that minimal?

Button was only 0.055 second slower than Hamilton in Q3, they pretty much did the same time....

Also Button outqualified Lewis last year with a time of 1.12.283. Vettel's last year's pole time is 1.11.918.

So Red Bull has lost about 0.66 seconds compared to Mclaren's 0.18 seconds. That means McLaren developed relatively more (or regressed less) compared to RBR under current regulations.

[beelsebob]

So the questions that that raises; 1) have the 2012 cars developed that much? 2) Is Ham simply driving that much better this year? 3)Was the EBD effect around this circuit that minimal?

Button was only 0.055 second slower than Hamilton in Q3, they pretty much did the same time....

Also Button outqualified Lewis last year with a time of 1.12.283. Vettel's last year's pole time is 1.11.918.

So Red Bull has lost about 0.66 seconds compared to Mclaren's 0.18 seconds. That means McLaren developed relatively more (or regressed less) compared to RBR under current regulations.

That's pretty much a no --- statement, yes, the RB7 was a dominant car, the RB8 only became dominant (and not very) towards the end of the year.