2014 German Grand Prix - Hockenheim

[Sevach]

On another topic what happened to enforcing track limits?

A lot of valid laps (including Rosberg's pole lap) today where the driver extended the track.

[Shrieker]

Hamilton's right in the middle of the danger zone. It might not turn out too well for him in the first two corners here, even if he gets an Austria-esque start.

[SectorOne]

Am i correct that Lewis has already been using Brembo since last year? Or was it something he switched back to this year after being uncomfortable with Carbon Industry beginning of last?

He seems to have had various issues ever since he left Mclaren (which uses Akebono, that he claims are simply better then brembo)
I´m inclined to believe that either Hamilton and Akebono just gels perfectly or Akebono simply has the best brakes in the paddock and Mclaren is the only team that can enjoy that.

Akebono/Mclaren started their partnership in 07<-- and they also provide brakes to the P1 and 12C GT3 racing car.

[jericho]

So, Lewis will switch to Nico's type of brakes and have to start from pitlane. If it raines tomorrow, Lewis could have a golden chance to change his setup on his car also! Let it rain, let it rain!

[Sevach]

So, Lewis will switch to Nico's type of brakes and have to start from pitlane. If it raines tomorrow, Lewis could have a golden chance to change his setup on his car also! Let it rain, let it rain!

Is that confirmed?

[basti313]

So, Lewis will switch to Nico's type of brakes and have to start from pitlane. If it raines tomorrow, Lewis could have a golden chance to change his setup on his car also! Let it rain, let it rain!

Is that confirmed?

No, not really. Toto said they will switch for safety reasons and that there will no penalty because of this. Opponents running the Brembos say there is no issue with the brakes and clearly say there must be a penalty.
I strongly doubt that they will change them with suffering a grid penalty. Just something to get a brake change...Ham may just have chosen not the right brake for the race, but one that helps him in Q.
Ham may start from the pitlane or suffer a grid penalty as the gearbox may be damaged...but this is also not confirmed.

Regarding the rain: Starting from the pitlane with a "rain-setup" (???) instead of P15 is no advantage. Otherwise more people would do it when it is raining. And as they do not drive when it is really raining and tracks dry up fast a "rain-setup" is not a good idea at all.

[prince]

So, Lewis will switch to Nico's type of brakes and have to start from pitlane. If it raines tomorrow, Lewis could have a golden chance to change his setup on his car also! Let it rain, let it rain!

Is that confirmed?

No, not really. Toto said they will switch for safety reasons and that there will no penalty because of this. Opponents running the Brembos say there is no issue with the brakes and clearly say there must be a penalty.
I strongly doubt that they will change them with suffering a grid penalty. Just something to get a brake change...Ham may just have chosen not the right brake for the race, but one that helps him in Q.
Ham may start from the pitlane or suffer a grid penalty as the gearbox may be damaged...but this is also not confirmed.

Regarding the rain: Starting from the pitlane with a "rain-setup" (???) instead of P15 is no advantage. Otherwise more people would do it when it is raining. And as they do not drive when it is really raining and tracks dry up fast a "rain-setup" is not a good idea at all.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/115039

[smellybeard]

I always liked Hockenheim; warm weather, beer and bratwurst.
It's a terrible pity they butchered the track but important that they improved the crash protection. I was in the second row of the stand right where Raul Boesel stuffed the Ligier in 1983. Had Hamilton hit that 1983 concrete wall, we'd all be pretty glum.

[jericho]

So, Lewis will switch to Nico's type of brakes and have to start from pitlane. If it raines tomorrow, Lewis could have a golden chance to change his setup on his car also! Let it rain, let it rain!

Is that confirmed?

No, not really. Toto said they will switch for safety reasons and that there will no penalty because of this. Opponents running the Brembos say there is no issue with the brakes and clearly say there must be a penalty.
I strongly doubt that they will change them with suffering a grid penalty. Just something to get a brake change...Ham may just have chosen not the right brake for the race, but one that helps him in Q.
Ham may start from the pitlane or suffer a grid penalty as the gearbox may be damaged...but this is also not confirmed.

Regarding the rain: Starting from the pitlane with a "rain-setup" (???) instead of P15 is no advantage. Otherwise more people would do it when it is raining. And as they do not drive when it is really raining and tracks dry up fast a "rain-setup" is not a good idea at all.

Starting from the pitlane with a rain setup (soft and more wing) would be a far better choice than a p15 start on the grid! But it has to be a full wet race to have a advantage..

[Morteza]

Does it not also take you away from the other cars to not to be involved in probable accidents at the start of the race?

[matt_b]

Given the pace advantage of the Mercedes, all those fresh tyres and the championship fight. Starting from the pit lane might be a safe call for Lewis just to avoid potential first lap damage. If it is wet then starting from the pit lane is a must you would think.

[Edax]

Lewis is using a different brake disk supplier than Nico according to Toto Wolff. Also this was a last minute change...any other reports on this? Lewis chose a more aggressive brake is what Toto said

Paddy Lowe just confirmed failure of the carbon fibre material on Hamilton's Brembo discs...which there has been a number of this season. Rosberg is using Carbon Industry and there has been no experience of the problem there. Lowe's hint of the number of Brembo disc material failures this season, wasn't exclusively for the AMG Mercedes Team.

Yeah.... but on the other hand he said that the brakes were fitted for 3d practice like you would normally expect, so it was not a "last minute change".

[SectorOne]

With the race pace advantage Mercedes have he could probably start in Austria and finish in the top 5 at the end of the race

[Pierce89]

Merc reliability officially screwing lewis out of this championship atm. Also bit distasteful to see lauda and wolf sharing a joke not a few mins after.

You need to lighten up. Why on earth would it be distasteful for Lauda and Wolff to joke a little? Racers at every level joke even when everything is going to $hit.

[search]

Starting from the pitlane with a rain setup (soft and more wing) would be a far better choice than a p15 start on the grid! But it has to be a full wet race to have a advantage..

depends on how heavy those downpours are likely to be. If there really are mid-race heat thunderstorm it's not unlikely the race will be red flagged anyway I think (= everyone can change the setup on the grid)