2016 Chinese Grand Prix - Shanghai, Apr 15 - 17

[damager21]

I seriously dont understand the modern F1 anymore...20, 15 years ago when a driver had a broken suspension, blown engine, lost a wheel, or had any other malfunction, he allways tried to park the car as far from the track as possible (aside the track, or off it completely into the marshals drive-ins). But today both Wehrlein and Hulkenberg barely even tried to go out of the way. Wehrlein atleast did not ruin the first part due to enough time that was available, but Hulkenberg could definetly drive for few metres further and park right next to the barrier or even drive inside of them, leaving the session rolling till the end.

I might be wrong.

I dont know if it was intentional. Perez was 6th and he was 10th. By stopping near the track, he ended the session before others could set any time thereby securing position for himself and Perez.

Also, even if he had parked few meters further, he would still pick up a grid penalty. If he was to get a 5 place penalty, by ending the sessions early, he has ensured that he starts 15th. Had he allowed other cars to complete their lap, who knows, he may have ended up 13th and hence started 18th tomorrow.

[Sevach]

Not sure if Mercedes turned their engine to 11 like their final run in Bahrain or if Ferrari dropped the ball.

He had just 1 tenth on Kimi before the straight and ended up gained 4 tenths is S3.

But Ferrari still dropped the ball, the track was surely quicker near the end.

[atanatizante]

Could Lewis go tomorrow from the pit lane with a M-M-SS strategy?
Advantages vs. disadvantages?

[giantfan10]

Not sure if Mercedes turned their engine to 11 like their final run in Bahrain or if Ferrari dropped the ball.

He had just 1 tenth on Kimi before the straight and ended up gained 4 tenths is S3.

But Ferrari still dropped the ball, the track was surely quicker near the end.

eegh both Ferrari drivers made mistakes in the hairpin ... it happens..... the red bull will be in 4th by lap 3.
curious choice by ferrari not to use the softs in Q2.... i wonder what their reasoning is.
the only surprise of this qualy is where ricciardo starts....Ferrari didnt magically in 2 weeks create a qualifying mode on par with mercedes

[evered7]

Not sure if Mercedes turned their engine to 11 like their final run in Bahrain or if Ferrari dropped the ball.

He had just 1 tenth on Kimi before the straight and ended up gained 4 tenths is S3.

But Ferrari still dropped the ball, the track was surely quicker near the end.

eegh both Ferrari drivers made mistakes in the hairpin ... it happens..... the red bull will be in 4th by lap 3.
curious choice by ferrari not to use the softs in Q2.... i wonder what their reasoning is.

Kimi had lots of love for SS after P2. So they could still do a good job tomorrow. But they certainly dropped the ball in their last run.

[iotar__]

It doesn't look good for Ferrari drivers, even Ricciardo is in front, they are simply not good enough to compete with Merc, especially over one lap. No excuses today. Meanwhile marketing fiction is reaching new heights when they are almost winning Bahrain '15 before the race and almost Bahrain '16 after the race, in press releases of course, never during a race, not even a second in contention.

Live timing/Pirelli "in case of a dry race 2 different three stop strategies appear to be the fastest options: SS/S/S/S or S/S/S/SS." SS ESSESS

[ripper]

Ugh, bad last lap by both FER driver and excellent drive by RIC. Quite disappointed to be honest

[matt_b]

Could Lewis go tomorrow from the pit lane with a M-M-SS strategy?
Advantages vs. disadvantages?

I think mercedes will stay clear of the SS all race. M S S is possibly an option if they can make the soft last.

[GPR-A duplicate2]

It is going to be raining all day and that would take away all the rubber and leave the track green again. So, the SS will go away very very quickly. If Nico gets away clean, the race is over and we have to just enjoy the fun that Lewis would put forward.
With track going to be green, Lewis might just start with Mediums and go for 25-30 laps and then when the track gets rubbered, he can then go for SS and SS.
Even if the Ferraris get ahead, with the kind of tyres they would be on, it would be easy for Nico to overtake them within few laps. We have seen in Australia, Vettel being on SS couldn't really pull away from Nico on mediums. It was a big mistake from Ferraris not do go on Softs in Q2 today.

[basti313]

Could Lewis go tomorrow from the pit lane with a M-M-SS strategy?
Advantages vs. disadvantages?

I do not think this would be a good solution. Everything until P14 is easy to clear, no matter which strategy they use. Then there are FIs, Haas or Williams on Softs.
With the Mediums Hamilton will have a hard time and be stuck until lap 15 when they have to pit. Then maybe 5 laps free air. These 5 laps will not compensate the time loss due to the harder overtaking on track with the Mediums and after the stop they may fall back behind some Haas, Williams, FIs again.
So I think they will go for Softs and an aggressive strategy with undercutting the other Soft runners. Like this they are clear of everything until P10 after the first stop.

[carisi2k]

I seriously dont understand the modern F1 anymore...20, 15 years ago when a driver had a broken suspension, blown engine, lost a wheel, or had any other malfunction, he allways tried to park the car as far from the track as possible (aside the track, or off it completely into the marshals drive-ins). But today both Wehrlein and Hulkenberg barely even tried to go out of the way. Wehrlein atleast did not ruin the first part due to enough time that was available, but Hulkenberg could definetly drive for few metres further and park right next to the barrier or even drive inside of them, leaving the session rolling till the end.

I might be wrong.

I dont know if it was intentional. Perez was 6th and he was 10th. By stopping near the track, he ended the session before others could set any time thereby securing position for himself and Perez.

Also, even if he had parked few meters further, he would still pick up a grid penalty. If he was to get a 5 place penalty, by ending the sessions early, he has ensured that he starts 15th. Had he allowed other cars to complete their lap, who knows, he may have ended up 13th and hence started 18th tomorrow.

The guy only had 3 wheels. How is he supposed to drive the car anywhere aside from where the car wants to go.

[proteus]

I seriously dont understand the modern F1 anymore...20, 15 years ago when a driver had a broken suspension, blown engine, lost a wheel, or had any other malfunction, he allways tried to park the car as far from the track as possible (aside the track, or off it completely into the marshals drive-ins). But today both Wehrlein and Hulkenberg barely even tried to go out of the way. Wehrlein atleast did not ruin the first part due to enough time that was available, but Hulkenberg could definetly drive for few metres further and park right next to the barrier or even drive inside of them, leaving the session rolling till the end.

I might be wrong.

I dont know if it was intentional. Perez was 6th and he was 10th. By stopping near the track, he ended the session before others could set any time thereby securing position for himself and Perez.

Also, even if he had parked few meters further, he would still pick up a grid penalty. If he was to get a 5 place penalty, by ending the sessions early, he has ensured that he starts 15th. Had he allowed other cars to complete their lap, who knows, he may have ended up 13th and hence started 18th tomorrow.

The guy only had 3 wheels. How is he supposed to drive the car anywhere aside from where the car wants to go.

Now this is a bit of a silly question. One of the answers is Belgium 98.

[carisi2k]

Could Lewis go tomorrow from the pit lane with a M-M-SS strategy?
Advantages vs. disadvantages?

Definetly not M-M-SS. As Nico just mentioned in an interview he is not going to be using a SS so I find it difficult to see Lewis doing a 2 stop with a SS. Ferrari and Red Bull do not have as much of a problem on the SS as Mercedes and seem to be able to make the SS go longer to allow them an option of a SS-S-M with maybe another S or SS if they 3 stop instead of 2 stop.

[giantfan10]

It doesn't look good for Ferrari drivers, even Ricciardo is in front, they are simply not good enough to compete with Merc, especially over one lap. No excuses today. Meanwhile marketing fiction is reaching new heights when they are almost winning Bahrain '15 before the race and almost Bahrain '16 after the race, in press releases of course, never during a race, not even a second in contention.

Live timing/Pirelli "in case of a dry race 2 different three stop strategies appear to be the fastest options: SS/S/S/S or S/S/S/SS." SS ESSESS

The race is tomorrow remember? sheesh.
its sunny and 22 degrees tomorrow at the track i suspect the red bulls and williams will be nowhere near the podium.
did you honestly think Ferrari in 2 weeks since the last race jumped mercedes with no updates to the car?
Rosberg as far as we know is in the catbird seat but i wouldnt be at all surprised if he is behind a Ferrari when the Ferraris pit on lap 6 or whenever its predicted. should be rosberg vettel and kimi on the podium in that order if its a standard race

[carisi2k]

It doesn't look good for Ferrari drivers, even Ricciardo is in front, they are simply not good enough to compete with Merc, especially over one lap. No excuses today. Meanwhile marketing fiction is reaching new heights when they are almost winning Bahrain '15 before the race and almost Bahrain '16 after the race, in press releases of course, never during a race, not even a second in contention.

Live timing/Pirelli "in case of a dry race 2 different three stop strategies appear to be the fastest options: SS/S/S/S or S/S/S/SS." SS ESSESS

Not true as both Ferrari drivers made a mistake in that final hairpin. If they didn't make that mistake then Daniel would be starting 4th instead of 2nd. Nico has an advantage for the race I believe, but it was interesting to see that due to degradation the time delta wasn't that big between soft and super soft.