2017 Malaysia Grand Prix - Sepang, 29 September-01 October

[f1316]

Did we get the confirmation on PU parts and are Ferrari running a new CE?

Just wondering if part of this advantage is wanting to bed it in/test it out, so they may be opening up the quali modes to ensure everything's functioning properly.

So far nothing new, but it has been Ferrari's MO this season to bring engine updates only on saturday.

Here's Toto about todays session.
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/merc ... as-959014/

Tommorow we'll see how much is reality how much it's drama.

Gotcha and makes sense, just that in that case it has no relation to their strong performance.

I guess it's primarily a Mercedes struggling thing.

[godlameroso]

So, this is a Merc track you guys say?

Not me, but I can only repeat "Ferrari will have the edge here" so many times.

[i70q7m7ghw]

So, this is a Merc track you guys say?

Do you think it's wise to draw conclusions from a wet Friday practice?

[Phil]

Only wet morning. Afternoon wasn't.

[Juzh]

Managed to capture quite a few fast laps today:









Mercedes is clearly unsettled, they will for sure improve a lot tomorrow. Remember ferrari's friday woes in hungary and the resurgance on saturday, it can be done.

[Hammerfist]

Where are all those people that claim that this was a Mercedes track? The graphic that was posted earlier made me think that Ferrari had a shot here, but I didn't foresee the Mercedes being 1.4s off the pace. Wow!

[NathanOlder]

So now points are handed out on a friday ?? First i heard.

@Phil, the original quote of "mercedes track" was right after FP1, at that point there was no dry running

[morefirejules08]

Where are all those people that claim that this was a Mercedes track? The graphic that was posted earlier made me think that Ferrari had a shot here, but I didn't foresee the Mercedes being 1.4s off the pace. Wow!

It’s only Friday mate, calm down.

[DVB]

Yeah points are always rewarded on Friday. Didn't you know? That's where Mercedes always had the edge, at least on FP1 and FP2. And as they are first in both championships, it seems pionts are handed out after FP1 and FP2 =D> =D> =D>

[Phil]

@Nathan,

The original quote everyone was referring to was posted at 9:45 am (in my timezone which is CEST) - not sure, but I think that's around when FP2 was already well underway and there was already a clear indication that Mercedes for whatever reason did not look that settled.

Could be that I am slightly wrong with my timings though - I watched FP2 on replay quite a bit later. (PS: it's broadcast on CH4 live for those that didn't know...)

PS: Still think my permutations are that far fetched of potential races where both Ferrari and RB could end up ahead of Hamilton/Mercedes?

[Fulcrum]

Managed to capture quite a few fast laps today:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CspqxRlXCiw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2XPTn8SOKE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bc-gRZBrubA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1qLLraAi2k

Mercedes is clearly unsettled, they will for sure improve a lot tomorrow. Remember ferrari's friday woes in hungary and the resurgance on saturday, it can be done.

The Turn 5 - Turn 6 complex provides fairly substantive evidence as to which cars were working well and being pushed hard. Raikkonen and Verstappen were approximately 10kph faster than Hamilton, on average. Raikkonen > Verstappen > Hamilton > Gasly; unsurprising considering the lap times.

[iotar__]

Where are all those people that claim that this was a Mercedes track? The graphic that was posted earlier made me think that Ferrari had a shot here, but I didn't foresee the Mercedes being 1.4s off the pace. Wow!

It’s only Friday mate, calm down.

Yes, it's only Friday but Friday with very limited running and that doesn't help solving problems.
-

[Vanja #66]

Not me, but I can only repeat "Ferrari will have the edge here" so many times.

I've seen that mate, but honestly seeing this



reading this

If you see the onboard pole from last year, you will realize that, turn 4, 11 and 14 are not slow. They are more downforce dependent than mechanical. So, Mercedes wouldn't be struggling over there. It's only turn 1 (80 kph), 2 (82 kph), 9 (79 kph) and 15 (81 kph) that require more mechanical grip that would be crucial for traction from lower speed.

and this

I was going to comment on this very fact, and you've not only beat me to the punch, but created a handy dandy map. Surely worth more than 1000 forum words.

EDIT: I'd color 10,11 and 14 in teal as well.

and similar stuff made me stop reading this thread until after FP1... These F1 cars are a work of art, but also unpredictable beasts not even engineers fully understand all the time, resulting in a roller coaster season and results from track to track. How many times have there been wrong predictions concerning how cars behave on specific tracks? And yet they keep popping up

[Dazed1]

Is it just me, or did the Red Bulls throw up sparks almost continuously on fast laps while the Mercs almost never did?

[TAG]

Mercedes seriously need to start kicking the willie bobo with their analysts. That car looked hopelessly lost. The lost first practice session and a wayward FP2, means they'll be on their back foot all weekend. Can't hope for rain every weekend, and seriously not on a track that was supposed to suit them.

They've got something seriously wrong with the set up they brung here.