2017 Japanese Grand Prix - Suzuka, 6-8 October

[Santozini]

Oh that's just rude from Ferrari, as fast on Softs as Merc on Super softs...

I didn't see the session and haven't seen this reported anywhere - are you saying there was a point in the session where Ferrari on the softs were close to Mercedes on SS?

Also, anyone have any long run info from FP1? Bottas saying he was reasonably happy with long runs.

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2017/10/06/2 ... esult-fp1/

So Vettel was on the slowest tyre..

[Phil]

According to AMuS long run analysis from FP1, Mercedes is on form again and it looks to be quite close between the top 3, although the low temperatures could have been a factor with temperatures to be expected to be warmer on Sunday.

http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/form ... 02865.html

Driver | Average Stint time | No. Laps | Tire
1. Vettel 1.32,758 4 supersoft
2. Räikkönen 1.33,190 5 supersoft
3. Hamilton 1.34,179 10 supersoft
4. Verstappen 1.34,545 10 supersoft
5. Ricciardo 1.34,734 8 supersoft
6. Grosjean 1.35,011 5 supersoft
7. Vandoorne 1.35,690 4 supersoft

Apparently, Vettel was running light (half tank) according to their data, which is why they were 1.43 seconds below his rivals. This is interesting and IMO could perhaps lead one to think that Vettel may indeed take a grid penalty and do a reverse strategy? Although if that were the case, then I suppose news would have already slipped out? *

Anyway, RedBull was running a similar stint to Mercedes and Max was according to the data around 3 tenths slower. Coming back to Mercedes, Bottas was on a similar level to Hamilton. Toto Wolff also said that until T7, they are as quick as Ferrari. However. the tires then heat up significantly in the long left-hander which takes a while for them to get back into the normal operating temperature on the next straight.

* Bottas will definately be taking a grid penalty hit as the gearbox needed to be changed. Apparently tests after Malaysia showed that their were metal splinters/debris inside the gearbox. As a safety precaution, the gearbox will be changed. I assume Vettel will indeed not take a penalty, as that would have already made the news so far.

[GPR-A duplicate2]

I didn't see the session and haven't seen this reported anywhere - are you saying there was a point in the session where Ferrari on the softs were close to Mercedes on SS?

Also, anyone have any long run info from FP1? Bottas saying he was reasonably happy with long runs.

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2017/10/06/2 ... esult-fp1/

So Vettel was on the slowest tyre..

Best time was set on SS, just like others.. with a toe from one of the Saubers on the long straight & on start straight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ibU0xKyc20&t=4m54s

Long run from FP1.

https://www.fia.com/file/62105/download?token=1Q50R2I4

[f1316]

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2017/10/06/2 ... esult-fp1/

So Vettel was on the slowest tyre..

Best time was set on SS, just like others.. with a toe from one of the Saubers on the long straight & on start straight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ibU0xKyc20&t=4m54s

Long run from FP1.

https://www.fia.com/file/62105/download?token=1Q50R2I4

Right but:

Hamilton set the early benchmark time with a lap of 1’39.377 on the super-soft tyres but Vettel was able to get within a few hundredths of a second of that on the harder soft compound rubber.

[Phil]

While that is true, there's also reason to believe that the pace difference between Soft and Super-Soft is not that great, evidently by the fact that Vettels fastest lap on the same tire wasn't that much faster than Hamiltons. And beyond all this, we have no idea what fuel loads they were running, what power modes etc.

[GPR-A duplicate2]

Right but:

Hamilton set the early benchmark time with a lap of 1’39.377 on the super-soft tyres but Vettel was able to get within a few hundredths of a second of that on the harder soft compound rubber.

Vettel
Soft - 1:29.419
SS - 1:29.166 (-0.253)

Kimi
Soft - 1:30.512
SS - 1:29.638 (-0.874)

Hamilton
Soft - 1:30.118
SS - 1:29.377 (-0.741)

Ric
Soft - 1:31.179
SS - 1:29.541 (-1.638)

Ver
Soft - 1:30.762
SS - No time set due to Red Flag

[Santozini]

Well, one thing is for sure, it looks like a close fight! Let's see who has the edge

[f1316]

Right but:

Hamilton set the early benchmark time with a lap of 1’39.377 on the super-soft tyres but Vettel was able to get within a few hundredths of a second of that on the harder soft compound rubber.

Vettel
Soft - 1:29.419
SS - 1:29.166 (-0.253)

Kimi
Soft - 1:30.512
SS - 1:29.638 (-0.874)

Hamilton
Soft - 1:30.118
SS - 1:29.377 (-0.741)

Ric
Soft - 1:31.179
SS - 1:29.541 (-1.638)

Ver
Soft - 1:30.762
SS - No time set due to Red Flag

Right, exactly:

Vettel
Soft - 1:29.419

Hamilton
SS - 1:29.377

Pretty darn close on different compounds of tyre.

Anyway, I didn't see the session, so I don't know, just piecing together what others are saying.

[TAG]

God knows how badly I'd have a different driver in the second Ferrari and Merc. They're either badly past it or never had it.

No disrespect to his skill, but I don't think Vettel would stand for that. He's just not at his best when challenged from within the team.

[Gerhardsa]

*Deleted*

[TAG]

According to AMuS long run analysis from FP1, Mercedes is on form again and it looks to be quite close between the top 3, although the low temperatures could have been a factor with temperatures to be expected to be warmer on Sunday.

http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/form ... 02865.html

Driver | Average Stint time | No. Laps | Tire
1. Vettel 1.32,758 4 supersoft
2. Räikkönen 1.33,190 5 supersoft
3. Hamilton 1.34,179 10 supersoft
4. Verstappen 1.34,545 10 supersoft
5. Ricciardo 1.34,734 8 supersoft
6. Grosjean 1.35,011 5 supersoft
7. Vandoorne 1.35,690 4 supersoft

Apparently, Vettel was running light (half tank) according to their data, which is why they were 1.43 seconds below his rivals. This is interesting and IMO could perhaps lead one to think that Vettel may indeed take a grid penalty and do a reverse strategy? Although if that were the case, then I suppose news would have already slipped out? *

Anyway, RedBull was running a similar stint to Mercedes and Max was according to the data around 3 tenths slower. Coming back to Mercedes, Bottas was on a similar level to Hamilton. Toto Wolff also said that until T7, they are as quick as Ferrari. However. the tires then heat up significantly in the long left-hander which takes a while for them to get back into the normal operating temperature on the next straight.

* Bottas will definately be taking a grid penalty hit as the gearbox needed to be changed. Apparently tests after Malaysia showed that their were metal splinters/debris inside the gearbox. As a safety precaution, the gearbox will be changed. I assume Vettel will indeed not take a penalty, as that would have already made the news so far.

This puts things into perspective. I said yesterday that Vettel's run on the Soft looked as if he was ON IT. That was a qualifying lap if I ever saw one. Lots of hay made because he time on the soft was .042 off Hamilton's time on the SS but 1 it was set a long time later with lots of rubbering in and 2, clearly now looking at the long run analysis on lower fuel.

Coversely, that Mercedes looked planted the minute it set foot on the track and Bottas was within a 1/10 of Hamilton which means he was back up to his usual comfort level.

I'd not be surprised of a 1-2 for Merc here.

[atanatizante]

Ferrari tested a 3 stop strategy and Merc&RB opting for a 2 stop race coz no way Vettel can go 1,4 sec/lap faster than Lewis in a real race simulation scenario ...

What was weird is Vettel couldn`t improve more than 2,5 tenths on SS tyres ... maybe he wouldn`t want it or it`s the real deal and it went as Bottas told us having not much grip on SS ...

[Phil]

Would you rather put Leclerc in the Ferrari next to Vet if you can have Ric or Ves? To me its obvious... I will want one of the current RB Drivers.

I don't know... from the F2 races I've watched, Leclerc looks pretty spectacular. Then again, many do, until they come to F1. The current RB drivers are known quantities in a sense.

As a Hamilton/Mercedes & Dan Ricciardo supporter, I would really like to see Dan there. But yeah, this probably belongs in the silly season topic...

[TAG]

Bottas with a transmission change, there goes my 1-2 prediction.

[Bill_Kar]

So at least Mercedes is in front of the Bulls, or it seems so.
I would dare to say VET for pole&win and HAM coasting to 2nd.