Korean GP 2011 - Yeong-Am International Circuit

[raymondu999]

I think what's going to be important for the start is the weather between qualifying and the race. It was commented last year that in dry equal conditions; the usual P1, 3, 5 etc grid slots would get a better launch; but if the tarmac had gone wet in the meantime and washed off the rubber and marbles then actually P2, 4, 6 would provide a better launch. Not sure entirely why; but I distinctly remember that happening

[komninosm]

Vettel is under investigation for the corner cut

The BBC commented in practice yesterday that the drivers had been instructed that they may not use the slip road between 4 and 6, even if they run wide in the race and it's the safest way back. I wouldn't be surprised to see him penalised.

Really? And Vettel didn't even get a reprimand? Wow, after last race where he didn't get a penalty for pushing another car out of track FIA favour Vettel again. He's almost always escaped punishment and he's pushed cars out of track a lot, even in the pits once which was more dangerous than usual. He's developing into a crazy evil twin of Schumacher.

[raymondu999]

I was very surprised for the lack of reprimand. I would think a penalty was a bit over the top; as it didn't really I've him any advantage in terms of qualifying result; but it sets a dangerous precedent (you can cut corners on the inlap). Imagine drivers using the GP2 circuit or something in Abu Dhabi; which is quite a bit shorter than the full Grand Prix circuit; or cutting the Rettifilio chicane in Monza for quick inlaps.

I think they should have done a "you'll get a reprimand now, but a penalty next time. The rest of you, too."

[Intego]

In Monza Alonso pushed him off the track and wasn't punished, too. So what?
The shortening of the track wasn't punished, because several drivers have done that earlier in Qualifying and Free Practice without the stewards noticing it. AMS says, Ferrari has peached on him.

[raymondu999]

As a very random stat; this must have been the longest stretch of time Lewis has gone without a pole position, has it not?

[ringo]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/95414

Whitmarsh added that one of the best elements of Hamilton taking pole was that he did not have to make a move for the radio button to turn off Vettel's normal post-chequered flag celebrations.

"Pole position is lovely to get but we are here to try and win the race, and I think that is more important to us," he said.

"I have to confess we do listen to some of the other drivers and, on the monitor, I have a driver button. Afterwards, when they have gone on pole, I have to turn it off immediately so I don't have to hear Sebastian whooping it up in the car. Today I wasn't feverishly looking for that button to turn it off, so that felt good!"

[raymondu999]

Wow. That's quite a difference from the usually very politically-correct Whitmarsh.

On another note; so they can actually hear all driver radios?

[MrBlacky]

How does RB have a race advantage? Yes, they have one unused prime set more, but one shreddered set of options as well.

[myurr]

How does RB have a race advantage? Yes, they have one unused prime set more, but one shreddered set of options as well.

RB are going to do a short stint on the options to start with and then run with the prime throughout the rest of the race, believing that their tyre wear dictates this is the faster strategy. They also have the option of doing two option stints to open with or using the option on their final run.

If everyone gets a clean start then I'd expect McLaren to shadow them and switch to the prime in the second stint, but with a view to switch back to the option depending on how the pace of each type of tyre pans out. The gap between the two tyres isn't so great here, about 0.7 - 1 seconds per lap, so there's less penalty for running on the more durable tyre. That said it's all going to come down to tyre wear. RB have gambled, to a degree, on there being high degradation where as McLaren have opted for the normal race strategy. I have suspicion, based on the drivers comments from the other teams, that tyre wear isn't going to be soooo bad (about Japan bad) but Red Bull believe it to be worse.

Interestingly even if it is worse then it may still play into McLaren's hands as even if they have to pit earlier than RB for the second stops they should then get the benefit of the undercut and gain track position even though RB will spend the rest of the stints on slightly fresher tyres. Should be an interesting race!

[raymondu999]

I've heard reports saying the prime is worth twice the tyre life of the option at 0.7-1.0 penalty.

[beelsebob]

I've heard reports saying the prime is worth twice the tyre life of the option at 0.7-1.0 penalty.

The question for me is, can McLaren do one of the following:
1) Make the options last long enough that they can do option -> option -> prime -> prime while red bull do option -> prime -> prime -> prime.
2) Make the primes last 2.5 laps longer per stint than Red Bull allowing them to do option -> prime -> prime -> prime too, but to extend the first two prime stints by 2.5 laps to make the 5 laps running they've done on their 3rd set not count.

[ringo]

Redbull is just free styling, they really have nothing to lose.

I would experiment with different strategies for next year too if i were them.

I wouldn't read too much into their choice, as it really doesn't look advantageous.
When the track is rubbered in, both tyres are almost the same after a few laps on them.

The best strategy is always to go with the fastest tyres and then leave the last stint for the aproximate lap limit of the prime tyre.
If the prime can do 20 laps, you got 35 laps on options to play with and split how you chose.
Faster tyre is always the best to get on when the car has some weight in it.

[Vasco]

It seems that Red Bull have used all three sets of super softs then. 1 in Q1 and Q2 and 2 in Q3, unless Vettel is bluffing...but if its true they really have limited themselves in terms of strategy options.

From autosport:

"Q. (Andrea Cremonesi - La Gazzetta dello Sport) Sebastian, what tyres were you using on the last run, super soft but used or new, because you used one set in Q1?

SV: We used new tyres in both runs of Q3."

[raymondu999]

With the championship positions (except drivers 2-5) pretty much sown up, I just can't wait to see what will happen tomorrow. With so many split strategies should be a fantastic race

[komninosm]

In Monza Alonso pushed him off the track and wasn't punished, too. So what?
The shortening of the track wasn't punished, because several drivers have done that earlier in Qualifying and Free Practice without the stewards noticing it. AMS says, Ferrari has peached on him.

Totally not the same. Vettel went for an unusual race line. Alonso didn't even see him. Beside I'm fine with penalizing Alonso for that if you must, 2 wrongs don't make a right.