2015 Japanese Grand Prix - Suzuka

[iotar__]

@OP It will return to normal, Mercedes winning, but it would be funny if it didn't.

Why on earth is everyone fixated on tire pressures? Merc were found not to have under inflated their tires. They were running the same pressure as everyone else, just tested at a different time. Singapore was a result of missing the setup window, not of having to deal with new tire pressures.

It's because Merc people are trying too hard, Wolff: "We also need to stay calm because it's a very specific circuit." "The tyre operates differently to many different circuits".
I don't recall it being an odd one, SS-S and it's a step above Monaco towards normal high-downforce ones. I don't recall any team having specific problems like that. Order was usually the same as on those later like Korea: Ferrari, McLaren, Red Bull. Only Maldo qualified second in '12. They did blame tyres and Hamilton did mention pressure and blankets . So the conclusion based on nothing and 1,4 s is it's specific but for one team, new pressure and perhaps measurement rules.

[Jonnycraig]

Why on earth is everyone fixated on tire pressures? Merc were found not to have under inflated their tires. They were running the same pressure as everyone else, just tested at a different time. Singapore was a result of missing the setup window, not of having to deal with new tire pressures.

Because off the record, Merc were telling people that the tyre pressure increase had killed them.....

As Hamilton said, there was no setup issue, the car felt great. In the side by side lap with Vettel though, they just had nowhere near as much traction out of the slow corners. They will be fine in Suzuka.

[AnthonyG]

So now they only measure the tyre pressure 5 mins after taking the them out of the blankets?

[Phil]

I think they've established how the procedure works and if a team finds themselves under the limit, they are given a warning to react (I assume this to be during the race, if one of the cars drop). That's what the swiss broadcast said, no idea how competent they are though.

[SiLo]

So now they only measure the tyre pressure 5 mins after taking the them out of the blankets?

I would also like to know the new rules on this. Surely they just stuck with the measurement being inside the tyre blanket?

Or at least, they have to be above minimum pressure for the duration of the race?

[Phil]

http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/form ... 80906.html

- after the 5 minute signal to the race start, random sampling will be done
- too low pressure will mean the team will have to correct it immediately (no penalty)
- cars need to be race-ready with 3 minutes to go; that means the FIA has a time window of just about 2 minutes to do their sampling.
- the equipment to conduct these samples are calibrated by Pirelli and sealed by the FIA
- they are free to only sample 1 of the 4 tires if they deem appropriate
- if a team is found to be under pressure during one of these samples, they can refuse to correct, at which the steward will write a report and the driver may be disqualified for running in an unsafe manner (probably post race or black-flagged)
- Force Indias team manager feel this opens the opportunity to under-inflate your tires. If you're checked, you can correct, if you aren't, all is good and you can get away with it.

That was prior to Singapore. Maybe they will make further corrections to the procedure come Japan (my take, not in the above article).

[mattia.bobbo]

If Mercedes doesn't win in Suzuka, I'll bet all my money on seb's world title, no doubt at all!

[AnthonyG]

http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/form ... 80906.html

- after the 5 minute signal to the race start, random sampling will be done
- too low pressure will mean the team will have to correct it immediately (no penalty)
- cars need to be race-ready with 3 minutes to go; that means the FIA has a time window of just about 2 minutes to do their sampling.
- the equipment to conduct these samples are calibrated by Pirelli and sealed by the FIA
- they are free to only sample 1 of the 4 tires if they deem appropriate
- if a team is found to be under pressure during one of these samples, they can refuse to correct, at which the steward will write a report and the driver may be disqualified for running in an unsafe manner (probably post race or black-flagged)
- Force Indias team manager feel this opens the opportunity to under-inflate your tires. If you're checked, you can correct, if you don't, all is good and you can get away with it.

That was prior to Singapore. Maybe they will make further corrections to the procedure come Japan (my take, not in the above article).

I would just underinflate the tyres last 3 minutes before race start and glue the valve shut. Would be so hilarious to see the FIA guys fidling with the tyres.

[Racer X]

Susuka will be a rain track it seems. We will probably see a similar aero set up to Singapore due to the rain.

[Racer X]

Force India is right I can see team Under Inflating just like they said.

[godlameroso]

If Mercedes doesn't win in Suzuka, I'll bet all my money on seb's world title, no doubt at all!

If Hamilton comes second and Vettel wins every race from here on out, Hamilton still wins the championship.

[ME4ME]

Ferrari weren't that great at Silverstone and SPA. I expect it to be HAM-ROS-VET-RIC-BOT-KVY if the race is dry.

[Henk]

Susuka will be a rain track it seems. We will probably see a similar aero set up to Singapore due to the rain.

Then we finally get to see what NO! 33 can do in the rain.

[Jordan44]

The Ferrari camp are still marginal with engines. Even if somehow Ferrari do emerge the team to beat for remaining races they could end up taking costly penalties.

Anyway unless I'm missing something... The Motorsport article today said they weren't overheating their tyres like I read on here. They were infact not generating enough heat. Unless I'm missing something doesn't that dismiss the pressure theory? Higher pressures should help them with temperature, not hinder.

[3jawchuck]

The Ferrari camp are still marginal with engines. Even if somehow Ferrari do emerge the team to beat for remaining races they could end up taking costly penalties.

Anyway unless I'm missing something... The Motorsport article today said they weren't overheating their tyres like I read on here. They were infact not generating enough heat. Unless I'm missing something doesn't that dismiss the pressure theory? Higher pressures should help them with temperature, not hinder.

Higher pressures generally mean the tyres are harder to warm up.