Italian GP 2011 - Autodromo Nazionale Monza

[raymondu999]

You've answered your own question there mate. Red Bull is losing on the straights with 327; but they're gaining a lot in the corners

[godlameroso]

The two lesmos and the parabolica is where Vettel gained most of his time in quali, the ascari chicane is a toss up. Given that you can't use DRS through the two lesmos nor any of the other corners I suspect Vettel's quali advantage to be lessened in the race.

[HampusA]

Vettel is actually once of the guys that has his car geared correct.
He´s not expecting to be anywhere other then first place.

So when the DRS is not deployed he will have an edge towards Mclaren and Webber due to the gearing.

[raymondu999]

The FIA really should start providing us with non-DRS speed trap info.

[Lorenzo_Bandini]

Yes, Vettel kwow he can pull a huge gap the first 3 laps, and say bye bye to all the grid. Even if, both Mclaren pass him at start, he will stop before them to undercut them fairly.

I really like Vettel approach to the race : he expect him to be at the first place in quali no less, and he is able to do all he have to do to take the pole.

Tomorrow, i expect him to have 3 second in the bag at lap 3. Only a SC could beat him.

[HampusA]

I´m really excited to see this race everyone at the top has different strategies and setups etc

[munudeges]

It's possible Vettel might get passed at the start, but his long run pace in the practice sessions has been such that he can easily overhaul those around him.

[munudeges]

Maybe thats why I don't understand how Vettel can be 5 tenths quicker than anybody else whether he is with 327 kph way off the pace...

There is more to straight line performance than speed trap figures. We don't get to see how fast a car accelerates to that top speed nor do we see how long they maintain that top speed for. The speed trap figures are fairly meaningless by themselves.

What Red Bull have managed to do is get as much drag off the car as possible and improve their straight line performance without compromising the amount of downforce they can generate by having to run a larger rear wing, amongst other things. They must be doing this by generating more downforce from their underbody well in excess of everyone else. Button seemed rather puzzled by that.

Red Bull are doing this with an engine that is widely reported to lack top end power and with a much smaller KERS unit than anyone else, so they're on pole and faster carrying handicaps where Monza is concerned. It really shouldn't be possible what they've done but they've put their rivals right back to square one. You really wouldn't think Red Bull were the team out in front in the championship.

[jamsbong]

OK. This is what I heard from BBC's commentary. Ted mentioned 2 different setups for the RB cars. Vettel has a lower 6th n 7th gear ratios, which explains his abnormally low top speed. Note also that Vettel's wing is super skinny, so there isn't much drag from the car. RB cars already have lots of downforce without the aid of the rear wings due to its efficient aero package.

What I understand is that Vettel made the setup for race day. His strategy is to accelerate out of the ascari or parabolica corner quicker than other cars. Thats why the gear ratios are lowered. This allows him to increase a gap just before the DRS zone. So even if his top speed is slower, he hopes to have enough gap to give him the buffer to not allow the opponents to 'catch him'.

This also means that he always have to have a buffer between others. If Mclarens catches him, he is a sitting duck.

[Ray]

Can Senna now chose his starting tires?... as he didn't set a time?

I am very impressed with this man's performances. Just his second Qualifying in this car and he is in Q3 on both occasions.

Me too. Lets just hope he doesn't square off his tires and take a car out like he did at Spa. In Monza pulling the same bonehead mistake could take out easily 2 or 3 of the top runners.

[wesley123]

Can Senna now chose his starting tires?... as he didn't set a time?

I am very impressed with this man's performances. Just his second Qualifying in this car and he is in Q3 on both occasions.

Me too. Lets just hope he doesn't square off his tires and take a car out like he did at Spa. In Monza pulling the same bonehead mistake could take out easily 2 or 3 of the top runners.

As long as he takes out Vettel i dont see the problem in that

[Lycoming]

hes a bit far down the grid to be taking off front runners isn't he? he wasn't massively late on the brakes at spa, he just went a bit deep and found himself in a really bad position.

[CHT]

Beside straight line speed, tyre strategy is going to play a big part this weekend. I reckon the RB7 will have an advantage over their rival in terms of tyre wear.

Most should be running a 2 stopper I presume?

[Mr Alcatraz]

I am very impressed with this man's performances. Just his second Qualifying in this car and he is in Q3 on both occasions.

Me too. Lets just hope he doesn't square off his tires and take a car out like he did at Spa. In Monza pulling the same bonehead mistake could take out easily 2 or 3 of the top runners.

I was impressed with Senna up to the point when they cut his balls off and told him to sit tight in q3. I understand the tire strategy and I read on here that what really made it a good move (saving tires) that he wasn't going to improve his grid position anyway. Petrov finished 3 positions ahead of him. I guess Petrov is that much better than him. That's straight up chicken$hit IMO
They should have let him run because he earned it. For christ's sake the guy may actually be possessed by the spirit of uncle Ayrton. If he matched Petrov's time they would have both cars ahead of Britney and Mike. Maybe Renault knew this and are planning on taking out both W02's at the chicane.
I heard Flavio has been lurking around the joint.

[ringo]

Mercedes cars on prime tyres.
wonder how it will play out tomorrow, one stop for rosberg?