Malaysian GP 2012 - Sepang International Circuit

[beelsebob]

Congratulations to HRT on not being told "you're too --- to race"... And at only the second race of the year! Well done on becoming the slowest racing team >.<

[SiLo]

....

With the harder tyre Vettel should be abble to jump some cars at the first stop, but I do think he'll get mugged at the start.

Yeah I think if he gets mugged at the start, his race will be ruined my getting held up. Although it should be easy to pass cars around here, I haven't looked at the speed traps yet.

[beelsebob]

....

With the harder tyre Vettel should be abble to jump some cars at the first stop, but I do think he'll get mugged at the start.

Yeah I think if he gets mugged at the start, his race will be ruined my getting held up. Although it should be easy to pass cars around here, I haven't looked at the speed traps yet.

I disagree, he'll just play the stratey Webber played in China last year – sure you'll get mugged at the start, but you'll get your slowest, highest fuel sector out the way on the toughest tyres, and then fly through the field in the final stint.

[raymondu999]

....

With the harder tyre Vettel should be abble to jump some cars at the first stop, but I do think he'll get mugged at the start.

Yeah I think if he gets mugged at the start, his race will be ruined my getting held up. Although it should be easy to pass cars around here, I haven't looked at the speed traps yet.

Depends though. The advantage of a hard tyre is just that - you don't get held up, as upyou are slower. Too many unknowns right now though. We don't know what the gap between tyres will be tomorrow.

[horse]

It was probably just because of his lock up into the last corner.

Yeah. This track and china the drivers have to apportion the tyre life among the sectors.

There was a tailwind into the last corner, so that may explain his running wide.

Well, whatever caused him to lose the time, will he have to start on that set? They might not be so healthy after that lock up.

[raymondu999]

He does unless the tyre is deemed as dangerous. Don't think it will though - even the blisters at Spa weren't deemed dangerous

[myurr]

....

With the harder tyre Vettel should be abble to jump some cars at the first stop, but I do think he'll get mugged at the start.

Yeah I think if he gets mugged at the start, his race will be ruined my getting held up. Although it should be easy to pass cars around here, I haven't looked at the speed traps yet.

Vettel is slower than pretty much the rest of the field. So I think he may struggle to make progress should others get ahead of him. First couple of laps are going to be make or break for his race, he'll either hold on and keep a relatively good position, or he'll get stuck in the pack and then have to make the best of a bad situation.

[myurr]

It was probably just because of his lock up into the last corner.

Yeah. This track and china the drivers have to apportion the tyre life among the sectors.

There was a tailwind into the last corner, so that may explain his running wide.

Well, whatever caused him to lose the time, will he have to start on that set? They might not be so healthy after that lock up.

If there's a flat spot then they can change the tyres with permission from the FIA. He has a nicely scrubbed set from his second run.

[bhall]

[Deleted]

[horse]

Vettel is slower than pretty much the rest of the field.

I thought that the RBs race pace has been pretty good in practice. I wouldn't write him off yet.

[raymondu999]

It was probably just because of his lock up into the last corner.

Yeah. This track and china the drivers have to apportion the tyre life among the sectors.

There was a tailwind into the last corner, so that may explain his running wide.

Well, whatever caused him to lose the time, will he have to start on that set? They might not be so healthy after that lock up.

If there's a flat spot then they can change the tyres with permission from the FIA. He has a nicely scrubbed set from his second run.

No guarantee of it being granted though. Remember Red Bull at Spa last year?

I thnk Seb will have pulled an ace if it rains from about lap 12-18... When the option starters have pitted but he hasn't.

[raymondu999]

Vettel is slower than pretty much the rest of the field.

I thought that the RBs race pace has been pretty good in practice. I wouldn't write him off yet.

Myurr meant speedtraps

[myurr]

Depends though. The advantage of a hard tyre is just that - you don't get held up, as upyou are slower. Too many unknowns right now though. We don't know what the gap between tyres will be tomorrow.

Not as simple as that as the tyres will wear at different rates. It could be that the hard is the tyre to be on so whilst the rest of the pack are holding Vettel up, he'll then have to run the final stint on the worse race tyre with everyone else running faster than him and challenging toward the end of the stint. And they're so slow down the straights that if another car can get close they should be able to get past.

[raymondu999]

Depends though. The advantage of a hard tyre is just that - you don't get held up, as upyou are slower. Too many unknowns right now though. We don't know what the gap between tyres will be tomorrow.

Not as simple as that as the tyres will wear at different rates. It could be that the hard is the tyre to be on so whilst the rest of the pack are holding Vettel up, he'll then have to run the final stint on the worse race tyre with everyone else running faster than him and challenging toward the end of the stint. And they're so slow down the straights that if another car can get close they should be able to get past.

Like I said. We just don't know. Too many unknowns. I think Red Bull may have gone for their Monza 2011 tactic - gear for DRS-closed terminal velocity rather than DRS-open.

[Neno]

Vettel is slower than pretty much the rest of the field.

I thought that the RBs race pace has been pretty good in practice. I wouldn't write him off yet.

vettel is in good position, 5th place, harder tyers! harder tyers last longer, then medium, also in case of good start he can be after first corner next to Mclaren's duo.