2012 Canadian GP - Gilles Villeneuve

[simieski]

Hamilton really screwed up the chicane though.

How so? He drove it faster than at any other point that weekend. His biggest loss was consistently in the first sector where he was only 7th quickest and two tenths off the pace.

I suspect that they balanced the car expecting hotter temperatures in today's race, which whilst probably the right approach is a bit risky if the temperatures don't pan out as forecast.

I think perhaps the opposite of what you say is true in terms of what temperature they set the car up for. In the post qualy interview posted above when the interviewer mentions that race day promises to be even hotter, Hamilton responds by saying it will probably be not very good for him.

[myurr]

The McLaren seems to favour cooler conditions as a general rule, whereas the Red Bull, Lotus and Ferrari all prefer warmer temperatures. So even if they biased the setup in that direction it could still be bad news for them.

[xpensive]

Amazing how Vettel can be on pole on a power-track like Montreal, considering being at least 40 Hp down on the McLarens, not to mention perhaps 70 less than MGP/AMG. Right JET?

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

Amazing how Vettel can be on pole on a power-track like Montreal, considering being at least 40 Hp down on the McLarens, not to mention perhaps 70 less than MGP/AMG. Right JET?

Your forgetting the afterburners on Schumacher's Merc X. It's faster but more fallible to failure. Just to keep Rosberg on his toes, you know how it is. Also explains the Old timers recent DNF's. I understand Daimler are in talks with Lockheed Martin's skunkworks to sort out this gremlin. They replied "just replace him".

Re: RB speed.
Check that tiny rear wing out.... gives them some k/ph right there.

[beelsebob]

Amazing how Vettel can be on pole on a power-track like Montreal, considering being at least 40 Hp down on the McLarens, not to mention perhaps 70 less than MGP/AMG. Right JET?

I honestly don't get how the other teams haven't spotted what RedBull are doing with gearing to make this up. They've been doing it for over a year, and yet the other teams seem utterly fixated with the idea that bumping into the rev limiter is bad.

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

Amazing how Vettel can be on pole on a power-track like Montreal, considering being at least 40 Hp down on the McLarens, not to mention perhaps 70 less than MGP/AMG. Right JET?

I honestly don't get how the other teams haven't spotted what RedBull are doing with gearing to make this up. They've been doing it for over a year, and yet the other teams seem utterly fixated with the idea that bumping into the rev limiter is bad.

Lets see how it pans out in the race before we draw any conclusion.

[Nando]

Amazing how Vettel can be on pole on a power-track like Montreal, considering being at least 40 Hp down on the McLarens, not to mention perhaps 70 less than MGP/AMG. Right JET?

I honestly don't get how the other teams haven't spotted what RedBull are doing with gearing to make this up. They've been doing it for over a year, and yet the other teams seem utterly fixated with the idea that bumping into the rev limiter is bad.

And Mercedes are pulling the same trick here. 316 in top speed and a very aggressive gearing.

And they are not on the front row. So it´s not the holy grail of speed or a given to front row on tracks like this.

The only reason this works is because the RBR produces enough downforce to compensate for the low top speed.
Mercedes can´t compensate enough, hence the grid positions.

[Gridlock]

I understand Daimler are in talks with Lockheed Martin's skunkworks to sort out this gremlin.

You joke but I think several F1 teams have been to Plant 42. Between the exotic materials on the cars (some of which are subject to export controls due to other uses) and the massive, massive focus on rapid development and aero there's a large crossover.

As for the race, we've got 2 fast Williams in 16th and 17th, an angry, hungry Schuey in 9th, Kimi the Destroyer between them, etc. Even if it doesn't rain we could be on for another classic.

[zyphro]

Amazing how Vettel can be on pole on a power-track like Montreal, considering being at least 40 Hp down on the McLarens, not to mention perhaps 70 less than MGP/AMG. Right JET?

I honestly don't get how the other teams haven't spotted what RedBull are doing with gearing to make this up. They've been doing it for over a year, and yet the other teams seem utterly fixated with the idea that bumping into the rev limiter is bad.

And Mercedes are pulling the same trick here. 316 in top speed and a very aggressive gearing.

And they are not on the front row. So it´s not the holy grail of speed or a given to front row on tracks like this.

The only reason this works is because the RBR produces enough downforce to compensate for the low top speed.
Mercedes can´t compensate enough, hence the grid positions.

I agree totally with this. Last year, they had very little DF compared to top teams, hence the trade-off wasn't feasible and is the reason why they had supreme top speed compared to the other top teams.

[Chuckjr]

Wow those interview video clips are telling. The confidence differential between Alonso and Hamilton is palpable. Alonso seemed as if he felt he had time in hand for race pace and had total confidence in his team/car, whereas Ham seemed to have zero confidence in his prospects for race day. Jenson seemed to be dumbfounded about the falling pace of his car with no idea where the time is going. What the heck is going on at Macca? Good grief. 

[beelsebob]

Amazing how Vettel can be on pole on a power-track like Montreal, considering being at least 40 Hp down on the McLarens, not to mention perhaps 70 less than MGP/AMG. Right JET?

I honestly don't get how the other teams haven't spotted what RedBull are doing with gearing to make this up. They've been doing it for over a year, and yet the other teams seem utterly fixated with the idea that bumping into the rev limiter is bad.

And Mercedes are pulling the same trick here. 316 in top speed and a very aggressive gearing.

And they are not on the front row. So it´s not the holy grail of speed or a given to front row on tracks like this.

The only reason this works is because the RBR produces enough downforce to compensate for the low top speed.
Mercedes can´t compensate enough, hence the grid positions.

No, the reason it works for the RBR is because what they lose in the last 1/3 of the straight, they gain in the first 1/3 of the straight – remember, they're the *fastest* team through the final sector, which has absolutely 0 to do with downforce, despite having the lowest speed trap speeds.

[myurr]

No, the reason it works for the RBR is because what they lose in the last 1/3 of the straight, they gain in the first 1/3 of the straight – remember, they're the *fastest* team through the final sector, which has absolutely 0 to do with downforce, despite having the lowest speed trap speeds.

Totally right. Red Bull were gambling that they can get in front and stay in front, and with their better tyre life they hedged that bet by being able to one stop if they do get caught out of position. In clear air they'll have a big advantage from that gearing, but if they get caught up behind someone they could struggle to get past - the acceleration will still help but their Vmax may not allow them to get passed before the chicane.

Two things may save this race (at least at the front) - Alonso getting his usual fast start and taking the lead into the first turn; or Hamilton going aggressive with the tyres and either forcing the others to follow or closing them down in the final laps.

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

Will Red Bull really have that good a tyre life in comparison to say Ferrari?

With that skinny wing they're running they risk over cooking the tyres. They may just have found a tiny operating window that suits a 2 stop strategy, but I reservations over this.
The moment the tyres start to play funny buggers I'm of the opinion Red Bull will be in a world of hurt.

[scarlet]

That could be an issue for Webber, especially given that he has to run in dirty air. But I doubt it will be for Vettel, who is the past master of keeping his tyres cooler than his teammate through a race distance. It's really his race to lose, much as I hate to say that!

[Chuckjr]

I cannot remember...does Canada have a dirty side of the grid or not so much?