Chinese GP 2011 - Shanghai

[andrew]

This is why I am confused. The rule stats that you can deploy your DRS when following another car within one second. I am not aware of the rule stating the car has to be within one second of 'race position'.

Unlapping yourself is considered for position, as you are going back on the lead lap and actually get to finish all the race laps.

Inversely, does this mean that the leader can't ever use the DRS when passing lapped cars, as he is never truly 'behind' anyone?

OK, but if you are unlapping yourself you're not 1s behind but whole lap + 1s behind.

It is a flaw in the DRS but I think that as long as one car is physically within one secoind of another they can delopy their DRS. I don't think the number of laps ahead or behind comes into it.

[raymondu999]

Yes. It makes the whole thing kind of stupid really. I can understand maybe using DRS to LAP people, but to UNLAP yourself? Hmmm

[Terrible3]

That's because Vettel was on a 2 stop strategy so had conserve the tyres. He had to do 20 laps or more on the last stint.

Bingo!

It was clear in the later stages of the race that the three stop strategy was the best to be on. Trying to preserve the tires over the longer stints on the two stopper resulted in a slower race pace and the inability to defend in the closing stages of the race. I think Vettel did the best job he could have done to limit the damage caused by the less than optimal pit strategy.

[marcush.]

but he did not win the start did he? so why the hell did they NOT switch to an agressive pit strategy right on the spot?
Vettel had enough tyres to do this ...and pit signalling with boards is maybe outdated but sure possible even for RedBull and the playstation boy....

KERS and strategy ..my words: they will not win this championship.

[Just_a_fan]

KERS and strategy ..my words: they will not win this championship.

No, but it migtht keep it alive while they develop the speed in the car...

[PlatinumZealot]

but he did not win the start did he? so why the hell did they NOT switch to an agressive pit strategy right on the spot?
Vettel had enough tyres to do this ...and pit signalling with boards is maybe outdated but sure possible even for RedBull and the playstation boy....

KERS and strategy ..my words: they will not win this championship.

Because it would require Vettel to overtake other cars too. My guess is that the 2 stop was safer - look what happened to Button the tyre preservation master.

[beelsebob]

but he did not win the start did he? so why the hell did they NOT switch to an agressive pit strategy right on the spot?
Vettel had enough tyres to do this ...and pit signalling with boards is maybe outdated but sure possible even for RedBull and the playstation boy....

KERS and strategy ..my words: they will not win this championship.

Because it would require Vettel to overtake other cars too. My guess is that the 2 stop was safer - look what happened to Button the tyre preservation master.

Don't you mean, "look what happened to button when vettel had to overtake someone"?
=D>

[PlatinumZealot]

Ok.. mayb i'm confused..but anyway, I think it was huge mistake on Vettel's part NOT to qualify on Hard tyres... I mean.. 0.8 seconds faster in Q3! he could have had a blazing race like Webber's on all softs after the first stop!

[raymondu999]

Now now - there was no indication of a 0.7 gap going to build up. It's easy to say all of that with 20/20 hindsight

[beelsebob]

Now now - there was no indication of a 0.7 gap going to build up. It's easy to say all of that with 20/20 hindsight

Indeed – Vettel said after qually that he thought McLaren had rather more to offer. I guess they did >.>

[i70q7m7ghw]

Yes. It makes the whole thing kind of stupid really. I can understand maybe using DRS to LAP people, but to UNLAP yourself? Hmmm

No no no no no. It's activated if your within 1 second of a car when passing through the DRS activation zone which was turns 11/12. It doesn't have anything to do with the timing screens and the gap recored when cars cross the finish line, it's an independant system. So just to reiterate, it's nothing to do with 'race time', it's purely 'your within 1 second of any car on the track'.

Jenson mentioned a small quirk of this, a lead driver can choose to lift off going in to the DRS activation zone, and HE get's the DRS for the straight. He also mentioned that when approaching back markers they try to keep with them going in to the DRS zone, rather than overtaking them, because then they get to DRS down the straight which is free lap time.

[raymondu999]

So just to reiterate, it's nothing to do with 'race time', it's purely 'your within 1 second of any car on the track'.

Errm... that's what my comment was aimed at. That's the stupid part I was referring to

[Terrible3]

Ok.. mayb i'm confused..but anyway, I think it was huge mistake on Vettel's part NOT to qualify on Hard tyres... I mean.. 0.8 seconds faster in Q3! he could have had a blazing race like Webber's on all softs after the first stop!

Your kidding right... Prior to Q3 it was clear that the gamble to run on the harder tire did not pay off for Webber in Q1. Additionally at that point in time the team would not be aware that the ideal strategy for Sunday would have been a three stopper. Sorry but redbulls call was not a huge mistake as at the time it made the most logical sense to be on options in the latter parts of Quali. You are basing your option on redbulls tire strategy on pure hindsight...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rmUZQrvF5o

On the same notion lets go back to Canada 2010 when redbull did just that. How exactly did that decision pay off, o wait it backfired. It's easy to say now after the fact that being on hard tires for Q3 was a poor decision knowing now that their compound did not fair well in the opening stages of the race. Sorry I just get sick of people making comments about how the team should have run based on information that is gathered after the race has run. You guys should use your amazing skill to tell me the loto numbers I should have picked last month.

[raymondu999]

I think in hindsight, Rosberg had the best strategy. His 1st stop was placed in the correct lap for a good 3-stopper, whereas the others seemed to have 1st stints that were too long and 2nd stints that were too short

[sAx]

Anyone catch what DC was referring to on the F1 Forum after the Hamitlton interview, when he said to Jake Humphrey "Next time I'll remember to leave my earplug in.......after he [Hamilton] said......"


sAx