[anachronix]

Guess deetjohn is busy travelling, thought I would open up a thread for discussion.

The story so far... Ferrari showed strong race pace in FP2, good enough to get Toto's face red when he was confronted by Eddie saying 'You were sandbagging?'

Lewis & Kimi under investigation for overtaking cars practicing race starts out of the pit lane through the slow restricted lane. The red flag that Vettel brought towards the end of FP2 crashing into Perez and losing his front wing.

Should be an interesting weekend with a fight for the Top 4 positions!

FP1:
Pos No Driver Team Best Time Gap Laps
1 7 Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 1:37.827 13
2 5 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 1:38.029 0.202 12
3 77 Valtteri Bottas Williams 1:38.390 0.563 23
4 55 Carlos Sainz Toro Rosso 1:38.447 0.620 14
5 3 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull Racing 1:38.455 0.628 17
6 33 Max Verstappen Toro Rosso 1:38.504 0.677 22
7 14 Fernando Alonso McLaren 1:38.598 0.771 18
8 12 Felipe Nasr Sauber 1:38.628 0.801 17
9 26 Daniil Kvyat Red Bull Racing 1:38.661 0.834 17
10 19 Felipe Massa Williams 1:38.790 0.963 21
11 11 Sergio Perez Force India 1:38.793 0.966 15
12 13 Pastor Maldonado Lotus 1:38.842 1.015 23
13 27 Nico Hulkenberg Force India 1:39.187 1.360 20
14 30 Jolyon Palmer Lotus 1:39.283 1.456 31
15 6 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1:39.293 1.466 23
16 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:39.532 1.705 22
17 9 Marcus Ericsson Sauber 1:39.534 1.707 21
18 28 Will Stevens Marussia 1:42.973 5.146 12
19 98 Roberto Merhi Marussia 1:44.265 6.438 15
20 22 Jenson Button McLaren No time 2

FP2:
Pos No Driver Team Best Time Gap Laps
1 6 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1:34.647 31
2 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:34.762 0.115 33
3 7 Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 1:35.174 0.527 30
4 5 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 1:35.277 0.630 26
5 77 Valtteri Bottas Williams 1:35.280 0.633 36
6 3 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull Racing 1:35.449 0.802 27
7 13 Pastor Maldonado Lotus 1:35.474 0.827 34
8 12 Felipe Nasr Sauber 1:35.793 1.146 27
9 26 Daniil Kvyat Red Bull Racing 1:35.883 1.236 23
10 19 Felipe Massa Williams 1:35.884 1.237 35
11 9 Marcus Ericsson Sauber 1:36.148 1.501 34
12 14 Fernando Alonso McLaren 1:36.191 1.544 22
13 8 Romain Grosjean Lotus 1:36.334 1.687 31
14 55 Carlos Sainz Toro Rosso 1:36.471 1.824 32
15 27 Nico Hulkenberg Force India 1:36.805 2.158 30
16 33 Max Verstappen Toro Rosso 1:36.917 2.270 26
17 11 Sergio Perez Force India 1:37.062 2.415 33
18 28 Will Stevens Marussia 1:39.131 4.484 21
19 22 Jenson Button McLaren 1:39.209 4.562 15
20 98 Roberto Merhi Marussia 1:40.592 5.945 26

[jfxavier]

Nico beat Lewis to the quickest time of the day in second practice.
Likewise Kimi was ahead of Vettel.

Mclaren's miserable story continues..

Jenson Button had another couple of poor sessions in the McLaren-Honda.
He did not even manage to set a time in first practice after being hit by electronic problems as he was asked to park his car after just three laps.
McLaren had replaced Button's control electronics after first practice.
He returned to the track but went right back in after few laps and spent more time inside of it as Honda checked data.
He finished down in 19th position, seven places behind teammate Fernando Alonso.
Maybe Alonso will score one this weekend over Button (2-0 in quali. for Button so far).

[Fullrevs]

I wouldnt take much into Rosbergs or Kimi's lap time. Both Hamilton and Vettel made mistakes during their qualifying style run.

The ferrari of Kimi looked very nervous with lots of under-steer. Red Bull looked a lot better as well.

Alonso and Mclaren seemed to be pretty quick this weekend with the Honda engine increasing the power a notch. A visit to Q2 does seem likely.

Anyone watching practise 2 notice the exhaust notes of the 4 engine suppliers?

Honda seems to make no noise, very similar to last years engines. Renault with that shrieky noise. Mercedes had a very smooth exhaust note while the Ferrari was all mayhem. Almost sounded like it was a V8 engine. Ofcourse all this via the TV speakers so am unsure how it sounds while being trackside.

[jfxavier]

FP3 results
Pos. Driver Time Diff. Laps
01 L. Hamilton 1:34.599 13
02 S. Vettel 1:34.668 +0.069 14
03 N. Rosberg 1:34.968 +0.369 16
04 K. Raikkönen 1:35.141 +0.542 13
05 V. Bottas 1:35.393 +0.794 18
06 F. Massa 1:35.471 +0.872 15
07 P. Maldonado 1:36.307 +1.708 14
08 D. Ricciardo 1:36.335 +1.736 8
09 N. Hulkenberg 1:36.421 +1.822 13
10 F. Nasr 1:36.429 +1.830 18
11 J. Button 1:36.488 +1.889 14
12 D. Kvyat 1:36.548 +1.949 7
13 M. Ericsson 1:36.612 +2.013 17
14 M. Verstappen 1:36.684 +2.085 11
15 S. Perez 1:36.727 +2.128 14
16 F. Alonso 1:36.899 +2.300 11
17 C. Sainz 1:36.979 +2.380 14
18 R. Grosjean 1:37.151 +2.552 17
19 W. Stevens 1:39.745 +5.146 12
20 R. Merhi 1:40.541 +5.942 14

Looks like the Ferraris are going to give Mercs a tough time out there.
Track is still not having enough grip.
Lots of excursions off the track today.
The session was red-flagged 30 minutes in when Daniil Kvyat lost control of his Red Bull at the exit of Turn 4.

[zenren]

Originally Posted by jfxavier

Looks like the Ferraris are going to give Mercs a tough time out there.
Track is still not having enough grip.
Lots of excursions off the track today.

Not sure how much Mercs were sandbagging and how the changing conditions could alter the fortunes. It certainly looks like a small mistake from Merc drivers could mean a Ferrari pole unlike last year where a mistake meant P2. With so much pressure, it would be interesting to see how Rosberg handles it.

[D33-PAC]

Hamilton was simply 'bossin. On point every millimeter of the track. For some reason
the more vocal Hamilton is about Nico the more weaker Nico seems after every race. Nervousness seems to get the best of him ?

P1 - Ham - 1:32.571
P2 - Vettel - 1:32.982
P3 - Rosberg - 1:33.129

Hamilton was simply in his own league. Untouchable!

[SilentEngine]

This might be the race were Rosberg will not be on podium. He nearly lost P3 on the grid to Kimi.

[zenren]

Originally Posted by SilentEngine

This might be the race were Rosberg will not be on podium. He nearly lost P3 on the grid to Kimi.

It would be interesting to see what he would do tomorrow, squeezed between two red cars. More importantly, even Hamilton would have to push since Vettel is very much the type who would attack in case Hamilton tries to save the tyres.

I just hope Williams doesn't get ahead at the start and split the eventual top 4.

[jfxavier]

Here's the complete timing sheet
Pos Driver Car / Engine Time Gap
1 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1'32.571
2 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 1'32.982 0.411
3 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1'33.129 0.558
4 Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 1'33.227 0.656
5 Valtteri Bottas Williams/Mercedes 1'33.381 0.810
6 Felipe Massa Williams/Mercedes 1'33.744 1.173
7 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull/Renault 1'33.832 1.261
8 Nico Hulkenberg Force India/Mercedes 1'34.450 1.879
9 Carlos Sainz Toro Rosso/Renault 1'34.462 1.891
10 Romain Grosjean Lotus/Mercedes 1'34.484 1.913
11 Sergio Perez Force India/Mercedes 1'34.704 2.133
12 Felipe Nasr Sauber/Ferrari 1'34.737 2.166
13 Marcus Ericsson Sauber/Ferrari 1'35.034 2.463
14 Fernando Alonso McLaren/Honda 1'35.039 2.468
15 Max Verstappen Toro Rosso/Renault 1'35.103 2.532
16 Pastor Maldonado Lotus/Mercedes 1'35.677 3.106
17 Daniil Kvyat Red Bull/Renault 1'35.800 3.229
18 Will Stevens Marussia/Ferrari 1'38.713 6.142
19 Roberto Merhi Marussia/Ferrari 1'39.722 7.151
20 Jenson Button McLaren/Honda No time

Rosberg is making more excuses now that he is behind Vettel.

“It’s just strategy-wise today that I got it wrong,” Rosberg said. “I was thinking too much about the race, and I underestimated Sebastian’s speed and how much it would cost me.
“What I mean is that taking it easy in Q2 on the race set of tyres that we started the race with, I just lacked rhythm as a result.
“I didn't get into the rhythm and I just had one shot at it at the end. So that’s where I went wrong today.
“Disappointed, because Sebastian beat me. If I was second, it would be damage limitation, but being third is not ideal.”

Maybe he can complain that Vettel did not drive slow enough.
I think the No.1 position for drivers in the top teams would have been clearly defined after this weekend if they end the race in the same order.

Fernando Alonso and McLaren made it into Q2 for the first time this year, the Spaniard putting his McLaren in 14th position. Meanwhile Button's nightmare weekend continued following the problems he had during the Friday practice sessions as his car came to a halt in Q1 before he could even set a time. The car was apparently switching off completely.
It shows how complex the new gen. F1 cars are and how good a job Mercedes has done. Honda has been struggling with his car the whole weekend. Renault powered cars fared slightly better.

[SilentEngine]

Originally Posted by zenren

It would be interesting to see what he would do tomorrow, squeezed between two red cars. More importantly, even Hamilton would have to push since Vettel is very much the type who would attack in case Hamilton tries to save the tyres.

It's going to be interesting, now that they are mixed up. Both teams will have to be on their toes when it comes to pitstops. If Hamilton and Vettel push each other too much, that might play into Rosberg and Kimi's hands who can attack in later part of the race.

Originally Posted by jfxavier

I think the No.1 position for drivers in the top teams would have been clearly defined after this weekend if they end the race in the same order.

I think it's too early for that. It's really up to Rosberg and Kimi to up their qualifying performance and ensure they qualify ahead of their respective teammates. If they have track position after lap 1, i don't think the teams will do anything to disadvantage them.

[Octane_Power]

What time is the race. This new F1 website is simply crap! Earlier one was so elegant yet simple.

-Bhargav

[arunphilip]

Originally Posted by Octane_Power

What time is the race. This new F1 website is simply crap! Earlier one was so elegant yet simple.

The race is at 8:30 pm Indian time.

If you scroll down halfway to where the flags of various venues are and pause a second, it'll open the current race with timings of various sessions. You can click the 'Your time' link to convert it to IST.

I agree with your sentiment - the current design needs more scrolling to get to timings/stories than the old one which was compact. Going by the layout, I suspect they're optimizing it for tablet/touch devices, since everything is spaced out so much!

[zenren]

Originally Posted by SilentEngine

I think it's too early for that. It's really up to Rosberg and Kimi to up their qualifying performance and ensure they qualify ahead of their respective teammates. If they have track position after lap 1, i don't think the teams will do anything to disadvantage them.

Ferrari team boss has already gone on record that Kimi's contract renewal for next year depends on his performance. There is no way Kimi is going to move over for Vettel any time this season. Unlike a youngster who needs to be worried about his future, its either a Ferrari seat or retirement for Kimi in 2016 and there is no way he would move over and let Vettel beat him and spoil the chances of the Ferrari seat. At least, he can retire with a few good performances. Preferential treatment for pit stops might happen but it is unlikely to translate to anything else. Same goes with Massa at Williams or Button at McLaren.

Originally Posted by Octane_Power

What time is the race. This new F1 website is simply crap! Earlier one was so elegant yet simple.

-Bhargav

Originally Posted by arunphilip

The race is at 8:30 pm Indian time.

If you scroll down halfway to where the flags of various venues are and pause a second, it'll open the current race with timings of various sessions. You can click the 'Your time' link to convert it to IST.

Don't blindly follow their timings. It was incorrect for Malaysia I think. Cross-check with starsports.com TV Guide to be sure.

[Octane_Power]

Originally Posted by zenren

Ferrari team boss has already gone on record that Kimi's contract renewal for next year depends on his performance.

Even I read this part about Kimi's future. I hope he really pulls up his socks and beats Vettel in coming 2-3 races to keep hopes of fans like us alive. On the other hand, it might also be the case that age has just caught up with him and the young chap Vettel is just better than him, no matter how hard Kimi tries. :(

Now only hoping to see him overtake Vettel and Rosberg on the first turn itself

-Bhargav

[SilentEngine]

Originally Posted by Octane_Power

What time is the race. This new F1 website is simply crap! Earlier one was so elegant yet simple.

-Bhargav

If you are using the official F1 app in iOS or Android, you can add all the race sessions to your device calendar. I know it's possible in iOS, and assume it should be in Android too.