F1 2013 thread

[])ragon_\/oid]

And so Vettel takes number 4.

 

[Quantum Theory]

Pull the other one! If they're fine, then why not stay out lol. That strategy makes no sense.

Do you understand the rules? Do you know that they have to use 2 different compounds during every race? Can you comprehend that a quick stop, one lap in, might actually cost you less time than running the wrong compound?

Obviously not...

 

[Aharon]

Thought Vettel drove an amazing race and showed he can overtake if he needs. That red bull is also a monster machine

 

[DJ...]

I've lost a lot of interest in F1 these days. The starts are mostly incident-free; accidents are so infrequent (and yes, we watch for them); pit-strategies are no longer what they used to be; Vettel will win.

It's lost some of it's lustre for me...

 

[Wall]

well done Vettel on your 4th consecutive championship. #steamrolling.

 

[skyhawk]

Congratulations to Mr S Vettel on winning his 4th consecutive F1 title.

The RB9 is a very fast car on 1 lap and in race. The F138 ,E21 & W04 never really posed a threat. Maybe Alonso , a little. I think if Alonso had been driving the E21 he would have taken the championship to Abu Dabhi i mean the F138 is "slow" and needs very capable hands. Alonso is a capable driver but the F138 is just not fast enough. I felt sorry for Alonso when he was battling Ricciardo for 10th place and eventually let the single point go.

Though i respect Kimi and looking forward to see him race alongside the world's best F1 driver Alonso , i was happy when he was overtaken in the last laps to finish 7th. He has been "abusing" one stop strategies with success

If they were no pay drivers in F1 then Massa did not deserve to race for any team next team.

Lotus's Grosjean has finally decided to grow up. If paired with Hulkenberg next season then Lotus would be one of the teams to beat.

I feel sorry for Ricciardo who is going to partner Vettel next season. If he doesn't prove himself to be better than Vettel in the first races then he will forever be a "webber".

Rosberg did a good job this season. The guy doesn't push. he just maintains and improves from time to time. He is like Button. Uninteresting and safe.

Is Lewis ever going to win the world championship again ? That depends solely on his car. He is not a better driver than Kimi , Alonso and Vettel.

Is Webber better than Vettel ? i don't think so. Yes Webber has been deprived of some privileges V has been given but Sebastian is just flawless. The way he pulls away . Today he pitted after 3 laps rejoined in mid field and was 2nd after 13 laps. Watching Vettel drive the RB9 give the fan seating on the couch the feeling that nothing is impossible. Last year in AD V started in the pit lane , was given a drive through penalty but finished 3rd. Yes V has the best machinery but he proved himself at Toro Rosso and he continues to do that at RB.

Excellent drive by Perez but still he is not worthy to drive MP4-28. Last yr he achieved good positions in a number of races mostly due to strategy not skill. Talking of skill Hulkenberg has got skill. its a shame Mclaren are not considering him because of his weight. Ferrari did good job in not hiring him because someone needs to push Alonso and kimi will do that. hope Hulkenberg gets a better driver. DI Resta is under performing , hulkneberg will do just fine.

Ferrari is lucky to have Alonso if it weren't for him.....

 

[Willie Trombone]

Do you understand the rules? Do you know that they have to use 2 different compounds during every race? Can you comprehend that a quick stop, one lap in, might actually cost you less time than running the wrong compound?

Obviously not...

How can you say it was the wrong compound just after saying the tyres were OK? No boet, you need to make up your mind!

 

[Willie Trombone]

Ferrari is lucky to have Alonso if it weren't for him.....

And Vettel is even luckier to have the RB9... if it wasn't for that...
He owes almost all his wins in his WC years to the car.

 

[DJ...]

How can you say it was the wrong compound just after saying the tyres were OK? No boet, you need to make up your mind!

Tyre condition was fine, but the compound was wrong for the racing conditions...

 

[Willie Trombone]

Tyre condition was fine, but the compound was wrong for the racing conditions...

Yeah, but if you're pulling a second a lap out ahead of your nearest rival, rather shred tyres that you don't mind throwing away surely! Instead they risked traffic for that early stop - they must have had a reason. What was the longest stint on the softs today?

 

[tiaanels]

Not a Vettel Fan but you have to commend the guy for what he has done. I always said if he and Alonso were in the same car, Alonso will take him, but after the past few weeks i'm not so sure anymore. Vettel has showed some extraordinary pace and confidence that I think he is currently the best driver on the grid.

I remember I liked him when he won his first WDC, I don't know what changed, maybe his antics or the media or the fact that I like an underdog [Alonso]. After today's race I realised he is also only human and deserves what has come his way the past 4 years. People might say it's the car but he still outraced Webber [Who I rate quite high] on a number of occasions.

Anyway just my 2c. Here is a post race interview of him which I think is the true Sebastian which we had not seen in a long while.
[video=youtube;X5Fw5fAluP4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5Fw5fAluP4[/video]

 

[Quantum Theory]

How can you say it was the wrong compound just after saying the tyres were OK? No boet, you need to make up your mind!

You just don't get it, do you?

 

[Quantum Theory]

Yeah, but if you're pulling a second a lap out ahead of your nearest rival, rather shred tyres that you don't mind throwing away surely! Instead they risked traffic for that early stop - they must have had a reason. What was the longest stint on the softs today?

With the tyre they started on, they would not have been able to "pull a second a lap", but they had to run that compound somewhere during the race (because of the rules). They decided to start on it, but changed it immediately to the preferred compound, which they ran for the rest of the race... Kapish?

 

[Aharon]

Not a Vettel Fan but you have to commend the guy for what he has done. I always said if he and Alonso were in the same car, Alonso will take him, but after the past few weeks i'm not so sure anymore. Vettel has showed some extraordinary pace and confidence that I think he is currently the best driver on the grid.

I remember I liked him when he won his first WDC, I don't know what changed, maybe his antics or the media or the fact that I like an underdog [Alonso]. After today's race I realised he is also only human and deserves what has come his way the past 4 years. People might say it's the car but he still outraced Webber [Who I rate quite high] on a number of occasions.

Anyway just my 2c. Here is a post race interview of him which I think is the true Sebastian which we had not seen in a long while.
[video=youtube;X5Fw5fAluP4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5Fw5fAluP4[/video]

Agreed mate, couldn't have said it better. I am a huge Sebastian fan, but nonetheless have always said I believe alonso is a stronger driver. However I too no longer believe this and instead believe Vettel is the strongest on the grid. Having said that, any driver needs a car that is good to great. Comments will always be made, if you put Vettel in a merussia he wouldn't win, but no driver would, so.... :-D awesome end to his championship

 

[Willie Trombone]

With the tyre they started on, they would not have been able to "pull a second a lap", but they had to run that compound somewhere during the race (because of the rules). They decided to start on it, but changed it immediately to the preferred compound, which they ran for the rest of the race... Kapish?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/24684711

LAP ONE

Felipe Massa has had a flier! He passes both Mercedes down the long straight for second place! Sensational scenes. Sebastian Vettel, meanwhile, has pulled out a second lead already.

Sebastian Vettel has pitted! Wow, that's early.

Capisce?

 

[DJ...]

More laps on the better tyre was obviously their strategy. I didn't even watch the race but I'm able to make this out...

 

[nortistortis]

More laps on the better tyre was obviously their strategy. I didn't even watch the race but I'm able to make this out...

Who incurs an extra pitstop without significant benefit these days? Those tyres must have been so off...

 

[crysis]

Mixed emotions about that last race. Annoying how much racing in F1 is down to strategy. They have software that runs different strategies and they can accurately predict which one will be best. WTF? Racing is meant to be unpredictable. Anything can happen. It seems its so predictable now, you can almost tell vettel is going to win, and webber is going to have a sh ite day. Every damn time

 

[nortistortis]

Mixed emotions about that last race. Annoying how much racing in F1 is down to strategy. They have software that runs different strategies and they can accurately predict which one will be best. WTF? Racing is meant to be unpredictable. Anything can happen. It seems its so predictable now, you can almost tell vettel is going to win, and webber is going to have a sh ite day. Every damn time

I think it was said a few pages back that the race is run from the pit wall these days with drivers relying on feedback for engine mappings, tyre temps, pitstop strategies, etc. They can't just drive as they see fit (and be open to making mistakes or show their brilliance)

 

[skyhawk]

ICEMAN NOT SO COOL

Kimi Raikkonen says he may not take part in the final two races of the season if his Lotus team do not fulfil a promise to solve a financial dispute.

Raikkonen, who decided to race in Abu Dhabi at the last minute, says he has "not been paid a single euro all year".

"I came here only because, hopefully, we found an understanding," he said.

"Hopefully it will be fixed and we can finish the season. If it's not dealt with as it should be, we end up in an unfortunate situation." Raikkonen's Lotus salary is eight million euros (£6.7m) plus a bonus of 50,000 euros (£42,000) a point. That means Lotus so far owe him 17.15m euros (£14.5m) this year.

He was also not paid in 2012 until the end of the season.

Lotus have cash-flow problems and argue they need to take care of their employees first because Raikkonen is already a multi-millionaire and does not need the money to live.

Raikkonen, who signed to race for Ferrari in September because Lotus could not give him the guarantees he was seeking about their financial stability, said: "I understand the team side of it, but when you have been put in a position and told different stories...

"If people think you don't work for the team or you don't care what happens it is not exactly true.

"I am only here because I enjoy the driving. But there are too many other things that get involved, a big part of it is business. We all try to make the best out of it. It is sad we end up in the position we are."

Team boss Eric Boullier said: "Yes we still owe him some money. It is a never-ending story and I am not here to put something on the fire."

Raikkonen was also upset at the last race in India, when the team's trackside operations director Alan Permane swore at him on the pit-to-car radio when ordering him to move over for team-mate Romain Grosjean towards the end of the race. Raikkonen admitted he had not been pleased to be talked to in that way but said that was not "a big part" of his unhappiness with the team.

Raikkonen also rejected suggestions he would not try to beat the Ferrari drivers in the race because Lotus and the Italian team are locked in a battle with Mercedes for second place in the constructors' championship.

"I try to do the best I can in every race," he said. "It is not the happiest moment when we have difficulties. I still try to do my best. I have no reason to come here and just drive around."

Boullier admitted Lotus's two main options for a driver to replace Raikkonen in 2014 were Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg and Williams's Pastor Maldonado.

"We have different options open," Boullier said. "Hulkenberg and Maldonado have contracts ready to sign, not signed. We have a couple of other options. Once we decide the strategy of the team, we will pick up the options we want."

He admitted a potential investment deal with a US-Middle Eastern consortium called Quantum could play a key role.

"We want first the interest for the team and one of them is to make sure we can pay them every month," he said. "If we can close the deal with Quantum it could be a different story."

Lotus would prefer to take Hulkenberg, but may be forced to sign Maldonado, who potentially has an annual £30m budget from Venezuela's state oil company, if the Quantum deal does not come off.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/24776816