Chinese GP Race Discussion

TomWazzleshaw · Post by **TomWazzleshaw** » 18 Apr 2009, 12:54

Ok... let's start off the discussion with this:
http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/4/9202.html Redbull and Renault have basically shot themselves in both feet and in the head... 15-20kg lighter than both Brawn cars and only 4 tenths quicker at best (Rounded off times being used as reference in that statment.)
Nice to see that Force India are doing the each way bet again (Suilt light, Fisi Heavy) like they did in Malaysia

noisebox · Post by **noisebox** » 18 Apr 2009, 14:27

It looks like this could go Brawn's way after all looking at the weights. Will the top 3 use the super softs for a short first stint?? Trulli could be a wildcard - looks like he can go a couple more laps than Button (who has been out qualified by Barrichello in a heavier car)

1. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, 644kg
2. Fernando Alonso, Renault, 637
3. Mark Webber, Red Bull, 646.5
4. Rubens Barrichello, Brawn GP, 661
5. Jenson Button, Brawn GP, 659
6. Jarno Trulli, Toyota, 664.5
7. Nico Rosberg, Williams, 650.5
8. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 673.5
9. Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, 679
10. Sebastien Buemi, Toro Rosso, 673
11. Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber, 679
12. Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren, 697
13. Felipe Massa, Ferrari, 690
14. Kazuki Nakajima, Williams, 682.7
15. Sebastien Bourdais, Toro Rosso, 690
16. Nelson Piquet, Renault, 697.9
17. Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber, 659
18. Adrian Sutil, Force India, 648
19. Timo Glock, Toyota, 652
20. Giancarlo Fisichella, Force India, 679.5

CarlosFerreira · Post by **CarlosFerreira** » 18 Apr 2009, 14:41

Impressive stuff by Barrichello.

I suppose the Red Bulls and Alonso plan on taking the super softs out first and pull a few blinder laps to run away from the Brawns. I suppose much will be played in the first pit stops: how far down the order will Vettel, Alonso and Webber will fall? Will they get traffic? Will Rubens, Jenson and Trulli be able to pull a few very fast laps then, as Jenson did in Malaysia, and effectively cancel the other's advantage?

Rosberg is not looking good: too far down the order with little fuel.

Also check Kimi, Lewis and Buemi (!!!), right behind, with lots of fuel - more than the Brawns.

thehemogoblin · Post by **thehemogoblin** » 18 Apr 2009, 21:25

Come on, rain!!

Also, someone want to tell me what happened to my brother-in-ethnicity Timo Glock?

RejectSteve · Post by **RejectSteve** » 18 Apr 2009, 21:50

thehemogoblin wrote:Come on, rain!!

Also, someone want to tell me what happened to my brother-in-ethnicity Timo Glock?

5 spot penalty for gearbox change. I was surprised to see him knocked out in Q2 though.

thehemogoblin · Post by **thehemogoblin** » 18 Apr 2009, 22:34

RejectSteve wrote:
thehemogoblin wrote:Come on, rain!!

Also, someone want to tell me what happened to my brother-in-ethnicity Timo Glock?

5 spot penalty for gearbox change. I was surprised to see him knocked out in Q2 though.

All I saw was him on the back row, and I was trying to figure out what the hell gave.

Stormwind · Post by **Stormwind** » 19 Apr 2009, 06:48

So far it's raining already, Will this be a repeat of Malaysia? But at least it should be interesting. So far the new tyres seem to have been moot since this is 2 races out of 3 with rain.

LionZoo · Post by **LionZoo** » 19 Apr 2009, 06:56

Shanghai rain generally isn't as torrential as Malaysia's so rafts probably won't be necessary for this one.

thehemogoblin · Post by **thehemogoblin** » 19 Apr 2009, 07:31

LionZoo wrote:Shanghai rain generally isn't as torrential as Malaysia's so rafts probably won't be necessary for this one.

Which bodes even better for strategy.

LionZoo · Post by **LionZoo** » 19 Apr 2009, 07:33

Lots of slow motion passing moves so far and a chop by Heidfeld so far.

Stormwind · Post by **Stormwind** » 19 Apr 2009, 07:41

Buemi is surprising me, he's showing mastery of wet racing that rivals Jean Alesi.

LionZoo · Post by **LionZoo** » 19 Apr 2009, 07:44

Is the Safety Car to Brawn's benefit or not? It looks like they can refuel behind the safety car and while that will drop them down, the time lost might not be as bad. We'll see I guess.

Buemi is driving a great race.

LionZoo · Post by **LionZoo** » 19 Apr 2009, 07:44

And right when I posted that they show him clotting Vettel's car possibly damaging the race of two Red Bull cars. It's the classic kiss of death.

Stormwind · Post by **Stormwind** » 19 Apr 2009, 07:46

Great, I have the Murray Walker curse.

thehemogoblin · Post by **thehemogoblin** » 19 Apr 2009, 07:48

Ah, ridiculousness incarnate.

LionZoo · Post by **LionZoo** » 19 Apr 2009, 07:50

Ferrari's nightmare season continues. Massa was doing so well!

thehemogoblin · Post by **thehemogoblin** » 19 Apr 2009, 07:51

... aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand Massa's done.

thehemogoblin · Post by **thehemogoblin** » 19 Apr 2009, 07:53

1981 is the last time Ferrari's had at least 5 retirements in the first three races.

LionZoo · Post by **LionZoo** » 19 Apr 2009, 07:57

WOW that's an awesome nose change! I guess it's to be expected from Toyota considering their assembly skills.

Stormwind · Post by **Stormwind** » 19 Apr 2009, 08:08

Jamie and Enoch might get their wish this time around.

LionZoo · Post by **LionZoo** » 19 Apr 2009, 08:11

GREAT MOVE from Webber!

thehemogoblin · Post by **thehemogoblin** » 19 Apr 2009, 08:21

*putting $5 on the Red Bull cars being disqualified for something at the end of this race*

Stormwind · Post by **Stormwind** » 19 Apr 2009, 08:23

thehemogoblin wrote:*putting $5 on the Red Bull cars being disqualified for something at the end of this race*

I'm not touching that bet.

LionZoo · Post by **LionZoo** » 19 Apr 2009, 08:40

And Piquet continues his bid to get ROTY or at least a ROTR award.

thehemogoblin · Post by **thehemogoblin** » 19 Apr 2009, 08:49

And Sutil loses it after a well-executed race.

*sigh*

LionZoo · Post by **LionZoo** » 19 Apr 2009, 08:49

How many Hamilton spins is that?

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand Sutil throws away a points paying opportunity.

LionZoo · Post by **LionZoo** » 19 Apr 2009, 08:58

Congratulations to Red Bull. What a masterclass!

We should probably get a spoiler warning for the thread...

Stormwind · Post by **Stormwind** » 19 Apr 2009, 08:59

Sorry Jamie and Enoch, Webber's 2nd.

TomWazzleshaw · Post by **TomWazzleshaw** » 19 Apr 2009, 09:07

That was a big crash from Sutil. Not much blame to him though. He tried to correct the slide out of 5 and the car bit the track just at that moment. The end result spoke for itself. Did anyone actually notice the nosecone stuck in the tyrewall? :lol:

Good Job to Red Bull although I was pedicting that someone would break down on either one of them before the finish of that race. Would be a bit unfair to them though.

LukeB · Post by **LukeB** » 19 Apr 2009, 09:10

Anyone count the Hamilton spins? Maybe he outdone Massas Silverstone effort last year.

thehemogoblin · Post by **thehemogoblin** » 19 Apr 2009, 09:10

Who here knows when the last time a team got its first one or two in a one-two, excepting Brawn, because they were new/a continuation of something old.

TomWazzleshaw · Post by **TomWazzleshaw** » 19 Apr 2009, 09:14

I think that would be Jordan at Spa 98.
Stewart came mightily close to that feat but Trulli was doing his job yet again. Except he was up in 2nd that time rather than a more customary... 12th :lol:

LionZoo · Post by **LionZoo** » 19 Apr 2009, 09:14

thehemogoblin wrote:Who here knows when the last time a team got its first one or two in a one-two, excepting Brawn, because they were new/a continuation of something old.

BMW-Sauber last year in Canada.

TomWazzleshaw · Post by **TomWazzleshaw** » 19 Apr 2009, 09:15

LionZoo wrote:
thehemogoblin wrote:Who here knows when the last time a team got its first one or two in a one-two, excepting Brawn, because they were new/a continuation of something old.

BMW-Sauber last year in Canada.

Oh wait. Forgot about the Beamer

LionZoo · Post by **LionZoo** » 19 Apr 2009, 09:16

I might have misunderstood the question. I thought it was first win in a 1-2, but it seemed to be first first and second place at the same race. That I'm not so sure about...

thehemogoblin · Post by **thehemogoblin** » 19 Apr 2009, 09:17

Wizzie wrote:
LionZoo wrote:
thehemogoblin wrote:Who here knows when the last time a team got its first one or two in a one-two, excepting Brawn, because they were new/a continuation of something old.

BMW-Sauber last year in Canada.

Oh wait. Forgot about the Beamer

Heidfeld took 2nd at Canada 07. Not quite.

thehemogoblin · Post by **thehemogoblin** » 19 Apr 2009, 09:18

Wizzie wrote:I think that would be Jordan at Spa 98.
Stewart came mightily close to that feat but Trulli was doing his job yet again. Except he was up in 2nd that time rather than a more customary... 12th

1995 Canada, Barichello took second.

LionZoo · Post by **LionZoo** » 19 Apr 2009, 09:21

Without the accident in Melbourne, Vettel could be on 16 or maybe even 18 points on the season and without striking distance of the championship lead.

Enforcer · Post by **Enforcer** » 19 Apr 2009, 14:01

Would've been interesting to see where Massa would've ended up, he was only a couple of laps lighter than the McLarens, and unlike Raikkonen, was showing some level of race pace. Pity.

Good race otherwise.

Kuwashima · Post by **Kuwashima** » 19 Apr 2009, 14:25

LionZoo wrote:I might have misunderstood the question. I thought it was first win in a 1-2, but it seemed to be first first and second place at the same race. That I'm not so sure about...

Hmmmm... we have posed this question to you, the learned listenership/readership in the latest podcast (newly recorded, not yet posted). I wonder if we'll have an answer here before we can post the 'cast?