.....Which would mean they'd have to qualify on primes, which probably means they'll end up behind Alonso atleast, and possibly the Merc's aswell....

IMHO Ferrari nor Mercedes are much of a threat to RBR nor McLaren.

Well yes, qualify on primes obviously, but Lewis was no quicker on options this afternoon. And the way the track's looking the options could go off pretty quickly if they're used early in the race.

And the Macs can overtake here. Let's see what they do in FP3.

I think they struggle in the first phase and not the second. Look at lewis in barcelona he started badly but gained some meters right after

Spain is the only venue where Hamilton out-qualified both Ferrari's. They're definitely a threat in qualy and at race starts.

Check the start of Spain, second phase of acceleration is pretty good. Alonso was better off the line, but Hamilton out-accelerated him during the second phase of the acceleration

Maybe, I just looked again, depends how we define the phases I suppose. Anyway Lewis and Jense both moved on time I thought, but both lost ground to everyone around them, even though they were on the clean side. It looked as though Lewis had something going for him once they had some speed on, power or F-duct, but it's a shorter run down to T1 in Turkey.

Yes OK, if you want to call that the first phase, I'm not going to argue . I don't think we Mac fans can reckon on out-starting the RB's or Ferraris, anyway.

Haha, well, first phase for me was when Alonso was faster, second phase when Hamilton began to go faster

Absolutely. McLaren has to play a very different 'long' game, but it can be done over a race distance. I'm hoping finally things will click this weekend. Thankful as always for the Merc engine.

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agree, sec. phase is actually pretty good

Car is probably a bit stiff and lacks traction off the line.

I think it depends on circuit and the driver finding the best moment, because if we look at Monaco start Lewis almost pass Kubica and Massa and there is no space between start and first corner, and drivers don`t have too much of acceleration. Turkey on the other hand is one of those circuits where clean side is more valuable then most of the circuits, because of the dust, so to be 1-3-5 is sensibly better. Let`s hope Jens and Lewis will get these slots on the grid.
In Friday MP4-25 performed pretty well, if you look at Barcelona RedBuls show their true pace in FP2, so if we suggest that they doesn`t do the same here, Macca look pretty strong and on the way for the second row on the grid. I have some doubts about softer tires, which once again doesn`t look much faster on MP4-25 (espacially with Lewis) in qualifying mode compared to other cars, but long runs were pretty competitive even with them.

PS: someone tell me where Jense find that time in S1 in FP2?! I was so impressed when he clock 32,9 (3 tenths faster then anyone) and that was part of the circuit that everybody think does not suit McLaren well. Yeah, I know in qualyfing top teams will do that time or even better, but still I was impressed.
I am upbeat about Maccas chances in Turkey, so finger crosed it`s all goes well for the rest of the weekend.

Good job guys, keep pushing!

another problem for webber

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Thanks, as always, Bond

No fuss to cool Lewis' car when he got back after crawling round, unlike at Red Bull for Webbo. So I guess they still have the 4-cylinder mode on the engine?

Wondering about how he got out of the gavel too. Did he drive out with some cunning gravel traction mode?

he deployed the crab legs and walked out.

ha ha

A gravel mode is not impossible, by any means.

I hope they change the underbody on Lewis' car before Qualy. I can't believe it didn't get damaged in the trek back from the gravel trap.

It got damaged but it was minor...

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Seemed to me especially the right rear tyre slapped the little flick-up(??) at the end of the floor.

SUPERHAM!!!

What a great lap!!!

Absolutely storming lap by Lewis, just a pitty the 25 is still lacking downforce in turn 8. McLaren have definitely made a step forward.

Well, the MP4-25 certainly likes it in Turkey, relative to previous races. Partly down to the circuit I think but good job on development

Great lap Lewis, the Redbull's have been split

Dirty side of the grid

well look, valencia and montreal will suit mclaren as well so its looking good at the moment, closing all the time

They are 320 in the speedtrap. Next non-mac is Webbo with 314.
Good job by the boys, overtaking shouldn't be a problem if necessary.

GREAT stuff from Lewis...

Jenson was not far away either!

C'mon Mac...

Get another win for the 25!!!!

;)

But worst of all, he's going to have to fight Webber. I rather have Vettel on pole position than Webber, cause we know what Webber will do.

Lewis is so damn on it this weekend. Too bad we don't have a Newey chassis, otherwise it would have been a Hamilton walk-over from race 1.

How long until they take the F-duct off? The linespeed is a nice boost, but it is hurting too much in the normal sectors. I'm beginning to see this development as a wrong path, look at what happened to Ferrari since they put it on.

Awesome Lewis - mega laps in Q3.

If we can do Mark on lap 1... well we can dream

To say it with Lewis own words:
"Woo-hoo! Feels great to have second, guys."

Great stuff from Hamilton and Button.

They are losing all the time in sector 2; .4sec!

Jenson says all through turn 8; bottoming

It's off in the corners, what are you on about?

HAM:"WOO-HOO! FEELS GREAT TO HAVE SECOND, GUYS."

Too bad we're still losing .4 on S2...

McLaren have the quickest car after Red Bull... as I thought

sensational performance from Lewis I think.
I can smell a win here.

I missed qually because I thought it was at 8 am and it turned out to be at 7, however, judging by the 0.138 gap to webbo, it seems like the updates have closed the gap ever so slightly to the Red Balls. 4 tenths in sector two is alarming, but I hope the car gets better through there as it lightens up, and subsequently gives us a chance to stay close to the car ahead so that we could overtake.

Seemed like a good session, pity I missed it.

I did not expect McLaren to be this close. However, Vettel did have some odd car probems again, he looked quick earlier on. In the race though, McLaren will be very competitive anyway.

Really good job by Lewis. I really think he could win tomorrow but I'm worried about Webber next to him, given their history...

Great job from Lewis, but the SPEED crew said that he may have been held up by Schumi's off ever so slightly. Maybe just a little bit. Good job to Jense as well.

Mega lap from Lewis, well done! Jenson was fantastic either... it`s a shame McLaren will start from the dirty side of the track... even Vettel say that he is happy not to start from there. I just hope Lewis and Jenson will defend their positions at the start!

Great job from the team, and from the drivers! Keep it up!!!

I'm more worried about Vettel given that Ham is starting from the dirty side of the grid...

Me too. It's a short run to T1 though. Bit worried about MSC aswell.

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I don't it should be too bad. Remember last year, Jenson started P2 and didn't have too bad a start and still stayed P2 by the first corner.