118 replies to this topic

[KWSN - DSM]

Ooppsss.... Topic at hand.

 

Unless they hit tech issues or skate of in the rain, Hamilton and Rosberg will be 30 to 60 seconds up the road from the 3rd place finisher. Since Magnussen's arrival I have had to join the dark side and cheer on McLaren, it would be great if he can podium once again, but on the face of it then Bottas seem the more likely, except I do not think the Williams is quite there in the rain. Alonso is Alonso and he raced one of his best races ever 2 years ago in Malaysia, with a changing track (that pesky possible rain again), then I can see him podium here.

 

[Sheepmachine]

Choc-ices at the ready, it's time for Malaysia!
I think it could be a good race for Williams.

Edited by Sheepmachine, 27 March 2014 - 19:26.

[bub]

Looking forward to this. Will be very interested to see what Hamilton, Vettel and Massa can do.

[Ragingjamaican]

Surprisingly during the race it's only rained a handful of times out 14 races so far.

 

Rain usually threatens but tends to not come round apart from 2009 where it just stormed in.

[Seanspeed]

There's at least 6 corners at Bahrain which are under 90 degrees, nearly half. To me, turns 1, 4, 8 and 10 are hairpins.

Eh, ok. You have a unique definition of what a hairpin is, though. Usually means a tight, roughly 180 degree turn.

[Rybo]

It will be a monumental ask to see Ferrari on the podium. It would be nice to see Fernando or Kimi get up there, but between Merc a virtual lock for the first two spots, and a very competitive Red Bull, McLaren, and Williams there's just too many things that would have to fall into place.

Edited by Rybo, 27 March 2014 - 21:27.

[DanardiF1]

Surprisingly during the race it's only rained a handful of times out 14 races so far.

 

Rain usually threatens but tends to not come round apart from 2009 where it just stormed in.

 

It's been since they've moved the start time closer to the evening that the real threat of rain comes. It's no coincidence that out of the handful of wet races, most of them are since they've moved the start time (2009, 2012, 2013).

[Longtimefan]

I'm expecting Merc team orders in this race.

[ZionLH]

I'm expecting Merc team orders in this race.

LOL why ?

[JRizzle86]

To be fair didn't they do it last year and Brawn asked one of the drivers to hold station.

[Zoetrope]

I'm expecting Merc team orders in this race.

I am not expecting this, but possibility is rather high. Australia has shown Mercedes engine isn't bulletproof.

[Longtimefan]

LOL why ?

Just a feeling I have.  no real reason, just a gut feeling.

[solochamp07]

Eh, ok. You have a unique definition of what a hairpin is, though. Usually means a tight, roughly 180 degree turn.

 

Exactly. Hence the name.

 

 

[Kristian]

Eh, ok. You have a unique definition of what a hairpin is, though. Usually means a tight, roughly 180 degree turn.

True, but these days I tend to define it as a corner that turns back on itself. 

 

Anyway, my point stands - Malaysia is great, as it was designed before the FIA wanted circuits to be slow corners everywhere. The original Bahrain designs, for example, had lots of mid-speed turns which are the types of corners where driver skills can make a difference (like most of the ones in Sepang). 

 

I'm no Tilke apologist, I do think we need more track designers in F1, but I don't think its any coincidence that his best track was his first one. 

[Disgrace]

Just a feeling I have.  no real reason, just a gut feeling.

 

I suspect as it occurred last season. I agree if both cars are easily leading after the final round of pitstops. Considering the engine rules, I cannot imagine a situation whereby team orders wouldn't be applied. Though whether they are followed by the drivers...

Edited by Disgrace, 28 March 2014 - 00:53.

[CoolBreeze]

This was Tilke's first full F1 track design right? Why have they got so much worse since then?

 

Yes, Tilke's first, and probably the best. Istanbul is great too. The rest are just pretty much crap. 

[Exb]

Disgrace
I suspect as it occurred last season. I agree if both cars are easily leading after the final round of pitstops. Considering the engine rules, I cannot imagine a situation whereby team orders wouldn't be applied. Though whether they are followed by the drivers...


I suppose it may depend if one of the drivers has saved more fuel in the early part of the race and so could in theory go faster than the driver in the lead, then I could see the 2nd place driver not wanting to listen to team orders (and I think this could apply to any team that finds itself in this situation). Also the stratagy of holding position after the final pitstop could promote a driver to purposefully run aggressively (and over the targeted fuel usage the team requests) in the first stints in order to gain an advantage over his team-mate and be in the lead knowing they would be protected by team orders after the final pit stop where they would then need to go much slower to make up the fuel saving, which may then mean they could become vulnerable to other teams. It Will be fun to watch how the stratagies play out and how all the teams handle it.

[SpaMaster]

There is no point just blaming Tilke. You have to wonder why FOM and FIA persist with him. The fault is not his alone.

[BenF12012]

F1 2014 Malaysian GP Race Strategy Briefing

This weekend Race Strategy added here http://thisisf1.com/...ategy-briefing/

 

Nice and user-friendly