644 replies to this topic

[RubalSher]

Will Williams win its first ever race in God knows how many years?

 

Will Nico bury Hamilton for good?

 

Or will Hammy have an epic drive?

 

Will Hammy start on the primes?

 

Can Alonso pull off some magic?

 

Is Vettel destined for another car failure?

 

Will there be lots of overtaking or not?

 

Will we have safety cars?

 

How many pit-stops are expected?

 

So many questions and so little time, so fire away with your predictions as we move on to the race thread!!

[Disgrace]

F1 is usually incompatible with happy endings, so I think Williams will have a nightmare Grand Prix. Mercedes 1-2 if Hamilton survives the first lap.

[eronrules]

one thing for sure ... kimi will have a terrible race. 

[Kingshark]

Will Williams win its first ever race in God knows how many years?

 

2, to be exact. 

 

Does anyone else have this underhanded feeling that Lewis will be involved in a crash at the start tomorrow?

[RubalSher]

one thing for sure ... kimi will have a terrible race. 

 

I hear you but Kimi and Vettel are definitely not comfortable with their cars. I am afraid though that I have to agree with you on this.

[RubalSher]

2, to be exact. 

 

Does anyone else have this underhanded feeling that Lewis will be involved in a crash at the start tomorrow?

 

I wont be surprised if something screws him up at the start... Not necessarily a crash but a front wing ever so slightly touching and puncturing his tyres!! And yes, I had totally forgotten about Maldonado! When did they win before that though?

[meddo]

I wont be surprised if something screws him up at the start... Not necessarily a crash but a front wing ever so slightly touching and puncturing his tyres!! And yes, I had totally forgotten about Maldonado! When did they win before that though?

Immortal Montoya, Brasil 2004

[RubalSher]

Immortal Montoya, Brasil 2004

 

Thanks.

 

Massa can be a tough nut to crack if he is leading the race. And Massa has been having good starts too, so Massa does have a shot. If Lewis aint winning it, I will be cheering for Massa....

 

How times change...

 

* remembers 2008

[zachary2142]

2, to be exact. 

 

Does anyone else have this underhanded feeling that Lewis will be involved in a crash at the start tomorrow?

I hope he won't be. I hope he'll have a quiet race where he makes up positions to finish well. Last thing he needs is more drama around him IMHO.

[jcbc3]

I think the first corner will be squeeky bum time for SFW!

[TomNokoe]

Will Williams win its first ever race in God knows how many years?

Nope

 

Will Nico bury Hamilton for good?

Not for good

 

Or will Hammy have an epic drive?

Until half distance

 

Will Hammy start on the primes?

Nope, he can't. Q2...
 

Can Alonso pull off some magic?

Nope
 

Is Vettel destined for another car failure?

Nope
 

Will there be lots of overtaking or not?

Somewhat

 

Will we have safety cars?

What do you think? Everything falls into Nico's hands, of course there will not be.
 

How many pit-stops are expected?

2.
 

So many questions and so little time, so fire away with your predictions as we move on to the race thread!!

[Exb]

Will Hammy start on the primes?

No because he has to start on the tyres he set his fastest lap on in Q2 so all the top 10 will be on supersoft.

Would be great to see Williams win but they need better tyre life than they have been showing to stay ahead of the Mercedes - I still expect a Merc 1, 2. it may not quite have gone right in qualifying but they still have a significant advantage over the others going on practice, and better tyre life than anyone else. If Lewis gets through the first lap unscathed (and lets face it anything can happen when in the pack) he should get up to 2nd, but Rosberg may be uncatchable by that time unless safety cars come into play.

Its set up for a cracking race anyway!

[GAZF1nut]

Hoping for Rosberg to get caught up in something to allow for Hamilton and the two Williams cars to finish on the podium.

[Junky]

Is there any possibilty of rain?

[GAZF1nut]

No because he has to start on the tyres he set his fastest lap on in Q2 so all the top 10 will be on supersoft.

Would be great to see Williams win but they need better tyre life than they have been showing to stay ahead of the Mercedes - I still expect a Merc 1, 2. it may not quite have gone right in qualifying but they still have a significant advantage over the others going on practice, and better tyre life than anyone else. If Lewis gets through the first lap unscathed (and lets face it anything can happen when in the pack) he should get up to 2nd, but Rosberg may be uncatchable by that time unless safety cars come into play.

Its set up for a cracking race anyway!

How was the Williams' stints on the supersofts relative to the Mercs?

[Jackmancer]

2, to be exact. 

 

 

Yes, but the last 1-2 win of Williams is the 2003 French Grand Prix

[garagetinkerer]

Williams have a wee bit more on the top speed on Mercedes cars, both have same/ similar engines. I personally don't see Mercedes overtaking Williams that easily. Turn 1 can be quite tricky when following a car into that section. DRS will help, but i think Williams can manage this as long as they don't run out of tyres.

 

I fully expect Rosberg to be on podium. unless there is an incident going into turn 1. It is hard to say how it will work behind first 3 cars...

[hollowstar]

I could see Alonso jumping Rosberg (and Bottas?)  at the start. 

[RubalSher]

No because he has to start on the tyres he set his fastest lap on in Q2 so all the top 10 will be on supersoft.

 

But HAM did not set a grid time in Q3 and is allowed a free choice of tyres. Here is what the reg says

 

 

At the start of the race each car which qualified for Q3 must be fitted with the tyres with which the driver set his fastest time during Q2. This will only be necessary if dry-weather tyres were used to set the grid time and if dry-weather tyres are used at the start of the race.

[sennafan24]

I could see Alonso jumping Rosberg (and Bottas?)  at the start. 

I was thinking the same 

[RubalSher]

I was thinking the same 

 

Alonso starts well in twisty first couple of corners. Does he have the pace to stay ahead in 3 long straights?

[Seanspeed]

Even if Rosberg cant get by Williams on-track, he'll do it in the pit window. Mercedes long run pace is too good, I think Rosberg has this one easy if the car holds up.

[joshb]

I think  hope we will see a rare formula 1 win form 12th on the grid 

[GAZF1nut]

Even if Rosberg cant get by Williams on-track, he'll do it in the pit window. Mercedes long run pace is too good, I think Rosberg has this one easy if the car holds up.

That's the key thing, IF the car holds up. Rosberg has yet to have any known car issues that has put him out of contention, and considering the sudden onset of Hamilton's brake problem today and the problems he had at Canada and Australia, you do feel that he is due his share of terminal reliability problems.

[Exb]

But HAM did not set a grid time in Q3 and is allowed a free choice of tyres. Here is what the reg says

But he did use dry tyres and its likely to be dry tomorrow?

Edit - technical report http://184.106.145.7...cument - 42.pdf

Edit 2 - are you trying to go for a loop hole in the way the rules are written???  (very Red Bullesque) The rule is describing if there is a change in conditions (so they qualified on wets but the race is dry they get free choice) but I think you know that. I'm not sure if a team will gamble on your interpretation, it would be interesting to see but I don't think Hamilton needs to risk a penalty by his team pushing it, he should be quick enough anyway.

Edited by Exb, 21 June 2014 - 20:25.

[RubalSher]

I think  hope we will see a rare formula 1 win form 12th on the grid 

 

LOL, I actually had to look that up and I thought you are rooting for Maldonado or someone... Turns out it is Vettel

[GAZF1nut]

But he did use dry tyres and its likely to be dry tomorrow?

Edit - technical report http://184.106.145.7...cument - 42.pdf

According to Sky, it is meant to be dry tomorrow, so he will start with his Q2 tyres.

Edited by GAZF1nut, 21 June 2014 - 20:20.

[RubalSher]

But he did use dry tyres and its likely to be dry tomorrow?

Edit - technical report http://184.106.145.7...cument - 42.pdf

 

Ok I agree I am not sure but is the reg talking about grid time in Q2 or Q3?

 

I thought that drivers who dont set a time in Q3 are allowed a free choice of tyres... Can someone confirm?

[Pistol_Peto]

Peto's wild-ass prediction...

 

- Hamilton up to 4th by the 5th lap

- Bottas with an off drops to 6th

- Rosberg can't catch Massa

- Hamilton passes Rosberg during last pit

- Hamilton pips Massa for the win on 2nd to last lap

- Rosberg 3rd

 

  

[TomNokoe]

Alonso won't get anywhere from the dirty side. 2 Williams allows the team to ensure one stays ahead at the pitstops.

[RubalSher]

How bout Hammy takes till lap 45-55 to get behind Rosberg on track but 20 seconds down. Out comes the SC and then they fight it out for the last 10-20 laps.

[TomNokoe]

How bout Hammy takes till lap 45-55 to get behind Rosberg on track but 20 seconds down. Out comes the SC and then they fight it out for the last 10-20 laps.

Nope. They'll probably be a lap 1 SC to help Rosberg on his fuel. Otherwise he is in for a tough race.

[Exb]

Ok I agree I am not sure but is the reg talking about grid time in Q2 or Q3?
 
I thought that drivers who dont set a time in Q3 are allowed a free choice of tyres... Can someone confirm?

The whole point of the rule was to stop those that would only quali 9th or 10th sitting it out to choose there tyres so I would say Q2
(see my edit for the technical report from the FIA)

[RubalSher]

But he did use dry tyres and its likely to be dry tomorrow?

Edit - technical report http://184.106.145.7...cument - 42.pdf

Edit 2 - are you trying to go for a loop hole in the way the rules are written???  (very Red Bullesque) The rule is describing if there is a change in conditions (so they qualified on wets but the race is dry they get free choice) but I think you know that. I'm not sure if a team will gamble on your interpretation, it would be interesting to see but I don't think Hamilton needs to risk a penalty by his team pushing it, he should be quick enough anyway.

 

I thought the rule was always there that cars that dont set a time in Q3 have a choice. If that has changed this year, then I havent kept up with the regs. I wasnt looking for a loophole, but now that you remind me...

Edited by RubalSher, 21 June 2014 - 20:28.

[RubalSher]

Nope. They'll probably be a lap 1 SC to help Rosberg on his fuel. Otherwise he is in for a tough race.

 

The track is well laid out and chances of a SC dont seem high unless there is a huge shunt. I seriously hope there aint a SC in the first few laps coz that wont help Hammy.

[sennafan24]

How bout Hammy takes till lap 45-55 to get behind Rosberg on track but 20 seconds down. Out comes the SC and then they fight it out for the last 10-20 laps.

At the risk of being a bit too low-brow

 

Spoiler

I would get a boner over that ;)

[Exb]

According to Sky, it is meant to be dry tomorrow, so he will start with his Q2 tyres.

Yes, I know ;), I was just replying to Rubalsher who though Lewis would get free choice as he didn't set a time but he won't (unless the track is wet but its not supposed to be), I was just a little confused why he thought he would get free choice but I think its the way the rule is written.

[RubalSher]

At the risk of being a bit too low-brow

 

Spoiler

I would get a boner over that ;)

 

[darkkis]

It'd surprise me if Williams got even a podium tomorrow... They tend to have horrible pit strategies.

Edited by darkkis, 21 June 2014 - 20:34.

[sennafan24]

It'd surprise me if Williams got even a podium tomorrow... They tend to have horrible pit strategies.

Yeah, I know what you mean. Massa seems to have been the victim of bad pit calls a few times this year.

[TomNokoe]

The track is well laid out and chances of a SC dont seem high unless there is a huge shunt. I seriously hope there aint a SC in the first few laps coz that wont help Hammy.

if Rosberg needs a SC, they'll be a SC

[RubalSher]

Yeah, I know what you mean. Massa seems to have been the victim of bad pit calls a few times this year.

 

Few times? I thought it was customary for Williams to screw up his pit stops every race! Something in his contract maybe

[RubalSher]

if Rosberg needs a SC, they'll be a SC

 

I hope his luck runs out!!

[PayasYouRace]

The track is well laid out and chances of a SC dont seem high unless there is a huge shunt. I seriously hope there aint a SC in the first few laps coz that wont help Hammy.

 

It's funny because I can't ever remember the SC being on track at this circuit. But I checked and only 1997 and 1999 went without.

 

In 1998, 2000, 2001 and 2003 it came out after the start. In 2002 it was a long one mid-race (the Heidfeld Sato crash I guess).

[GAZF1nut]

I hope his luck runs out!!

Well, he is definitely due a retirement. All it takes is for Hamilton to be on the podium and for Rosberg to pull out for it to be even stevens again. 

[Kingshark]

you do feel that he is due his share of terminal reliability problems.

 

 

Well, he is definitely due a retirement.

 

 

There is no such thing as being "due" a retirement. That's known as the gambler's fallacy. Karma is also a myth.

[KnucklesAgain]

It's funny because I can't ever remember the SC being on track at this circuit. But I checked and only 1997 and 1999 went without.

 

In 1998, 2000, 2001 and 2003 it came out after the start. In 2002 it was a long one mid-race (the Heidfeld Sato crash I guess).

 

Actually this track (well the old one) saw the possibly first SC deployment ever in F1. It was during a practice session in 73, and you can see the hilarious compact car desperately trying to ge quick enough in the Österreichring documentary video that I posted in the buildup thread and which IIRC you liked. The first race deployment was two events later in Canada.

[darkkis]

Yeah, I know what you mean. Massa seems to have been the victim of bad pit calls a few times this year.

If you followed Williams closely, you'd see both of of them have gotten terrible strategies equally.

[sennafan24]

If you followed Williams closely, you'd see both of of them have gotten terrible strategies equally.

Fair play

 

I have not been following that closely, but I did not notice Massa get the rough end a few times.

[darkkis]

Fair play

 

I have not been following that closely, but I did not notice Massa get the rough end a few times.

Yup, well from sort of fresh memory we have Canada. Massa had a shitty first stop of 5+ seconds (can't remember exact time), and they pitted Bottas way too early  and he ended up behind the DRS train. Meanwhile Red Bulls ran in free air in front.

 

Anyhow, I don't have much trust in Williams pitwall.. They need to seriously up their game.

Edited by darkkis, 21 June 2014 - 21:21.