115 replies to this topic

[harrows]

Ferrari and McLaren have been very quick for a while now.

In Varfelona, Seb needed to overtake 3 cars in a lap to win. In Monaco, he had to do a record number of laps on soft tyres. Balenfia was again a very close call; and Red Bull were definitely behind in the last 2 races.

I'm wondering whether Red Bull even had the mythical 'dominance' or was it just Seb pulling out amazing laps in qualy, because they haven't 'dominated' any race this year. Webber's form just reaffirms this.

Edited by harrows, 29 July 2011 - 14:32.

[Augurk]

Ferrari and McLaren have been very quick for a while now.

In Varfelona, Seb needed to overtake 3 cars in a lap to win. In Monaco, he had to do a record number of laps on soft tyres. Balenfia was again a very close call; and Red Bull were definitely behind in the last 2 races.

I'm wondering whether Red Bull even had the mythical 'dominance' or was it just Seb pulling out amazing laps in qualy, because they haven't 'dominated' any race this year. Webber's form just reaffirms this.

Good thing you didn't say Barfelona! (might have been more appropriate for races held there). Seriously though what's up with the corrupted Spanish GP names?

I think McLaren and Ferrari have caught up good. Let's hope for an exciting end to this season!

[Mc_Silver]

It is too early to say that. Let's wait and see how the qualifying and the race unfolds.

[flyer121]

They have been 3rd best since start of last year..

Its the brilliance of Vettel and Webber tht it looks otherwise

/sarc>

Edited by flyer121, 29 July 2011 - 14:40.

[bogi]

It only shows how small gaps are between top three teams.

[Kac]

Do I hope so?Yes
Do I think so?Nope..But we'll see in Q3 tml

[flyer121]

Just a bit too late Macs and Ferrari !

[Professor Arturo]

Red Bull probably still has the fastest car, but they are lacking something that Ferrari and McLaren have - Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton.

[2ms]

I think it's clear they have the 3rd fastest now but it is unclear when this became the case. Especially with exhaust overrun debacle and with Hamilton's crashes and Button having mechanical problems 3 races in a row.

[fieraku]

I think the RB car has hit its peak and Mac&SF have caught up,it was bound to happen one way or another. Now it's up to the drivers to do the rest.

[miniq]

Redbull messed up there development in the last few races... they have backed off clearly...
Dont worry they will be back on it very soon.

Atleast we get to see how Vettel performs from 2nd or 3rd row. in 1 or maybe 3 races.

Edited by miniq, 29 July 2011 - 14:51.

[bauss]

lol Seb fans getting mad paranoid....like Anthony Davidson said, that car had the pace to win the last GP... they were still the quickest in DF heavy sector. Mac and Ferrari are catching up but their car still has the most DF...still the most robust.

[CodeRacing]

A bit too early mate...lets see what happens in Q and the race tmr

[abc02]

Not quite 3rd fastest, but I've gotten the impression that they haven't made nearly as many updates to their car as Ferrari or Mclaren since Australia. They've got enough of a cushion to win both championships this year, but they could be in trouble next year.

[Red17]

Ferrari and McLaren have been very quick for a while now.

In Varfelona, Seb needed to overtake 3 cars in a lap to win. In Monaco, he had to do a record number of laps on soft tyres. Balenfia was again a very close call; and Red Bull were definitely behind in the last 2 races.

I'm wondering whether Red Bull even had the mythical 'dominance' or was it just Seb pulling out amazing laps in qualy, because they haven't 'dominated' any race this year. Webber's form just reaffirms this.

Two sentences:
- It was Free Practice
- Red Bull may be aiming now at a better race pace, sacrificing qualify pace.

So the only answer to your question lies in Sunday race, the only event that awards points.

[Professor Arturo]

I think it's clear they have the 3rd fastest now

Based on what?

[Professor Arturo]

lol Seb fans getting mad paranoid....like Anthony Davidson said, that car had the pace to win the last GP...

Yep. Red Bull in Hamilton`s or Alonso`s hands would have won that last race easily.

[Totza]

Wait til sunday before making this thread? I'm still expecting RB to storm come Q3 and take pole, but the race will be close like last weekend hopefully, but yeah pointless saying 3rd fastest after a practice session..

[DLaw]

No, they sandbag Fridays....wait till qualy.

[flyer121]

Based on what?

Based on whatever they were deemed fastest for the last 2 and a half years ...

[flyer121]

Yep. Red Bull in Hamilton`s or Alonso`s hands would have won that last race easily.

And Webber / Vettel would have won if they were in a Mac !

[flyer121]

lol Seb fans getting mad paranoid....like Anthony Davidson said, that car had the pace to win the last GP... they were still the quickest in DF heavy sector. Mac and Ferrari are catching up but their car still has the most DF...still the most robust.

No mate - title is not going anywhere !

I am actually excited that others didnt totally capitulate and made the 2011 season the boring most ever creating an impression that it was all "CAR"

Edited by flyer121, 29 July 2011 - 15:07.

[Professor Arturo]

And Webber / Vettel would have won if they were in a Mac !

[purplejohn]

this thread could look pretty stupid on sunday... or even saturday

i think the top three cars are getting pretty level all having different strengths so it will come down to the driver factor

[SCUDmissile]

woah! this is Friday. redbull seem to just troll other teams on friday. i will wait until tomorrow before saying this.

[winas]

this thread could look pretty stupid on sunday... or even saturday

i think the top three cars are getting pretty level all having different strengths so it will come down to the driver factor

this

[Hole]

Ferrari and McLaren have been very quick for a while now.

In Varfelona, Seb needed to overtake 3 cars in a lap to win. In Monaco, he had to do a record number of laps on soft tyres. Balenfia was again a very close call; and Red Bull were definitely behind in the last 2 races.

I'm wondering whether Red Bull even had the mythical 'dominance' or was it just Seb pulling out amazing laps in qualy, because they haven't 'dominated' any race this year. Webber's form just reaffirms this.

I'm open about the idea of RBR not being that quick now, but saying they haven't dominated or "dominated" any race this year seriously made me loose my monocle. A RBR car won 6 out of 10 races this year... Not only they dominated some races but they are also dominating the championship, at least for now.

Edited by Hole, 29 July 2011 - 15:36.

[fabr68]

Don't know. Red Bull seems to consistenly raise its game and find stratospheric pace from Friday to Saturday.

[Totza]

And Webber / Vettel would have won if they were in a Mac !

Umm no..

[Kubiccia]

Yes, they are the 3rd fastest car and that's why they got all pole positions and most race wins so far.

[Alx09]

Red Bull probably still has the fastest car, but they are lacking something that Ferrari and McLaren have - Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton.

This.

[kosmos]

They have always something extra, wait till tomorrow at the end of Q3.

Edited by kosmos, 29 July 2011 - 16:15.

[winas]

They have always something extra, wait till tomorrow at the end of Q1.

it use to be during Q3 actually

[syph0nJZ05]

Although masked by track specific configurations and alike, McLaren and Ferrari have been closing the deficit to Red Bull from day one. Last week and (hopefully) this week it has started to enter into fruition and Lewis managed to win in Germany purely on merit on a (in the whole) dry track. So is the RB officially the 3rd fastest car? Not yet because the margins are still to small to make any realistic determination. A better question would be; if the development trend continues will we see McLaren and Ferrari overtake Red Bull within a few races? I think there is good evidence to say yes to that question.

[kosmos]

it use to be during Q3 actually

Yeah, my mistake, I meant Q3 (last part of qualifying), pressed the wrong button of the keyboard.

[Brandz07]

It's the fastest car still..

[Brandz07]

Yes, they are the 3rd fastest car and that's why they got all pole positions and most race wins so far.

ever heard of development...?

[Kubiccia]

ever heard of development...?

In the last event, which occured a week ago, they got pole and lost the race because Mark is not as good as the first drivers of Ferraris and Mclaren.

[seahawk]

I would say the 3 cars are quite equal right now. The difference we see is mostly down to the drivers. And this exposes the weakness of Vettel compared to Hamilton and to a lesser extent Alonso.

[alframsey]

Imo RBR are still the fastest car, this may change come Q3 and during the races however. We will have to wait until sunday.

[Concorde]

No but definitely the others have closed the gap, however the lead in WDC and WCC is big enough to easily bring home both championships and focus on the 2012 car.

[King Six]

Well the fact that Vettel had to revert to his old rear wing in order to find something certainly means all is not too well for them, I don't think they're developing the RB7 as much as they developed the RB6. Maybe they've hit a wall here and McLaren/Ferrari have caught up, and the driver factor is beginning to play in more.

I still expect them to be favourites for pole and the win, you just have to give them that. If not, then they're not going to do too well at Spa/Monza either, they weren't the fastest car in Singapore, Japan ought to be theirs, maybe Korea, India is an unknown but Mercedes engine might be the factor like Monza, but I'd think by then Vettel ought to have more or less secured the WCC by just finishing high enough in races, and a few wins to boot.

He only needs about 1-2 more wins anyway to make it pretty much a dead cert. He'll get podiums and high finishes regardless.

[Sakae]

I think that this thread is symptomatic of venting all tension that Ferrari and McLaren's fans accumulated since March 2011. I am glad that you guys can breath again, after being all blue in your faces for a while.

[Concorde]

I think that this thread is symptomatic of venting all tension that Ferrari and McLaren's fans accumulated since March 2011. I am glad that you guys can breath again, after being all blue in your faces for a while.

You should enjoy it man chances are that Seb and the team won't have such a opponent crushing start next year although if Newey has started work on the 2012 car early who knows.

[Nivra]

And Webber / Vettel would have won if they were in a Mac!

Webber couldn't even win in the RB7 in the earlier 9 races... the time when it was the fastest around the circuit in Qualifying, and really quick during Sundays.

Anyways, you'll reach nowhere if you think Webber is in the same class as Hamilton & Alonso. As for Vettel, he's definitely there with Alonso & Hamilton, but still lacks the 'oomph' factor... but he'll get there with experience. Not yet.

Edited by Nivra, 29 July 2011 - 17:28.

[BRK]

Ferrari have had the quickest car for a couple of races now, but McLaren also seem to have caught up at Hungaroring at least. Officially I think they will be third quickest at this track, we'll have to wait and see if this will be true for the rest of the season as well.

[GerhardBerger]

Ferrari have had the quickest car for a couple of races now, but McLaren also seem to have caught up at Hungaroring at least. Officially I think they will be third quickest at this track, we'll have to wait and see if this will be true for the rest of the season as well.

I still don't get this. If Ferrari was indeed the quickest at the last 2 races, then surely Massa would have at least achieved say a podium finish?

[SCUDmissile]

I still don't get this. If Ferrari was indeed the quickest at the last 2 races, then surely Massa would have at least achieved say a podium finish?

he may have done if he didnt have so much bad luck

[GerhardBerger]

he may have done if he didnt have so much bad luck

His pace was well off the front runners both in qualifying and the race. Luck has nothing to do with it.

[Sausage]