997 replies to this topic

[Exb]

Some exciting racing taking place this weekend with the likes of Indycar at Long Beach and the season opening WEC race at Silverstone so this minority racing series appears to have been overlooked, however F1 heads to the Shanghai International Circuit for the Chinese Grand Prix.
 

Number of Laps: 56.
Circuit Length: 5.451 km.
 
After 2 shambolic attempts at elimination qualifying (and the even more shambolic attempts to get rid of it/keep it power struggle/tug of war between the teams and FIA/FOM) qualifying reverts back to the 2015 system    
 
Timings: 
(BST/LOCAL)
FRI FP1 (0300/1000)
FRI FP2 (0700/1400)
SAT FP3 (0500/1200)
SAT QUALI (0800/1500)
SUN RACE (0700/1400)
 
Tyres: Supersoft make there 1st appearance at China - will be interesting to see how many laps they last (a couple of years ago teams were struggling to get 5 or 6 decent laps from the soft compounds) Mercedes have suggested there may be some extreme strategies - with elimination qualifying being dropped can Mercedes try to make it through Q2 on the soft compound to enable them to start the race on the better tyre?

 

2015 Fastest Laps https://www.formula1...na-results.html

P1 1.39.033 Hamilton

P2 1.37.219 Hamilton

P3 1.37.615 Hamilton

Q 1.35.782 Hamilton

R 1.42.208 Hamilton (lap 31) - overall race time 1h39.42.008 Hamilton

 

Weather: http://www.myweather...y-Forecast.aspx

Saturday looks like there may be rain. Friday and Sunday at the moment dry and sunny, around 20-24 degreesC

 

A few key questions for the weekend:

Who will drive for McLaren? Fernando needs to pass a medical on Thursday before he is given clearance to drive.

McLaren are covering their bases this time (just in case):

1. Stoffel Vandoorne ‏@svandoorne 14h14 hours ago

   And we're off to #China! @eboullier #ChineseGP #McLarenHonda

1. 

Can Haas make it 3 in a row in the points? 

Can Ferrari get 2 cars to the end of the race without an engine failure?

Can Hamilton get a decent start? He will be looking to make it 5 wins in Shanghai.

 

And because the latest HAIRSTYLE is always a hot topic   - What haircut will Daniel Ricciardo be sporting 

1. 

 

 

 

 

[Vettelari]

Shambolic. Nice word. Could've used a little bit more info on last year's race, though. Love the haircut section. Good job.

Grade - 91% = A-

Edited by Vettelari, 13 April 2016 - 01:38.

[LiftAndCoast]

Natalie Pinkham's reaction to her husband's attempts to cut Danny Ric's hair -

https://www.instagra.../p/BEEwFcluNsV/

[Marklar]

That's a new low in terms of Hairstyle discussion....

[Maustinsj]

Hair we go again...

[Rocket73]

I hope:

McLaren have a decent top speed.
Mercedes get a bad start.
Ferrari doesn't blow up.
Kimi finds his mojo.
Qualy is back to how it should be.

[Kev00]

Natalie Pinkham's reaction to her husband's attempts to cut Danny Ric's hair -

https://www.instagra.../p/BEEwFcluNsV/

Ricciardo does not sound happy! 😂😂😂

[Owen]

Wet qualifying session seems imminent.

[hamilton10000]

Looks like its gonna be a wet quali, but a dry race, so the starting tyres will probably be quite interesting. Would a Ferrari or a Merc try and start on the Soft tyres?

[Marklar]

Hamilton wins this round 

 

 

Love how Kimi arrived though

 

[Zava]

As long as that's the only round he wins, I'm fine with it.

[jcbc3]

...
Love how Kimi arrived though
 

As if ice cream wasn't enough, he is eating his boarding card....

[HuddersfieldTerrier1986]

Saturday definitely looks like it might be wet, forecasts on every site have been saying that for the last 3-4 days. Only question really is will it be damp/wet for quali and if so, how wet. Of course if they don't use slicks in Q2 it means free choice for everyone in the race. Supersoft doesn't have to be used (if memory serves) if they don't want to. If it is going to be more of a qualifying tyre then I'd expect most to try a 2 stop with soft, soft, medium (if the softs will last that long, otherwise 3 stops going soft soft soft medium for example or 2 stops going soft medium medium). If they don't use more than 1 set of softs on Friday/Saturday morning it means everyone has enough new soft tyres to use 3 new sets of softs and then a new medium if doing a 3 stopper (though a couple of drivers only have 1 set of mediums for the weekend).

 

Ironically with a potentially wet track on Saturday for qualifying, I wonder how elimination qualifying would've turned out for example on a wet track/wet but drying track/damp but getting wetter track, etc

[Grayson]

Tyres: Supersoft make there 1st appearance at China - will be interesting to see how many laps they last (a couple of years ago teams were struggling to get 5 or 6 decent laps from the soft compounds) Mercedes have suggested there may be some extreme strategies - with elimination qualifying being dropped can Mercedes try to make it through Q2 on the soft compound to enable them to start the race on the better tyre?

 

 

Given that Mercedes have suggested that drivers on the Super Softs could be forced to pit on Lap 5, tyre strategy could be very interesting indeed this weekend.

 

It seems to me that the obvious strategy for the Mercs (and maybe Ferrari) would be to put in early laps on the Softs in Q2. Assuming that the radio rules allow it, they could then go out on Super Softs at the very end of the session ready to abandon those laps if their Soft times are likely to be good enough.

 

(Edit - all that is if it's dry. It obviously goes out the window with a properly wet Saturday!)

[Araqiel]

Weather Forecast

Friday will be dry and partly to mostly cloudy, with a high of 21°C and winds from the ESE at 10-15mph, strongest in the afternoon. Rain will begin in the early hours of Saturday morning and persist throughout the day, although if there is a dry period it looks most likely to be around 12-3PM (qualifying starts at 3PM local). Despite being wet and overcast, Saturday will be the warmest day of the weekend, reaching 24°C due to winds from the SSW at 10-15mph bringing warm air off the sea. Sunday will be fine apart from some occasional cloud, with a high of 22°C and cooler, calmer winds of 5-10mph from the NNW.

[w1Y]

Never get the go soft from start instead of super soft.

So you get to stay out a little bit longer even though those who pit earlier will come out on fresh rubber

Edited by w1Y, 13 April 2016 - 11:41.

[w1Y]

Is it going to be soft super soft the whole season ticket keep ferrari competitive?

[Marklar]

Never get the go soft from start instead of super soft.

So you get to stay out a little bit longer even though those who pit earlier will come out on fresh rubber

There is no point to have an strategy where you need new tyres after 5-7 laps. I would reckon that you can keep new softs easily 10 laps longer alive than used super softs without being slower and that would fit into the strategy. That's why starting on softs is in this race far better.

Edited by Marklar, 13 April 2016 - 11:48.

[BalanceUT]

Why don't teams go with the more resilient tire when the fuel loads are heavier? 

[w1Y]

If you can do it without being slower than those who have pitted is the question especially if you are not changing the amount of stops.

I guess it depends on your average time etc but very rarely does it seem to work

Balance I would assume it's because they carry no fuel in qualy and tyres have such a big difference in grid start. Also probably slower the warm up for the start of the race

Edited by w1Y, 13 April 2016 - 11:54.

[BalanceUT]

Has the track been repaved so that it is known to be less harsh on tires? 

Surely the teams knew that the track was hard on the softs, why go for so many sets of supersofts?

[Marklar]

Surely the teams knew that the track was hard on the softs, why go for so many sets of supersofts?

Actually the teams (except of Haas, McLaren and Williams) have less sets of supersofts for this race than in the other two races. You need super softs for qualifying and practice.

 

The track has not changed btw, except of some kerbs from what I saw.

Edited by Marklar, 13 April 2016 - 11:59.

[Exb]

Never get the go soft from start instead of super soft.

So you get to stay out a little bit longer even though those who pit earlier will come out on fresh rubber

Problem is if they have to pit really early then they come out in traffic and it could hold them up and not allow them the benefit of the new tyres.

(For example - Mercedes in Malaysia last year)

[Kristian]

Has the track been repaved so that it is known to be less harsh on tires? 

 

 

I hope not; there were some nice bumps developing (the area used to be a swamp; IIRC the whole track is essentially floating on polystyrene). 

 

I miss the days of big bumps on most circuits. It was another thing that made me thing 'sheesh, that's pretty impressive' which I don't get so much these days. 

[TomNokoe]

New softs could do 20 laps last year. Used mid-teens.

Edited by TomNokoe, 13 April 2016 - 12:48.

[Mercstar]

So looks like Quali is going to be wet, that could potentially save the teams from the mess of ditching their SS's after 5 laps or so. Softs and Mediums will most likely be the preferred race tyres. 

[Retrofly]

The thing with stopping 5-7 laps in, you're going to be stuck by everyone starting on softs for potentially 10 or so laps.

 

Ok you *can* overtake but the time lost will be much more than what could be gained with fresher rubber. You're better off having the track position and staying out than dumping yourself into the mid field.

 

The good thing about doing Q2 on softs is that everyone expecting to get through to Q3 will be doing the same, aka Ferrari, maybe red-bull.

 

I'd stick with softs at the beginning of Q2, then do a SS stint only if you absolutely HAVE to at the end.

Edited by Retrofly, 13 April 2016 - 13:15.

[Mercstar]

The thing with stopping 5-7 laps in, you're going to be stuck by everyone starting on softs for potentially 10 or so laps.

 

Ok you *can* overtake but the time lost will be much more than what could be gained with fresher rubber. You're better off having the track position and staying out then dumping yourself into the mid field.

 

The good thing about doing Q2 on softs is that everyone expecting to get through to Q3 will be doing the same, aka Ferrari, maybe red-bull.

 

I'd stick with softs at the beginning of Q2, then do a SS stint only if you absolutely HAVE to at the end.

 

Agreed with all the above, but that could all go out the window if we get a fully wet Quali session. 

[Marklar]

Valtteri Bottas ‏@ValtteriBottas  1m1 minute ago

Dinner with the drivers! #F1 #RacingUnited

 

 

 

Pascal Wehrlein ‏@PWehrlein  23s24 seconds ago

Nice Drivers Dinner! #RacingUnited

Edited by Marklar, 13 April 2016 - 13:44.

[dangk]

Nice picture I can see Ocon in the back but Haryanto is missing I guess   

 

edit and kimi grosjean and renault drivers also mia

Edited by dangk, 13 April 2016 - 14:12.

[JuliaStein]

My uncle waits for the Grand Prix so much, he knows every roadman and even manager by name. I can recognize just few of them, but I'm waiting too. 

[FullThrottleF1]

My uncle waits for the Grand Prix so much, he knows every roadman and even manager by name. I can recognize just few of them, but I'm waiting too. 

Welcome to the forums Julia

[Ev0d3vil]

Finally a race in my time zone, GMT + 8!

[Jon83]

Hard to see past Hamilton here. One of his better tracks.

 

Will both Ferrari's finish!?

[TomNokoe]

Think we are in for a killer weekend.

[ConsiderAndGo]

Nice picture I can see Ocon in the back but Haryanto is missing I guess   

 

edit and kimi grosjean and renault drivers also mia

 

Kimi's in Taipei.

[RA2]

Why is Mark Wahlberg in that picture?

[chhatra]

Hard to see past Hamilton here. One of his better tracks.

Will both Ferrari's finish!?

Hamilton will probably ace pole again. The question is his start. If he can lead going on to first corner it should be a slam dunk.

[SpeedRacer`]

Why don't teams go with the more resilient tire when the fuel loads are heavier? 

 

The tyre wear often isn't that different at the start of the race between the harder and softer compounds. I think it's because they get involved in battles in the first few laps that has a bigger impact on the life of the harder tyre than the soft.

 

Normally the guys that start on the harder compound are really struggling when the leaders pit, but feel obliged to run longer.

[OO7]

My uncle waits for the Grand Prix so much, he knows every roadman and even manager by name. I can recognize just few of them, but I'm waiting too. 

Welcome to the mad house.

I give you 7 days before you're in a straight jacket like 99.9% of the members here.

[Marklar]

Ian Fergusson ‏@fergieweather  2m2 minutes ago

#F1 #BBCF1 #CHINESEGP Dry but increasingly breezy Fri, ahead of rain / showers Sat (heaviest AM & later PM; poss thundery). Dry & fine Sun.

[sennafan24]

I give you 7 days before you're in a straight jacket like 99.9% of the members here.

That's what your posts do to people.

[statman]

 

Valtteri Bottas ‏@ValtteriBottas  1m1 minute ago

Dinner with the drivers! #F1 #RacingUnited

 

 

 

Pascal Wehrlein ‏@PWehrlein  23s24 seconds ago

Nice Drivers Dinner! #RacingUnited

 

Why is Hulkenberg wearing a sweater that says '****' on his sleeve?

[Nonesuch]

Why is Hulkenberg wearing a sweater that says '****' on his sleeve?

 

With all the talk of the R-word, he was probably feeling a bit cold.
 

[OO7]

That's what your posts do to people.

If you're looking for a back hand slap sennasnan, you've come to the right place!  It'll send what ever "machismo", that's right I said it "MACHISMO", you imagine yourself to possess in your most vivid and extravagant of dreams, back to 2013 where you were no more than an eleven year old girl.

Edited by OO7, 13 April 2016 - 17:33.

[LongTooth]

Hamilton will probably ace pole again. The question is his start. If he can lead going on to first corner it should be a slam dunk.

 

 Given that Mercedes haven't produced their own clutch yet, I see no reason Hamilton would have dealt with his poor starts. Nico can afford to be P4 and still be at the first corner before his team mate. Ferrari may just arrive there before both of them, though.

[Dr. Austin]

The overwhelming majority of posts on this thread are about tires, and yet we still wonder why Formula One is losing popularity.

 

See, tires ain't pretty. Tires ain't sexy and tires ain't even intrestin'. I don't need no singin' tire and I don't need no dancing tire. I just need a tire that rolls!

 

Really, if the most interesting part of the race is tire strategy........

[MikeV1987]

I'll be very surprised if Hamilton loses this race.

[BillBald]

The overwhelming majority of posts on this thread are about tires, and yet we still wonder why Formula One is losing popularity.

 

See, tires ain't pretty. Tires ain't sexy and tires ain't even intrestin'. I don't need no singin' tire and I don't need no dancing tire. I just need a tire that rolls!

 

Really, if the most interesting part of the race is tire strategy........

 

We are tired of them.

[Marklar]

Hard to see past Hamilton here. One of his better tracks.

Hamilton will probably ace pole again. The question is his start. If he can lead going on to first corner it should be a slam dunk.

I'll be very surprised if Hamilton loses this race.

After reading all these posts I'm convinced that the winner wont be Lewis Hamilton