1013 replies to this topic

[Ev0d3vil]

So LH on pole since Bahrain. Can he manage a good start this race? Can Max get a good start a jump the Mercs? We shall see in 6 hours time !

[tearitup]

Hope Max can do a good start, he only had one clean getaway this year so far.

Hope max and daniel can stay ahead of the reds. Also got this feeling one of the mercs is gonna break down.

Edited by tearitup, 15 May 2016 - 06:36.

[RacingXO]

With this grid it's probably the most exiting race for me in 2016.......so many hours of waiting

[STRFerrari4Ever]

Fireworks on the first lap, that long run down to T1, both Mercs dicing to be ahead into T1, Dan Ric P3, Max P4, Ferrari's on the 3rd row, recipe for brilliant chaos.

[RacingXO]

Fireworks on the first lap, that long run down to T1, both Mercs dicing to be ahead into T1, Dan Ric P3, Max P4, Ferrari's on the 3rd row, recipe for brilliant chaos.

 

Exactly.........

[Marklar]

Let's talk about strategies

 

 

S/S/S/M is the fastest strategy, but not if you are running into traffic, hence S/S/M is more likely. The other two strategies in this picture are just alternatives.

 

[RacingXO]

Let's talk about strategies

 

 

S/S/S/M is the fastest strategy, but not if you are running into traffic, hence S/S/M is more likely. The other two strategies in this picture are just alternatives.

 

 

Are you thinking SSM and not SMS because of difficulties with overtaking?

[Man of the race]

Perez is a key factor and a divider today. Anyone from a top team who drops behind him in the start is going to face consequences and has to re-evaluate his strategy.

[Xentas]

Pole position is one thing, but it doesn't mean everything as you need to get off the start line well which is something Hamilton has failed to nail so far this season. If Rosberg gets the jump on Hamilton for this race, Hamilton will have to fight back immediately and fairly or remain stuck behind Rosberg who will have priority for being the 1st to pit which could ruin Hamilton's race completely.

 

Perez is not going to be a factor as his engine isnt as fast as any other out there at this point with the exception of Manor who have the fastest car in the straight line according to speed trap numbers. Renault engines, Ferrari 2015 engines and Honda engines are the slowest in a straight line but only by a few mph compared to Perez.

 

1. Wehrlein - 341kph (212mph)

...

4. Perez - 336kph (209mph)

...

8. Hamilton - 335kph (208mph)

...

22. Palmer - 327kph (203mph)

Edited by Xentas, 15 May 2016 - 07:33.

[GoldenColt]

Pole position is one thing, but it doesn't mean everything as you need to get off the start line well which is something Hamilton has failed to nail so far this season.

 

He had one of the best if not the best start in China but yeah, apart from that his stars were poor.

[tagy22]

 

Perez is not going to be a factor as his engine isnt as fast as any other out there at this point with the exception of Manor who have the fastest car in the straight line according to speed trap numbers. Renault engines, Ferrari 2015 engines and Honda engines are the slowest in a straight line but only by a few mph compared to Perez.

 

1. Wehrlein - 341kph (212mph)

...

4. Perez - 336kph (209mph)

...

8. Hamilton - 335kph (208mph)

...

22. Palmer - 327kph (203mph)

 

He might be faster on the straight, but he would still hold up a Red Bull massively over a whole lap.

[Huffer]

There's a god chance the Ferrari's might get the jump on the Redbull's in front - the Ferrari PU has a good amount of low-end power, and we've seen Vettel rocketing past car in front of the Ferrari in the past. 

 

Might be a bit of a scrap going into T1 with the Mercs - could be fun to watch.

 

Chaos will probably prevail throughout the rest of the field. Expect Kyat to bump into Vettel in somehow - starting 13th means nothing, he'll find a way ;)

[TheManAlive]

There's a god chance the Ferrari's might get the jump on the Redbull's in front - the Ferrari PU has a good amount of low-end power, and we've seen Vettel rocketing past car in front of the Ferrari in the past. 

 

Might be a bit of a scrap going into T1 with the Mercs - could be fun to watch.

 

Chaos will probably prevail throughout the rest of the field. Expect Kyat to bump into Vettel in somehow - starting 13th means nothing, he'll find a way ;)

 

 

Nah, Kvyat wont be anywhere near Vettel. I far more expect to see Vettel get the jump on Max and the two of them tangle at T1!

[Jimisgod]

I think we'll see 4 cars go into turn one (Ferrari and RBR) and we'll see a collision.

 

The ultimate irony would be Max spinning Vettel and then Vettel being hit by Kvyat.

[thegamer23]

I expect no contacts & a typical borefesty Barcellona...judging from GP3

Edited by thegamer23, 15 May 2016 - 08:27.

[Marklar]

Based on GP3 it should be interesting though. The guy from P3 was first into turn 1 and won the race.

 

Edit: and in GP2 the pole sitter locked up while leading which gave the guy from P3 the chance to overtake.

 

All signs on a Ricciardo win.     The streak of different winners would continue....

Edited by Marklar, 15 May 2016 - 08:39.

[ConsiderAndGo]

The only way this race will be remotely interesting is if a RB can get into the lead at the first corner. If it can't, then it will be a 2-by-2 ending with Ferrari just sitting on RB's gearbox, unable to pass, whilst RB are 30 odd seconds behind Merc.

Edited by ConsiderAndGo, 15 May 2016 - 08:38.

[Ev0d3vil]

I expect no contacts & a typical borefesty Barcellona...judging from GP3

 

This season has been Indycarish.. We thought the Russian GP start was a boring one, but look! and of course China as well!

[TomNokoe]

Merc will have a second per lap on everyone. The start will be the most interesting part. Only tyre strategy can trip them up.

[Marklar]

[kosmos]

I have the feeling one RB will be P2 at the end of the race

[RedBaron]

I hope Max doesn't get over exuberant into turn 1, with it being his first race for Red Bull and wanting to outshine his team-mate and the others. I want a long hard fought exciting race.

Edited by RedBaron, 15 May 2016 - 09:52.

[Afaf]

 

Scary.

[CoolBreeze]

 

[BuddyHolly]

I don't really care who wins (even though I have a bet on Lewis) but I want to see a good race and ideally a battle for the lead.  

Quite frankly if Lewis gets a decent start I expect him to run away from Nico, does Nico have the pace to get near can he actually beat Lewis wheel-to-wheel for once?  I think it's unlikely but it's going to be fun to see.  Seb needs a good start or he'll be stuck behind a RBR all race and I guess all eyes will be on Max.

 

Lets have a good one guys!

Edited by BuddyHolly, 15 May 2016 - 10:20.

[Marklar]

Edited by Marklar, 15 May 2016 - 10:24.

[TheRacingElf]

 

 

As funny as that picture is, he has still yet to get used to the car though, there was still 0.4 seconds left in that car.

[Jonnycraig37]

Mercs disappear to a standard 1-2, Ferrari overhaul the RBs.

Zzzzzzz

[quaint]

As funny as that picture is, he has still yet to get used to the car though, there was still 0.4 seconds left in that car.

 

Assuming the maker of the picture doesn't mean to imply that Verstappen's ultimate pace is 4 tenths slower than Ricciardo's...

[Ricciardo2014]

I'm not sure what to think about Red Bull V Ferrari in this one ?

If the boys in red haven't overcome whatever the problem was yesterday it could be a long day for them.

 

Obviously Red Bull V Merc will be a snorefest unless the Merc's run into reliability problems again.

 

One thing that does concern me is Daniel Ricciardo's seeming lack of top speed.

He was 7 km/h slower than his Team Mate, so will probably get mugged on the straights.

[Araqiel]

Race Weather

As has been the case all weekend, the chance of a shower drifting over the circuit from the mountains to the north can never be completely ruled out, but this never exceeds 20% and it will most likely be fine and dry for the duration. It will be partly cloudy throughout, and while temperatures are already at 22°C air and over 40°C track, it is feeling cooler with a stiff breeze. Winds are from the south-west, having been from the south-east up until now (less of a headwind entry T1, more tailwind T3 and T9) and gustier at 15-30km/h, peaking in the second half of the race.

[RacingXO]

I have the feeling one RB will be P2 at the end of the race

 

You need to see a doctor with those feelings

[TomNokoe]

I think Red Bull will beat Ferrari today.

[jonpollak]

I'm awake !!!

 

Amazing.

 

Jp

[BuddyHolly]

Alain on Channel 4, legend

[RedOne]

I think Red Bull will beat Ferrari today.

I think if Ferrari don't beat Red Bull they'll blame it on good weather again

[ScottMB]

The one thing I take is that the more things evolve, the more things stay the same.   Always interesting to see how the race at the CdB© pans out, as it is the home of winter testing.   I had a little re-read of the winter testing thread, and although I took some grief for saying Red Bull are ahead of Williams, I didn't see them ahead of Ferrari.  Very good to see that McLaren are on top of the horrid throttle pick up issue seen in March, so have moved above Sauber and Renault.  Copy paste below from the F1 Winter testing [1-4th March] thread.  

 

------------------------------

ScottMB, on 06 Mar 2016 - 15:30, said:

At the risk or writing what others may have said already, I haven't read much of the above, or read/watched too much media "Testing Analysis" - as it may influence what I saw (and heard).

 

Thus, here is my view, and ranking in order of teams from best to worst purely from standing in various places around the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya...

 

1.  Mercedes AMG.  Whoa, what a suprise they are the best.  I really don't think I watched Nico or Lewis use anything other than soft (yellow) or medium (white) tyres. The car just looked and sounded fast.  The way the car is so balanced into turn 1 under braking, getting onto the power out of the turn two flick back, and planted around turn 3 is truely brilliant.   Around the slow stuff at the 3rd sector of the track, it can hit the curbs and again get the power on down the main straight.  If this car ran on reds or purple tyres, I have no doubt it would have smashed the Ferrari's testing lap record.  I bet that between Nico and Lewis they win >18 races this year.

 

2.  Ferrari.   I'd love to say they will give Mercedes a run for the championship, the car looked great, and different to last years testing, Kimi and Seb looked pretty close to each other.  Maybe it has the 'feel' that Kimi likes.  The engine sounds the best too!  (All engines are a little bit louder, but I didn't need earplugs.  Still, I couldn't hold a conversation at trackside like I used to either.)  I think like last year, Ferrari may be winners in Malaysia and one or two others.  Sorry to say, I didn't see the car running with the halo, as I got to the track at 10am on Thursday and Friday (thanks to the late running trains from Barcelona!)

 

3.  Red Bull.  This thing sticks to the track like duck tape.  Both Dan & Danny clearly were able to smack the throttle to the floor and not need to feather it around turn 3 (only car to do this) and just looked fast around turns 4, 5 and 6.  Danny flew over the curbing before Campsa (turns 7 to 8).   Maybe the Tag-nault  engine is down on some power, but tracks that need medium speed turns it will be great.  I'd like to think Dan may even get a result in a couple of weeks in Oz.   Also, best looking F1 car this year.  Great paint job, hope it looks nice on TV too.

 

4.  Williams.  Just looks fast in a straight line.  Really audible whoosh coming into turn one.  If they can solve the balance under braking, this car would be great.  Seemed to lock up a lot into turn 10.  Maybe Bottas and Massa are a bit heavy handed on the brake pedal!

 

5.  Toro Rosso.   This is close with Force India.  I think it may be that the car sounds so good with the Ferrari engine, and amazing looking aero.  I get a feeling that it will be a perenial top 10 finisher, and Max / Carlos seemed happy.

 

6.  Force India.   Maybe it was because they were a little anonymous, but they were quietly 'good' if not spectacular.   Looked strong on the purple ultra soft tyres, so maybe it is a car to look for in Monaco or Singapore.

 

7.  Renault.  [Edit - How did I forget Renault?]  Okay - unspectaclar, but very well balanced looking car.  I expect good things from Jolyan and Kevin, as they are drove well, and seemed in great spirits out the car.  i fear it will get used to seeing Ferrari and Mercedes powered cars coming by on fast straights this year.  However, a veteran team clearly knows how to set up an F1 car, and it looked very solid in the twisty stuff.

 

8.  Sauber.  Both Nasr and Ericsson I'm not a huge fan of as pay drivers, and it looks more like they are just there for the hell of being in F1.   Okay, that said the car looks decent, but I don't think it is as promising as the car in winter testing of 2015.  Maybe it will suprise me, but I didn't get the feeling it looked as fast as the cars above, especially in the final sector twisty corners.

 

9. McLaren Honda.  I'm struggling here.  Jenson and Fernando are saying positive things, but this car looks and sounds dreadful.  Awful balance in mid, slow speed corners; awful power pick up, especially out of turn 2.  It farts off throttle in a way that makes you pull a gritted-teeth face.  Truely horrid sounding car.  OK - more reliable than last years winter testing.  Looks like a car that will be lucky to make Q2 if all cars are running.

 

10.  Manor.   Great stuff from Pascal, he looks a real talent in a car that is clearly a massive step up from 2015.  I was tempted to put it above McLaren, but I just can't believe that I would put McLaren so low.  I expect Rio and Wehrlein to be fighting for qually positions 15-18 with McLaren.  Clearly some balance issues to be solved, and the aero is a little behind the exotic lines of the top teams.   Oh, and the paint job in person is pretty cool!

 

11.  Haas.   Few niggles for Romain on day 3 (I think it was) - but a new team with new people are bound to have this.  Folks thinking this was a top 10 car as Ferrari's B team are in la-la land.  It is very good, but I fear will be at the back in the early races.  Some heavy lock ups (like the Williams) into turn 10 were frequent, and poor balance into turn 1 too showed that neither Romain or Esteban are confident under braking.

 

-----------------

[PistolPete]

I somehow got the feeling that there might be a crash between either of Rosberg, Hamilton and Verstappen during the start. I think it will be caused by either HAM or VES.

[Archer]

I hope Max doesn't get over exuberant into turn 1, with it being his first race for Red Bull and wanting to outshine his team-mate and the others. I want a long hard fought exciting race.

He only has crashed in a start once, and was because Hulkemberg crashed in front of him. So, he never has been at fault of a crash in a first lap. Why all those fears to him crashing with everyone?.

[BuddyHolly]

I somehow got the feeling that there might be a crash between either of Rosberg, Hamilton and Verstappen during the start. I think it will be caused by either HAM or VES.

I really don't think so, even if Lewis has a bad start, he'll be careful not to get into an incident and although Max will be fired up, I doubt he'll be in range of either Merc at turn 1, RBR's starts don't seem to be as hot as the Ferraris.

[CoolBreeze]

It won't rain, and yes, it really looks like MB 1-2/ 

[zanquis]

I hope Max doesn't get over exuberant into turn 1, with it being his first race for Red Bull and wanting to outshine his team-mate and the others. I want a long hard fought exciting race.

If anything history has shown the exact opposite from Max. Because it is a new team he is more likely to play it safe, like his debut race last year.

[Nonesuch]

Why all those fears to him crashing with everyone?.

 

Because starting from 4th is massively different from starting 5th, which he did in Australia.

[Seanspeed]

I think Red Bull will beat Ferrari today.

I think if the conditions are just like yesterday in qualifying, they might well.  Ferrari will have had very limited ability to correct whatever they did wrong with the setup.  So Ferrari's hope is going to have to be that the conditions come back to them.  Which could also easily happen.  

 

I do think the Ferrari is still clearly the better car, though.  They just got it wrong yesterday.  

[BuddyHolly]

We're having a sweepstake here on how many seconds Mercedes will win by, I drew 37 secs    ..I don't think I'll win .

[Kev00]

I would be quite happy if they got away in the order they start. Then we can see a merc battle at the front, and a red bull fight behind. Though the Bulls might need a bit of teamwork to keep the ferrari's behind

[Seanspeed]

I somehow got the feeling that there might be a crash between either of Rosberg, Hamilton and Verstappen during the start. I think it will be caused by either HAM or VES.

I dont know why people get these 'feelings'.  Like, a million different things could happen at the start depending on how everybody gets away and of course the whole domino effect.  It's all completely and totally unpredictable.  

[K-One]

Hamilton will have his focus on blocking Nico, might open up an opportunity to one of the Red Bulls

[RacingXO]

I dont know why people get these 'feelings'.  Like, a million different things could happen at the start depending on how everybody gets away and of course the whole domino effect.  It's all completely and totally unpredictable.  

 

I think people are just having fun

[TomNokoe]

Steve Jones (C4 Presenter) asked Prost if he wanted to be out there today 

Edited by TomNokoe, 15 May 2016 - 11:41.