1466 replies to this topic

[CL16]

[Blackoutjulian]

The return of the borefest
Last years race was The borefest strikes back.

Edited by Blackoutjulian, 30 September 2018 - 07:35.

[PayasYouRace]

Wasn’t last year the one where Vettel was chasing down Bottas in the closing laps? I thought that was quite exciting.

[thegamer23]

Last year was pretty good, with a battle to the lead of the race.

Hopefully both Ferrari will jump the Mercedes at the start, for the sake of the championship

[STRFerrari4Ever]

Good thing I woke up early and checked the listings, I forgot that when this race was held at a similar time of the year in 2014 they held it at this earlier time.

The only way I can see a good race is if Vettel can oass Hamilton on lap 1 or better yet both Mercs.

Edited by STRFerrari4Ever, 30 September 2018 - 07:51.

[pitlanepalpatine]

I doubt jumping Merc will matter and Ferrrari will be miles behind on tire degredation.

[RECKLESS]

Yeah last year Valtteri flat spotted one of his tyres in the race but was just able to keep Vettel at bay in the end. Exciting it was. First win for 77 too.

[STRFerrari4Ever]

Yeah last year Valtteri flat spotted one of his tyres in the race but was just able to keep Vettel at bay in the end. Exciting it was. First win for 77 too.

Last year Bottas stormed off in the early laps of both stints with Vettel closing the gap donsiderably on both occasions towards the end. I doubt the Sochi track can producd good racing for the F1 cars like we saw yesterday in F2.

[sportyskells]

And do not forgot the old SC

[statman]

lol Verstappen got a matrusjka (?), those things in decreasing size placed one inside another for his birthday:

 

[Clrnc]

Looking forward to a good points haul from both the Saubers. Incredible improvement for their car from the past 2 seasons. When we saw their car launch some of us thought it is an interesting car and looks like a clear improvement, but honestly not expecting constant top 10s. 

[Paincake]

 

Oh we're just warming up, there will be so much salt today! 

 

My prediction? I have a feeling Ferrari has prepared a pure race setup, wich made them sacrifice qualifying for it yesterday. I have no evidence to backup my claim, but its just a gut feeling.

Also I think there is a high chance Vettel will overtake both Mercedes at the start... if you look at 2017 start you can see it is possible to get a good slipstream here at the start.

[taz]

Sunday morning and race start is already in 3 hours

just in time for lunch

[Marklar]

2 hours earlier? What is this madness.

Despite Mercedes' dominance a bit hard to call that one. If the Mercedes are 1-2 after the start I expect them to bring it home with Hamilton winning (either fair or over team orders).

If Bottas leads with one or two Ferrari between him and Lewis it might be a repeat of last year, unless Bottas can convert Mercedes pace in the race (which he often doesnt), which would mean a easy win for him and the only interesting battle is behind him for the WDC. Despite Mercedes' better form Vettel might reduce the gap here: overtaking is pretty tough.

Most interesting scenario is a repeat of last years start of course. So Ferrari leading after T2. Maybe the higher temps today are more to their liking, so that they can hold on.

I dont think that the 1st scenario is very realistic. The slipstream advantage for the 2nd row is massive, the extra boost for Ferrari apparently still works at the end of the straight at least. Still surprised that they didnt try to qualify on hypers, then the advantage would be even bigger. Idk if the resurface of the 1st row is really such a big help for Mercedes, since they didnt really had much of a chance to make practice starts. But maybe it does. I also expect that Mercedes will tell their drivers to give each other a tow unlike what Ferrari did in Monza, but we'll see the outcome I suppose.

[STRFerrari4Ever]

lol Verstappen got a matrusjka (?), those things in decreasing size placed one inside another for his birthday:

That’s a nice gift, whoever gave him that definitely took a lot of time and effort to create those. Makes a change from the usual birthday gifts we tend to receive nowadays.

[f1paul]

The return of the borefest
Last years race was The borefest strikes back.

You're full of optimism aren't you!

 

[Blackoutjulian]

You're full of optimism aren't you!

So much that i need to share it with you guys 😉

[Lights]

I like the 2 hours earlier start time. It offers some more time to wind down after the race.

 

A lot of useless talk about teamorders at Mercedes. After seeing what happened to Ferrari at Monza, let's perhaps not discuss that prematurely. I doubt the order will be BOT HAM VET after T1. 

Edited by Lights, 30 September 2018 - 08:25.

[f1paul]

 

[f1paul]

I like the 2 hours earlier start time. It offers some more time to wind down after the race.

 

A lot of useless talk about teamorders at Mercedes. After seeing what happened to Ferrari at Monza, let's perhaps not discuss that prematurely. I doubt the order will be BOT HAM VET after T1. 

 

But what about T2?

 

 

Edit: Not the first person who I've been a (insert your favourite word that's stronger than idiot) to.

 

Edited by f1paul, 30 September 2018 - 08:27.

[Lights]

But what about T2?

 

 

Edit: Not the first person who I've been a (insert your favourite word that's stronger than idiot) to.

 

Ha, yeah you got me there.

 

But my point is more, I expect nothing but a 3-wide run into T1. The tow is so strong here.

[Blackoutjulian]

Anybody want some rain forecasts ? 😉

[LH44Fan]

Wasn’t last year the one where Vettel was chasing down Bottas in the closing laps? I thought that was quite exciting.

 

Indeed it was, but it's popular to bash (and be bored) and so we all need to tow the line - you don't need 1,000,000 overtaking moves for a race to be exciting, tension and nerves (even around pit strategy) can also make a race interesting for me...

 

Fingers crossed though it's better than Singapore as the field spread there for me didn't lead to any tension, hope we get that here today - i've a feeling Herr Vettel will be out to make a point today and i'm interested to see what that is 

[jonpollak]

 

Where's the girl with he the chicken?

[RECKLESS]

Anybody want some rain forecasts ? 😉

Well it looks like it could rain during this F2 race.

[Danyy]

Anybody want some rain forecasts ? 😉

No worries I gotchu here’s some nice rain forecasts..

Edited by Danyy, 30 September 2018 - 08:51.

[Blackoutjulian]

No worries I gotchu here’s some nice rain forecasts..

That weather news is probably the most watched "show" on that channel 😅

[LH44Fan]

Where's the girl with he the chicken?

 

Apparently it's National Chicken Day today at Hooters, is this what you meant?

 

[RECKLESS]

Raining now!

[superdelphinus]

A nice bit of rain like the f2 race would make things fun

[Laster]

Last year was the worst race of the year in my opinion. It was so bad the official highlights were 7 videos of the start, one of Bottas locking up, and 1 of Massa being lapped by Vettel. It was dreadful with I think at most one pass. The only saving grace I see todays race is Verstappen and Ricciardo starting at the back with their grid penalties. If it wasn’t for that I have my doubts we would see any action at all, despite Sky’s claims “Unlike Singapore they can overtake here.” Leading me to wonder if they even remember last year or any year at this track.

[uraharakisuke]

I'm seeing a 40% chance of rain.

[Vesuvius]

Other thing that will make things interesting is that Bottas and Hamilton will start from the side that has new tarmac, Vettel has old tarmac under his rear tyres and Kimi has completely old tarmac under him. Who will benefit more from this?
Normally new tarmac has a bit more grip, depending on what material it's made from, but when it rains or has rained new tarmac is more slippery.

Situation is really unfair I think.

Source :https://www.autospor...t-of-grid-wrong

Edited by Vesuvius, 30 September 2018 - 09:12.

[statman]

seems like the starting grid has changed again, revised version:

 

[w1Y]

Prediction.

Seb to take 1 merc at the start and undercut the other.

Race to start slow, bunched up and then whoever is leading to start stretching their lega to try and avoid the undercut.

Even if seb is p3 after the first lap I reckong he will force merc into pitting bottas first to avoid the undercut and merc will leave lewis out too long. A lot of strategic options open today depending on pace and tyre related performance.

Lewis will probably dnf today aswell.

[w1Y]

Other thing that will make things interesting is that Bottas and Hamilton will start from the side that has new tarmac, Vettel has old tarmac under his rear tyres and Kimi has completely old tarmac under him. Who will benefit more from this?
Normally new tarmac has a bit more grip, depending on what material it's made from, but when it rains or has rained new tarmac is more slippery.

Situation is really unfair I think.

Source :https://www.autospor...t-of-grid-wrong

Huh? Lewis and Bottas are on opposite sides

Edit: Just read link.

Doesnt new surfaces have oil which m leaks out of it?

Edited by w1Y, 30 September 2018 - 09:30.

[Vesuvius]

Huh? Lewis and Bottas are on opposite sides

Edit: Just read link.

Doesnt new surfaces have oil which m leaks out of it?

Yes they are oily, more so now if it rains or has rained.

[prty]

Tony Cuquerella on Spanish TV on the new grid asphalt: he has data from F2 and the new asphalt is a bit grippier. 0 to 100km/h for the first car was 3,22 seconds, and for the 6th car it was 3,44 seconds. Also, the 6th car stopped spinning the wheels as soon as it got into the new asphalt, which helped.

[Vesuvius]

Tony Cuquerella on Spanish TV on the new grid asphalt: he has data from F2 and the new asphalt is a bit grippier. 0 to 100km/h for the first car was 3,22 seconds, and for the 6th car it was 3,44 seconds. Also, the 6th car stopped spinning the wheels as soon as it got into the new asphalt, which helped.

Thanks. Lets see if weather brings any chances to this.

[w1Y]

Ive just put money on lewis being 3rd or lower after lap 1.

Despite the asphalt id rather be on the clean side.

Fully expect seb to take risks at the start as he needs to so will depend how mercs get off the line and how strategise into the first corner.

Bottas typically brakes really early which may really put seb or lewis into play, let alone kimi, who right now probably doesnt give a **** about any 3 of them

[Nonesuch]

Bottas and Hamilton will start from the side that has new tarmac, Vettel has old tarmac under his rear tyres and Kimi has completely old tarmac under him.

 

Wait, what? Another bang up job by the FIA approving such a situation.

 

Granted, it probably doesn't make a huge, or even meaningful, difference - but this is the stuff that you just want to avoid on the grid.

[w1Y]

Was the asphalt done before the weekend? Then ot feels a bit late to moan about it. Plus who knows how these cars will react with it.

The only thing that rivals a race start in tension is a penalty shoot out imo

Edited by w1Y, 30 September 2018 - 09:43.

[Vesuvius]

I think there will be a collission in first lap between some of the drivers in top 4.

[pdac]

Looking forward to watching Gasly keeping Verstappen behind him.

[Vesuvius]

Was the asphalt done before the weekend? Then ot feels a bit late to moan about it. Plus who knows how these cars will react with it.

The only thing that rivals a race start in tension is a penalty shoot out imo

I think it was done just before.

[Vesuvius]

Bottas just said he is allowed to win, if he leads after the start.

[LH44Fan]

Bottas just said he is allowed to win, if he leads after the start.

 

As it should be 

[GrumpyYoungMan]

I think there will be a collission in first lap between some of the drivers in top 4.

Hamilton and Vettel - caused by a Vettel mistake - again!

Edited by GrumpyYoungMan, 30 September 2018 - 10:07.

[GrumpyYoungMan]

Bottas just said he is allowed to win, if he leads after the start.

But he would say that!

[Lights]

The tow the Ferrari's will get beats any minimal difference in launch tarmac grip.