It's been a while so I don't think spoiler warnings matter, but consider that your notice if you don't want any news yet... Couple post-race surprises: Sauber disqualified! Inspectors found a technical problem with the top of their rear wing so both drivers were disqualified, points taken away. They're appealing of course. Sauber are certainly giving the impression that they can't figure out why their wings break the rules. The other surprise is Horner explaining that they decided to not run KERS at all. They had a little trouble with it on Friday and took it off the cars. I'm still wondering whether they had a problem with Hamilton's McLaren given the floor damage. I suppose heavy wear on the legality plank gets a pass since it was due to accidental damage. I think what Matchette was implying though is that without the broken/missing vertical support the floor looked like it might be flexible (rather than just broken) and officials might want to have a look at it since that's verboten.
Even with the "negative aero" on the Hamster's car, it didn't seem to slow him down much, Petrov didn't seem to make much of a dent in his lead over the last 20 laps or so. Button's move was indefensible.... Does Massa really have a shot this year? seems like the fire has gone out to me.... Some of the new guys showed real promise, Perez and DiResta for sure!
Even though Vettel reduced it to a race for second place early; it twas a breath of fresh air to see Petrov on the podium!! ......and to Webber not understanding why Vettel's car was so much faster than his, I would suggest he take a long examination in the mirror.
Wonder how many lackluster races Massa will get before Perez moves into his seat? What WAS up with Webbo? What was the story with him and not taking a cool down lap?
Yep, despite what Montezemolo, etc, have said his seat has to be in danger. Button must wish he'd been replaced already. After the race Button said "he was so slow, and he is the most difficult person to overtake." Near the end Vettel wasn't far from lapping Massa. That was strange. I thought it was illegal too unless there's something wrong. Or maybe it's just illegal to go back down the lane the wrong way, he just parked it there. Still, I've looked around and haven't read any explanation.
In regards to Buttons drive-thru....did anyone catch Vettel doing the same thing to Button on lap 16? Vettel pushed his way past and proceeded to completely leave the driving surface, but no penalty. This illustrates my biggest complaint about F1 right now.......inconsistent rules applications. Red Bull has said that the KERS system was on Vettels car and was functional, but was told only to use it at the start if needed. Well he didn't need it now did he LOL.
LOL...yea how bad do you think that's messing with every other teams collective heads... Redbulls kicking our butts and they have a bullet in the gun they haven't even used.... :-0
Huh? F1.com says they had trouble with it on Friday and removed it for the race.... Yet, SeaBass says it was in there, they just didn't use it. I think I believe SeaBass.... I did not see Vettle use the same lane that Button did when he passed him, wonder how I missed that?
I did see that but I don't think Vettel and Button were the only drivers to "leave the track limits" at one point or another during the race. I don't think the stewards will enforce that rule often, only when it seems like there was something gained or some danger existed or someone's doing it repeatedly. My guess is the "leaving the track limits" penalty was just what Herbert decided to apply because of Button's questionable (?) gain of position over Massa as he did it. Massa pitted shortly after and the rules apparently say if that happens the replacement for letting him past is a drive-thru, so the penalty was the same but this way Herbert doesn't have to argue with anyone about whether Button was ahead of Massa (as he claims) before he cut the corner. Of course though Vettel was clearly already ahead of Button when he crossed the line, the only reason he crossed was because of the overzealous move required to make the pass...so maybe there wasn't much difference between them after all.....
You may be right. I remember last year Horner was caught out a couple times giving different reporters different answers to the same question, so it's hard to say what's really going on. It was a different corner but all 4 wheels crossed the line.
Granted others did take some rather "unique" racing lines, but those were mostly running wide and going over more of the curbing. Whereas Vettel clearly took a very wide FASTER line thru that turn after passing Button. The only way he was going to get by Button at that corner was to take that corner at a faster speed thus causing him to run so wide as to be completely off the racing surface. If he had be at a speed that would have allowed him to make the corner legally, there was no way for him to get past Button. Now when Button made his move against Massa he was at best alongside Massa, not ahead of him. But he could have forced his position on Massa and therefore probably caused an accident. This is something that you see a lot of in F1 racing. What really bugs me the most of all about all of this is that the rules allow someone to come into a corner on the inside side by side the other car (no forward advantage) and then the driver is allowed to push the car on the outside off the track or make him slow down enough to allow the car on the inside to get past. If a car is on the inside he should be req'd to maintain the inside line thru the corner allowing the car on the outside to stay on the racing surface. The car on the inside should be req'd to have position (wheel ahead of the other cars wheel) on the other car before being allowed to move to the outside of the track. Just because you have been able to get alongside a car, this does not mean you get to force him off track. You have to gain position on him. In every form a racing I have ever been involved with, that is the rule. You cannot force a car off track and gain position.
:yesnod: I imagine they're just as confused about how Perez got away with a single pit stop and made it 35 laps on his soft tires! Button has the reputation for being kind to tires...maybe there's a new king?
The KERS system was disabled on Webber car as he had problems with it on Fri. Vettel was told to only use it at the start of the race if needed. Well he ended up not needing it.....LOL
Tires There were 42 pit stops for tire changes during the race. The first was on lap 11 and the last on lap 48. That's 42 stops for tires in 38 laps which is a lot, but it's still less than predicted. This is partly due to Maldonado never getting the chance to stop and 3 drivers only pitting once before dropping out, but even taking those guys out it's still less stops than predicted per car. A number of drivers and others commented on how they expected more tire degradation and they couldn't figure out what happened. Trulli was especially critical. I know, he drives a Lotus and finished 2 laps down so he needs every excuse he can get, right? Ok, that's where the few exaggerated lines come from but there may be some quite valid roots to some of this: Trulli 'shocked' by Pirellis' behaviour (autosport.com) And that's no where near the whole story on tires. I assume we all heard the Buxton's claim that even Pirelli are concerned about the tires not laying down rubber properly on the track. If Pirelli tweaks things to change this the other characteristics will change again as well. Makes things difficult for the teams who set their cars up for the next race based in no small part on their understanding of the tires gained from observation of previous performance. It was a lot of stops though. Delete the 4 drivers who dropped out early on and it comes to 38 tire stops in 38 laps. I agree with those who predicted a bit of confusion for spectators. There were quite a few times when I couldn't figure out who was where and why, and I had the on-screen info to help. I can't imagine being able to keep up with the order while watching from the stands.
Speaking of watching, my dog Noel was excited by the start of the F1 season too! 1st pic she's sitting on the couch next to me, second pic she's up for a closer look!
Oh, since I DVR'd the F1 race, that must have been the Indy race.... She also watches the Puppy Bowl during Superbowl halftime......
Yep, I saw her looking at a red car and was about to call her out as a Ferrari fan (a Tifosi). Then I thought "wait a minute, that doesn't look like a Ferrari..." so I looked a little closer and I think it's one of Ganassi's cars.