Given the importance of quali position in Monaco the timing of Perez's crash couldn't have been much more significant. On the other hand, with more pit stops than ever the quali order might not have the traditional effect. By the way, Perez wasn't seriously injured; concussion and a sprained thigh. Hamilton's quali time was deleted as punishment for cutting the chicane on his single Q3 hot lap. He'll start 9th ahead of Perez...that is, if Perez starts.
Sorry about the confusion on Big Mac, I thought it was a common term in the lexicon.... Even so, Vettel cracked off a 1/2 second faster lap than anyone else, I really doubt anyone except possibly Webba could have gotten close. It's amazing to me that he consistantly can do that when he needs to. I think he could have beaten Webber for pole the last race if he'd been given a chance........
I'll second that. Of course some of the drivers are saying quali is becoming irrelevant. That's just exaggeration to make a point in front of the press though in an attempt I suspect to shrug off criticism after a less than stellar qualifying performance. Quali isn't irrelevant but it's less important than it was in the past to go back out to try to move up just one or two positions. My guess is that's the logic that kept Vettel from going back out to jump Webber for pole in Spain. ----------------- By the way, Perez will not race tomorrow. ----------------- edit: ... but the HRTs will be on track even though neither car ran a lap.
Wow what a great Grand Prix of Monaco!!! Three cars battling it out for the win all close together at the end, passing even at Monaco!! Maybe even with all my doubts, the new rules are making for better racing even if Vettel seems unbeatable .... but the others are getting closer and maybe, just maybe Bernie and bunch could/would leave this set of rules in place for more than one season, the rest could catch up too.... PS: Got to give a big hats off to Hamilton for showing us driver want a be's exactly how not to drive....
Yeah, what was up with the Hamster today? Did he think he was playing pinball or something? Crikeys! One of my friends said he hit everything today but the Lottery! GREAT race, and it was definitely going to be a scorcher to the end, I read that Alonso said he was prepared to do a Banzai "do or die" move to win today, and who knows?...... Button could have inherited the race lead if Alonso took out Vettel. One thing's for sure, Vettel got more life out of his tires than anyone else.....far more than he was supposed to be able to do. The rules certainly have evolved this year - 2 hour time limit? Nope, not today... Work on the cars under red flag conditions? Sure, why not... New tires when parked in ferme, eh....Ok by me..... Next year it will be all different, I'll bet.... So, six races into the season and it's Vettel's championship to lose in my book. Anyone think that any other driver can overtake him for the WDC? if so, who's your money on? Normally I'd say Alonso, but I'm not sure the Ferrari is up to the task, and while the Hamster and Button both have a shot - Hammy is very inconsistant this year, and while Jens is the opposite, I wonder if he can get far enough up to speed to catch and pass Vettel's points lead at this time?
I get the feeling some of that is down to the read mist that's been growing on his visor, race by race, as Vettel pulls ever further away in the points. Penalised Hamilton: Steward decisions an absolute joke (gpupdate.net)
Apparently his ego is so bruised that he can't even see the reality in a replay... .....after that and his comments above, he gets no respect from me anymore (not that it matters). Shame too, he is a very talented driver.
If it hadn't been Monaco (and they hadn't changed tires under the red flag) it's unlikely Vettel would have held on...might have even been last on the podium. (this is most of the article, read the rest here if you like). Relieved Red Bull admits tyre blunder led to victory (crash.net)
Couple of questions when they speak about sector times, are all tracks divided, and how? I understand DRS but they talk about kers (?) also, please explain. Hamilton is a whiner, no not a winner, a whiner. working on the cars under a red flag on the grid? interesting. thanks in advance boxcars
All the tracks are divided into 3 sectors. The length of each sector is different at each track depending on the length and flow of the track. KERS - The acronym KERS stands for Kinetic Energy Recovery System. The device recovers the kinetic energy that is present in the waste heat created by the car’s braking process. It stores that energy and converts it into power that can be called upon to boost acceleration. See FORMULA ONE - F1: Chinese GP Chalk Talk for a Steve Matchett Chalk Talk on KERS, it is from 2009 so there are some changes but the concept is the same.
Yup, each track is subdivided into 3 sectors, don't know how they decide on the sectors. Anyone? KERS = Kinetic Energy Recovery System. Think of the way a hybrid harvests energy under braking. The battery fills every lap and they can discharge an equivalent of around 80hp (I think) for 6 seconds (I think).
Same way they decide some of the rules? They look at what makes sense and then go the other way. :biggrin5:
I think one of the sector divisions is always the start/finish line but other than that... If you want to take a look at some of the sector divisions click here (for Monaco) and then use the drop-down to get to others. On those maps the sectors are distinguished by color (see the legend).
Speaking of DRS, here's a recent development that takes effect starting with Canada. (partial article, click the title to read the rest) Double DRS zone from Canadian GP (autosport.com)
Comparing the sector times allows a driver to see where he might be able to go a little quicker...for example if Vettel is a second faster in sector one compared to Alonso or the Hamster, they know there's time to be made there - if they can figure out how... Often the announcers say that someone has just gone purple in a sector, that means they're the fastest driver so far in that particular sector...
A double DRS activiation zone but with only a single detection zone!?! Nurse, turn up my morphine drip! I need to be sedated... This has got to be the most idiotic change in a season just full to the brim with idiotic changes! At first, the idea of two DRS zones sounded appealing, but only in the context of leading drivers being able to gain back position after being overtaken by a trailing driver using DRS... Fair's fair and all that... But this is ludicrous... Now, a leading driver has to fight twice as hard to keep the advantage he has obtained in position... Let's see how this might play out: Faster driver has slower driver on his butt at the DRS detection zone... Slower dirver activates DRS to "overtake" faster driver... Faster driver suffers the indignity of the contrived excitement of being passed, and then wait for it.. slower dirver gets to pull away into the sunset leaving faster driver in tears because he was unfortunate enough to be the faster driver... Wait. what? Changing rules mid-season is always annoying. This non-change of the rules is dumber than PAINT! _Dave_
Sure are using a wide brush to disdain paint, they do have some pretty smart self healing paints in the works. Unlike F1 management.
How can you find out what works if you never leave the rules alone long enough for all to adapt? Goobers.
F1 is following NASCAR's idea of rule changes. Let's start with a rule book. Throw rule book away when we can make some stupid rule to change everything that the teams have prepared for by using the 1st rule book. F1 is almost a SPEC CAR series now anyway. NASCAR sure is!