Webber tops times but Alonso quickest in two sectors

28 comments on “Webber tops times but Alonso quickest in two sectors”

1. 

   Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
   24th June 2011, 11:37

   It’s FP1. Half a dozen drivers will have beaten Webber’s time by the end of FP2, and hlf as many again by the end of FP3.

   Bottom line: FP1 times don’t mean anything.
   1. 

      Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
      24th June 2011, 11:44

      Half a dozen drivers will have beaten Webber’s time by the end of FP2

      Well, obviously – that’s track evolution, Webber will improve his time too.
      1. 

         Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
         24th June 2011, 11:55

         I just find it funny when you turn on the Australian coverage and they’re talking about how Webber was fastest in FP1 and that this bodes well for him in the race – but when they show the times for all the practice sessions and qualifying, his FP1 time probably would have seen him qualify about fifteenth or sixteenth …
         1. 

            KateM (@katem)
            24th June 2011, 12:08

            But, as Keith said, Webber’s time will improve too. The track conditions were the same for everyone in that session. Even if FP1 doesn’t mean much, I think being at the front generally bodes better for the race than being at the back dos, unless you solely concentrate on heavy fuel.
            1. 

               Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
               24th June 2011, 13:20

               I’m well aware of that. I’m just pointing out that early Free Practice times don’t really mean much – but because the media present them as representative of actual pace, people tend to read too much into the times.
         2. 

            Alex Bkk
            24th June 2011, 12:13

            It’s not an problem exclusive to Australian TV. It’s just a general lack of knowledge across the general public as to how a track gets faster as a race weekend progress(ceteris paribus).

            Then when Q comes, it’s a bit like… huh?
         3. 

            Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
            24th June 2011, 12:53

            I just find it funny when you turn on the Australian coverage…

            I don’t care. I’m not Australia’s F1 broadcaster. If you have a problem with their coverage take it up with them, not here.
            1. 

               Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
               24th June 2011, 13:18

               You’re missing out on some quality idiocy. Makes you crave a James Allen-Jonathon Legard double-team in the commentary box.
            2. 

               unocv12
               24th June 2011, 14:41

               PM, saying ______ was fastest in the first and second practice sessions while _______ was fastest in __________ bodes well for their weekends’ DOES actually mean something.

               Just because they went outright faster later doesn’t mean anything. Because in relative performance terms they were the fastest then. And since everyone races at teh same time it is an interesting fact not a piece of useless numbers and hoopla.

               You said that it would be pointless because

               Half a dozen drivers will have beaten Webber’s time by the end of FP2

               Going by that logic Vettel’s times in Quali for the Abu Dhabi Gran Prix last year were pointless because other (much less experienced aswell) drivers beat his time during the rookie tests!!!!

               It didn’t mean Vettel’s times were useless, what it showed was that at the time that time was set Vettel was the fastest.

               Just as Webber was the fastest in FP1 compared to others who set their time with the same track conditions.

               You are the one who can’t see the logic.

               And yes I know no one is going flat out, but since everyone holds back a bit, it is a nice thing to have than not have and it’s better to be top of the list rather than bottom and it shows both car and driver SEEM to be pretty hooked up for the weekend and looks like a podium could well be on the cards.

               POINT!
         4. 

            Fixy (@)
            24th June 2011, 13:37

            It’s also funny in Italy they say “who cares” of Vettel’s 16th place as he was running updates, but then Alonso’s 3rd place is not boding well for the race…
2. 

   maxthecat
   24th June 2011, 11:41

   Be interesting to see if Red Bull’s pace is affected as much as it looks from the clamp down on engine maps. Button and Hamilton were slowest in the speed traps as they didn’t use DRS at all in FP1, considering that, they look very strong around here.
   1. 

      Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
      24th June 2011, 11:44

      I don’t think you can explain away Button’s and Hamilton’s times as being a result of an inoperable DRS.

      Likewise, I seriously doubt Vettel’s lap times are a byproduct of Red Bull being affected by engine map clampdowns.
      1. 

         Bigbadderboom (@bigbadderboom)
         24th June 2011, 12:45

         No but you can almost dismiss their times as a comparison, due to the focus of their test session investigating new aero parts. PM if you are so negative and dismissive of the relevance of practice then why do you watch it? Granted most people often read too much into early signs, but there can still be clues as to race pace especially when many are looking to see how new reg revisions are impacting individauals and teams.
         1. 

            Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
            24th June 2011, 12:52

            No but you can almost dismiss their times as a comparison, due to the focus of their test session investigating new aero parts.

            True, but I get the impression a lot of people deliberaely misinterpret the times to convince them of certain things – like McLaren being compeitive, or Vettel’s dominant streak benig over.
3. 

   BasCB (@bascb)
   24th June 2011, 11:43

   Hm, so we know everyone is working on improving their cars, but not too much is clear of how fast everyone really is.

   Classic friday running then. Shame the track is as boring and bland to look at.
   1. 

      Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
      24th June 2011, 11:46

      It’s a shame, because a few minor tweaks would make the circuit great. Iron out turns three and four so that they can be taken flat out, and extend the back straight so that there is only one hairpin instead of three.
4. 

   BerndMaylander (@berndmaylander)
   24th June 2011, 12:23

   There is something wrong with the chart, I think.

   It is showing Petrov quickest with no drivers completing more than 10 laps?
   1. 

      montreal95
      24th June 2011, 13:01

      The chart is correct. It shows only the LONGEST STINT comparison of all the drivers. No driver did a stint longer than 10 laps in FP1
      1. 

         BerndMaylander (@berndmaylander)
         24th June 2011, 13:06

         Danke, I understand now.
5. 

   King Six
   24th June 2011, 12:33

   Vettel pole
   1. 

      AG
      24th June 2011, 16:15

      A wise man once said, “we will see”
      1. 

         Alex Bkk (@alex-bkk)
         25th June 2011, 5:26

         What “we will see” is Vettel on pole ;)
6. 

   sato113
   24th June 2011, 12:37

   from this data it looks like Hamilton did use DRS in the speed trap.
7. 

   AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
   24th June 2011, 13:46

   Does anyone know why Alonso is losing so much time in secotr three? Or was it just traffic he got stuck behind? To go purple in two sectors but still only third in the standings (AND 0.5s behind Webber) is pretty dreadful and Alonso isn’t the kind of driver to make many mistakes…

   I know the F150 doesn’t have the aero grip that the RB7 does but I didn’t think it was so bad…
8. 

   Ben N
   24th June 2011, 14:04

   I think this race will actually be very enjoyable. The new rules certainly livened up the Spanish GP – which is not known for being exciting… I’m feeling optimistic for this race. Should be another thriller!

   Can Lewis make it 4 European GP second places in a row?!
9. 

   AG
   24th June 2011, 16:13

   I can’t help but wonder about how Button’s pace in the Canadian GP was clearly superior to RBR. Did McLaren perfect the off throttle diffuser for racing pace? If so, then the McLarens may have an advantage here before the complete ban in Silverstone. I am surprised that there hasn’t been more discussion about this fact. Both Button and Vettel were on tires of almost equal age, but McLaren did have an aero package for damp conditions ( so I remember the BBC announcers saying).

   So my big question is where did that ability to gain on Vettel at 1.5 seconds per lap come from?
   1. 

      kbdavies
      24th June 2011, 19:20

      @AG –

      This is because McLaren had set up their car for a wet race in quali, whilst RBR choose a setup that was between a wet/dry one – This is why both Macca’a qualified down the grid past their normal quali pace.

      McLaren were vilified for doing this as it did not make sense at the time(Saturday) to sacrifice grid position for a better setup on Sun. As it tuned out, Button’s pace shows they were justified.
10. 

    AG
    25th June 2011, 0:49

    Thanks for the clarification. It was hard to keep track of all the details when the coverage was spread out over five hours.

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