Lack of dry running leaves drivers in the dark

30 comments on “Lack of dry running leaves drivers in the dark”

1. 

   Atticus (@atticus-2)
   14th October 2011, 13:02

   Again, I think it’s going to be a busy P3.

   As for who will be able to get the most out of his DRS is likely to be determined by then, as the teams have to set up their final gear ratios by tonight, I believe.
   1. 

      BasCB (@bascb)
      14th October 2011, 21:04

      @atticus-2 now that is almost a certainty after the wet friday!

      Agree on choosing gear ratio’s being very important for how the race pans out on Sunday.
2. 

   Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
   14th October 2011, 13:05

   Today’s rain meant drivers had no meaningful running on the soft and super soft tyres.

   And that’s what makes it fun.
   1. 

      Dan Thorn (@dan-thorn)
      14th October 2011, 14:05

      Certainly. It’d be good if we had rain all day tomorrow as well and then a dry race.
      1. 

         US_Peter (@us_peter)
         14th October 2011, 22:20

         that would be fantastic, wet qualifying, dry race…
         1. 

            AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
            15th October 2011, 0:13

            @us_peter Said that myself earlier today, a mixed grid is wonderful but I prefer a straight-forward race.
         2. 

            damonsmedley (@damonsmedley)
            15th October 2011, 18:50

            When was the last time that happened? I mean, when was the last time it rained in every session but the race?
3. 

   icemangrins (@icemangrins)
   14th October 2011, 13:23

   Lewis Hamilton – second last in speed trap and yet beat the rest in lap times.
   1. 

      Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
      14th October 2011, 13:33

      But, as has been pointed out, the times aren’t really representative of anything since nobody got any dry-weather running in when clear conditions are predicted for the race of the weekend, and they don’t have data from 2010 to fall back on.
   2. 

      Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
      14th October 2011, 14:01

      so? how many times have we seen the Red Bulls slow on the speed trap, yet beating everyone to pole by miles?
      1. 

         US_Peter (@us_peter)
         14th October 2011, 22:22

         Or McLaren faster on Friday only to be beaten to pole by Vettel. Still… I get the impression that McLaren really might have a shot at pole tomorrow.
4. 

   Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
   14th October 2011, 13:38

   “The long straight from turn two to turn three means we have to have the right top gear to both attack cars ahead under the tow, and defend from those behind and make allowances for the wind which can change quickly here and affect outright pace.”

   I noticed that a lot today; I was using the Live Timing on Formula1.com to follow free practice, and from the weather data, I could see that the wind kept changing direction, and quite frequently to boot. Not only would the drivers have been buffeted by crosswinds down the three straights, but it would have flet like it was coming from all directions at once in the labyrinth final sector.
   1. 

      BasCB (@bascb)
      15th October 2011, 7:34

      That’s what sitting next to the ocean does for a track, I guess.
5. 

   verstappen (@verstappen)
   14th October 2011, 14:05

   I can’t imagine any other then Vettel for pole. McLaren shines on inters all year long, but when it’s dry it’ll be RedBull again.
   And since we still have constructors championship, I expect RB to go for it.
   Maybe after they’ve clinched that as well, they Will try some things for next year and compromise à bit.
   But untill then they Will continue their dominance. I know McLaren are close, but I think Suzuka is an exception because of that tarmac.
   1. 

      John H (@john-h)
      14th October 2011, 14:40

      I’m not so sure on this one. I’ve had a suspicion that Red Bull have stiffened up the front of the car since they pretty much won the WDC. I might be completely wrong of course, but that picture of the underside of Webber’s car at Monza with the front floor wear was certainly ‘interesting’.

      McLaren or Ferrari for pole I think… but as always… I’m usually wrong.
      1. 

         RumFRESH (@rumfresh)
         14th October 2011, 20:21

         I do hope you’re right though. I’m not one of those people that doubt Vettel’s overtaking ability but I’d definitely like to see it and I don’t think I will if he starts on the front row as usual.
6. 

   Victor. (@victor)
   14th October 2011, 15:04

   I’ve got a feeling Lewis will be fantastic this weekend. He just seems to make sense for the first time in ages without sounding too meek. It feels like he’s regained his confidence but has humbled down.

   I’m obviously just saying that on the basis of one Ted Kravitz interview, but he doesn’t seem downbeat anymore, responded to Felipe’s moaning without being full of himself and seems to have accepted Jenson’s current superiority and rather than being frustrated by it he is out to change that.

   Then again we might see him do something silly again, but some inner voice tells me Hamilton has had a good night’s sleep and has understood his limits.
   1. 

      Mike (@mike)
      15th October 2011, 4:51

      I really hope he has a good race, He deserves it I think given all the rubbish he gets to put up with.
7. 

   Rahim.RG (@rahim-rg)
   14th October 2011, 15:10

   You never know….Monsoons are over here in India…but it has been raining heavily here in south since few days….and i think it might be heading towards Delhi for the Race.. :)
   1. 

      S@Nguine
      14th October 2011, 16:14

      I’ve been in Greater Noida for the last 4 months,it hasn’t rained much here even when Delhi experienced heavy downpour.So the chances of having rain for Indian GP is almost nil and by Oct 28 the weather will be quite pleasant.
8. 

   Fixy (@)
   14th October 2011, 16:21

   Lack of dry running leaves drivers in the dark

   2010 repeat?
   1. 

      Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
      14th October 2011, 16:34

      @fixy

      Ah, very good!
      1. 

         Fixy (@)
         14th October 2011, 16:38

         @keithcollantine

         leaves drivers in the dark

         Last year this happened during the race, literally.
9. 

   Chris Yu Rhee (@chris-yu-rhee)
   14th October 2011, 16:49

   I’m glad next year’s race will be in March. At least it won’t be raining then. But if it stays cold it may snow… Hmmm
   Maybe they can talk to the WRC about borrowing snow tires…
10. 

    Eggry (@eggry)
    14th October 2011, 17:21

    I wish uncertainty would shuffle performace…
11. 

    OmarR-Pepper (@)
    14th October 2011, 18:16

    Why is FIA making the same mistakes? Last year’s race was delayed by the rain and then the track was so dark to drive safely. If that’s the thrill FIA plans, to make best races of the world drive blind?
    Times must be adjusted to the local area, not to the regular TV viewer confort. It’s great to have F1 in more countries, but if the problem is visibility, turn Korea into another night race with lots of bright ights
12. 

    Icthyes (@icthyes)
    14th October 2011, 19:11

    I would love if there actually were five pit-stops.

    The two compounds has done far less to mix up the strategies than I’d hoped they would. Everyone at the front tend to just use as many sets of options as they can and then deal with the primes. So if your car is better at managing the primes than others are at managing the softs, then that’s an advantage lost. It would be interesting to see how teams would cope having to use every set of tyre that have, even if only once a year.
    1. 

       US_Peter (@us_peter)
       14th October 2011, 22:27

       I hope so as well. It’d be really interesting to see them manage that many sets of tires.
    2. 

       BasCB (@bascb)
       15th October 2011, 7:36

       I agree with the both of you, it would be nice to see really different options working for one car then for the other.
13. 

    Kamui Fan (@kamui-fan)
    14th October 2011, 20:06

    GO KAMUI !!!

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