Alonso ahead but wary of McLaren’s dry-weather pace

42 comments on “Alonso ahead but wary of McLaren’s dry-weather pace”

1. 

   Postreader
   21st July 2012, 20:14

   McLaren and specially Lotus looking mighty strong for the race. While I think Alonso is going to win, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Button and Räikkönen up there….
   1. 

      F1Rollout (@f1rollout)
      21st July 2012, 20:27

      If the pace Raikkonen showed in Q1 is for real and isnt a fluke. He can certainly win this one. He is in a better position than he was in Bahrain at the start of the race. Other than that Hockenheim is more overtaking friendly than Bahrain.
      1. 

         sorin (@)
         22nd July 2012, 0:10

         I don’t think Hockenheim is better for overtaking than Bahrain. Bahrain has a loong straigth line (start/finish line) plus another two straight lines, smaller, but good for overtaking. Hockenheim has one “straight” line, where is hard to overtake somebody if he will take the interior…
         1. 

            Lord Stig (@lord-stig)
            22nd July 2012, 2:47

            They added the DRS zone into the hairpin so that should makes things easier.

            As others have said if the Q1 pace of Raikkonen is legitimate he could win the race. His lap was fast than others attempting to do the same on the soft tires. If it rains he is probably going to go backward, his pace in Q3 was shockingly bad.
   2. 

      MylesW (@mpw1985)
      21st July 2012, 22:54

      What, exactly, makes you think Button will be up there instead of Hamilton? Honestly just curious, as he’s pretty much been embarassingly slower than Lewis all season.
      1. 

         Postreader
         22nd July 2012, 0:41

         Nothing, really. I preferred to mention a single McLaren name and chose the one on the higher grid position. Some people are really touchy aren’t they….

         Anyways Räikkönen mentioned he would get the pole “rather easily” if it wasn’t for the rain, and Lotus mentioned on Twitter they expect, so to speak, Räikönnen to be on the podium. They are quite confident, so yeah, maybe they’re that good.
         1. 

            BasCB (@bascb)
            22nd July 2012, 11:05

            I really do hope they make up on that promise, could be another smasher of a race then.
      2. 

         panache (@panache)
         22nd July 2012, 2:35

         To say Button has been “embarassingly slower” than Hamilton all season is a gross overstatement.

         Australia: Button was much faster and won the race convincingly.
         Malaysia: Button was at least matched with Hamilton on pace and ahead of him after the first pit stop until he shunted Karthikeyan and took his front wing off.
         China: Faster and finished ahead of Hamilton again
         Bahrain: Slightly slower, lost out badly during the first lap of the race after qualifying right behind Hamilton and was eventually forced to retire with a broken exhaust.

         After this Button had by far his worst run of form this season and also his worst form in the last 4 years at least:

         Barcelona: Qualified 11th after being fastest in P2 whilst Hamilton qualified on pole then got relegated to last place for being underfuelled. Finished behind Hamilton despite starting 14 places ahead in the race.

         Monaco: Qualified a lowly 13th after being fastest in P2 again whilst Hamilton qualified in P4. Finished in 16th after getting crowded out at turn 1 and stuck behind Kovalainen for his entire race.

         Canada: Qualified 10th to Hamilton’s 2nd place after being way slower than Hamilton in all practice sessions. No pace in the race and massive tyre degradation, eventually finishing over a lap down to race winner Hamilton. It’s safe to say that Button was actually embarassingly slower than Hamilton at this race.

         Europe and Silverstone: A return to some semblance of form for Button. Faster than Hamilton in all three practice sessions at Valencia but flopped in Qualifying where it counts. Unlucky safety car timing during the race heavily compromised his strategy.

         Unlucky to be faced with yellow flags in the final sector of his last lap in qualifying at Silverstone where he was ~2s up on previous best after pitting for a new set of inters and set to go fastest in Q1 after struggling with tyre warmup earlier in the session. Slowed down a lot for yellows and didn’t make it through to Q2. Hamilton qualified 8th. Both drivers struggled for pace in the race and finished 8th (HAM) and 10th (BUT).
2. 

   michaeldobson13 (@michaeldobson13)
   21st July 2012, 20:25

   Only 8 of the 24 drivers are going to be starting where they qualified, due to all the grid penalties.
   (Alonso, Vettel, Di Resta, Raikkonen, Ricciardo, Glock De La Rosa, Karthikeyan)
   1. 

      @HoHum (@hohum)
      21st July 2012, 23:14

      @michaeldobson13, I think Glock & Karthikeyan will still start where they qualified, but we get your point.
   2. 

      BasCB (@bascb)
      22nd July 2012, 11:07

      Well, if the Red Bulls do run into trouble for their fishy engine mapping, that would leave just Alonso starting where he qualified!
3. 

   David BR2
   21st July 2012, 20:39

   Seems a long time since Hamilton made a blistering start. Might be a good moment to remember how.
   1. 

      Younger Hamii (@younger-hamii)
      21st July 2012, 20:55

      Hamilton is not necessarily ‘great’ at starts but nor is he a bad starter, average & clean at best, I still expect to make up a few positions at the start though.
      1. 

         MethylONE (@methylone)
         21st July 2012, 22:14

         Kind of stinks that he has Button in front, might make him less aggressive.
   2. 

      Tom (@newdecade)
      21st July 2012, 22:20

      Mclarens seem to have been exceptionally poor off the line for a few years now, maybe an inability to cope with max fuel loads or getting heat into the tyres instantaneously. Red bull in particular have eviscerated them at most starts in recent times. Ferrari too, although their grid positions have been much less frequently optimal. I have come to dread race starts these days…
      1. 

         Kingshark (@kingshark)
         22nd July 2012, 3:00

         Hamilton has Maldonado right in front of him. The first lap will end in tears. Called it.
         1. 

            Timothy Katz (@timothykatz)
            22nd July 2012, 9:22

            No. Maldonado to play skittles with SCH and HUL in fron to him, possibly VET too. ALO will cruise away from the disaster zone wondering where everyone else has gone. BUT in second place, HAM in third. The first lap will end in laughter. Called it.

            Anyway, congratulations to Wiggo, in another wheeled sport.
         2. 

            BOSS (@boss)
            22nd July 2012, 10:22

            would not have been the case if he had been allowed to do the same as button did – to pit for fresh wet tyre. could have jumped a few places forward but sam michael chose button as the benchmark instead to counter alonso’s pace when he can’t even beat maldonado’s time. if lewis car had been fitted as button’s he could have easily been up there amongst the top 4 the least..crap!
            1. 

               bag0 (@bag0)
               22nd July 2012, 11:21

               @boss
               Actually Hamilton had the same option, I dont know if he got new tyres, but he just abandoned his last lap. And another thing, the drivers have different race crews, and I dont think it is up to SM or MW to decide those things, so you can hardly blame anyone else but Hamiltons crew for not doing the same as Button, but only if they didnt do the same.
      2. 

         BOSS (@boss)
         23rd July 2012, 8:11

         ok
4. 

   romeo
   21st July 2012, 20:44

   a dry race for tomorrow is not a 100% given, most of the teams were sure about a wet race for silverstone.
   anything can happen tomorrow either on a wet or dry track. it is not easy to defend from the front but it is also not easy to come from back to fight for podium.
5. 

   JB (@)
   21st July 2012, 20:45

   Can´t wait till tomorrow… It´s going to be a heck of a race!!! I just hope Ferrari gets the strategy right this time!
   1. 

      infy (@infy)
      21st July 2012, 21:50

      As much as I want Alonso to win, he never seems hang onto the lead when he starts from pole. I’d have preferred him in second and taken Vettel into the first corner.
      1. 

         sagar atgamkar (@sagaratgamkar)
         22nd July 2012, 10:10

         thats right , thats cause the ferrari lacks pace compared to the other cars.
6. 

   Steph (@)
   21st July 2012, 21:14

   . The great thing at Hockenheim is the great big DRS zone along the back straight

   *groans* Actually the great thing about this track was that it’s a cracking circuit and usually delivers overtaking anyway.
   1. 

      cduk_mugello (@cduk_mugello)
      22nd July 2012, 1:16

      @steph

      Too right! Hockenheim would be a great track to see how a DRS-free race would work out.
      1. 

         Aussie Fan
         22nd July 2012, 6:01

         +2 KERS & its strategic use around the lap is more than enough of an overtaking aid, if we even need them at all…
7. 

   Chris (@tophercheese21)
   22nd July 2012, 2:10

   GO HAMILTON!
   1. 

      BOSS (@boss)
      22nd July 2012, 10:23

      yeah go hamilton go
8. 

   Eggry (@eggry)
   22nd July 2012, 6:04

   It’s interesting Ferrari find some top speed in qualifying compared to practices.
9. 

   Eggry (@eggry)
   22nd July 2012, 9:47

   http://thef1times.com/news/display/06465

   Hmm…bad news for Red Bull.
   1. 

      Theoddkiwi (@theoddkiwi)
      22nd July 2012, 9:59

      If found guilty they will have to start from the pit line at the least as their engine mapping will have to be changed and contravine Parc Ferme
      1. 

         sagar atgamkar (@sagaratgamkar)
         22nd July 2012, 10:04

         what did they do wrong exactly?
         1. 

            runforitscooby (@runforitscooby)
            22nd July 2012, 10:08

            http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/101403
         2. 

            Eggry (@eggry)
            22nd July 2012, 10:11

            FIA technical delegate says, “Having examined the engine base torque map of car numbers 01 and 02 it became apparent that the maximum torque output of both engines is significantly less in the mid rpm range than previously seen at other events” and blah blah…

            or in a word “It seems they breached the regulations.”
         3. 

            Staffan Hansson
            22nd July 2012, 10:15

            Their engines gives to much tourqe in the mid-range RPM.
            1. 

               Theoddkiwi (@theoddkiwi)
               22nd July 2012, 10:19

               Not enough torque, suggesting that the engine revs are being used for somthing other than turning the wheels. Eg exhaust gasses providing and aerodynamic benefit.
      2. 

         Eggry (@eggry)
         22nd July 2012, 10:05

         in worst case they can be banned from this or a couple of races, I guess.
10. 

    Funkyf1 (@funkyf1)
    22nd July 2012, 10:08

    News just in RedBull under investigation for illegal engine mapping.
11. 

    IDR (@idr)
    22nd July 2012, 10:08

    McLaren has some chances with dry track… for sure!

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/idrs/7616337638/in/photostream/lightbox/
12. 

    runforitscooby (@runforitscooby)
    22nd July 2012, 10:22

    Can things just fall any more in place for Alonso this year???
13. 

    AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
    22nd July 2012, 11:29

    I’d expect Lotus on the podium as well, the DRS zone here looks very generous and it’s a fast enough car as it is.

    Can only see RBR beating Alonso in the pits, which is something they’re usually pretty good at.

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