Webber edges Hamilton in final practice

29 comments on “Webber edges Hamilton in final practice”

1. 

   Eggry (@eggry)
   28th July 2012, 11:09

   Hmm…hard call. Hamilton is still my favorite for the pole but it’s so tight. Vettel and Alonso looks a little bit uncomfortable in FP3. Mercedes seems very serious. in bad way. I expect another exciting qualifying.
   1. 

      Eggry (@eggry)
      28th July 2012, 11:18

      also I’m not sure why Ferrari did least laps…hmm.
      1. 

         F1 Lunatic (@f1lunatic)
         28th July 2012, 11:31

         They seem to have gotten their balance spot on, at least Alonso’s. Wouldnt have wanted a stray accident or a puncture to ruin their setup, i guess!
2. 

   Max Jacobson (@vettel1)
   28th July 2012, 11:10

   This looks like it’s going to be a close qualifying between Mclaren & Red Bull!
3. 

   electrolite (@electrolite)
   28th July 2012, 11:15

   I think we can assume that Senna could be one to watch this weekend being that high for two of the practice sessions. And I would hope that Mercedes are trying to sort out their race pace. They need to.
   1. 

      Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
      28th July 2012, 11:17

      I think we can assume that Senna could be one to watch this weekend being that high for two of the practice sessions.

      Based on his performances throughout the year, I think Senna is one for the drivers to watch out for as well – because he’s probably going to last all of two corners before losing his front wing.

      Two fast times in practice do not suddenly make him worthy of the seat.
      1. 

         F1 Lunatic (@f1lunatic)
         28th July 2012, 12:05

         because he’s probably going to last all of two corners before losing his front wing.

         It has sort of become a race to see who loses his front wing on the first few corners, with lead contenders being Grosjean, Senna, Maldonado, etc.
   2. 

      F1 Lunatic (@f1lunatic)
      28th July 2012, 11:19

      the merc did not look any ‘heavier’ than the other cars, specially when running on softs. I doubt the merc were sandbagging, they seem to have a BIIIG problem with track temp more than 30-35 degrees!

      If anything, dont put ut stakes on Merc-in-Q2! ;-)
4. 

   runforitscooby (@runforitscooby)
   28th July 2012, 11:15

   Red Bull is thanking the FIA for fixing their engine mapping as we speak.
5. 

   F1 Lunatic (@f1lunatic)
   28th July 2012, 11:16

   The track temp dropped 3-4 deg towards the end, as hamilton and raikkonen started their soft lap venture. Surely, both would have ‘usurped’ the RBs.

   The RBs are clearly much quicker on softs than on the prime, while macca and lotus seem almost equally good on both tyres, with a slightly better adv on the prime. Alonso’s ferrari too looked pretty much balanced on both tyres. So, it might be a tug b/w RB and Macca for pole, with Ferrari and Lotus being the podium contenders in the race, mainly because the former is faster than RB on prime, and latter better tyrewear than the Mclaren!

   If track temp>40deg, and qualy<7, then Kimi for the win surely!
6. 

   Simon (@simon999)
   28th July 2012, 11:16

   Unless the Mclaren doesn’t go too well on the soft tyres, it looks as though HAM has a lot of pace still up his sleeve. His run on medium tyres only a couple of tenths off WEB’s best on softs, whereas his own lap on softs was a bit scruffy.
7. 

   Overwatch (@overwatch)
   28th July 2012, 11:18

   Whoa Mercedes…Going from fastest car in Monaco to almost a backmarker in Hungary, on supposedly quite similar tracks…That’s how it looks like when you let other teams out develop you and you are just fiddling with setup to get “more out of tyres”… They sure are getting more from the tyres quickly in the race, qualy was their saving grace… It will be sad but if they continue in this style, I can see them (especially the HQ) going in a way of Toyota or BMW at the end of the season.
   1. 

      F1 Lunatic (@f1lunatic)
      28th July 2012, 11:24

      in many ways, i wish merc exit the game( as a constructor, not engine supplier ), with their tail between their legs, ASAP. And when they do that, we can have a team that could at least compete with williams, FI, sauber, without prejudice.

      This way, we can have THREE 4-way battles that can add to the excitement.
   2. 

      Eggry (@eggry)
      28th July 2012, 11:28

      I don’t think they would go at the end of this year but surely it’s possible in 2013 if they can’t recover the form.
   3. 

      bananarama (@bananarama)
      28th July 2012, 11:41

      A week ago Schumacher put the car on third on the grid (and with better strategy work he should have gone past the Saubers again at the end of the race, so that would have been 4th) and now they seem to struggle with high temperatures they are a backmarker?! I don’t see it. They really aren’t brilliant but variation in form this season comes mostly from tyres and less from development race to race.
      1. 

         F1 Lunatic (@f1lunatic)
         28th July 2012, 11:58

         WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT???

         Dont let the Mclaren/Ferrari/RB/Lotus engineers/management view your comment. RB has been spending millions on their new suspension since Canada, Ferrari even more on their updates like in valencia, Lotus the most innovative on their dual drs and suspension, mclaren on innumerable sidepods and other aero gimmicks.

         If anything, as @Overwatch has also commented, merc have simply seemed to ignored the development race, and fixated on tyres. come second half after summer break, and they would be racing with STRs, or have they already!!!
8. 

   Sean (@spaceman1861)
   28th July 2012, 11:23

   Got a good feeling about Webber :D
9. 

   F1 Lunatic (@f1lunatic)
   28th July 2012, 11:28

   Speaking of mercedes, Costa has not really been adding any value to the design right?

   I mean, he is more of a front wing/nose specialist, and there doesnt seem to be any great improvs in that area. too much time spent in the Byrne’s shadows at ferrari? Looks more like a yes-sir man for Ross Brawn.
   1. 

      Eggry (@eggry)
      28th July 2012, 11:33

      Now I’m sure most people would agree with that Pat Fry is the right choice.
10. 

    sandy (@sandy)
    28th July 2012, 11:36

    Hamilton on pole for me . Superb lap on the medium tyres and definitely more pace to come from the softs.
    1. 

       F1 Lunatic (@f1lunatic)
       28th July 2012, 12:03

       oversteer issue on hammy’s car. That, and their relative poor tyre management, means a flash in the pan for poor hamilton, unless safety car happens. Pole surely, 3+ in race!a fry in the pan
11. 

    PeteF12012
    28th July 2012, 12:01

    Mercedes told sky germany that they were running over half tanks & concentrating on race setup/tyre wear rather than low fuel lap time.

    both drivers are happy with race setup & the team are happy with there race pace & tyre wear.
    1. 

       Overwatch (@overwatch)
       28th July 2012, 12:13

       Oh that changes things, thanks…
12. 

    JCost (@jcost)
    28th July 2012, 12:01

    @keithcollantine we need a tyres column.
    1. 

       AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
       28th July 2012, 12:19

       @jcost Kinda pointless without fuel data though.
       1. 

          JCost (@jcost)
          28th July 2012, 12:21

          @andrewtanner, the more info the better, if we could add a fuel load column… :)
          1. 

             AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
             28th July 2012, 12:23

             @jcost But we’re not privy to that data and even if we were, qualifying is a whole other beast :D
             1. 

                JCost (@jcost)
                28th July 2012, 12:31

                yes, we can’t get that. Actually the asymmetric information environment of FP is part of the game, ins’t it?
13. 

    Anita Gomez
    28th July 2012, 15:27

    Just wanna c Lewis have fair crack of the whip he seems not to get that too many tech and pit crew probs. He is the best driver out there by far.

Comments are closed.