Vettel stays ahead as Ferrari close the gap

24 comments on “Vettel stays ahead as Ferrari close the gap”

1. 

   Garion Higgs (@gazz)
   24th August 2013, 11:10

   Ferrari and RBR in particular look ominously quick.
   Can anyone give me any reassurance that Mercedes are holding back?
   Or is there simply no hope?
   1. 

      Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
      24th August 2013, 11:15

      @gazz They’ve had the fastest car over a single lap in eight out of ten races so far. It would be quite a surprise if they’re suddenly off by six tenths of a second and slower than McLaren, Toro Rosso and Sauber.
      1. 

         Garion Higgs (@gazz)
         24th August 2013, 11:18

         Exactly what I thought!
         I have been watching F1 for years and just can’t figure out why they seem to have no pace.
         Every time I saw any kind of onboard, especially from Lewis, the car just looked all over the place.
         I hope they have something in reserve.
   2. 

      Shreyas Mohanty (@)
      24th August 2013, 11:17

      @gazz Merc were never pushing. Running some other schedules, maybe.
      1. 

         JackySteeg (@jackysteeg)
         24th August 2013, 11:23

         Yeah, I noticed that Merc were frequently downshifting through Eau Rouge. A car on the limit with low fuel can easily do that corner in 7th.
         1. 

            Shreyas Mohanty (@)
            24th August 2013, 11:29

            Yeah, even I wondered why! The fact that both drivers were doing so is even more mysterious.
2. 

   Shreyas Mohanty (@)
   24th August 2013, 11:16

   That looks like a nice table. Will be interesting to see if Ferrari have actually closed the gap to RBR and Merc in qualifying.
3. 

   Lucas Wilson (@full-throttle-f1)
   24th August 2013, 11:16

   Heres hoping. The whole of Mercedes title battle rests on this race. Don’t worry, I’ve told Grojean to take Vettel out on the 1st corner ;-)
   1. 

      Shreyas Mohanty (@)
      24th August 2013, 11:19

      He will need about $500,000 to do that. Wanna pool the costs members? :p
      1. 

         Max Jacobson (@vettel1)
         24th August 2013, 11:22

         I’ll pass @shreyasf1fan ;)
         1. 

            Shreyas Mohanty (@)
            24th August 2013, 11:25

            @vettel1 I guess I will too. I am saving up for a PS4.
      2. 

         Lucas Wilson (@full-throttle-f1)
         24th August 2013, 11:26

         @sheyasf1fan

         Yes, I’ll go look behind the sofa. Mind you, you could probably hit Neweys car with 1000 tonnes of TNT and it would survive AND handle better than before xD
         1. 

            Shreyas Mohanty (@)
            24th August 2013, 11:30

            @full-throttle-f1 That seems like a bit of an exaggeration, my friend. xD ;)
            1. 

               Lucas Wilson (@full-throttle-f1)
               24th August 2013, 11:32

               @shreyasf1fan

               ok, 995 tonnes is more realistic :-)
4. 

   JackySteeg (@jackysteeg)
   24th August 2013, 11:25

   I was astonished just how close the field was today. At one point I saw the top 18 (namely all cars except Caterham and Marussia) were seperated by .9 of a second. Considering it’s the longest track of the year, that’s quite extraordinary.
   1. 

      Lucas Wilson (@full-throttle-f1)
      24th August 2013, 11:27

      @jackysteeg

      In the words of Pf Brian Cox “Its Amazin'”
   2. 

      panache (@panache)
      24th August 2013, 11:44

      I noticed that and thought the same. When it’s that closely matched car setup and driver performance are surely more significant.
   3. 

      erix
      24th August 2013, 12:48

      Thats why we called it = drivers circuit.
5. 

   Max Jacobson (@vettel1)
   24th August 2013, 11:46

   I’m just interested now to see just how much Mercedes have been holding in reserve. Red Bull didn’t improve massively today which could also suggest they were holding back slightly, so maybe we’ve got a good qualifying battle on our hands (although now I’ve said that inevitably Mercedes will cruise to an easy pole).
   1. 

      Lucas Wilson (@full-throttle-f1)
      24th August 2013, 11:48

      Looking forward. Go Lewis!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
   2. 

      iFelix (@ifelix)
      24th August 2013, 12:51

      I think Merc was definitely holding back, but Red Bull also traditionally sand bags a bit in practice. My money would still be on Merc for pole. But if Kimi is in top 3 I will be a happy bunny :)
      1. 

         iFelix (@ifelix)
         24th August 2013, 14:17

         I was right about Merc. I don’t foresee a repeat of Hungary for Hamilton
         1. 

            john
            24th August 2013, 14:26

            hamilton is incredible
6. 

   karter22 (@karter22)
   24th August 2013, 15:32

   Well, this was a very good sign! Ferrari seem to have made a significant step forward! It just sucks they had a terrible qualy. I think they have their work cut out for them!

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