Why the weather may aid Mercedes again

29 comments on “Why the weather may aid Mercedes again”

1. 

   Julian (@julianwins)
   2nd July 2016, 20:49

   Wow that manor sure is quick in a straight line.
2. 

   Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
   2nd July 2016, 21:23

   Didn’t notice at first but Rosberg’s theoretical time is fractionally quicker than Hamilton’s – 1’06.208 versus 1’06.224. Not that it would have mattered, of course, because of his penalty.
   1. 

      sato113 (@sato113)
      3rd July 2016, 7:52

      Oh so those sector times and rankings aren’t based of their best q3 laps?
      1. 

         Atticus (@atticus-2)
         3rd July 2016, 12:31

         @sato113 Nope, best sectors are from quali as a whole.
   2. 

      anon
      3rd July 2016, 8:31

      Keith, could you correct a quite serious typo in your article? Hamilton certainly will not be in a “strong position to extend his points lead” this weekend – I think that you meant “cut into Rosberg’s points lead” given that Hamilton is currently 24 points behind Rosberg.
3. 

   Billys (@bilarxos)
   2nd July 2016, 21:44

   Very good addition and very helpful the remaining tyre table!
4. 

   roodda (@roodda)
   2nd July 2016, 22:03

   “Hamilton therefore should go into the race in a strong position to extend his points lead”

   He’s trailing, Keith!
   1. 

      Alex De (@alexde)
      3rd July 2016, 0:39

      He has points lead over Vettel and many others.
      For so many Rosbergs seems to be irrelevant like the football (soccer) team of Iceland.
      1. 

         juan fanger (@juan-fanger)
         3rd July 2016, 5:55

         We’ll continue to ignore Rosberg even if he wins the WDC. He’s not the driver you’re looking for.
         1. 

            roodda (@roodda)
            3rd July 2016, 10:51

            @juan-fanger move along
   2. 

      Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
      3rd July 2016, 10:39

      @roodda Apologies, corrected.
5. 

   Philip (@philipgb)
   3rd July 2016, 0:14

   It’s not often you see Mercedes beat Williams on the speed trap, I wonder if Williams just landed a bad setup or if the Mercedes having more downforce and thus greater corner exit speed set them up for it.
   1. 

      pcxmac (@xsavior)
      3rd July 2016, 2:04

      WIlliams pride themselves on a fast slippery car, I think that’s just code for a weak car that is only setup to minimize drag and use Merc power. I haven’t seen Williams run a good car for a very long time. Well, at least Pastor Maldonado got them a win :)

      2004 … It’s been a while.
6. 

   Martin
   3rd July 2016, 1:43

   We all get excited when the grid is jumbled, because we know there will be racing. I hate to introduce an old dispute, or to agree with beanie bernie about ANYTHING, but is a reverse grid really so stupid?
   1. 

      Martin
      3rd July 2016, 1:48

      Unless of course it just leads to carnage with blue flag failures, but if there are no blue flags in early laps?
   2. 

      The Skeptic
      3rd July 2016, 9:20

      A reverse grid is unnecessary. It introduces an artificial element to qualifying. Look at what happened without any of that! In fact, for nearly every race this year, we have had a “mixed up” grid – largely thanks to Mercedes breakages and mistakes.
   3. 

      ColdFly F1 (@)
      3rd July 2016, 10:25

      Yes! e.g. you cannot qualify for a reverse grid (go as slow as possible)!

      But a reverse grid quali race would a god’s gift.
   4. 

      Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
      3rd July 2016, 10:40

      Yes it would be utterly stupid.
      1. 

         Edgar Wilson (@edw4)
         3rd July 2016, 12:53

         I agree if the entire grid is reversed it is stupid but if the reverse grid applied to groups of 5. i.e. The 1st 5 reverse with those who qualified 6 to 10th so the 6th qualifier starts 1st the 7th starts 2nd,8th – 3rd and so on. The groups can be in 3’s or 4’s depending on the difficulty of passing on the track.
         The only way to stop slow qualifying is allocate championship points to it. Personally I would like the qualifying champion points to be allocated a whole lot differently from the race points in that all participants are allocated points based on number of cars. 24 cars – 1st gets 24, 2nd gets 23 and so on until the 24th gets 1 point. The implications of this boggle the mind but this point system should give the back markers some needed encouragement
   5. 

      Philip (@philipgb)
      3rd July 2016, 12:22

      They say there are no stupid questions, but asking about reverse grids is pretty close.

      Artificial grids and qualifying dramas are all stupid ideas. The new format at the beginning of the season for example, total disaster. Yesterdays qualifying was brilliant, we have a prospect for a good race and none of it has been done by tinkering or contriving things that make a good show. It’s all happened organically as it should and it makes it more special because of it.
      1. 

         Edgar Wilson (@edw4)
         3rd July 2016, 15:19

         I think waiting for happen stance to make exciting and/or interesting races is for purists. Same as watching a 5 day cricket test match – boring unless you find everything else interesting about it except the result?
         If it weren’t for Mercedes allowing their drivers to race F1 would have been less exciting. Unless F1 can make racing interesting,exciting and entertaining it will go the way of the Dodo bird in so far as TV is concerned. No mass appeal and the rot has started; audiences are falling every year. Spruce it up now and stop the rot
7. 

   Sonics (@sonicslv)
   3rd July 2016, 3:27

   Aside from his semi brilliant Interlagos 2012 (semi because he botched it at the end), has Hulkenberg did any more great run in wet that earned him the title “wet weather specialist”? I’d call Button, Hamilton, and Vettel the best wet-weather specialist we have on grid atm.

   @keithcollantine The new tires table is great, but the spacing is kinda weird. Maybe you can merge the tires compound cell above new and used column and make the used column wider so the new and used numbers looks closer for each compound. Just for easier time reading it (I’m using Edge browser btw).
   1. 

      Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
      3rd July 2016, 10:47

      @sonicslv Have made a quick tweak to it.
8. 

   Faizal (@faiz30)
   3rd July 2016, 3:32

   Hulkenberg on the podium would be great. Considering how Lewis rarely has good starts this season i wouldnt be surprised to see Hulkenberg take the lead at the start and keep the pack close behind for a good race, hopefully till the 1st stops. After which i doubt he will have the pace or ability to catch / hold Lewis back but im sure he could atleast keep kimi, ricciardo & vettel at bay. Perez has shown the car’s potential, and i rate Hulkenberg the better of the 2.

   With cool track conditions Rosberg will likely have an advantage over the rest but getting to the podium or even fighting for the win will all depend on how smart Lewis is for his first pit stop. Definitely plays a massive role in Rosbergs race. If many start pitting first he might opt to stay out and gun it on his ultrasofts (if they havnt already worn out) leaving rosberg to pit with the rest and come out in a crowded field while still fighting kimi, ricciardo, vettel & maybe even hulkenberg if he wasnt able to take the lead at the start. If not one else pits early, Lewis will def go in first and come out to a clear track which i reckon will be the case especially if he has built a decent lead. Provided Hulkenberg isnt the one already in the lead (you can see i really want Hulkenberg to do well in this race, he is running out of time to show his potential and given his grid start + Rosberg & Vettel penalties, hes in the perfect position to do so).

   I predict (par any accidents or failures) Lewis to win, Hulkenberg 2nd, Rosberg 3rd. What annoys me the most is Button starts 3rd yet i cant see him even finishing top 8 in that garbage of a package they call a Mclaren. (yes, im a Mclaren fan and its been 4 terrible years).
9. 

   Todfod (@todfod)
   3rd July 2016, 8:05

   What a great starting grid. I’m really rooting for Hulkenberg in this race. If he could jump Hamilton off the line, this will be a very interesting race. I don’t think the Force India can keep a Mercedes behind it for an entire race distance, but this is probably Hulkenberg’s best shot at a podium in a really long time.
10. 

    Sridhar
    3rd July 2016, 10:14

    My prediction is that the red bulls will see some clash and limited could slip into 2nd by end of lap 1 and come into the lead and control the race one HAM pits early to get rid of his US. Kim has a great chance Hulk as usual overrated and lucked. He will struggle with tyre wear and will be out of the Top 5.
11. 

    Sridhar
    3rd July 2016, 10:17

    Crappy spell check.I meant *Kimi
12. 

    Markp
    3rd July 2016, 12:55

    25 degrees cooler track temperature. Mercedes..best chassis, best engine, arguably best driver, best strategists and God supports them with the weather. Formidable.
13. 

    Sridhar
    3rd July 2016, 13:48

    I rest my case on Hulk. He is not mentally there

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