[douglaswebster]

I think what RB and McLaren are doing is almost beyond sandbagging. They are racing around in a spec that exists only to test (and never race), and perhaps full of fuel.

They are both launching their ‘real’ cars tomorrow effectively.

[douglaswebster]

I think that drop off had a lot to do with a limitation of the front exhaust arrangement and also the lack of top driving talent.

They also may have shifted focus early to 2012, which would be consistent with what we’ve seen so far in testing.

I’m not suggesting that it’s Brawn ’09 all over again, but I’m just shocked that someone else isn’t making wild claims of that nature given the record of top times so far.

[douglaswebster]

I don’t know what the length would be but I suspect it would be too long. Probably 5 miles or more.

I don’t think there would be any more incidents into turn 2 than there are at any other real circuit. It’s like a mashup of Brazil and Malaysia/Korea which are all OK in terms of ‘first major breaking points’.

Certainly many of the complexes are in reverse, but the flow would be similar and I’ve tried to imagine a similar entry speed….but of course this is all just a fantasy. It’s something I’ve been thinking about since I was a kid and finally just attempted to illustrate.

There are so many more great corners and complexes, but I had to keep it to just a few. The frantic swimming pool complex in Monaco is great, but I couldn’t fit it in…and the are so many others. ALso, I really hope Austin has something new and cool to offer. India, too.

Thanks to Keith for putting this in the round up. It TOTALLY made my day. I love this site and read every word of it…every single day.

Cheers from Ohio (US) -Doug

[douglaswebster]

Perhaps it measures wing flex?

[douglaswebster]

It’s not going to be possible to turn in on in Turn 8 during a race.

[douglaswebster]

I didn’t know about the light. Having to look for a light when you are following another car closely seems like more of a distraction than having to press a button -which is where most of the “distracted drivers” concern seems to have been directed.

Under what circumstances would you not use it if you could? Just curious if you have an example in mind?

[douglaswebster]

That’s sort of my point, the FIA will only allow it in those narrow circumstances, but it won’t always be clear to the driver when he’s within 1 second…so why not just hold it down all the time and if you are in the right spot and close enough..it just turns on within the rules on it’s own at that point.

Perhaps you have to press the button AFTER your eligibility has been established, but I don’t understand how a driver knows if they are .9 or 1.1 seconds behind. I think you are pressing it if there is any chance it’s the right time and maybe ALL the time if you don’t have to press it AFTER you enter that part of the track.

[douglaswebster]

I’m a big fan of Lewis, but I’m concerned that he’s going to ruin the tires on lap one most of the time. Alonso (in my view) is a bit boring, but he makes few mistakes and could be a steady hand though all the change this year. I think the big boys close the gap to Red Bull and send Merc back down to where they came from (Honda).

1-Alonso

2-Hamilton

3-Vettel

4-Button

5-Webber

6-Rubens

7-Massa

8-Heidfeld

9-Sutil

10-Rosberg

[Author]

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