2013 Airtel Indian Grand Prix

  • Thread starter Thread starter NotThePrez
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Unusual strategy. So Alonso and Kimi are betting on mediums for the first stint, and Mark sticks with mediums to cover Alonso.

Who wants to bet on those boys taking down the Mercs after just a few laps? :lol:
 
Well in theory it should be a different sort of race, the soft drivers pitting early and the hards going much longer.
 
So do people think that entire 7 tenths is the car?
 
Unusual strategy. So Alonso and Kimi are betting on mediums for the first stint, and Mark sticks with mediums to cover Alonso.

Who wants to bet on those boys taking down the Mercs after just a few laps? :lol:
Kimi did his lap on the softs. Considering his recent quali troubles, I'm guessing he was hoping using the softs would get him to the pointy end of the grid for once. He's probably disappointed to be behind Webber and Massa.

Looking forward to seeing Grosjean come through the field. :)
 
This time last year, if Grosjean was down in 17th on the grid, I think the next 6 drivers would have braced themselves for a massive impact.
 
Kimi did his lap on the softs. Considering his recent quali troubles, I'm guessing he was hoping using the softs would get him to the pointy end of the grid for once. He's probably disappointed to be behind Webber and Massa.

Looking forward to seeing Grosjean come through the field. :)

Whoops. Are things really that bad for Lotus here? :lol:
 
Does anyone else think vettel missed the chance to get the pole on medium tyres?

No, they wouldn't have got him pole and I'd say they'd only push him about a tenth or two above Mark's medium tire Q3 set lap time. I base this off of other 1-2 quali times in the season where on the same set Vettel edged out Mark by the same margin.
 
Happy that Vettel did a fast lap on the softer tyres, good to see what the car can do.

No, they wouldn't have got him pole and I'd say they'd only push him about a tenth or two above Mark's medium tire Q3 set lap time.
Two tenths faster than Webber would have been enough for Vettel to get pole...
 
Happy that Vettel did a fast lap on the softer tyres, good to see what the car can do.


Two tenths faster than Webber would have been enough for Vettel to get pole...

I said about a tenth or two and with the wear on the mediums he was running it would have probably be half a tenth or a tenth, also if he pulled a .89 or .88 that wouldn't have been enough which was my point.

Also knowing the strategy of RBR in the past few weeks they would have probably used the same tires from Q2 if they could to give Vettel his extra fresh set he's been having.
 
I said about a tenth or two and with the wear on the mediums he was running it would have probably be half a tenth or a tenth, also if he pulled a .89 or .88 that wouldn't have been enough which was my point.

Also knowing the strategy of RBR in the past few weeks they would have probably used the same tires from Q2 if they could to give Vettel his extra fresh set he's been having.
So your estimate is now less. I personally think Vettel would have been able to get pole on the Mediums, he had a good enough margin over Webber in all sessions that being 0.177 faster than him in Q3 seems reasonable to think that would have been possible. Would have been closest Webber has come to Vettel too if he did achieve that margin this race weekend.
 
So your estimate is now less. I personally think Vettel would have been able to get pole on the Mediums, he had a good enough margin over Webber in all sessions that being 0.177 faster than him in Q3 seems reasonable to think that would have been possible. Would have been closest Webber has come to Vettel too if he did achieve that margin this race weekend.

It's not less if you look at it from significant figures stand point, however when you equate how long the tires were run on and the fact others were also using old tires to have fresher tires in their last stage of quali for the race it makes sense why he wouldn't be nearly as quick as you might expect. It was a better idea going the way they did for Sebastian. So he can run a longer second stint and then run a final stint most likely on the softer set.
 
Of course some people will, they'll never be convinced no matter what he does.

I really don't get why people say "It's just the car". Yeah, the car's great, but then why is Seb demolishing Webber?
 
It's not less if you look at it from significant figures stand point, however when you equate how long the tires were run on and the fact others were also using old tires to have fresher tires in their last stage of quali for the race it makes sense why he wouldn't be nearly as quick as you might expect. It was a better idea going the way they did for Sebastian. So he can run a longer second stint and then run a final stint most likely on the softer set.
I don't understand why you think Vettel's new tyres will be slower than others?
 
I really don't get why people say "It's just the car". Yeah, the car's great, but then why is Seb demolishing Webber?

Because Webber's car is clearly being sabotaged by Red Bull as all F1 is a conspiracy to make Vettel win every race. :rolleyes:
 
So do people think that entire 7 tenths is the car?

Why not? At least a few tenths. Put him in the same car as Hamilton, remove these cheese tyres, put some real ones on and see what happens that's what I say. :)

I really don't get why people say "It's just the car". Yeah, the car's great, but then why is Seb demolishing Webber?

On the hard tyre, 4th on the harder tyre!!
 
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Car on not I don't see how you can watch him go out there every race and get the job done, most of the time near faultlessly, and say it's all car. The Red Bull is the best car, there is no doubt, but it's not an X1. It's not stuck to the ground, impossible to spin/lockup/crash etc. He goes out there and very rarely fails to do what you should do with the best car.

But anyway I'm not getting into this discussion for the fiftieth time.
 
I am aware of that. I talking about over the course of a season

He just doesn't seem to be as consistent as he used to be. Well that and whenever his wheels don't fall off he sets on fire or his KERS fails or he has a bad start.

The Red Bull is the best car, there is no doubt, but it's not an X1. It's not stuck to the ground, impossible to spin/lockup/crash etc. He goes out there and very rarely fails to do what you should do with the best car.

But anyway I'm not getting into this discussion for the fiftieth time.
It's easier to be 'faultless' when you have the best car, we've all seen him when he's been leading by 20+ seconds short shifting out of every corner because he knows he doesn't have to push.
 
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It's easier but on the other hand when you lapse concentration without pressure it can be easier to make mistakes. Plus the races he's been in cruise mode are far fewer than those he's won without being able to do that.

Not to mention quali, where he is also usually flawless.

I'm not a fan of his in the following sense, I'm very much neutral, but I can't deny his talents personally. If others can and do, well that's there choice.
 
Most or maybe all of the difference is the car regarding speed, if it is not then all the other teams will be wanting to hire Webber if he can bring about 8 tenths over a driver like say Alonso on a relative short track like this one in qualifying.

Credit to Vettel, he is doing what he needs to do to win races. He drives smoother than Webber and got the extra few tenths over him and it adds up more in races as the less load you put on the tyres while keeping up pace the better it is. Also having good starts also helps and starting at the front with no one in front makes a big difference. He seems to be getting stronger as a driver too so unless others have a similar competitive car, it is unlikely they will beat him without having to be very fortunate.

Hopefully no incidents on first lap and can see how strategy unfolds. If the people who start on the Medium compound tyres do final stop for Softs at end of race, then should make an interesting end if it is possible on low fuel to do reasonably fast consecutive laps, a bit like what Vettel did at this years Chinese Grand Prix. Might be a good chance for Webber to win a race.
 
1. white lines are merely suggestions. what the hell!!!

2. Seb pretty much perfect. good for him bad for us

3. Lotus. seriously their strategy guy is terrible. this is not an isolated issue, although they have been getting better compared to last year. but if they want to compete with top teams they need to sort it out, as well as the pit stops. this is not a budget issue and should be a possible fix! RG is not consistent like Vettel so to gamble to save a set of SOFTS makes no sense.

4. not sure I agree with Alonso strategy of going for med in q3. he was fast enough in q2 to get 2nd in q3. it's not like they are racing RBR. anyway we will see if they made the right choice tomorrow. I am not so sure

5. good showing from Hulk once again. really hope he gets the Lotus seat!

6. Bottas spanking Maldonado is about the only joy I get nowadays

so tomorrow the race will be between Ferrari and Mercedes. Lotus just shot themselves in the foot, even if Kimi did well, they both need to be up there

rant over
 
I actually think it was smarter to go on prime in Q3. That way they have a lighter fuel load when they do go on the options. But we'll find out tomarow :)
 
Track is kind of a snoozer, besides turns 10/11. I mean at least it has elevation changes.

1. white lines are merely suggestions. what the hell!!!

I kept expecting either their times to become red laps, or for their cars to ghost and get a 5 second power penalty. :lol:

I guess the one thing good about the track is that it's set up very well to allow the drivers to drive like they don't give a %$^ and push the cars to bang out some fast laps. Plus, since it's late in the season, I really think it shows that everyone is driving a lot more aggressive than they typically were earlier in the season.
 
1. white lines are merely suggestions. what the hell!!!
There should be kerbs that are raised for quali. I can see the safety benefit of having more usable track space for the race, but in quali it's annoying.
 
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Not really getting into this track after its third showing. Almost thinking it would be better to seal the WDC at Abu Dhabi.
 
As much as I loved this track in the games, the two real races have been quite boring. The highlights of the last two were Massa's double failure, Button's weird racing line after the long straight and Mr. Bean's face. This race looks interesting though. I can only hope one of the Mercs can get ahead by the end of that long straight, provided they don't crash into each other.

Also, shame for Grosjean. He was set to give Vettel a hard time. It sucks more that people are blaming him for the slight mistake on his lap. It's just like Rosberg's lock up in Germany. Maybe it would've saved them not to make that mistake but they should've gone out again regardless. Blame the team.

So do people think that entire 7 tenths is the car?
No, just 6 tenths of it. If you really think Vettel is 8 tenths faster than Hamilton on raw speed something is definitely wrong with you.
 
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