2016 Pirelli Chinese Grand Prix

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jimlaad43
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What are the chances of Hamilton sandbagging in qualifying so that with his penalty, he winds up 9th or 10th and can then use whatever tire he wants?
 
Peter.
If the Ferraris can't pass Nico or even more unlikely, out qualify him, he will win. It's a good track for him and Lewis will burn his tyres out trying to pass everyone between him and Nico to the point that he won't have the steam to close the gap when, or if, he gets into 2nd. This is all assuming best case scenario for Lewis where he doesn't have a terrible start again.

Shangai doesn't have a long run to turn 1 so limited opportunity for a lead change, so it just might be over already, unless the Saturday rain mixes things up.
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Where are you getting the idea he'll burn up his tires, am I back in 2013 all of a sudden? Also China has some of the longest straights on the Calendar, in fact I think they have the longest. Not sure how you think your point stands...


twitcher
What are the chances of Hamilton sandbagging in qualifying so that with his penalty, he winds up 9th or 10th and can then use whatever tire he wants?
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Why when they could just plan it out now before it gets to that point. If they pit him earlier than others to leap frog and then set him up on a harder compound for a long run then set him up for a final stint on the faster tire, that should work. I don't see any point to sandbagging and just making the issue worse by having him be held up, more so giving a potential to be caught in a first corner wreck as well.
 
LMSCorvetteGT2
Where are you getting the idea he'll burn up his tires, am I back in 2013 all of a sudden? Also China has some of the longest straights on the Calendar, in fact I think they have the longest. Not sure how you think your point stands...
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Shanghai has a long straight of course, but sector 1 and 2 are fairly tough on the fronts, especially if he's going to have to follow closely behind traffic. My point was that he wouldn't have the life in his tyres to challenge Rosberg assuming Nico leads from turn 1, if he manages to pass everyone ahead of him before the first pitstop. Perhaps eating up his tyres is an exaggeration as they don't have the tyre issues they had prior to 2014.
 
Peter.
Shanghai has a long straight of course, but sector 1 and 2 are fairly tough on the fronts, especially if he's going to have to follow closely behind traffic. My point was that he wouldn't have the life in his tyres to challenge Rosberg assuming Nico leads from turn 1, if he manages to pass everyone ahead of him before the first pitstop. Perhaps eating up his tyres is an exaggeration as they don't have the tyre issues they had prior to 2014.
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Mercedes hasn't had a front tire degradation issue on the 3 cars ever so not sure where you get the idea (other than wanting it and being optimistic). Though you do make note finally of why the notion was over the top so that's good. However, this is why they'll probably run less aero due to the track being more of a power track and less of a technical one, and not wanting to scrub them if he follows for long periods.
 
LMSCorvetteGT2
Eh, China should suit them following traffic more, I doubt they'll run nearly as much down force as the last two tracks. The problem is this is a Rosberg track through and through like Bahrain. And I feel Nico can return to victory here, he's been doing a better job of not dropping the ball and if he keeps that going then Lewis will hope he figures out his clutch issues a lot sooner...like in the next few days sooner.
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You say this is a Rosberg track, but it is more a Hamilton track, seeing as he has won this race 4 times, the only driver along with Alonso with multiple wins at Shanghai.
 
Hamilton will start no higher than 6th having been given a 5-place grid penalty for changing his gearbox.

Whether this is related to his two poor launches remains to be seen. Hamilton won't say what broke the box ("It doesn't really matter") but said it wasn't related to the contact with Bottas. He described the change and penalty as "A kick in the goonies".
 
Hopefully Lewis gets a decent start, then might be best chance of winning so far this season.
LMSCorvetteGT2
Eh, China should suit them following traffic more, I doubt they'll run nearly as much down force as the last two tracks. The problem is this is a Rosberg track through and through like Bahrain. And I feel Nico can return to victory here, he's been doing a better job of not dropping the ball and if he keeps that going then Lewis will hope he figures out his clutch issues a lot sooner...like in the next few days sooner.
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Lewis has even better head to head record at this track than Bahrain (3-0 Qualifying and Race vs 3-1 Race but 2-2 Qualifying), what criteria do you use to determine it's a Rosberg track through and through?
 
Saidur_Ali
Hopefully Lewis gets a decent start, then might be best chance of winning so far this season.
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He has at least 5 cars to pass already...
 
TenEightyOne
He has at least 5 cars to pass already...
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Well first race he was 6th after first few corners on a track very hard to overtake, last race he was 9th with a damaged car. If he manages to be 6th after race start, then think still it is his best chance of victory so far. Anything can happen in F1, still chance of starting first. ;)
 
Saidur_Ali
Anything can happen in F1, still chance of starting first. ;)
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Take your pick of Murray Walker quotes; "In F1 anything can happen and it usually does" or "F1 is IF backwards!" :D
 
Saidur_Ali
Hopefully Lewis gets a decent start, then might be best chance of winning so far this season.

Lewis has even better head to head record at this track than Bahrain (3-0 Qualifying and Race vs 3-1 Race but 2-2 Qualifying), what criteria do you use to determine it's a Rosberg track through and through?
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People are usually saying it's a good track for Rosberg because he won his first GP with Mercedes here. But it's true that Lewis is also very strong here.
 
Samus
Johnnie "Not a world champion" Herbert decided he wants to ruffle even more feathers.

http://www.grandprix247.com/2016/04/14/herbert-time-is-past-for-fernando-jenson-and-kimi-in-f1/
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Strange how he didn't put Massa on that list (not that I would put any on that list)....only WDC need to be ushered out of the sport in a hurry?

Who would replace those 3-4 guys? Vandoorne, yes...but he has a solid 10 years ahead of him, no need to rush. Ocon? Talented, but unproven, and been very quiet of late. Who else?

It kind of pisses me off that experience counts for so little in modern F1. Other top tier racing, NASCAR, Indycar, WEC, IMSA, etc, a lot of the experienced guys are some of the quickest on the grid, and their experience is sought after by the teams. I think it speaks to how little F1 drivers actually influence an F1 race, which is mostly in the hands of the engineers and their computers.
 
Lewis starting sixth isn't the issue, him starting sixth with a terrible start is, will be tough for him but he just might end on a Shanghai............ teehee
 
twitcher
It kind of pisses me off that experience counts for so little in modern F1. Other top tier racing, NASCAR, Indycar, WEC, IMSA, etc, a lot of the experienced guys are some of the quickest on the grid, and their experience is sought after by the teams. I think it speaks to how little F1 drivers actually influence an F1 race, which is mostly in the hands of the engineers and their computers.
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On the treacherous fast Phoenix oval, the top 3 Indy car qualifiers were 40+ in age.
 
So in the words of Jonathan Legard, problems for Massa there. Strange thing to happen on two rims, seemed to just pop off the beading the first time and the second time was a slow outlap, so not under any load so I doubt it was anything like a re-occurrence of Silverstone '13. Some sort of issue with the rim and/or bodywork, I'd guess.

Then Magnussen has a similar issue, but unclear what caused that one.
 
Pirelli confirm it wasn't a tyre issue.



RACECAR
I have really lost all the respect I had for Herbert. All he seems to be good for is starting 🤬 and the last thing we need after all the crap with qualifying is more pot stirring.
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To be honest it seems like it's just part and parcel of being a Sky Sports F1 employee, stir the pot whenever you get the opportunity. Even Brundle has been picking up the habit in the last year or so which is a shame because he seems like the only one of the team the drivers and teams still genuinely respect and like.
 
Oh Johnny Herbert, you got caught out big time. He and Kravitz were doing a pit segment where they went into the Force India garage to show the viewers what is shown on the screen on a driver's car. He clicked a button to change pages and a picture of him and Alonso popped up with the caption "Two Champions". :lol:
 
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NW48
Oh Johnny Herbert, you got caught out big time. He and Kravitz were doing a pit segment where they went into the Force India garage to add how the viewers what is shown on the screen on a driver's car. He clicked a button to change pages and a picture of him and Alonso popped up with the caption "Two Champions". :lol:
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YUP! bahhahaa.. the camera man tried his atmost to zoom and pan away too... *facepalm*..
 
Oh lord Jesus it's a fire!
JLnFOcw.png
 
occasionalracer
YUP! bahhahaa.. the camera man tried his atmost to zoom and pan away too... *facepalm*..
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Please tell me this is somewhere online. :lol:
 
Peter.
Please tell me this is somewhere online. :lol:
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Oh the replay clip will surface online in the next few hours I'm sure. He's gonna have to apologize sincerely before nobody wants to look at him anymore..
 
I really hope Lewis Hamilton gives Ted Kravitz a pay raise, and soon - I'm watching a replay of FP1, and not five minutes in, Kravitz has explained at length as to why Hamilton's gearbox penalty actually offers an enormous advantage for the race.
 
Saidur_Ali
Hopefully Lewis gets a decent start, then might be best chance of winning so far this season.

Lewis has even better head to head record at this track than Bahrain (3-0 Qualifying and Race vs 3-1 Race but 2-2 Qualifying), what criteria do you use to determine it's a Rosberg track through and through?
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Jimlaad43
You say this is a Rosberg track, but it is more a Hamilton track, seeing as he has won this race 4 times, the only driver along with Alonso with multiple wins at Shanghai.
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Once again, looking up the numbers is easy, but doesn't tell the full story. FPs Nico has always been faster and in Quali he's looked to beat Lewis but like the last GP Lewis finds a flier.

Rosberg is a better at this track based on the fact he's been quick here with various cars of varying performance compared to competitors. He's won at this track with a car that was second rate to that of field, and performed well here with the best car. It's basically the same thing as people saying that Canada couldn't be a Lewis track since Rosberg as technically beaten Lewis their 2-1 on race day. Despite the fact that there is more than the numbers going on.

Rosberg has had more consistency here despite the car he drives, that he is a clear threat to Lewis in the same car. Bahrain to me is the same and was only a matter of time for a win. Other than last year where Lewis was in dominant showing, I think other years Rosberg was stronger and things didn't pan out.
 
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