2016 Pirelli Chinese Grand Prix

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jimlaad43
  • 435 comments
  • 17,963 views
Peter.
I feel like only the Ferraris can challenge Mercedes on race day, and now you have Ricciardo poking his nose up there. It looks like Rosberg will win comfrtably, unfortunately, provided there's no further drama. Will be entertaining to see Lewis charge through the field at least.
Click to expand...

They will challenge by the look of it, they also have a car advantage so they can split the strategy, should be fun this.
 
If a Mercedes has to win the opening three races of the season, I'd rake Rosberg over Hamilton everyday. I'd be fine with him winning as long as the race is entertaining.
 
NW48
Mistake in the hairpin cost Raikkonen pole, if it wasn't for that, he would've had it. Same could be said to a degree for Vettel.
Click to expand...
Nah, that didn't cost half a second. Maybe cost him second but kudos to Dan anyway, great lap.

Rosberg has it in the bag tomorrow even if he loses off the start, rest of the race should be interesting though.
 
Could qualifying have gone any better for Rosberg? If he doesn't fluff his start, the race is setup perfectly in his favour.

Massa, Alonso, Button and Grosjean might be in position for very good results if the super softs are as terrible a race tire as Sky are leading on.
 
Last edited:
Imagine how threatening Ricciardo would be if the Red Bull had a decent engine.

Hopefully him and the Ferraris can get another good start otherwise the race for first will be really boring with a Merc cruising 30 seconds ahead. At least we get to watch one have to deal with the entire field.
 
Samus
Nah, that didn't cost half a second. Maybe cost him second but kudos to Dan anyway, great lap.

Rosberg has it in the bag tomorrow even if he loses off the start, rest of the race should be interesting though.
Click to expand...

Maybe not half a second but could be close to that, it's a long straight after that mess up.
 
NW48
Rosberg is on pole!

Ricciardo is in second, Raikkonen third, Vettel in fourth.
Click to expand...

This should definitely help my quest for gold in Famine's fantasy fgame. Having two drivers starting in the top three isn't bad. I have Ricciardo and Raikkonen.
 
Anybody know where I can watch in the Americas?
 
Lewis due for an engine change ahead of tomorrow, not sure if it will mean he starts from the pit lane, but apparently they hope to use the first unit again later in the year.
 
I wonder what strategy Hamilton will be on, tyre wear is said to be quite high but he needs to clear as many cars as he can early on.
 
Peasantslayer
I wonder what strategy Hamilton will be on, tyre wear is said to be quite high but he needs to clear as many cars as he can early on.
Click to expand...
That's going to be the trick - last year, you could reasonably predict the strategies because of the limited tyre choice. There was some variation as to when a driver took the slower tyre, but that was it. This year, the third compound allows for so much more flexibility and variation - and that is so much harder to predict, much less counter-act.
 
prisonermonkeys
That's going to be the trick - last year, you could reasonably predict the strategies because of the limited tyre choice. There was some variation as to when a driver took the slower tyre, but that was it. This year, the third compound allows for so much more flexibility and variation - and that is so much harder to predict, much less counter-act.
Click to expand...

The problem for him might be that he has fewer of the softest tyres than anyone else, I think? Haven't double-checked but I remember thinking his tyre choice seemed quite conservative.
 
TenEightyOne
The problem for him might be that he has fewer of the softest tyres than anyone else, I think? Haven't double-checked but I remember thinking his tyre choice seemed quite conservative.
Click to expand...
They're only expected to last a handful of laps, but he and the team have been pretty conservative. They won't be able to plan around their current predicament, which is a problem because you can bet that the likes of Haas will play the strategy card.
 
Just saw. Rosberg on pole and starting on the softs... Should be an interesting start. Might get jumped but will last a lot longer than the 8 laps the SS will do
 
Positive for Lewis is that even he will find it impossible to lose places at the start. :sly:

Good to have problem now instead of start of race and should be good on tyre front due to lack of running. Hopefully car works well tomorrow and he has a great race.
 
FutureF1
Just saw. Rosberg on pole and starting on the softs... Should be an interesting start. Might get jumped but will last a lot longer than the 8 laps the SS will do
Click to expand...
8 laps is a stretch, really. Hell they lose juice partway through a qualifying lap.

I think Ferrari are trying to save the soft they have, Rosberg's problem now starting on the soft is that he has to use the supersoft later on in the race when Ferrari will have more unused softs, and as we have seen the supersoft doesn't last very long. My guess is Ferrari will try to get the supersoft out of the way early, try to use the extra grip while they still can to stay close to Nico and try to pull an undercut.
 
Peter.
8 laps is a stretch, really. Hell they lose juice partway through a qualifying lap.

I think Ferrari are trying to save the soft they have, Rosberg's problem now starting on the soft is that he has to use the supersoft later on in the race when Ferrari will have more unused softs, and as we have seen the supersoft doesn't last very long. My guess is Ferrari will try to get the supersoft out of the way early, try to use the extra grip while they still can to stay close to Nico and try to pull an undercut.
Click to expand...

He could run on the mediums, he doesn't necessarily have to use the SS.
 
Samus
He could run on the mediums, he doesn't necessarily have to use the SS.
Click to expand...
Medium running has been pretty restricted so far. The preferred race tyre appears to be the soft compound; I get the sense that two or three stops with softs and super-softs is faster than one or two with softs and mediums.
 
Good morning people, its 5.26am here, race coverage is about to start, got in from work at around 9pm last night and I haven't been to bed!, I literally haven't, looking forward to a very promising race after yesterday's exciting qualifying
 
Hamilton steam-rolling his way through the pack should be good, he's got to be fired up for it!
 
Darn NHL overtime...:(

edit: There's no game on. They're just talking about players and how they might do in upcoming games. :grumpy:
 
Last edited:

Latest Posts

Back