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Grand Prix thread 2017 Russian Grand Prix Chat and Predictions

Discussion in 'Formula 1' started by EternalMSC, Apr 18, 2017.

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Who Will Tackle The Russian Bear

Poll closed Apr 29, 2017.
  1. Vettel

    50.0%
  2. Hamilton

    50.0%
  3. Bottas

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  4. Raikkonen

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  5. Verstappen

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  6. Ricciardo

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  7. Massa

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  8. Perez

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  9. Sainz

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  10. OTHER

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  1. EternalMSC

    EternalMSC Well-Known Member

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    Just read somewhere that as soon as oil-for-fuel restrictions came into place, Mercedes are slower...
     
    #61
    Last edited: Apr 29, 2017
  2. ched999uk

    ched999uk Well-Known Member

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    Interesting. At the strat meeting earlier in the week it was agreed that only 1 spec of oil can be used at a weekend! Which would suggest that some teams are currently using 'quali oil' and 'race oil'.
    If you think about it with a max fuel flow rate of 100kg/hr say full qali mode for maybe 6 mins in Q3 probably less than 2min full throttle. So it would not take much oil at all to provide say 20% more 'fuel' for 2 mins.

    Then again the FIA max 'fuel' flow rate may be badly worded in the regs and specify max 'petrol' flow rate. Otherwise if FIA know someone is using more than 100kg/hr 'fuel' then they could stop them surely?

    Very interesting point you raised EternalMSC.
     
    #62
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  3. DHCanary

    DHCanary Very Well-Known Member
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    Wasted, undoubtedly, but he has to take some of the blame himself. He's missed out on some good cars by going off under a cloud, and whilst he might have matured in his later years, he doesn't have a reputation of being easy to work with. His antics at Mclaren aren't going to be the most endearing either.

    When he left Ferrari there were serious question marks as to whether they wanted to retain him anyway, and unlike Rosberg, Button, Raikkonen, Ricciardo, etc, you can't pair him with another top driver and be sure you won't see inter-team fireworks.

    I do hope he achieves more in F1, but more and more I don't see it happening. A Renault move is not going to get him back on the podium within 2-3 years, and if Ferrari or Mercedes want to risk a personality clash, Max Verstappen is going to be a lot more attractive to them. Should Bottas and Raikkonen get the boot over the winter, I think Perez, Hulkenburg and Grosjean will all be higher on Merc/Ferrari shopping lists than Alonso.
     
    #63
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  4. Smithers

    Smithers Well-Known Member
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    I don't think this race is a straight forward slam dunk for Ferrari and/or Vettel. What I'm more interested in is how Merc handle potential team orders and having to fight and be strategical to win. I suspect they will implode.
     
    #64
  5. DHCanary

    DHCanary Very Well-Known Member
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    Merc's strategy calls are certainly going to be interesting!

    Ferrari seemed to have the race pace in free practice, and they appear to have had the edge in that area all season. If they maintain the 1-2 into turn 1, I think they'll be difficult to beat. Kimi will probably act as a rear gunner for Seb, whether on purpose or not, as Vettel builds an insurmountable advantage.

    How do Merc scheme it? Unfortunately for them it's likely a 1 stop race (US then SS) which gives them little wiggle room. US probably until lap 15-20 then finish on SS (53 laps). About a second per lap expected between compounds.

    I think Merc need to undercut with both drivers, but put their leader on US not SS, and hope that they can get ahead of the lead Ferrari after the first round of pitstops. If both get ahead then the SS runner should "just" need to maintain track position for the rest of the race. The US runner stands a better chance at the undercut because of the second a lap advantage they'll have on tyres. If they're within 2 seconds when they pit then they'll definitely jump one, if not both Ferrari's if necessary. So with clean air and US tyres, they need to be at least 1 second a lap faster to make the strategy work. 23 seconds for a pitstop means 23 laps on the UltraSofts, right on the limit for the tyre life you'd expect.
     
    #65
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  6. BrightLampShade

    BrightLampShade Well-Known Member
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    So Verstappen will be doing this race with a dodgy water pump, best not push it too much.
     
    #66
  7. ched999uk

    ched999uk Well-Known Member

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    RedBull don't seem on form this year. Max rear brakes failing, aero correlation issues etc..... Have they lost some key staff?
     
    #67
  8. ched999uk

    ched999uk Well-Known Member

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    Channel 4 doing some great graphics clearly showing Merc fast on straights but Ferrari so much better in slower corners. Is it Ferrari wheelbase, better aero, or maybe better traction.
    Ferrari at Monaco should be interesting.
     
    #68
  9. SgtBhaji

    SgtBhaji Well-Known Member

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    Morning chaps!

    May need help staying awake for today's race. Long stormy night last night. *yawn*
     
    #69
  10. EternalMSC

    EternalMSC Well-Known Member

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    I'm sure two Ferraris on the front row and two Mercedes directly behind them will keep you awake.
     
    #70

  11. ched999uk

    ched999uk Well-Known Member

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    Is Alonso going to make the start?
     
    #71
  12. ched999uk

    ched999uk Well-Known Member

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    He didn't even make it back to pits!!!!
     
    #72
  13. SgtBhaji

    SgtBhaji Well-Known Member

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    FFS Macca...
     
    #73
  14. EternalMSC

    EternalMSC Well-Known Member

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    ****ing honda what a bunch of twats.
     
    #74
  15. EternalMSC

    EternalMSC Well-Known Member

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    Mclaren deluded bunch of idiots to go with it.
     
    #75
  16. ched999uk

    ched999uk Well-Known Member

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    I hope Hondas problems are mainly caused by the vibrations breaking other bits. So once they fix the vibrations 90% of problems go away?
     
    #76
  17. Big Ern

    Big Ern Lord, Master, Guru & Emperor

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    I wonder how much they're paying Sauber to run their engine in 2018, will it be the first pay-engine?
     
    #77
  18. Viva_Giggsy

    Viva_Giggsy Well-Known Member

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    Honda are embarssing. Alonso deserves so much better then this. Hope he's in the Mercedes next season.
     
    #78
  19. SgtBhaji

    SgtBhaji Well-Known Member

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    Hope so. :)
     
    #79
  20. SgtBhaji

    SgtBhaji Well-Known Member

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    Bloody hell, Bottas. What a start.
     
    #80
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