2012 UBS Chinese GP Chat and Predictions Thread

Maybe RBR have gone for a totally split startegy and set one car up to be more qualifying specific (Webber) and the other more race specific (Vettel), the difference the way the car is set-up to take advantage in quali will hinder it during the race, and vica versa.

 

doing a sauber. but sauber are ahead of them

 

Who knows, but I'm amazed that the RB is so off the pace this year. I expected them to be less dominant but not to the current level. What's so drastically wrong with that car?

 

Anybody happen to have a link where I can watch qualifying? Can't believe I slept through it.

 

Balance baby, that and the rear exhausts arn't doing a job similair to McLaren and Sauber versions.

 

So are we seeing a Newey howler or do we think they can salvage it?

 

Come ask me again when they get the exhausts sorted lol!

 

Lol! Once in a while he produces a dog.

 

I'm not sure that the Red Bull is a dog but it's nothing special. Actually, I'm glad, all that treating Newey as if he's some sort of deity really got on my tits.

 

Same here, insults people like Paddy Lowe who do a pretty damn good job at McLaren.

 

I think its fair to say that he's the best in the business, but it doesn't guarantee a world beating car every season.

 

Oh... I wasn't saying that the RB is a dog, but he can pop one out every now and then. a'la the mp4 18

 

It's definitely not a dog, the McLaren is the only car you could definitely say is superior to it. The Mercedes is poor on a Sunday, and Red Bull were ahead of Lotus and Sauber in the first two grands prix. It's early in the season, very tight and it's been a topsy turvy start, it's impossible to dismiss any of the top six as potential race winners. This could well be the most open championship in the history of the sport.

 

Hope you're right. Though 2010 was pretty bloody exciting.

 

Can't guarantee as tight a finish as 2010, but I think on a race by race basis and as the season unfolds this season will be better. Definitely think we'll get more than five winners and the top drivers certainly won't have the stranglehold on the podium places they've had in the last couple of years.

 

Can all the champions take a win? That would be a bloody great season if they did. (Two down) and there really could be a few surprises. I just hope it's more open than 2011. Don't take that the wrong way Vettel fans.

 

2010 was an exciting battle but I've always had one big niggle involved with that, the lock-out of the top three teams for the big points. This year seems to promise more teams in the mix.

 

Fair comment in that one. Can't really argue with that point.

 

I hope it's not just wishful thinking but it seems like a real possibility.

 

Hamilton will. Vettel should and Raikkonen will take his usual victory in Spa. Not sure about Schumacher, would be pretty cool if he completed the set.