Is it just me or has Hamilton revised his thinking in view of the Pirelli tyre situation and is now giving more consideration to overall race strategy rather than relying on out and out racing, wherby he drives like hell but sometimes achieves little result. His last race in China demonstrated a new approach by Hamilton, the like of which I have not seen from him before, the entire race appeared to be calculated virtually down to the last lap including his qualifying tyre saving strategy. His pace was adequate and consistant whilst just keeping inside the limits but at the same time maintaining the pressure on Red Bull. Is it possible tyre management will decide the WDC in 2011.
He didn't really need to manage his tyres, it was Massa and Vettel who had to. We'll see how Hamilton gets on the rest of the season, in Malaysia he was poor in terms of tyre management, Australia he was good, in China it wasn't really applicable for those on a three stopper.
In my eyes tyre management is going to be the primary factor in the Championship, Having a 0.5sec a lap quicker car will mean nothing if your on the wrong tyres. Its down to driving at the limit of the tyres so that you strategy falls of the cliff 1 lap after the race.
Yes and no. He was the fastest person on the right strategy, and in my opinion the driver of the day. But how would he have coped if Vettel was on a 3 stop. We'll never know but still kudos to Hamilton for the performance.
But somehow he seemed to keep the tires in much better condition that Jenson's (who is often praised for tire saving). Some of it is obviously down to only using one set in qualy, but regardless it still shows that Lewis had given some thought to how to keep his tires in good condition.
in china a 3 stop was the right choice. What would happen if 2 stops whould of been right? and lewis would of been on that strategy? I dont think the result would of been the same.
I also think he was the best on tyre management on the day, despite of all his overtaking, but that included and extra set he saved on Saturday and other drivers being on what proved to be to wrong strategy. If Pirelli sticks to the current spec, tyres will be a Championship deciding factor and Hamilton is not renowned for taking special care of them. It's been only one race. It is true though that everybody knows that tyre management will assign the Championship - see Webber performance and his press conference comments. So Lewis will be pushing himself to be gentle with the rubber. He knows he will be in trouble otherwise.
Its more pit stop strategy than tyre management (China showed 3 stops was better than 2), you still have to have raw speed and a fast car as Vettel and Hamilton are showing by leading the champioship.
I liked the race but I would prefer to see something more given to the person who gets pole posistion, because now it's looking like you don't have to bother running in Q3 and just accept 10th with a new pair of options for race, risk just doing 1 lap with options and maybe get pole. Or just do a Webber/Kimi, have an ice cream don't bother to go out and just allow the likes of Lotus/HRT/Virgin to get into Q3 so you get 3 sets of options ready for race day... I like what the FIA are doing but it's starting to look NASCARish if they don't give some advantage to the people who worked hard to get into Q3 unlike the other teams or their teammate who didn't. At some stage you could see the whole grid flip if more than 1 safety car comes out, having fast back runners change to brand new options while the lot up front don't have anything to match it with I say either scrap quali and do something else (give points maybe?) or make the harder compounds faster/more durable so the front runners can't just be done over by a "fast car driver" who failed to qualify IMHO. 1st is looking worse than being in 9th-10th and both of them look worse than 11th and under etc...
I said during pre-season testing that the teams in Q3 shouldn't have to start on the tyre they qualify, and I stick by that. It will get to the point where the fastest Q2 time determines pole because the people who get through don't bother setting a time (which would be farcical from a spectator point of view). If points for pole was proposed this year I think most teams would veto it because the FIA would have to straight away give three lots of points to Vettel for the first three races, so I think they'd wait until next season. They would probably be able to change the tyre situation for this year though, the rule is farcical and always has been. I've always thought 11th on the grid is better than 10th which is a joke. The person in 10th should get an advantage over 11th simply because they've outqualified them.
AG, Yes your'e right, getting into Q3 seems to be a penalty, simply down to having to start on used rubber, I guess its all down to the enhanced entertainment aspects that seem to be paramount nowadays, and possible false overtaking of those who qualified further up the grid but are limited to racing on part worn tyres. Brilliant idea, who the hell thought that one through, or rather didn't.
now we have quick wearing tyres, I dont think the 'start on the tyres you qualified with' rule is needed anymore to spice up racing.
This is a good thread Ernie: I think it raises an interesting point. I think the penny dropped for Hamilton after his relatively poor showing in the previous race (where his tyre management was not so good). There can surely be no doubt that the importance of tyre management has become a huge factor and will play a very significant part in deciding the World Championship if Red Bull's outright performance advantage can be reigned in. - They have still got the fastest car be a country mile and I believe Vettel would have vanished out of sight if he'd not messed up the start at China. SilverArrow's post sums things up nicely: Some good points here, particularly about producing more durable tyres. However, if the spectacle we were treated to last weekend is deemed to have been mostly due to tyres, we can be sure that Pirelli will be getting a big pat on the back and NOT producing a long-distance alternative.
You know this could be one of those years where a complete dark horse aka, williams or sauber could win a race towards the end with having fresh options to beat the front runners with worn prime's. All it takes is a late safety car to bunch up the pack and even Vettel, Lewis and Alonso combined wouldn't be able to stop the likes of Force india, Sauber, Williams on fresh options. Look how easy Webber made it look towards the end even after a few laps on them. Would have drivers pitting on the SC period, the likes of Kobayashi and Di resta in particular could just pit with 12 laps to go and they both lead at the end without any trouble, eventhough being at the back when the SC came back in. Can just see it now.... Man: "Come on Jenson just a few more laps to go "kisses betting slip" great call to put ã20 you being 8/1 and all. 10 minutes later..... TV: "Jenson Button looks to be heading to win his first grand prix of the season..........BUT WHAT'S THIS!!!!! TIMO GLOCK HAS COME OUT OF NOWHERE TO BEAT JENSON TO THE FINISH LINE ON THE OPTION'S HE PITTED FOR 10 LAPS AGO, NO ONE SAW THIS COMING WITH HIM BEING 5000/1...... Woman: "Oh dear darling, you ok?" Man: "Be right back....."footsteps walking outiside towards shed"......................."gunshot" THE END....
