A bad looking P3. As expected nothings changed - Red Bull still tops and Ferrari gathers pace whilst Mclaren go backwards. Hamiltons talent is now just being wasted year in year out. Hope this is an over reaction and quali comes good. But I doubt it. So whats the answer ? Return of in season testing ?
I think it probably is an over reaction. Practice times aren't too important and since we don't know fuel loads, we never see the true indication of pace until qualifying. I have no doubt that McLaren were heaver than Ferrari and Red Bull in P3 - there's no way McLaren could be 1.5 seconds slower than Ferrari in the space of two weeks. As I said above, we'll need to wait until qualifying, but what I will say for now is that Ferrari in the hands of Alonso looked very good, even on the hard tyre. If you want to remain optimistic, McLaren have brought a few new parts here (including a very nice rear wing). Having said that, Ferrari have almost an entirely different rear end
They looked bad last year in practice when testing a new floor which didn't work. I know they didn't do fantastic in qualifying either, but look at how the race turned out, 2nd and 4th.
What happened to McLarens great development pace? They seem to have gone backwards more often than forwards over the last 2 seasons.
My concerns were hightened a bit because the Mclaren time line on their web site which gives you some of the pit radio conversation was broadcasting engineer saying "we need to find xxx secs in this sector and xxx secs in that sector" which I read as maybe a setup or tyre heat issue rather than fuel. Of course that doesnt mean to say they can't nail any changes for quali. Heres hoping.
I think they may have been running with high fuel loads due to the rain disrupting friday. I think its raining again aswell at the moment.
Well it is only FP3, and as Anthony Davidson said, different drivers are running different fuel loads, and not everyone is running their quali set up. I think all of them have been testing there upgrades in FP3 rather than FP1, cause of limited running due to the weather. And Vettel getting top in the last 5 minutes is just mind games really, I think it was Murray Walker that said that. When your in a top team, getting 1st/pole in FP1, 2 and 3, and Q1 and Q2, is just for a psychological lift They'll still be at the very top i'm sure
What disgusts me the most is that Sauber got disq at aus for a small design flaw that gave them no advantage, yet renault who are blatantly breaking the rules for an advantage are let off by their countryman. Jean Todt just can't help himself, like the french of 60 years ago he's instantly hoisted the white flag to an Austrian.
Well looks like Mclaren have reverted to the old wing - so already (as usual) that update hasnt bloody worked. Sigh.
McLarens updates are always ****. Only good update they've done this year was copying Red Bull before Aus.
well thats it and unfortunately I have no egg on my face. P10 for Hamilton tomorrow. Unbelievable. Please rain.
absolute bull**** what are mclaren playing at . They have gone backwards (again) 5th button ok result 10th Lewis hamilton wtf !!!
I remember the same sort of stuff on here a few weeks ago in Canada, when McLaren had set up for the conditions expected in the race, they stated 5th and 7th compared to Ferrari's 2nd and 3rd. come the end of the race Button won and Ferrari fluked a 6th.
Jenson Button: "the position's not bad. The pace is." He says that with a beter setup and perfect lap he could only have gotten and extra few tenths. That makes them a second slower than ferrari.
Pretty much. Start the season with the second best car, sink to 3rd best by the 8th/9th race with a series of failed upgrades. Now all they have to do is sit in this position for the rest of the year.
