OK, after close analysis of the previous "Post Melbourne Car Rankings" thread our collective expert opinions ranked the cars in the following order of race performance: McLaren Red Bull Lotus Mercedes Ferrari Williams Sauber Force India Torro Rosso Caterham Marussia HRT So how have opinions changed post Malaysia? An awkward race to judge the true pace of cars and drivers on but should still give us some fun.
McLaren Red Bull/Lotus Mercedes=In qualifying 2nd Ferrari Williams Sauber/Force India Toro Rosso Caterham Marussia HRT
On outright pace: McLaren Mercedes Lotus Red Bull Sauber Ferrari & Williams Toro Rosso Force India Caterham Marussia HRT Race pace is still a bit blurred, Red Bull and Lotus seem to have solid all rounders, Mercedes are a lot slower in the race, McLaren are unknown. I'd guess at: McLaren & Red Bull Lotus Sauber Mercedes Ferrari Williams Toro Rosso Force India Caterham Marussia HRT So combined quali and race performance: McLaren Red Bull & Lotus Mercedes Sauber Ferrari Williams Toro Rosso Force India Caterham Marussia HRT
Bando is correct McLaren Red Bull Sauber Lotus Williams Ferrari Torro Rosso Force India Mercedes Caterham Marussia HRT
Overall race pace: McLaren Red Bull Lotus Ferrari Williams Mercedes Sauber Force India Toro Rosso Caterham Marussia HRT The Merc just seems to fall apart in the race to show any real pace.
Mercedes in qualifying are very close to McLaren, and were arguably on par with them at Malaysia. In the race they struggle but it's not that bad. Schumacher probably would have finished 4th in Australia without his mechanical problem and when he completes a full race in the dry we should be able to see their true pace. I think their driver line-up is holding them back.
This is how I see it in terms of race pace, but we really need a normal dry weekend on a non-street circuit track to get the true picture, saying that it will probably rain in China Mclaren Red Bull Lotus Sauber Ferrari Williams Force India STR Mercedes Caterham Marussia HRT
Because of Mercedes tyre wear issues, I thought that a wet race would suit them better. Also, you drive with more wing during wet which gives the DRS more effect.
Mercedes have alas turned up a dud once again it seems. Blame whoever you like, but there is something fundamentally wrong at that team! For me, I think it goes: Mclaren Red Bull Lotus Sauber Williams Ferrari Mercedes STR Force India Caterham (gap) Marussia HRT
Today's Autosport magazine includes (what they believe to be) the pecking order in qualifying pace and race pace. I discreetly made a note of it on my phone today at the shop. I didn't bother with Marrusia or HRT though. Here it is: Raw pace (qualifying) 1. McLaren 2. Mercedes +0.234 3. Lotus +0.247 4. Red Bull +0.410 5. Williams +0.945 6. Ferrari +1.189 7. Sauber +1.291 8. Force India +1.311 9. Toro Rosso +1.317 10. Caterham +2.846 Race pace: 1. Red Bull 2. McLaren +0.140 3. Williams +0.750 4. Lotus +0.802 5. Sauber +0.862 6. Ferrari +0.870 7. Toro Rosso +0.927 8. Force India +1.027 9. Mercedes +1.194 10. Caterham +2.168
The Ferrari gets the bad press but the Merc is far worse IMO. they seem to be opposites, the Merc good at Qualy and pants in the race and the Ferrari a dog in Quali but seems to have the pace to keep up in the race (at least in Alonso's hands). I certainly don;t think Schumacher would've finished forth if he hadn't broken his car going off in Aus. My opinion McLaren RBR Ferrari Lotus Williams Sauber Force India Mercedes STR Blah Blah Blah