The start will be very interesting. The battle at the front will be close and the temperatures are forecast to be cooler than today so it could all turn around again tomorrow. Let's hope it's a tight battle all down the grid during the race.
I wonder if Hamilton's car is set up more for the race than for one lap speed. In the long runs he was mighty and he was still doing very quick laps after 16, so Rosberg has to make sure his tyres last longer because if he is forced to pit first and Hamilton's tyres are still going well then baring a safety car or some other problem he will have to settle for second.
Autosport said Hamilton was averaging 0.6s a lap over Rosberg in the long runs. They could have changed the cars since fp2 though.
Pretty sure that would have been unaffected. Being able to relay info to the garage and make adjustments throughout the race would have been a hindrance though.
Conflicting info from the team: --------------- Lowe added that he did not think the telemetry failure on Rosberg's car contributed to his poor getaway, while Mercedes' non-executive chairman Niki Lauda was convinced that it must have played a part. "It wasn't a great start but it wasn't related to the loss of telemetry," Lowe said. "We were just managing through other systems, like the radio. "It's a bit awkward, but there were no issues with the car. I think it would have been a lot more difficult if there were." Lauda added: "The telemetry on Nico's car failed on the way to the grid, which is tough for him because you don't know where the clutch bite point is, and [that] his start was not perfect is understandable.
Hamilton said in an interview with Natalie Pinkham that they optimized his race setup for tomorrow's cooler temperatures. Along those lines anyway.
FIA Dope Testing The following drivers underwent anti*doping tests during the Qualifying Practice Session of the 2014 Spanish Grand Prix, in accordance with the random selection process determined by the Stewards. Car 13, Pastor Maldonado Car 99, Adrian Sutil. Car 27, Nico Hulkenberg. Car 25, Jean*Eric Vergne. Car 8, Romain Grosjean.
I doubt it. The track is like Malaysia. If he does get the first corner he will not keep the position.
I've noticed Nico most of the time has the best launch in the 1st phase, but Lewis always has the measure of him in the 2nd phase. Considering it's length to the first corner, Nico will slot in behind and slipstream him and *might* get him into turn 1, I just f**king hope they don't take each other out!
Paddy Lowe a top engineer with Williams, Mclaren and now Mercs or Niki Lauda who was sacked by Jaguar for lacking in technical depth. I know who I would more take not of. LOL