With all respect, I think it is time for Webber to go. Button needs to start sorting his **** out if he wants to keep Sergio behind him. Both Ferrari's are solid for tomorrow. Credit to both Mercedes drivers, Raikkonen and Di-Resta. A mention to Bottas, the TR's and VDG, or putting in special performances, all in their own way.
Really impressed with Rosberg. Great lap by him and looked unbeatable. Button was very poor yet again, give credit to Perez! As for the race, I see an Alonso win with a Mercedes on the podium.
I know I said this in Australia, but it's really interesting to see the quali times tumbling from last year even with the DRS restrictions. Mercedes will be lucky to finish on the podium tomorrow I think... though I wonder if Hamilton will be on Eddie Irvine duty. Really disappointing from Webber - I think his time has come - and Button has started to struggle since that almost 5th place.
Raikkonen should win from 4th, that's like a pole for him. Mercedes' tyre wear will cost them in the race, Red Bull's straightline speed is pathetic. My prediction: 1. Raikkonen 2. Alonso 3. Grosjean Great performance again from Nico, really going up in my estimations. Didn't expect Vettel to be ahead of the Ferraris and Lotuses. Awesome lap from Perez to get so far ahead of Button.
Kimi is the dark horse tomorrow higher up than usual in quali and I reckon the Mercs will fade during the race, also depends how good the Ferraris get off the line. I t's set up perfectly.
I'd like to give a to VDG for his quali performance; Pérez too. On the other hand, Button and Webber were woeful: showing their age?
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/107336 Pirelli still refusing to accept responsibility so the exploding tyres will be used at Monaco and beyond. <sigh>
Relative to team mates, I agree with Max's and BiL's posts above. Perez did well and Button needs to up his game. McLaren have every reason to be embarrassed and Sam Michael should be sanctioned for leading the team away from their focus. I should add that I believe it is now time for Martin Whitmarsh to show some strength through being less 'the nice guy' and do something (almost anything) about that bloke I've just mentioned. (On a personal level, lest there be doubt, I should also say that I do not particularly like Michael). Webber is good in Sector 3 so what is he doing elsewhere, where the Red Bull's aerodynamic efficiency should be counting for so much? Van der Garde did a great job and has so far eclipsed Bianchi as the best rookie this weekend. Rosberg did a top job with two very good laps, whilst Hamilton's gamble on a single lap was compromised just enough for him to lose out. Massa not too far away from Alonso in qualifying but his inconsistency leads me to expect a drifting away from his superior during the race. Williams are in dire straits. Sauber not impressive either. Great battle between the tail-end charlies: Caterham and Marussia. Hopefully this will continue all season.
Loved it when EJ was interrogating Sam Michael before quali started. "If Martin Whitmarsh was sacked and you were made head of McLaren what would you do differently?". Such an awkward question. Then when Michael squirmed his way pathetically through it EJ was like "So you'd change nothing?". BBC's post-quali coverage was crap as usual, I think the only interview they showed was one with Button. Then they said they wouldn't be showing the press conference and started to wrap up so I switched to Sky and caught the last two seconds of the press conference before they had an add break. Going to watch Sky's post-quali coverage from now on. Pisses me off how the BBC have an hour pre-show and then no analysis afterwards. They've been doing this for five years now.
I just tune in for the racing now, I don't care of the **** talk before and after. What happens happens.
3 place grid penalties for Massa and Gutierrez. Maldonado looks to have gotten away with his. 1. Rosberg 2. Hamilton 3. Vettel 4. Raikkonen 5. Alonso 6. Grosjean 7. Webber 8. Perez 9. Massa 10. Di Resta
I've never understood why the Beeb do this. I know you can use more pre-made clips before a session, but frankly the analysis is what we're interested in, and the pre-show regularly feels bloated and like they've had to come up with things just to fill the hour. Perhaps the Beeb can't afford a "Sky-Pad" so don't want their analysis to look amateur? I'd rather have something rather than nothing though.
He was on his flying lap, which I think was the excuse. The car's just that much of a dog it looked like an in-lap compared to Button.
I didn't see the interview you speak of, AG; but it's not the slightest surprise that he answered in the way you've described. In terms of what I've seen of the BBC's coverage of F1 over the years, I completely agree with you about their lopsided coverage. Why spend an hour on pre-amble, only to run away and close shop almost immediately the last lap is finished? Something like half an hour before and after would give a far better balance, in my opinion.
Unsurprisingly I don't agree with the penalty for Massa, but why is it three places? Isn't it normally five places? This sucks. Now Alonso shares the third row with Crashjean
It's usually three for impeding I think. Why don't you agree with it? I haven't seen it but Matt Meadows on JAF1 thought it was pretty nailed on he'd get a penalty.
We might see a big battle between the two Mercedes' into turn 1. If they are 1-2 after lap 1 we might see a strategy where the car behind holds up the driver in 3rd place to allow the lead driver to create a gap. Red Bull are horribly slow in a straight line so it could perhaps works, plus the Mercedes is very good in S3. I still don't think it would be enough for the race win but possibly a podium?
Hmm, anyone else reminded of Brawn being told to "remember that one" by Rosberg in Malaysia? If they get through T1 in grid order, will Hamilton be under instructions to hold and allow Rosberg to scamper off? Equally though DRS may make that kind of strategy impossible.
