Soldato
- Joined
- 25 Jul 2003
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Lol Stevie Wonder has been designing Mclarens race suits this year!
Spanish Grand Prix 2011, Circuit de Catalunya- Race 5/19
- Thread starter Glaucus
- Start date
They are, country suit design competition at each race.
Do the softs really drop off to the point they're no faster than the hards though? I didn't think they did see such a drop off? (not until they're shot and suddenly end up 3 or 4 seconds slower than the previous lap anyway)
I see the point you're making and my numbers were overly simple but i'm not sure if the degradation occurs as you suggest, I think the hards are always significantly slower than the softs. A 1 lap old soft is 2 seconds quicker than a 1 lap old hard but I think after 10 laps, the hard will have worn too, so whilst it may not be 2 seconds slower, it will probably still be at least 1s slower i'd have thought. Then you have to account for the fact that a new set of softs will be more than 2 seconds quicker than 10 lap old hard tyres. I think my 20s figure is closer to reality than 10s is.
Sadly we don't have a nice spreadsheet of data from a practice session or two as the teams do, would be far more interesting to discuss with some actual time data
Shame Alonso split the McLarens and gutted that Hamilton has scrubbed one of his tyres.
Great lap by Webber though.
So it's looking like the usual format – the two RBRs will run off at the front and the actual racing will take place behind them.
I hope I'm wrong and Webber and Seb battle hard for most of the race but I can't see the rest keeping up with them so it's going to be a real race between Hamilton, Alonso and Button.
Saying that, Webber's starts haven't been great this season so it's possible Vettel and maybe even Hamilton could get past him before turn 1.
Great lap by Webber though.
So it's looking like the usual format – the two RBRs will run off at the front and the actual racing will take place behind them.
I hope I'm wrong and Webber and Seb battle hard for most of the race but I can't see the rest keeping up with them so it's going to be a real race between Hamilton, Alonso and Button.
Saying that, Webber's starts haven't been great this season so it's possible Vettel and maybe even Hamilton could get past him before turn 1.
Yeah they should put a stop to it because if he gains an advantage tomorrow half the cars will probably not bother setting a time in Q3 in future.
Just ran sum numbers.
Assuming softs last 13 laps, 4 pitstops.
Hards last 27 laps two pits stops.
Hard stratagey is 30 seconds slower.
Assuming laps remain the same, hard tyres need to be only 1.4 seconds of the softs for the strategy to be more or less equal.
Pirelli have lots of work to do to get these tyre compounds working. F1 already now this. They said in one of the practices it should be around 1.5 seconds slower and last around an extra 14 laps. Which would fit in with the above.
Assuming softs last 13 laps, 4 pitstops.
Hards last 27 laps two pits stops.
Hard stratagey is 30 seconds slower.
Assuming laps remain the same, hard tyres need to be only 1.4 seconds of the softs for the strategy to be more or less equal.
Pirelli have lots of work to do to get these tyre compounds working. F1 already now this. They said in one of the practices it should be around 1.5 seconds slower and last around an extra 14 laps. Which would fit in with the above.
They were chatting about that in the last GP and I think they said it's something to do with getting a rash from the flame-retardant hood / helmet if they're clean shaven.
It's to do with Hugo Boss, one of, if not the longest sponsor partnership in F1.
http://www.hugoboss.com/uk/en/emag/mcLaren/index.php#/gallery/world
Yep.
Yeah, as much as it was nice to see Kovaleinen making 15th, again it only occurred because the Force Indias ran on hards, and could just as easily have not bothered too.
I could see what Brundle was saying about the qualifying not being as exciting in the current set-up. It's way more about tyre tactics now, and not nearly as good a spectacle.
I'd be inclined to say they should do away with having the same tyres for race and quali. Give them a few sets of softs and let them go for it.
Good god, there are some hideous creations in there.
Thats what happens when you get the public involved - the amount of suits in pink is scary...
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I'm not sure if Pirelli need to do too much work. What they have done this year is fantastic. Gone are the days of processions. What we have now is the possibility of overtaking. The race result is totally unpredictable, where a driver who is leading 10 laps from the end of the race, may not actually be the one who wins, as there may be a driver behind on faster tyres.
This is exactly what Pirelli were asked to do and they have absolutely nailed their brief.
2011 is already turning out to be one of the best season I have ever witnessed in F1.
The only thing we are missing right now is some intense rivalry (eg. what we saw in 1987/88 (Prost/Senna) or 2007 (Alonso/Hamilton)). If we could have a bit of that, then 2011 could be a vintage year.