Chinese Grand Prix 2012, Shanghai - Race 3/20
- Thread starter Duke
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I don't think mercs perceived tyre issue is related to ddrs, it's just how the car is.
You're right of course that ddrs is next to useless in the race but qualifying is important, every team wants to start on pole and run to the flag - no complications, no drama.
It'll be interesting to see which teams jump straight on it, who do it as new parts are developed anyway and who just doesn't bother.
DDRS looks to be a fairly major piece of work to be retro fitted to cars which don't have it.
It involves designing a new front wing, new front wing supports, a new nose, new monocoque to accommodate the tubing, new engine cover, new rear beam wing, new rear wing end plates and a new DRS flap.
Thats a serious amount of work. I can't see many teams throwing resources at it to gain 0.5 of a second in Qualifying. I expect their existing development plans have those sort of gains in mind already.
Also, the teams that would benefit more from better quali pace (the midfield teams) are the ones who would struggle to find the funding to be able to throw at it anyway.
Its why I think there has been such an effort by some teams to get it banned. They have no serious plans to copy it so want it illegal so nobody else has it.
I still don't think its worth much.
It involves designing a new front wing, new front wing supports, a new nose, new monocoque to accommodate the tubing, new engine cover, new rear beam wing, new rear wing end plates and a new DRS flap.
Thats a serious amount of work. I can't see many teams throwing resources at it to gain 0.5 of a second in Qualifying. I expect their existing development plans have those sort of gains in mind already.
Also, the teams that would benefit more from better quali pace (the midfield teams) are the ones who would struggle to find the funding to be able to throw at it anyway.
Its why I think there has been such an effort by some teams to get it banned. They have no serious plans to copy it so want it illegal so nobody else has it.
I still don't think its worth much.
This will be the acid test.
Its very easy for teams to make protests, but if they truly believe that this device is "worth it", then they will spend the resources and attempt to implement it. If they don't bother, then this will tell us that they believe that the device just isn't worth the trouble.
R.Brawn has stated that retrofitting the device to a car for which it was not designed, is very difficult.
This is a good point and makes logical sense.
Yeah with the F Duct and things it was "is it legal?", "yes", "GO GO GO!"
Were what, 8 weeks on from this device first surfacing and they are still asking if its legal before they 'dedicate resources to it'... If Red Bull/McLaren/etc thought it was worth it they would have taken the FIA's "yes" from back during testing and had the devices on the cars themselves by now.
Were what, 8 weeks on from this device first surfacing and they are still asking if its legal before they 'dedicate resources to it'... If Red Bull/McLaren/etc thought it was worth it they would have taken the FIA's "yes" from back during testing and had the devices on the cars themselves by now.
Man of Honour
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Get out the thread
It is just because I can watch so few of the races live as it is, kind of lost interest a little
Imo it just goes to prove Brawn's comment that the "W duct" is difficult to copy. If it wasn't, it would be on the front runners cars already.
Well even if they think it's worth it I doubt with the amount of redesign you will see it this year. The test of whether the device is worth it is if they design it in the car next year.
Some people think Button will win this. But bearing in mind that this is one of Hamilton's strongest tracks, my vote goes to:
Hamilton (on a dry track).
Button, if it's wet.
I know that Hamilton is taking a 5 place grid drop, but if he takes care of his tyres and drives fast, he can jump everyone. Also bear in mind that when he won here previously, he did not have the best car. In 2 days, he will have the best car.
Hamilton (on a dry track).
Button, if it's wet.
I know that Hamilton is taking a 5 place grid drop, but if he takes care of his tyres and drives fast, he can jump everyone. Also bear in mind that when he won here previously, he did not have the best car. In 2 days, he will have the best car.
Winning from 6th on the grid, with Button, a Red Bull or two, A Merc or two, Alonso etc all in front of him will be a tall order. He could well be starting 7th or even 8th... I wouldn't put money on Hamilton to win.
Hamilton will have Button, Vettel, Webber, Schumacher and Grosjean infront of him. Grosjean, Schumacher and Webber will be quickly dispatched, Vettel will be overtaken in a pit window, and Button will be overtaken in the next pit window if at all. If he can't get past Button, Hamilton will come second behind him.
I'm just not so sure.
Like I said, I'd love to see it, but this is the all-new and improved Hamilton that's happy collecting steady points. [sic]
Someone mentioned last year at Monza; I'd hate to see it, but I fear we might be in for a replay of that.
Bear in mind how slow/reluctant he has been to overtake so far this season like Perez in Melbourne.
but remember who changes front wing and the back wing at the same time (let alone panneling and other "packaging") , I think this is what makes it less likely that any team will instantly turn up with it.
Of course its possible a team could have the front wing (lets say) installed and working first and then leave the back wing and all tubes etc for a deveopement stage later, without the front wing actually doing anything to start with (although this might cause other affects) ....from a ddrs point of view
Start with the back wing first - this shouldnt cause any issues (as its the "exhaust" rather than intake) and then move forward is a possiblitiy I guess
Im wondering while teams have to be dynamic in their development and not too rigid, I would also be surprised if they dont have a general plan of how they are going to deveolp their car already , and how this is "set" for each team might determine how quick / slow each team thinks about including ddrs into their car setup
Skeeter - I agree about everything else- but you really think the monocoque has to be redesigned as well? I would be very surprised it had to go this far to be fair? (but surely if true makes it nigh on impossible to have ddrs until next season for other teams, due to monocoque rules?)
edit - it loked like JB was strugging this morning in the practice sessions, Im hoping this is eradicated by tomorrow. Think RB's will be very strong and both could be ahead of Lewis on the grid. I would have thought MS will probably be also, and a slight chance at Alonso
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Yep.
It shall be very interesting to see if Rosberg can outscore MSc, by the end of the year.
To be fair though, MSc is "the star" and his name attracts attention. He is trading on past reputation, though.
Button is going to be the difficult one, because Hamilton will need to beat him while driving the same car. I don't see the other drivers being a problem. Of course, if it rains/drizzles then anything can happen (though Button is pretty special in damp/wet conditions).
Its 2-0 to Schumacher in Quali so far, which is very different to last year. It will be interesting to see if the trend continues.