Chinese Grand Prix 2013, Shanghai - Race 3/19

I'm amazed at how much merc have improved. They have been consistently fast over all the races so far and just lacking that little bit to challenge for the win. Such big improvement from last season.


It's good to have 4 teams/drivers in the mix as well.

I'm the same, it's good to see. Just need McLaren to sort their car out as well and it will be 5 teams.
 
I'm amazed at how much merc have improved. They have been consistently fast over all the races so far and just lacking that little bit to challenge for the win. Such big improvement from last season.

Improved? Isn't this how they started the season last year? Well not a million miles away. They won the 3rd race from pole last year iirc. I'm more concerned if they can keep it up and not slip back again :(

Either way I'm still on target for Lewis to beat JB's points total and that's all I'm concerned with this year :D
 
When Hamilton moved I said he would feel really smug the first time he passed Button on track.

People scoffed, said it would never happen. Didn't he do it twice on Sunday? :D

There is still massive potential for Mercedes to fall off the boil and plummet down the field as the season progresses, but fingers crossed that doesn't happen.
 
There is still massive potential for Mercedes to fall off the boil and plummet down the field as the season progresses

This is what I predict will happen. They'll put more emphasis than any other team into their 2014 car and the development scope for their 2013 challenge will start diminishing.
 
There is merit in that approach, just look at 2009. It all depends who is in the title fight come mid season.

The rule changes are more engine than aero though, far less severe than the 2009 changes. The biggest factor will be the engines which for most teams is out of their hands. Mercedes could build the best chassis on the grid, but if the Mercedes engine is no good then it wont matter.

I am assuming that for those teams making cars and engines (Ferrari and Mercedes) they engine and 2014 car development teams are very separate.
 
This is what I predict will happen. They'll put more emphasis than any other team into their 2014 car and the development scope for their 2013 challenge will start diminishing.


I thought it was you who said the McLaren would still be good with out Lewis and Button would beat him?
Merc's V6 is already done and the same for the chassis ect.

Another 6 races then we will see Hamilton's input come through. I still hope top 5 places in the races for Lewis.
 
Another 6 races then we will see Hamilton's input come through. I still hope top 5 places in the races for Lewis.

I think we're seeing it already. Nico is no slouch and he consistently thumped Schumacher in qualifying and scored more race points. I know Nico's had some rotten luck with 2 DNF's and being told to hold station behind Lewis in the one race where he did score, but in qualifying , Lewis is showing his class.
 
When Hamilton moved I said he would feel really smug the first time he passed Button on track.

People scoffed, said it would never happen. Didn't he do it twice on Sunday? :D

There is still massive potential for Mercedes to fall off the boil and plummet down the field as the season progresses, but fingers crossed that doesn't happen.

The difference wasn't much - or put it another way, its more likely that McLaren will be passing Merc on track sooner rather than later considering their history with during-season development rather than Merc extending their lead.

The WCC only looks positive from a Merc perspective because of McLaren's foul up in the pits in the 2nd race of the season.

I think we're seeing it already. Nico is no slouch and he consistently thumped Schumacher in qualifying and scored more race points. I know Nico's had some rotten luck with 2 DNF's and being told to hold station behind Lewis in the one race where he did score, but in qualifying , Lewis is showing his class.

Quali doesn't give you any points however, even with the dog of the car McLaren started with, I still expect Button to outscore Lewis over this season.
 
I thought it was you who said the McLaren would still be good with out Lewis and Button would beat him?
Merc's V6 is already done and the same for the chassis ect.

If you mean Button beating Lewis this season then yes I stick by that. As for whether Mclaren will do better with Perez instead of Hamilton that's probably not going to happen this year, but who knows, hopefully Mclaren can produce a winning race car sometime very soon and we'll see how he does then!

I want Checo to do well, he seems like a nice guy and showed some excellent race craft in a few races last year, Malaysia and Italy especially for me really stick out.

Got to remember though, that with Checo it's a completely different team, new people, work codes, ethics, policies, sponsorships, a totally different world to the one he had at Sauber. On top of all that he's having to wrestle around the slowest of the big team's cars, as if he needed his confidence knocking anymore.

Hopefully he'll start upping his game because he needs to quickly.
 
Quali doesn't give you any points however...

You're more likely to get points qualifying first than if you qualify last. I assume you agree with this statement, yes ? So, yes it kind of does give you points indirectly.

...even with the dog of the car McLaren started with, I still expect Button to outscore Lewis over this season.

Lmao ! :D. Sorry, I shouldn't laugh. It's your opinion and you're entitled to it.
 
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You're more likely to get points qualifying first than if you qualify last. I assume you agree with this statement, yes ? So, yes it kind of does give you points indirectly

Even on McLaren's worst day, they don't qualify anywhere near last so that's irrelevant.

So what if you qualify first and go backwards in the race - all you are doing is doing that for the merchandising / advertising. Its not the true performance (ie not like RBR qualifying first and staying there in the race, however boring the race turns out ot be)
 
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