Chinese Grand Prix 2015, Shanghai - Race 3/19
- Thread starter Shimmy
- Start date
Ah that's good news! Where did you hear/read about that?
Soldato
"Lewis is driving too slowly, tell him to speed up." LOL
Soldato
Did Mercedes really just tell Lewis to speed up? Funny if related to Nico's call a moment ago!
From @AppSupportTeam on twitter. The official @F1TimingApp account hasn't posted anything since 1st feb... The App support guys are very busy.
Caporegime
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It's worth noting that Ferrari pushed an extra 100mil into the engine this year, something I didn't know till yesterday is also that Ferrari brought in the Merc ERS specialist AND their fuel specialist during last year. So Ferrari threw big money at two of the most important guys in the Merc garage who came in and clearly made a monumental difference to that Ferrari engine, I mean their ERS went from worst to potentially joint best.
Renault on the other hand went from 4 engine partners to 2, which means less money coming in and unlike Ferrari didn't decide to throw an extra £100mil on top of their normal budget at the engine. Also if Ferrari throw more money at key Merc guys then Renault obviously can't get those same two people.
So while Renault absolutely haven't done a good enough job, they are financially constrained in that Ferrari gain huge from sponsorship and their appearance of being a great car has always been heavily involved in their F1 team, Renault not so much. There are very valid and good reasons Renault haven't developed the engine as well as Ferrari in the past year.
Renault on the other hand went from 4 engine partners to 2, which means less money coming in and unlike Ferrari didn't decide to throw an extra £100mil on top of their normal budget at the engine. Also if Ferrari throw more money at key Merc guys then Renault obviously can't get those same two people.
So while Renault absolutely haven't done a good enough job, they are financially constrained in that Ferrari gain huge from sponsorship and their appearance of being a great car has always been heavily involved in their F1 team, Renault not so much. There are very valid and good reasons Renault haven't developed the engine as well as Ferrari in the past year.
They just kind of suggested that if he wouldn't mind possibly picking up the pace a smidgen the team would be most appreciative.
The engine is awful, it's just that RB have compounded the problems with their car and TR are flattering it with theirs, much as RB did last year.
I'm pretty sure that if you packaged the Mercedes unit badly, cooled it badly, and then ran untested maps on it that it would munch its innards too.
The Renault engine isn't terrible. It's the 3rd best clearly, but the biggest issue looks to be the way RBR are implementing it.
Won't stop them throwing their latest restock of toys out the pram
Caporegime
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As commentators are hinting at and I was suggesting, Hamilton has ROsberg in his pocket and is crazy fast on either tire. For Hamilton pushing Rosberg into Vettel is the optimum strategy for him for the season, he could finish this race 10, or even 20 seconds ahead of Rosberg, but Rosberg probably a comfortable second.
Hamilton though is helping hurt both the cars behind him, in both tires and running around in hotter air on their engine for the entire race, all while saving his own engine and tires even better.
He did this all last year, manage the gap to Rosberg, get him in the dirty air, get the car hotter, let their tires get worse.
Soldato
Lewis is just toying with the trio behind him, conserving his tyres whilst making it difficult for them.
Third best out of four and frankly I don't count McLaren at the moment as they're still shaking the problems out of a brand new design. Renault have had a year longer to work on theirs.
Caporegime
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I'm pretty sure that if you packaged the Mercedes unit badly, cooled it badly, and then ran untested maps on it that it would munch its innards too.
The Renault engine isn't terrible. It's the 3rd best clearly, but the biggest issue looks to be the way RBR are implementing it.
Won't stop them throwing their latest restock of toys out the pram
ULtimately when a engine under performs the only real option is to get ultra aggressive on the car. It's fine apparently for ALonso to say seconds don't interest him, they want wins, but the same applies to RBR, with a lame engine they could be sensible with the chassis/aero/cooling and come say 8-9th safely, but they don't want to do that. They'd prefer to kill engines going after better performance. TR are a little less optimistic so a little aggressive and making the engines last a little better, even then TR have used more ICE's than I believe any Merc team, 2nd engine by the third race when they are supposed to last 5 races a piece isn't great at all.
Caporegime
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lol, Merc making a big statement there, though, Brundle wrong again, undercut... hamilton is saving his tires exceptionally well and has another probably at least half a second a lap in his pocket. If Rosberg was pitted early Hamilton would do 2-4 more laps at an amazing pace most likely, then pit with fresher tires. I could see him coming out ahead and even if he didn't, he'd be faster and with a shorter stint to run, I'd be surprised if he didn't take him easily in all honesty.