Malaysian Grand Prix 2014, Kuala Lumpur - Race 2/19

The times from 2nd practice are promising for a good race, I know they are not the full picture especially once tyre wear and long running are taken into the picture but I hope that the racing will be closer than it was in Melbourne. 5 drivers within 0.2 seconds of each other can only be good.

From F1Fanatic
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If Mercedes has such a big advantage I doubt they will run at max all the time. Just bring more when needed so it looks closer than it is. Can't see teams making up what is reported as aSecond a lap advantage over 1 race.
 
It's catch 22 though, run at 90% power and risk being caught out in the DRS zones, or run at 95-100% and risk burning the engine out in the humidity.

I'm speculating but teams are probably running with a bias toward a wet setup, given the likelihood of rain on Sunday.
 
They had almost a minute spare last race, once you take out the SC.
So Ai can't see anyone catching up speed wise anytime soon. Although different tracks do suit different cars.
And they won't be pushing with such an advantage, if they were it would be silly as so many teams will have to take penalties later in the year (or early in the year if your lotus) so why strain the PU to just pull a bigger margin. Maintain a put stop, which is all he did. Although he had to do it twice thanks to SC.

The rbr certain looks great in highspeed corners.
 
Gambisk said:
Is it fair to blame Lotus for not being able to package the engine in a way that will allow cooling? Or is it the fault of Renault for producing a engine that appears to needs a lot more cooling?
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It's the way it's packaged as it was ok on the dyno but not when they installed the powertrain.

Take a look at the back and you will see how tight the rb is compared to the Merc. And it's all to do with aero.

But it got me thinking that when Merc race in a lower temp race they can stream line their car more.
 
utajoker said:
If Mercedes has such a big advantage I doubt they will run at max all the time. Just bring more when needed so it looks closer than it is. Can't see teams making up what is reported as aSecond a lap advantage over 1 race.
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Until Merc are proven to bullet proof (which no-one has proven just yet) Im not sure there is anything to worry about per se.

Their performance have been fantastic for such a new power train, however it will be interesting how they do after 3 - 4 races using the same power train /gear box etc which is when all teams will start hurting imo
 
Gambisk said:
Is it fair to blame Lotus for not being able to package the engine in a way that will allow cooling? Or is it the fault of Renault for producing a engine that appears to needs a lot more cooling?
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Is it OK to blame Lotus for barely having the money or staff to put together a car for 2014? Yes. They fannied about for so long trying to rescue a deal that everyone could see was only ever going to be a disaster (and turned out to be lies from the off) until at the last minute they relented, hired Maldonado's cheque book and set about building an F1 car with the few staff which remained and what's probably a bunch of work-experience kids.

Given Renault's issues at Jerez, it initially seemed like they'd lucked into a good decision, but while the other teams were able to learn from Jerez, Renault were clearly so far behind in every aspect that they're at the point now which the other teams were in the first Bahrain test.

Given Williams' decent start to 2014, Maldonado is probably crying himself to sleep at night. My heart bleeds.
 
Spie said:
Fastest laps in Practice 2 still 3.5 seconds slower than last years times.

Still, at least the cars are burning less fuel eh?
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This is only the second race of the new season. With the major changes to the cars this year it's not surprising. Once the teams start to understand the cars better and with development I'm sure the cars will get a lot quicker.
 
this_is_gav said:
Is it OK to blame Lotus for barely having the money or staff to put together a car for 2014? Yes. They fannied about for so long trying to rescue a deal that everyone could see was only ever going to be a disaster (and turned out to be lies from the off) until at the last minute they relented, hired Maldonado's cheque book and set about building an F1 car with the few staff which remained and what's probably a bunch of work-experience kids.

Given Renault's issues at Jerez, it initially seemed like they'd lucked into a good decision, but while the other teams were able to learn from Jerez, Renault were clearly so far behind in every aspect that they're at the point now which the other teams were in the first Bahrain test.

Given Williams' decent start to 2014, Maldonado is probably crying himself to sleep at night. My heart bleeds.
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hes effectively jumped onto a sinking ship
i would expect every lotus employee is looking for a new job tbh

next year maldanado will take his money else where and lotus will be gone i expect

they arent even in RBRs position. They are slow as well. Its actually painful to watch really.
 
Gambisk said:
The times from 2nd practice are promising for a good race, I know they are not the full picture especially once tyre wear and long running are taken into the picture but I hope that the racing will be closer than it was in Melbourne. 5 drivers within 0.2 seconds of each other can only be good.

From F1Fanatic
eC9ylNQ.png
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When three of them are world champions and a fourth is a Williams, it can only be great.

Unfortunately one of them is Vettel, but you can't have everything.
 
al4x said:
i think merc have more in reserve.
Just my view
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According to the BBC write-up, Hamilton and Alonso were 0.5 seconds down in the first sector on their fastest lap, suggesting they both have quite a bit in reserve.

I agree with you, I expect Merc have a bit in reserve as well. The dodgy weather can certainly level the field to a degree though.
 
I think some/most cars are also not at all pushing down the long straights, sticking to a limit and saving the engines. Ultimately knowing how the car does in the corners is important but outside of accelerating out of a corner taking 5 or 55 seconds down the straight doesn't tell them anything new about the car so saving power there is losing nothing and gaining engine life.

I think we'll see cars push more after/if they all last 4 races and get a general idea that the engines won't all blow up for everyone midway through the third race.

I think Hamilton now has a disadvantage in that he's not had a clean start, nor a full race while Rosberg has had both. Rosberg will be sitting on the line wanting to repeat last races start while Hamilton will not know how a good race start feels yet. Did he do the right thing last time and the engine just didn't give him enough juice or did he get it wrong, etc.

Rosberg will be confident while Hamilton worried about the race. Hope to hell his engine doesn't give out again. Still would put money on Hamilton to get the lap time when required probably 70-80% of the time over Rosberg.

Thing I want to see most besides both Merc's finishing the race(to see some competition between them) is Williams to qualify near the front somewhere to see how they can do. Bottas's pace was good but from too far back. I want to see if they have any chance of keeping up with the Merc's if they start nearer the front. Would love to see a Williams back on the podium and would just be funny to see Massa get a podium before Alonso :p
 
Hamilton was firing on five cylinders at the start of Melbourne wasn't he? Rosberg shot off like a rocket from the line (although it might have looked faster because Riccy bogged down as well) so I expect if Hamilton gets a clean start on Sunday he won't be too worried.
 
Irish_Tom said:
Hamilton was firing on five cylinders at the start of Melbourne wasn't he? Rosberg shot off like a rocket from the line (although it might have looked faster because Riccy bogged down as well) so I expect if Hamilton gets a clean start on Sunday he won't be too worried.
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I'm trying to find out if he is using the same engine or he has a new one in. Any idea?
 
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