Formula 1 - 2010 Season

[Phil]

I think team-orders are fundementally wrong. Either allow it to the fullest, meaning Austria 2002 is ok, or don't allow it at all and enforce the rule to the fullest. In that sense, I'm disappointed with the verdict.

 

[Mariner]

Well, at least the other teams now know they will only get a $100k fine if they break this rule.

It would be kind of poetic justice if one of the other drivers was to just pip Alonso to the post in the final race of the season due to team orders. I think most of them would be willing to take a $100k fine in exchange for the championship!

 

[DuckThor Evil]

Well, at least the other teams now know they will only get a $100k fine if they break this rule.

It would be kind of poetic justice if one of the other drivers was to just pip Alonso to the post in the final race of the season due to team orders. I think most of them would be willing to take a $100k fine in exchange for the championship!

While I see your point, It's hardly a team order if something like that happens in the last race.

 

[infinity4]

So what is the difference between Ferrari arguing team orders are there all the time, and a criminal accusing others who aren't caught? I say none, if you did something wrong then you can't complain for being punished first of all!

 

[Bludd]

So what is the difference between Ferrari arguing team orders are there all the time, and a criminal accusing others who aren't caught? I say none, if you did something wrong then you can't complain for being punished first of all!

If there's a law that isn't being enforced or people have notably broken the law but not been punished, the criminal has a case.

 

[Davros]

First practice results

1 Great Britain J Button McLaren
2 Germany S Vettel Red Bull
3 Great Britain L Hamilton McLaren
4 Poland R Kubica Renault
5 Germany N Rosberg Mercedes
6 Australia M Webber Red Bull
7 Italy V Liuzzi Force India
8 Spain F Alonso Ferrari
9 Brazil F Massa Ferrari
10 Germany M Schumacher Mercedes

 

[Bludd]

Fantastic! Alonso on pole from Button (with higher downforce and F-duct than Hamilton) and Massa.

Webber, who has had a terrible weekend with water pump problems and engine problems, ahead of Vettel and Hamilton. Webber did well to beat them, very impressive.

Rosberg ahead of Hulkenberg and Barrichello rounds out the top 10.

 

[Davros]

that doesnt make sense, if lewis wanted a high speed setup the f-duct is supposed to improve speed

 

[Bludd]

He admitted they went the wrong way. It was basically a 50% wager and his side lost.

 

[Kaotik]

That's what one gets for trying to squeeze yourself where you don't belong, Hamilton out on his own mistake

 

[Davros]

It was good to see masa having a go at alonso at the beginning of the race

 

[Bludd]

Wow that was tense before the first stop. TOMA ALONSO! Hooray!

Did you see Vettel running all the race on the option tyre? He changed to the primes on the very last lap. Great tyre.

Webber must be fuming because Hulkenberg went off the track all the time defending his position. It is a miracle he did not get penalised.

 

[dizietsma]

I think they should have pitted Button after Alonso hoping that Alonso on the harder tyre would take a short time to get up to full temps. Good for the championship though.

 

[Phil]

I think they should have pitted Button after Alonso hoping that Alonso on the harder tyre would take a short time to get up to full temps. Good for the championship though.

I think that was the plan, but I think they were surprised that for one Button couldn't pull away and two, Ferrari made it clear they weren't thinking of pitting Alonso before Button. After all, the plan was to be able to keep Button out as long as possible, due to him effectively maximizing his performance on the softs due to the high downforce setup. Seeing Vettel do 58 laps on the option tyre though suggest that the tyre was just too good this time.

I actually think Button's best bet would have been to pit like Vettel on the last lap, forcing Alonso to do the same (if he hadn't already pitted). At that point however, the hard tyre might have been quite a bit quicker, giving the first pitter an advantage despite having to warm them up first. But then they could have pitted at the same time too...

 

[Gerry]

Webber must be fuming because Hulkenberg went off the track all the time defending his position. It is a miracle he did not get penalised.

I don't think a penalty for the first two instances would have been justified, since he wasn't really defending his position. I'm amazed he didn't get penalised the third time though, since that looked a cut-and-dried instance of "he would have lost his position had he not cut through the chicane". I doubt whether Webber would have passed Rosberg though, so in the end he got the position he'd have got anyway.

 

[DuckThor Evil]

I actually think Button's best bet would have been to pit like Vettel on the last lap, forcing Alonso to do the same (if he hadn't already pitted). At that point however, the hard tyre might have been quite a bit quicker, giving the first pitter an advantage despite having to warm them up first. But then they could have pitted at the same time too...

That wouldn't have worked against Massa though.

 

[Phil]

That wouldn't have worked against Massa though.

Yeah, you're right. One way or the other, I'm sure Button would have had to at least concede one position, given that he couldn't drive out an advantage. Even so, it was very close indeed and the at the end, Alonso drove a very strong race (so did Button).

 

[Phil]

In other related news, apparently Heidfeld has replaced De la Rose effectively immediately at Sauber. Not sure if and how this changes anything about Heidfelds role as tyre testdriver next year. It's likely that Sauber might still be looking for a longterm replacement for the 2011 season.

 

[Bludd]

If true, Sauber has realised what the world realised years ago: that DlR is a good test driver, no, excellent test driver, but he lacks severely in the racecraft department. He hasn't raced enough, pure and simple and now it is too late.

 

[Bludd]

Also, Cosworth and Lotus have agreed to end their contract early. This paves the way for Lotus running Renault engines, KERS and gearbox.