Formula 1 - 2013 Season

[Kaotik]

He must have went straight home after crashing out in Malaysia because Kimi was fkin awful there.

There are 4-5 of them all driving at a similar level I think. Alonso has probably been at his best in 2 races but still made an error in Malaysia that cost him dearly. Kimi has been good in 2 races, bad in 1. Hamilton has been driving well considering it's a new team and can't really complain about Vettel's performances either. Button has done well in a car that isn't good enough to challenge for a win.

Di Resta has surprised me as well, he's been a lot better this year.

I would put Kimis Malaysia more in the car than himself tbh, which wasn't that surprising remembering how horribly bad Lotus was on anything close to wet weather last season, and I expect to see similar races from him in other wet'ish races this season

 

[jimbo75]

Team screwed Alonso in Malaysia. You can't see the front-wing from the driver's seat. You just can't. You have probably heard many times over the radio drivers asking "is my car okay, how is my front wing?"

Yep but it was Alonso who nudged Vettel at the second corner causing the damage in the first place.

I would put Kimis Malaysia more in the car than himself tbh, which wasn't that surprising remembering how horribly bad Lotus was on anything close to wet weather last season, and I expect to see similar races from him in other wet'ish races this season

Grosjean didn't appear to be driving a rally car unlike Kimi.

 

[Bludd]

Yep but it was Alonso who nudged Vettel at the second corner causing the damage in the first place.

And he would have taken the pain for it by pitting and trying a strong comeback-drive. At least he could fight for some points, or if there had been incidents at the front, maybe major points.

 

[Kaotik]

Grosjean didn't appear to be driving a rally car unlike Kimi.

Different setups
Grosjean has whined since season started that he can't drive with Kimi's setups

(and honestly, if you can drive a F1 like a rally car, you can be damn sure the setup is way off from what it should be)

 

[UniversalTruth]

while Alonso is phenomenal we'll see him struggle to win next weekend

Felipe and Ferrari prove that this opinion is totally wrong. Everything different than one-two for Ferrari this Sunday would be disappointment for me

 

[jimbo75]

The Ferrari is looking strong but don't get ahead of yourself yet. There's more to come from Vettel.

 

[Kaotik]

Felipe and Ferrari prove that this opinion is totally wrong. Everything different than one-two for Ferrari this Sunday would be disappointment for me

Don't draw too big conclusions from first practice, as example from china:
First practice:

1 9 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1:36.717 21
2 10 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:37.171 0.454 20
3 2 Mark Webber Red Bull Racing-Renault 1:37.658 0.941 21
4 1 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing-Renault 1:37.942 1.225 20
5 3 Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1:37.965 1.248 17
6 5 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1:38.069 1.352 24
7 4 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:38.095 1.378 14
8 15 Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1:38.125 1.408 21
9 8 Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 1:38.398 1.681 17
10 14 Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 1:38.561 1.844 15

Second practice:

1 4 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:35.340 32
2 7 Kimi Räikkönen Lotus-Renault 1:35.492 0.152 32
3 3 Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1:35.755 0.415 30
4 9 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1:35.819 0.479 35
5 2 Mark Webber Red Bull Racing-Renault 1:36.092 0.752 31
6 5 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1:36.432 1.092 29
7 10 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:36.496 1.156 39
8 15 Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1:36.514 1.174 32
9 14 Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 1:36.595 1.255 33
10 1 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing-Renault 1:36.791 1.451 27

Neither was particularily close to race results

 

[UniversalTruth]

There's more to come from Vettel

Vettel is no match for Fernando. The german is too weak and doesn't have the qualities to compete.
Fernando for the win

 

[Kaotik]

Vettel is no match for Fernando. The german is too weak and doesn't have the qualities to compete.
Fernando for the win

And the spaniard cracks under pressure, meaning easy cruisings for Kimi for the win

Kimi fastest in P2 despite a mistake in last sector on the fastest lap

 

[jimbo75]

Yeah Kimi looks fast and he had a bit in hand there. I don't think I'll be far wrong with my predictions here but Alonso's sheer class means he can't be discounted. I'd be happy to watch him chase Kimi and Vettel just to see how they handle the pressure.

 

[Kaotik]

Yeah Kimi looks fast and he had a bit in hand there. I don't think I'll be far wrong with my predictions here but Alonso's sheer class means he can't be discounted. I'd be happy to watch him chase Kimi and Vettel just to see how they handle the pressure.

Kimi didn't get the "Iceman" nick just for being ice cold to press

 

[UniversalTruth]

Kimi fastest in P2 despite a mistake in last sector on the fastest lap

It matters only to the point showing that Lotus is a good car. But nothing else. In China Ferrari didn't show fastest times either but when it matters in the race, both Fernando and Ferrari show who the boss is

WIth equal cars- no one stands a chance against the best driver

 

[Kaotik]

It matters only to the point showing that Lotus is a good car. But nothing else. In China Ferrari didn't show fastest times either but when it matters in the race, both Fernando and Ferrari show who the boss is

WIth equal cars- no one stands a chance against the best driver

Yeah, too bad there's no other top drivers driving on Lotus to compare against the best driver

(Also 2nd practice in China Ferrari were 1st and 3rd)

 

[Kaotik]

 

[jimbo75]

Hamilton column on the bbc -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/22209168

Q: Name one driver currently racing in F1 that inspires you in some way?

"Fernando, really. He feels to me like he's the most complete driver here. And with pure speed, he is rapid. He is such a quick driver but he's also very, very smart in how he does it. I really admire him for that

...He will go down as a legend. He will win more world championships. And to be in an era when there's a legend and to have him say such positive things about me, is a really cool feeling."

 

[Lightman]

Great pic Kaotic

Tomorrow I see RedBull performing strongly again with outside chance of Pole Position for Lotus and Ferrari. Race on Sunday will be a different matter and most people are putting Räikkönen and Alonso as favourites. I can't wait for the race!

I also wish Mark a bit of luck for this GP and to out-race his team mate!

 

[jimbo75]

Would love to see Webber getting a win yep. I'm just happy that the racing is much closer than I thought it would be - I really did fear a Red Bull whitewash this season but thankfully that hasn't happened. Will we see it once Pirelli gets "tyred" of the complaints though? 1-stoppers with hards and mediums every race will ensure a better time for the Red Bulls just like last season.

I actually fancy Kimi for the race but a lot will depend on qualifying tomorrow. He has more in the bank and I'm sure Vettel does as well. I can't see anything other than both Red Bulls, Kimi and Alonso in the top 4 grid positions, in what order is anyone's guess.

 

[Kaotik]

Hamilton column on the bbc -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/22209168

Q: Name one driver currently racing in F1 that inspires you in some way?

I honestly don't understand the Alonso-awe some people have, I mean sure, he's top-level driver, but no statistics say he's better than the other top drivers, he definitely doesn't do less mistakes than rest of the top drivers, there's just nothing solid to say he's any better than for example Hamilton, Vettel or Räikkönen

 

[jimbo75]

It's a bit like Senna in his early years. Everybody could tell...same with Schumi. Alonso is in-between both of them imo - not as brilliant as Senna and not as ruthless as Schumacher. Senna had some really bad cars as well, Schumacher had the best car for the majority of his career.

Very few people win a lot of races from 4th or lower on the grid Kaotik - Alonso will probably do that more than anyone else in history, barring Senna.

He totally dominates his team-mates every year. Massa is looking beaten already even though he was supposed to be on the way back? Massa is quick, but he's not quick enough.

Can you imagine if Alonso started from pole...like ever? Might as well just give him the 25 points and have a real race behind for the sake of holding a spectacle. The guy is sheer class. Hamilton is so incredibly fast over a lap but Alonso is fast by default no matter what he has underneath him.

I'm sure that if you had to ask every F1 driver who the class act of the field was, all of them *except Vettel* would name Alonso. Yes, even Kimi.

 

[Kaotik]

I don't have statistics about winning from spot x, but I do know that Räikkönen has won from 2 spots further back the grid than Alonso for example.

Also I do know that for example last season looking at overtaking statistics (actual driving overtakes, also separated in different categories like same tyre etc in addition to just totals) Alonso is nowhere to be seen, even Massa did more overtakes no matter how they're counted, even if limited to overtaking the other top team drivers.
Sadly can't find statistics on who from the top teams got passed most often.

Alonso has had top3 car pretty much always during his success just like Schumacher, and really realiable cars too.