The Official 2017 Formula 1 Thread

Forums › Sports › The Official 2017 Formula 1 Thread

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ... | 16

30048 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9455

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1759944 9-Apr-2017 22:56

Boring race in the end, from lap 1, as SC's mixed the race up.

Vettel pitted on VSC, then a couple of laps later there a real SC came out then the other front runners pitted. Procession from the main runners there after. Then Ferrari didn't bother with Kimi, while he complained all race about not being pitted, then they relented way too late.

tdgeek

30048 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9455

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1759977 10-Apr-2017 06:44

I have some theories so far, no time for detail now, but here they are

1. Merc has more power, but the chassis is designed heavily for clear air.

2. Merc tend to turn the wick up more, as is traditional in quali, but Lewis probably does that more in a race due to his natural aggression and desperation to win.

Now, Ferrari has closed the gap a lot. I feel Merc is obviously a great car, but maybe not as naturally great if my theories are accurate, which makes them more vulnerable this year, if their pace is more based on clear air, and Ferrari's is more based on a solid, strong overall aero design.

Jaxson

8172 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1332

Trusted

#1760051 10-Apr-2017 10:49

Ferrari has shades of Red Bull when they were dominant, in that their car was very well balanced and aero'd for corners. The whole blown diffuser optimised chassis thing back then, but their product does seem good today.

tdgeek:

their pace is more based on clear air, and Ferrari's is more based on a solid, strong overall aero design.

I tend to agree, but on the flip side, if Mercedes can start on pole and get away, then I don't see this being a good thing for the season.

You tend to qualify in clean air, and get to sit in it if you're leading the race. If you could do the historical slipstream slingshot pass, then that would be cool, but with todays aero, you're just stuffed if you try to close up on someone. Look at Verstrapon, complaining that a car miles ahead should get blue flags because it's messing with his hair, I mean air. That side of the sport is suffering.

With wider cars, there's less room for passing, especially on the narrower tracks like Australia. I had hopes Ferrari would be closer, but if Mercedes can rule the qualifying, then I suspect they'll rule the season. Early days predicktion looks like it's Hamiltons for the championship, given skill plus best car. Vettel looks to have skill over Buttas, so that appears as an even match. Kimi looks to be suffering from strategy calls. I'm a long time Kimi supporter, so I hope he sticks around for ages. His moaning and bluntness cracks me up. Cool to see Redbull in the mix a bit too, so it's at least close to a two team race for steps 2 and 3 on the podium.

tdgeek

30048 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9455

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1760061 10-Apr-2017 11:00

Jaxson:

Ferrari has shades of Red Bull when they were dominant, in that their car was very well balanced and aero'd for corners. The whole blown diffuser optimised chassis thing back then, but their product does seem good today.

tdgeek:

their pace is more based on clear air, and Ferrari's is more based on a solid, strong overall aero design.

I tend to agree, but on the flip side, if Mercedes can start on pole and get away, then I don't see this being a good thing for the season.

You tend to qualify in clean air, and get to sit in it if you're leading the race. If you could do the historical slipstream slingshot pass, then that would be cool, but with todays aero, you're just stuffed if you try to close up on someone. Look at Verstrapon, complaining that a car miles ahead should get blue flags because it's messing with his hair, I mean air. That side of the sport is suffering.

With wider cars, there's less room for passing, especially on the narrower tracks like Australia. I had hopes Ferrari would be closer, but if Mercedes can rule the qualifying, then I suspect they'll rule the season. Early days predicktion looks like it's Hamiltons for the championship, given skill plus best car. Vettel looks to have skill over Buttas, so that appears as an even match. Kimi looks to be suffering from strategy calls. I'm a long time Kimi supporter, so I hope he sticks around for ages. His moaning and bluntness cracks me up. Cool to see Redbull in the mix a bit too, so it's at least close to a two team race for steps 2 and 3 on the podium.

Dirty air wise, Lewis was stuck behind Verstappen last race, Seb was behind Hamilton and that was fine, as was Ricciardo behind Verstappen he was fine as well. Last year it tended to be tough for everyone. I feel Verstappen was complaining, Grosjean was well ahead, it was more him losing his cool, than the aero IMO.

Future wise, Vettel finished close after an unlucky run of safety cars, if he stayed with Lewis for the first laps as he did last time, it may well have been the scrap we all want to see. Crossing fingers and toes.

Jaxson

8172 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1332

Trusted

#1760152 10-Apr-2017 12:26

tdgeek:

the scrap we all want to see. Crossing fingers and toes.

Agree, don't get me wrong on that.

Ferrari are definitely closer than they were last year. It's a new game this year with the different designs etc, but it will be interesting to see if all teams progress equally with developments throughout the year.
Here's hoping it's closer than it has been. As with any sport, it hurts to have one team constantly away at the front.

Batman

Mad Scientist
30014 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6217

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1760173 10-Apr-2017 13:05

So were Ferrari unlucky with their pit stop call or poor judgement. In 2016 they always stuffed it up

Samsung

Shop now on Samsung phones, tablets, TVs and more (affiliate link).

tdgeek

30048 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9455

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1760392 10-Apr-2017 19:20

joker97: So were Ferrari unlucky with their pit stop call or poor judgement. In 2016 they always stuffed it up

Didnt stuff it up, but who knew what would happen next. Rain does mix it up, but as Merc and Ferrari are close, a dry race is what we need

Jaxson

8172 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1332

Trusted

#1763513 13-Apr-2017 02:07

Alonzo to the Indy 500 sounds cool.

tdgeek

30048 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9455

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1763521 13-Apr-2017 06:44

Jaxson: Alonzo to the Indy 500 sounds cool.

Wow yes. Its a whole different thing to F1, but also its an oval, there are four corners to practice so his daily practice runs will be very focussed.

Batman

Mad Scientist
30014 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6217

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1763689 13-Apr-2017 11:35

It's not just the four corners. He's not going to be on the podium.

tdgeek

30048 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9455

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1763715 13-Apr-2017 12:11

joker97: It's not just the four corners. He's not going to be on the podium.

It is just the four corners. Balance, line to take. Drafting he can be told how to race that, but getting around the corners is the key, both for speed, exit speed, grip, and tyre wear. Its complicated

Geekzone

Want to support Geekzone and browse the site without the ads? Subscribe to Geekzone now (monthly, annual and lifetime options).

Jaxson

8172 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1332

Trusted

#1763736 13-Apr-2017 12:21

A rookie won this race last year...

tdgeek

30048 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9455

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1763740 13-Apr-2017 12:26

Jaxson:

A rookie won this race last year...

Who had a few races in F1 and was dropped. I haven't followed it for a while, was more into Nascar, but from what I recall, Indycars are fast, basic, and very low tech. You would think apart from any one car being up on HP, that the driver would make more difference.

Batman

Mad Scientist
30014 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6217

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1763769 13-Apr-2017 12:52

I've watched a lot of scott dixon's races. it's not easy to win. the difference between first and last is not how fast you can drive, because everybody is going around the same speed. but in strategy, fuel management, pit stops, etc.

tdgeek

30048 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9455

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1763785 13-Apr-2017 13:16

joker97:

I've watched a lot of scott dixon's races. it's not easy to win. the difference between first and last is not how fast you can drive, because everybody is going around the same speed. but in strategy, fuel management, pit stops, etc.

Yes, but as you say, they are all fast. Corners are super important. The team can manage strategy and stops. You can take the low line, wider line for more speed and more distance to travel, grip, etc. Its a real science. Nascar more so as heavier cars. They run different diameter wheels, camber is key.

Admittedly I have watched hardly any Indycars for a while, its boring as. Nascar I used to watch every race, went to one in Atlanta one year

Alex Rossi is ok. I should look up his race and watch it.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ... | 16