2009 Chinese Grand Prix – Can anyone stop Brawn?

[Metar]

There probably won't be a Safety Car because of the extensive run off areas.

The super soft tyres are lasting a lot longer than in Melbourne.

10-12 laps compared to 6-7 laps is indeed a lot longer..

Safety-cars aren't common at Shanghai indeed - but it's always a possibility. And seeing as they have to use the Options anyway, they can just get them out of their way now - even though they wear harder at the start, before the track is rubbered in.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Um, don't you have to qualify on the tyres you intend to race one? Because if you do, Alonso's tyes won't even make it that far.

Or can you change tyres before the race provided you're fitting the same compound you qualified on?

 

[Metar]

They can change tyres to whatever they want. Why would there be such a rule?

I mean, since 2005.

 

[Blake]

They can change tyres to whatever they want. Why would there be such a rule?

I mean, since 2005.

Was also in place in 2006 I believe. They quietly dropped it for 2007 if memory serves.

 

[PeterJB]

AWESOME!!
P1 FOR SEBVET!!
GET IN THERE!!


I'm a bit behind on the latest news

 

[Only_in_f1]

Um, don't you have to qualify on the tyres you intend to race one? Because if you do, Alonso's tyes won't even make it that far.

Or can you change tyres before the race provided you're fitting the same compound you qualified on?

I thought the same. Didn't think they could touch the car unless conditions changed.

 

[Metar]

I thought the same. Didn't think they could touch the car unless conditions changed.

They can't touch the setup - that's Parc Ferme rules, and they're still in place - but haven't you guys never noticed the new tyres just before the start? At least since the 2007 markings, it should've been visible: Teams often qualified on Options and started the race on Prime tyres. Back when Ferrari and McLaren could do a single run in Q1 (and save a set of tyres), they used to scrap their Q3 tyres, since they were usually worn beyond usability.

 

[Only_in_f1]

Its actually something I didn't think they could do, so thanks for the info.

 

[Stevisiov]

Alonso will be using the super softs at the start to get them out of the way.

Still looking good for the Brawns to come through.

Yep, Alonso's tactic is probably, get to the the front while he is on super softs, back the field up as much as he can until his short stint is over then put the mediums on for the rest of the race. Sounds like a good strategy if he can keep everyone behind him.

Great run by the redbulls. Lets hope they can transform it to points on race day.

 

[Chronos]

Looks set for Button and Rubens to put the hammer down when the rest pit and leap frog.

I had a strange dream after staying up watching practice and quali that Hamilton won the race. Maybe he can keep his tyres better than the rest and with mistakes from the others and rain he can score some big points. He seems to get good consistent lines around here apart from the pit lane of course.

 

[KSaiyu]

OK, so Piquet doesn't have the diffuser but that's no excuse for not making it out of Q1 again, especially since he set a considerably faster practice time earlier in the day. Still impressed by Buemi - I admit I was wrong thinking it was too soon for him to be in F1 despite his great F3 season.

 

[Stevisiov]

I am impressed by flav's efforts to get the diffuser to Alonso for the race on time.

I guess it was worth the mechanics working on his car until 5 in the morning.

Piquet and and Nakijima still failing to impress me whatsoever. Piquet really doesn't deserve to be in F1 any longer.

 

[mPWRD]

Force India-Mercedes
Yep, back row again. Oh well. Force India fans may as well stop reading these predictions and stock up on merchandise for the 2010 season.

Force India still has fans?!?!? I had no idea!

I am impressed by flav's efforts to get the diffuser to Alonso for the race on time.

And from that same post...

Piquet really doesn't deserve to be in F1 any longer.

You answered your own question.

 

[nissan tuner]

Bourdais not making it out of Q1 was a surprise to me.

He has the equipment, there's not much of an excuse.

 

[Stevisiov]

You answered your own question.

I didn't realise I asked a question in the first place.

 

[mPWRD]

Depends on how you interpret it. Flav knows that Piquet is a lost cause, so he's putting all his effort into improving Alonso's chances.

 

[Stevisiov]

Depends on how you interpret it. Flav knows that Piquet is a lost cause, so he's putting all his effort into improving Alonso's chances.

Well yes, I don't know if you heard about how Alonso's diffuser made it to the race, but it was trasnported on Flav's private jet at last minute, they had to remove the seats to get it on the plane. Presumably they could only fit the one on board, so no prizes for guessing which driver Renault driver they gave the new diffuser too.

 

[Ardius]

Force India still has fans?!?!? I had no idea!

Well, they still have the fans of the little teams and presumably always will like Super Aguri, Minardi and Arrows before them.
Fortunately in their place they make few enemies, so if they ever do well I doubt many people won't be giving them a small cheer very alike to Monaco 2008.

 

[Peter]

What's Force India's problem? Is it Fischicella or the car itself?

 

[PeterJB]

What's Force India's problem? Is it Fisichella or the car itself?

Both.

 

[Aldo]

hi guys
quick question... What are the bits that are on the wheels of the F1 cars? If you dont know what im talking a bout its the yellow bits on the inside of the wheeel on the Brawn GP cars (check out Ardius's avatar)
cheers
Aldo
EDIT: Also, where do you get the pictures of the wee F1 cars like in Ardius's avatar. I want one

 

[Ardius]

What's Force India's problem? Is it Fischicella or the car itself?

There isn't a problem - as Mike Gascoyne pointed out they've not only kept up with the rest of the field, the gap has closed to less than 2 seconds, thats impressive stuff from a team who had to alter their car late and had little testing time especially as they are so small a team.
Force India are doing well really, all they need to do is keep up the momentum.

hi guys
quick question... What are the bits that are on the wheels of the F1 cars? If you dont know what im talking a bout its the yellow bits on the inside of the wheeel on the Brawn GP cars (check out Ardius's avatar)
cheers
Aldo
EDIT: Also, where do you get the pictures of the wee F1 cars like in Ardius's avatar. I want one

They are just wheel covers that are attached to the wheel nuts, they are part of the aerodynamics of the car and help air flow around that side of the wheels. They are quite a complicated piece of technology according to Gascoyne which is why not all the teams started using them so fast, especially Force India.

And I got my avatar from here:
http://www.pupukids.com/jp/zf1/index.html

There is an english translation of that site but it isn't updated as much.

 

[Peter]

Fischicella has a history of being a good driver, so if they make a few adjustments, they could step up from the back.

 

[Ardius]

Fisichella is ok.....he's never impressed me really, he's a bit of a Jacques Villenueve to me, he can win when he has the machinery and the motivation and everything slots into place, but one thing wrong and he's not very good really. He has a place at that team purely for experience, which clearly pays off in the races as he's more reliable than Sutil but he's outpaced by his teammate in qualifying and races far too often.

Currently, FI need a driver like him to depend on for consistent finishes, as for a small team just finishing is more important than speed, hoping to luck into good positions and take advantage through strategy until they get their hands on a faster car - then they can swap Fisi for Liuzzi or some new blood.

Actually, I always thought of Fisichella as the scaled-down Trulli - they are very similar except Trulli is just overall better in all areas.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

I was happy that Button didn't get P1, but then I looked at the fuel loads...

 

[Ardius]

I was happy that Button didn't get P1, but then I looked at the fuel loads...

But as Button said, RBR are still a significant threat, look at their pace in Q2 - where fuel plays no part.

 

[Tired Tyres]

Assuming no one gets past the Brawns at the start all they have to do is keep up until the first pitstop and then bang in some quick laps whilst Alonso and the Red Bulls are on heavy fuel and then it's a Brawn 1-2 to the flag.

That's assuming Button doesn't try something silly like he did in turn one in the last race and Barrichello actually managing to get off the grid at the same time as everyone else for a change.

 

[Ardius]

Brawn have kept their options quite open really, they can opt for a short 10-lap stint with the Super softs if necessary at the end or if rain comes they are in a good position for that too, as then they don't have to use the SS tyres.

 

[Aldo]

They are just wheel covers that are attached to the wheel nuts, they are part of the aerodynamics of the car and help air flow around that side of the wheels. They are quite a complicated piece of technology according to Gascoyne which is why not all the teams started using them so fast, especially Force India.

And I got my avatar from here:
http://www.pupukids.com/jp/zf1/index.html

There is an english translation of that site but it isn't updated as much.

cool, did ferrari not start uaing them a while ago and everyone else was just saying "What are you doing?"?
thanks mate 👍

 

[mustang245]

I'll be keenly watching to see who gets on the brakes last for Turn 1 when the lights go out... Metar is spot on with regards to Fernando Alonso's tire/fuel strategy, he must seize the lead immediately for it to be worth the gamble. I hope the brash Vettlel does nothing foolish. I honestly wonder how it must feel lining up with the Spaniard with Shanghai's daunting Turns 1,2 & 3 lying in wait? No driver puts on such a beautiful show for his fans like Alonso. I hope Ron Dennis enjoys it...