2013 Formula One Spanish Grand Prix

[Anghammarad]

I'm not saying he should.

I'm not saying you were.

Interesting race. In the previous races here the winner have started on the front row in all but one instance, and that was from third. This time it looks like the podium finishers started from fifth, fourth and ninth respectively.

Nevertheless the drive of the day from Nico, obviously.

 

[GTPorsche]

9 cars on the lead lap. It's been a while for that few cars to be on the lead lap.

 

[05XR8]

Good one for Zo. Ferrari had the best formula for this weekend.

I think I'll lap my F'10 around Monza and Madrid tonight.

 

[Saidur_Ali]

Who else are good on the tires and contenders? If being good on tires meant that much then the gap provided from everyone else pitting would up up Marussia to points since they don't need four and may not even need three. Yet it doesn't matter all that much about tire degradation if your car is fast enough to make up the gap you lose to a car that is good on tires. I.e. Ferrari 1st/3rd right now. If there is any other cars that can make 2-3 stops and are competitive other than Lotus feel free to tell me.

Ferrari could probably do what Lotus are doing. Being good on tyres is not just how little stops you can do but also takes into account pace.

I 100% agree, I don't feel teams should have to use both sets of tires and should be free to set their own strategy rather than be dictated by a great margin of what they tires allow. I think the race is gimmick with each passing week, and as a long time F1 fan I don't really appreciate it and it seems other don't as well.

I don't really mind using both sets of tyres. I don't see why the need to make drivers multiple stops is a good idea. DRS and KERS allows drivers to race, current tyres are doing the best job to stop any good wheel to wheel racing being able to be done.

 

[otakukid96]

One of the worst races ever.

 

[niky]

Well, that was... fun.

 

[Tired Tyres]

Well, that was... fun for the tyre changers.

Fixed for you.

I'm not looking forward to Canada.

 

[Shoe67]

Great first lap. Beyond that not much happened.

 

[JGreens]

Nervy start, but the finish?

Look at those flags!
Hopefully Kimi can raise a smile!

👍

 

[Beeblebrox237]

Not the most exciting race. No major accidents, though, and that's always a good thing.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

One of the worst races ever.

You put it best

 

[SilverArrow]

Nervy start, but the finish?


Look at those flags!
Hopefully Kimi can raise a smile!

👍

Are you doing this on purpose?

 

[Tired Tyres]

Alonso 10/10

Raikkonen 10/10

Massa 10/10

Everyone else. Try harder.

 

[Mike Rotch]

Any Watford fans on here?!

We don't care about that in this thread. Take it to the appropriate one.

Interesting race, if not exciting. The tyre deg situation is getting farcical and the teams that have higher deg then others (RBR, Merc) may be a bit nervous for other potentially hot, abrasive tracks.

Driver of the day; Alonso, just for that superb pass on the outside of turn 3 on the first lap. Strong drives for Massa, di Resta and Ricciardo too.

As for LH and Rosberg going backwards at such a steady rate....yikes.

 

[niky]

Fixed for you.

I'm not looking forward to Canada.

Don't relish seeing if the teams can pull off eight three-second tire changes in a row on each car?

 

[neljack]

Jesus Christ Mercedes.............

 

[Bram Turismo]

Alonso 10/10

Raikkonen 10/10

Massa 10/10

Everyone else. Try harder.

👍

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Ferrari could probably do what Lotus are doing. Being good on tyres is not just how little stops you can do but also takes into account pace.

I accounted pace, and it has been noted by the team that they don't do that great on tires, they do better than Merc and RBR, but then again they are much faster than those two either way.

I don't really mind using both sets of tyres. I don't see why the need to make drivers multiple stops is a good idea. DRS and KERS allows drivers to race, current tyres are doing the best job to stop any good wheel to wheel racing being able to be done.

Once again, I agree with you about the dislike of tires, what I don't get is how you can hate the tires yet still think teams can keep making cars go fast while preserving tires. I mean that is the impression I get, but if Pirelli keep doing this idea of "well the teams are doing fine, let's make the tires even more challenging next year!!!"

 

[Saidur_Ali]

It is amazing to see how far off the pace the drivers are on low fuel in race compared to qualifying. Doing a comparison to Bridgestone in 2010 (Similar qualifying pace), cars with these tyres this year are like over 3 seconds a lap slower doing 3 stops more.

I accounted pace, and it has been noted by the team that they don't do that great on tires, they do better than Merc and RBR, but then again they are much faster than those two either way.

So why do you think Lotus are only good on tyres then?

Once again, I agree with you about the dislike of tires, what I don't get is how you can hate the tires yet still think teams can keep making cars go fast while preserving tires. I mean that is the impression I get, but if Pirelli keep doing this idea of "well the teams are doing fine, let's make the tires even more challenging next year!!!"

Teams will do their best to be able to go faster but I don't get where you getting what you are assuming about what I am saying? I want Pirelli to make tyres that at least go back closer to 2012 level, their hardest compounds should not be this bad.

 

[neljack]

Alonso 10/10

Raikkonen 10/10

Massa 10/10

Everyone else. Try harder.

And then destroy your tires, right? 👍

 

[GTPorsche]

Mercedes might have the best one lap pace, but they really need to work on running more than just one lap at a quick pace. Two races now where they started up front and fell like a rock.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Great job again RIC, if he keeps going this route he will be the replacement for Webber, which is nice because it will be a new Aussie. Di Resta doing great race pace again, and keeps doing what he needs to to keep the seat. McLaren seem to be doing okay. Merc GP (this is important) the team that I pull for, was awful just horrid, for a track that they're suppose to be good at, now we will have to see how well they can do on street circuits, but the cars are horrid right now and they don't seem to be getting better.

RBR a decent day, not great but not bad since they both got top fives.

Ferrari, still the fastest and when everything goes right and their crew members pay attention they get the result their drivers should be.

Lotus, good and bad, I really think Romain could have at least got points at the least. Good job rather Great job Kimi and if you keep doing this you and Fernando will be fighting it out for the championship.

 

[Lizard]

Mercedes seem to have weight issues with the full tank. Rosberg was on the pace of the front at the end.


Good drive from the front 3 and the McLarens considering their awful car. The rest awful. Vettel was even being matched in lap times by the Marussia he had just lapped for a while.

 

[Enex]

Okay race. Good to see Alonso, Raikkonen and Massa on the podium.
Mercedes was... terrible. Seeing Rosberg and Hamilton losing positions so easily is just sad.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

It is amazing to see how far off the pace the drivers are on low fuel in race compared to qualifying. Doing a comparison to Bridgestone in 2010 (Similar qualifying pace), cars with these tyres this year are like over 3 seconds a lap slower doing 3 stops more.


So why do you think Lotus are only good on tyres then?

Because as I told you prior, a team like Ferrari, can make up that bad tire control with raw speed and having drivers that are actually good with the tires. Also it probably helps to have a former tire engineer on the team. In other words Lotus aren't as fast a Ferrari but have tire control, while Ferrari have great speed but can use better tire wear.

Teams will do their best to be able to go faster but I don't get where you getting what you are assuming about what I am saying? I want Pirelli to make tyres that at least go back closer to 2012 level, their hardest compounds should not be this bad.

I want Pirelli to stop the gimmicks that they call "race tires" and just make something that is better than 2012, that last longer not shorter. The made the tires last less this year on purpose so they would come to temp faster, but by doing so you lose longevity. So my point is, if Pirelli keep doing the idea that if teams make the tires work the prior year, and make them last less and less there isn't much point to the race.

 

[Rossell2]

I'll admit if you put that GP as a poster race for F1, we'd have sod all fans.

Still, great to see some blindingly good overtakes from Alonso and Raikkonen. I enjoyed it, its nice to feel "home" in Europe

 

[GTPorsche]

The track has always been notorious for boring races.

 

[Saidur_Ali]

Because as I told you prior, a team like Ferrari, can make up that bad tire control with raw speed and having drivers that are actually good with the tires. Also it probably helps to have a former tire engineer on the team. In other words Lotus aren't as fast a Ferrari but have tire control, while Ferrari have great speed but can use better tire wear.

You have to be good on tyres to do what Ferrari did. Like I said also they could also do a 3 stop, but as it is more risky and you can make 4 stop work then it is better to go for 4 stop.

I want Pirelli to stop the gimmicks that they call "race tires" and just make something that is better than 2012, that last longer not shorter. The made the tires last less this year on purpose so they would come to temp faster, but by doing so you lose longevity. So my point is, if Pirelli keep doing the idea that if teams make the tires work the prior year, and make them last less and less there isn't much point to the race.

They really can't afford to do that anymore as they are already on the limit. If they go one step further than they are now, drivers will be forced to cruise at lower Formula speeds to make it to the end of the race or if possible use rain tyres or increase number of sets of tyres allowed. Hopefully people involved in decision making for next year can see current racing is a bit of a joke with these kind of tyres.

 

[JGreens]

The track has always been notorious for boring races.

Spot on.
It's like football, there are some fixtures/grounds you think 'ugh' but as long as you get the right result, you don't care, you take the points and move on.

 

[Robin]

The track has always been notorious for boring races.

I find most of the older European tracks rather boring now, maybe its because they have been around so long rather than to do with the track designs themselves but I wouldn't mind some of them going for new interesting locations and tracks.