The Official 2013 F1 Thread...

[britlude]

FIA changed rules so pirelli can change tyre specs WITHOUT unanimous team approval....

and it seems all the tyres that blew were on cars with the rear tyres fitted reverse to pirelli instructions!

some details here, written over a month ago! http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/22762318

oh, and the silverstones kerbs have been the same since 2009

 

[SFNSXguy]

" The Italian tyre manufacturer said the rear tyres on the cars that suffered blow outs had been mounted with the right-hand tyre on the left-hand side and vice-a-versa. It said the asymmetrical structure of its tyres had not been designed to be used in this way and had put extra stress on the sidewalls where the cuts had appeared."
I thought all of the tires were mounted by Pirelli or a single company at each track.
How did they figure this was a performance advantage?
I would not mount the tires on a go-kart opposite the directional arrows
Hard to believe that Pirelli or the FIA would not have caught this and then allowed it.

 

[britlude]

read the link i put up, the middle bit! http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/22762318

it's all to do with the 'ply steer' inherent in the tyre design. remember earlier in the season some teams suffering with severe blistering on the rear wheels and terrible tyre life... well swapping the rear tyres over did the trick. the tyres probably are mounted by pirelli, but putting the left on the right and vice-a-versa will reverse the tyres design direction without remounting tyres.
it's rumoured that pirelli knew of teams doing this, but didn't see it to be a problem until it WAS a problem!

 

[scammy]

I was watching final practice 3 this morning at about 35 min remaining and the helicopter did a flyover which took in part of the 'ring' and there was a Porsche fresh into the barrier looked like it could of been a right off ambulance was in attendance, then the camera went back to F1 cars.
Go Hamilton good to see Mclaren get some better times finally although still not great

 

[Stephen@NCAutoUSA]

Guys what times the race on est? Comcast says 11am but other sites say differently?

 

[Miner]

Guys what times the race on est? Comcast says 11am but other sites say differently?

I believe 0800 eastern time. 0500 out here on the left coast.

 

[NSXrebel]

I believe 0800 eastern time. 0500 out here on the left coast.

thats correct

 

[myhui]

Driver of the race for me: Kimi Räikkönen. He can be in the Red Bull seat next year, if he wants it. I am not sure he wants it. He is and will be getting the same engine as Red Bull at his current team.

The Team From Enstone installed Juniper Networks gear for their cloud servers and track-side data collection networks recently. That should help them be more competitive. I think Kimi will want to stay there next year.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/juniper-solutions-lotus-f1-team-153002826.html

 

[Stephen@NCAutoUSA]

Bad luck for weber again...

 

[1K2GO]

Oh goodie, another win for Vettel... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

[Jean Girard]

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz with the one second gap to second?

I think between the Marussia rolling backward and Webber's tire, someone needs to Benny Hillify this race.

 

[1K2GO]

Oh it started out great and had lots of drama. It's the end result I'm snoring over... IMHO, rooting for Vettel winning his 4th WC in a row is like rooting for the Germans blitzing Poland in 1939. Best Team+Best Car+Best Driver = zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

[Jean Girard]

It makes it more interesting if you root against someone I suppose. Alonso for example. Wish he'd parked it a few corners earlier.

 

[bullithollywood]

Oh it started out great and had lots of drama. It's the end result I'm snoring over... IMHO, rooting for Vettel winning his 4th WC in a row is like rooting for the Germans blitzing Poland in 1939. Best Team+Best Car+Best Driver = zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

+1
If only there'd been 3 more laps!

 

[SFNSXguy]

^^^ Ten more laps would have been killer.

 

[RYU]

Vettel and Kimi = zzzzzz for me. I don't know why. I'd rather have Webber win. What's up with Hamilton? fast qualifier but suck come race day?

 

[Honcho]

Vettel and Kimi = zzzzzz for me. I don't know why. I'd rather have Webber win. What's up with Hamilton? fast qualifier but suck come race day?

Both Mercs were having tire degradation issues. My wife and I were shouting at Kimi to go faster, but he definitely needed a few more laps. I'm getting bored with the "Vettel pulls a 1 second gap at the start and then leads a parade for 60 laps" show. It is a winning strategy for sure, but not very entertaining. He did it to Grosjean at the start after the safety car.

I was happy/surprised to see my boy Jenson Button finish in the points...this year's McLaren is an awful car.

 

[Ponyboy]

Kimi put this on his FB page today. Not sure if this means he's made a decision or if he's using it to bring Lotus to the brink. If so, interesting negotiation ploy.

 

[RYU]

^^^ lol

the drama is hysterical

 

[Ko-nsx]

The last years in f1 have put out some BADASS helmets and the Kimi/red bull is nice!

 

[Caustic]

I can't see Vettel taking a back seat, and I certainly can't see Kimi doing so. Friend or no friend, in the heat of battle they aren't thinking about friendships, just about winning. I just don't see how it would work.

But if it does happen it might make for an exciting season.

 

[NSXrebel]

Vettel needs some of that "bad luck" that Webber has been getting the last 3 1/2 years. I hope Alonso, Raikkonen AND Webber can put a stop to him on top of some DNF's for him. Where's Lettuce or Loldonado when you need them?!?

 

[myhui]

Even Michael Schumacher did not win his WDCs on consecutive years.

Vettel will have to endure some bad years ahead, especially if the Honda engine turns out much stronger than the others.

 

[Sandro]

Vettel needs some of that "bad luck" that Webber has been getting the last 3 1/2 years. I hope Alonso, Raikkonen AND Webber can put a stop to him on top of some DNF's for him. Where's Lettuce or Loldonado when you need them?!?

Partly agree,but who will do better car than Mr. Adrian?This year unfortunately is lost,maybe engines next year for non Renault teams will bring advantage.
I had some hopes for this year but after last race all gone.

 

[NSXrebel]

Partly agree,but who will do better car than Mr. Adrian?This year unfortunately is lost,maybe engines next year for non Renault teams will bring advantage.
I had some hopes for this year but after last race all gone.

I'm just saying that he should get some of that "bad luck" that Webber has been getting that last 3-4 seasons. I don't doubt that Webber received older/used parts, if not outright sabotaged. He was the one that always had KERS issues and other problems.