Formula 1 CFA Comments
Hungarian GP 2011 - QF
by Cato Batista, 30/07/2011 0:13:42
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is very hard to draw conclusions from today’s practice sessions. I mean harder than usual. The only clear picture is that the top 3 teams devoted their programs to race set-up, more specifically to test long-runs with heavy load on the super-soft Pirelli, the ‘option’ for this weekend.
The fastest times on both sessions were set early on by Hamilton, but we didn’t see the usual build up for flying laps typical of qualifying workout. Ferrari for example did complete the largest number of laps for the day (65 for Massa & 69 for Alonso!). There was open talk in the last days from both Alonso and Hamilton that Red Bull is still the best overall car in all the tracks, including this one where McLaren and Ferrari are supposed to be in disadvantage to the RB7, but the message has been received at Red Bull: they don’t have the faster car on Sundays anymore.
P1- HAM (1.23.350) VET ALO WEB BUT MAS ROS SCH PER PET
P2- HAM (1.21.018) ALO (time behind) -.241, BUT -.304, WEB -.490, VET -.531, MAS (-1 SEC+) ROS SCH DIR SUT
Last race McLaren was struggling on all practice session and ended up flying in QF, now it is the first time this year that Red Bull is not comfortable on top of the timesheets from the go. There is this sense that starting at the front is not as important for this race, which is hard to believe because this circuit is called ‘Monaco without the barriers’, there’s only one overtaking spot in the short main straight (where DRS will be implemented). Sunday strategy calls for a 3 stopper which means ‘options’ tires will be on short supply ...
It is very hard to draw conclusions from today’s practice sessions. I mean harder than usual. The only clear picture is that the top 3 teams devoted their programs to race set-up, more specifically to test long-runs with heavy load on the super-soft Pirelli, the ‘option’ for this weekend.
The fastest times on both sessions were set early on by Hamilton, but we didn’t see the usual build up for flying laps typical of qualifying workout. Ferrari for example did complete the largest number of laps for the day (65 for Massa & 69 for Alonso!). There was open talk in the last days from both Alonso and Hamilton that Red Bull is still the best overall car in all the tracks, including this one where McLaren and Ferrari are supposed to be in disadvantage to the RB7, but the message has been received at Red Bull: they don’t have the faster car on Sundays anymore.
P1- HAM (1.23.350) VET ALO WEB BUT MAS ROS SCH PER PET
P2- HAM (1.21.018) ALO (time behind) -.241, BUT -.304, WEB -.490, VET -.531, MAS (-1 SEC+) ROS SCH DIR SUT
Last race McLaren was struggling on all practice session and ended up flying in QF, now it is the first time this year that Red Bull is not comfortable on top of the timesheets from the go. There is this sense that starting at the front is not as important for this race, which is hard to believe because this circuit is called ‘Monaco without the barriers’, there’s only one overtaking spot in the short main straight (where DRS will be implemented). Sunday strategy calls for a 3 stopper which means ‘options’ tires will be on short supply ...
Hungarian GP 2011 - Preview
by Cato Batista, 28/07/2011 21:28:35
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Warm up your engines, we are going to our 3rd GP of the month. The bad news is that we’ll have a 4 week pause (a mandatory FIA factory shut down) until the next race in Belgium 26-28 Aug. but let’s not talk about it for now.
After the exciting German Grand Prix the season is building up to its best moment now that Ferrari & McLaren had caught up to Red Bull. The Hungaroring is not the most conducive of circuits for entertaining events, and in spite of the new brand of F1 racing we’re enjoying the bad circuits (i.e.Valencia) still produce tedious outcomes. But the Hungarian Grand Prix and its Mickey Mouse layout for some reason always delivers intriguing, surprising races. It’s tight, bumpy, very intricate and tiring for the drivers with high temperatures and not a segment where to take a break. Overtaking is very difficult but its lower speeds and plenty run-offs invites drivers to close combat.
Looking at past editions of this Grand Prix it’s clear that this is Red Bull territory. Ferrari has a fast car but lacks grip in the slow corners, so a track made up largely of 2nd and 3rd gear turns will not suit the ‘150 Italia’, and Hamilton may struggle in this surface that requires smooth power delivery to avoid tire degradation –Button’s strength-. So hold your bets until we can see if somebody can match the Red Bull drivers in QF...
Doing the rounds in the CFA gossip department this week is Santiago’s new analysis of the fiercest of the battles in F1- the one between drivers in the same team. The chart gives one point each for qualifying and race ...
Warm up your engines, we are going to our 3rd GP of the month. The bad news is that we’ll have a 4 week pause (a mandatory FIA factory shut down) until the next race in Belgium 26-28 Aug. but let’s not talk about it for now.
After the exciting German Grand Prix the season is building up to its best moment now that Ferrari & McLaren had caught up to Red Bull. The Hungaroring is not the most conducive of circuits for entertaining events, and in spite of the new brand of F1 racing we’re enjoying the bad circuits (i.e.Valencia) still produce tedious outcomes. But the Hungarian Grand Prix and its Mickey Mouse layout for some reason always delivers intriguing, surprising races. It’s tight, bumpy, very intricate and tiring for the drivers with high temperatures and not a segment where to take a break. Overtaking is very difficult but its lower speeds and plenty run-offs invites drivers to close combat.
Looking at past editions of this Grand Prix it’s clear that this is Red Bull territory. Ferrari has a fast car but lacks grip in the slow corners, so a track made up largely of 2nd and 3rd gear turns will not suit the ‘150 Italia’, and Hamilton may struggle in this surface that requires smooth power delivery to avoid tire degradation –Button’s strength-. So hold your bets until we can see if somebody can match the Red Bull drivers in QF...
Doing the rounds in the CFA gossip department this week is Santiago’s new analysis of the fiercest of the battles in F1- the one between drivers in the same team. The chart gives one point each for qualifying and race ...
German GP 2011- Results
by Cato Batista, 25/07/2011 15:17:54
Ladies and Gentlemen:
That was a mighty battle. Hamilton, Alonso and Webber drove a full attacking race that eventually went McLaren’s way with the right strategy. Hamilton achieved his second victory of the season with a brilliant drive, his MP4-26 had the best set-up for this very difficult circuit were they all did a few (or several) driving errors. And this time the Red Bulls were clearly surpassed.
It probably was the hardest GP to predict so far, yet Rocco scored an unbelievable 1-2-3-4-5 for a season record-breaking 15 points thanks to which he has now climbed all the way to the top of the standings. Good marks were in short supply across de board and as you can imagine our results came with a large point spread. Far behind the winner we had Uwe, Curro & Ricky with respectable double golds from predicting ALO-WEB second & third places; others with double 3-pointers were Erik, Alberto and Joe. This has been the most one-sided victory on record with Rocco beating his closest competitors by as much as 6 points! -Alberto, Joe, Erik & Ricky with 9. At the bottom? Rodrigo and me with 4 (oops).
For the first time this season the majority of the group didn’t pick the same driver to win the race, instead we divided our opinions among 4 different drivers: only Rocco, Erik & Tim predicted Hamilton’s victory (the 3 of them among the leading group for a reason), Vettel still reigned favorite with 9 followers, Webber with 6, and 3 Ferrari faithful for Alonso. Our best results came from Alonso in 2nd with 8 votes, 7 for Webber in 3rd and 5 for Massa in 5th. Sixth place ...
Copyright 2001-2025 MANBOS
That was a mighty battle. Hamilton, Alonso and Webber drove a full attacking race that eventually went McLaren’s way with the right strategy. Hamilton achieved his second victory of the season with a brilliant drive, his MP4-26 had the best set-up for this very difficult circuit were they all did a few (or several) driving errors. And this time the Red Bulls were clearly surpassed.
It probably was the hardest GP to predict so far, yet Rocco scored an unbelievable 1-2-3-4-5 for a season record-breaking 15 points thanks to which he has now climbed all the way to the top of the standings. Good marks were in short supply across de board and as you can imagine our results came with a large point spread. Far behind the winner we had Uwe, Curro & Ricky with respectable double golds from predicting ALO-WEB second & third places; others with double 3-pointers were Erik, Alberto and Joe. This has been the most one-sided victory on record with Rocco beating his closest competitors by as much as 6 points! -Alberto, Joe, Erik & Ricky with 9. At the bottom? Rodrigo and me with 4 (oops).
For the first time this season the majority of the group didn’t pick the same driver to win the race, instead we divided our opinions among 4 different drivers: only Rocco, Erik & Tim predicted Hamilton’s victory (the 3 of them among the leading group for a reason), Vettel still reigned favorite with 9 followers, Webber with 6, and 3 Ferrari faithful for Alonso. Our best results came from Alonso in 2nd with 8 votes, 7 for Webber in 3rd and 5 for Massa in 5th. Sixth place ...
German GP 2011 - Race
by Cato Batista, 23/07/2011 20:45:31
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The 2 surprises were to find Vettel off the front for the first time this year and Hamilton's flying last lap to split the Red Bulls. Ferraris will start 4th & 5th a of Rosberg and Button.
Our QF results were dreadful thanks to Mr Hamilton. None of us consider him in the top 3 and the best we could do was 2 points for Rocco and Fredrik. It was so bad 10 members scored zero!
With less than 20 hours to the start of the race I’ve examined all the weather forecasts for the Nurburgring region and they all show different scenarios, but most coincide that the track will be wet for race time with the highest temperature around 13c deg., definitely cold for the prime tire to operate properly – in the unlikely case they have to use it.
If this micro-climate presents us the remote chance of a dry race, this would be a 2 stopper: the two opening stints with softs and one last closing stint with hards with the minimum number of laps possible. This is because de options are 1.5 seconds faster and most drivers can make them last for up to 30 laps in this low-degradation track. The distance is 60 laps, and according to Pirelli this race could easily be done in one stop, except that most teams are struggling to get the primes to work in these cold temperatures. But stop doing more math, this GP will be decided in the expected treacherous surface conditions and ...surviving the notorious corner 1 after the start!
The grid: WEB HAM VET ALO MAS ROS BUT SUT PET SCH.
Last race at the Nurburgring 2 years ago Webber was supreme, winning even after a ...
The 2 surprises were to find Vettel off the front for the first time this year and Hamilton's flying last lap to split the Red Bulls. Ferraris will start 4th & 5th a of Rosberg and Button.
Our QF results were dreadful thanks to Mr Hamilton. None of us consider him in the top 3 and the best we could do was 2 points for Rocco and Fredrik. It was so bad 10 members scored zero!
With less than 20 hours to the start of the race I’ve examined all the weather forecasts for the Nurburgring region and they all show different scenarios, but most coincide that the track will be wet for race time with the highest temperature around 13c deg., definitely cold for the prime tire to operate properly – in the unlikely case they have to use it.
If this micro-climate presents us the remote chance of a dry race, this would be a 2 stopper: the two opening stints with softs and one last closing stint with hards with the minimum number of laps possible. This is because de options are 1.5 seconds faster and most drivers can make them last for up to 30 laps in this low-degradation track. The distance is 60 laps, and according to Pirelli this race could easily be done in one stop, except that most teams are struggling to get the primes to work in these cold temperatures. But stop doing more math, this GP will be decided in the expected treacherous surface conditions and ...surviving the notorious corner 1 after the start!
The grid: WEB HAM VET ALO MAS ROS BUT SUT PET SCH.
Last race at the Nurburgring 2 years ago Webber was supreme, winning even after a ...
Copyright 2001-2025 MANBOS