Comments on: Vettel surprises everyone at Bahrain

By: CHIUNDA

CHIUNDA — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:05:09 +0000

Looks like FIA’s wars with McLaren were not Mosley-Dennis limited! It would be unfortunate to have a repeat of 2008 with an already slow McLaren in 2010 because racing will be very boring. I mean was it just me or was that a train out there in Bahrain today. The race was even more boring than 2009 races when Brawn was taking everything!

Hopefully, McLaren may consider a revival of KERS if FIA starts systematically chipping away at its technical innovations. On a light note, with this kind of regulatory framework that jumps to shoot down every McLaren innovation, you can’t blame the Woking outfit opting for the 2007 spy gate to ensure everything is FIA/Ferrari legal :=))

By: Schmidt

Schmidt — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 12:00:29 +0000

Thanks for your reply James.

What specific skill does it take to get the tyres to work at their peak over a single lap?

Does his driving style have anything to do with it?

Is this issue he’s having similar to the one Kimi, Alonso, Kubica had in 2007? I remember that all of them had to tweak their driving style to get the 2007 Bridgestones to work better.

Also, are Nico’s and Michael’s driving styles similar or are they fundamentally different?

By: Lee Knights

Lee Knights — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 10:41:26 +0000

This isn’t going to help Mclaren

McLaren must change diffuser before Australia
Saturday 13, 16:23 | Ryan Wood

McLaren must change their diffuser before the Australian GP, according to Auto Motor und Sport.
The FIA has informed the Woking based squad that the current diffuser has exploited the rules, by enlarging the hole used for the external engine starter, therefore gaining another diffuser level.
The rules surrounding the diffuser will be tightened up before the Australian GP to avoid anymore controversy after last years uproar which plagued the opening few races.
McLaren have intentionally kept quiet on the issue, immediately agreeing to scrap the diffuser before the next round of the championship.

By: rpaco

rpaco — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 10:31:32 +0000

I was using freeview, there was no sideways option on the blue button menu yesterday for the other commentary. I think that they also had live hockey on a the same time on red button.

By: monktonnik

monktonnik — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 10:02:12 +0000

I did hear that there was a problem, but I didn’t take it that seriously. I say the same thing when I go karting!

If he did have wonky suspension then you have to say that he did a good job.

By: Henry

Henry — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 09:46:52 +0000

The BBC commentary was definitely talking about the tyres, they made it very clear that the top ten (minus Sutil) were running the softs. James does that mean we can hope for a points finish for Force India, it must put them in a relatively strong position?

By: andyb

andyb — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 09:44:22 +0000

Massa is changing engines after quali. But he wont be penalised because you are allowed to use 8 engines per season.

So…

Could you build 4 engines for qualifying and 4 for racing that were somehow different/more fuel efficient, and then just change them over after every qualifying?

I’m sure this mustve been covered off somewhere but a powerful one for qualifying and an efficient one for racing sure would be handy.

By: Henry

Henry — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 09:40:55 +0000

I really hope vettel does manage to win, I rate him as highly as any driver on the grid in terms of talent, obviously he still needs to translate that into achievements! Some of his driving last year was sublime. he will win the championship one year, I would be very happy to see him do it this year.

By: David Hamilton

David Hamilton — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 09:35:58 +0000

Thanks – that makes sense as a tactic to gain position.

James’ initial comment made it sound like it was a faster strategy, which (ignoring traffic), it doesn’t seem to be.

By: micky

micky — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 09:06:55 +0000

iam not suprise jenson still complains if he don’t deliver and plames the car.