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[lochsong]

Will the drivers still have to wear both wet and dry tyres during a race?

That will complicate things on a wet yet changable racing surface in the far east with a full tank.

Look forward to it.
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[pericolo topo]

Hi LS,

I might have misunderstood the question but the tyre rules are similar to last year I think:

http://www.formula1.com/inside_f1...ations/sporting_regulations/8680/

- There will be two dry compounds again (green line on the softer)
- It is not obvious to me whether this means they will be two-compounds separated as last year
- Teams will need to use both dry compounds during the race (unless it is deemed 'wet')
- Wet and Intermediate (or whatever they are called) may be used at any stage

Soooo.... teams must stop at least once per dry race but the stationary period will be shorter due to no refuelling (down to 4-5 seconds supposedly) & the FIA has banned the wheel coverings that Ferrari introduced a few years back as(see also Renault's cock-up last year).

There is less incentive to go for 2 or 3 stops because there is now no weight advantage for doing so and the 20-30 seconds it'll cost you to stop will be tough to get back. Could be a real drag if you get stuck behind a moving chicaine; the likes of Monaco & Hungary could be truly awful.

I had a quick look at the other tech changes; the cars are heavier, longer and with narrower front tyres so there are some aero changes to be put in place.

Final food for though; the FIA seems to think it can still ban Briatore from racing which might have implications for his driver management business (Webber is his current top driver). Therefore I might wait until Webber has been granted his Super-license (Feb I think) before getting on.

All the best,

PT

[lochsong]

Hi PT

Thanks for the info and link.

Should be an interesting season and looking forward to seeing how Schumacher gets on.

Cheers
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[value seeker]

GAMBLE ALERT
Alonso  in from 7s  start of market to 10/3 ,7/2 was snapped up yestersday .
Alonso was quickest in testing in Valencia and piunters have been quick to jump on board the bandwagon.
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I AM HAPPY TO JOIN WITH YOU TODAY IN WHAT WILL GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS THE GREATEST DEMONSTRATION FOR FREEDOM IN THE HISTORY OF OUR NATION(THE I HAVE A DREAM SPEECH,1963, MARTIN LUTHER KING)

[lochsong]

The season hasn't started and already contention about McClarers fin that increases downforce.

Decision pending.

The 41 yo multiple champ playing up his chances opf winning at the end of the season.

The biggest challenge Ross Brawn has ever bought into.

I predict with no fuel stops and the new scoring system (25 to winner - 8 to second) there will be more crashes this year.

Just you wait and see.


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[Gorg_George]

That's a huge difference in points between first and second, don't envisage it being very condusive, but then F1 has been over the hill for a number of years now IMO I much prefer the bikes, far more exciting.
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Come all ye faithful, come all ye thoroughbreeds, come all ye, come to the FLAT season.

[lochsong]

[Gorg_George]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfPM77TsGaA

More action and excitement in 10 laps there than the last 10 seasons of F1 combined.
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Come all ye faithful, come all ye thoroughbreeds, come all ye, come to the FLAT season.

[Gorg_George]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vO5z_aWdhEY

More excitement here in a 50 second video than you'd get in a whole seasons worth of highlights for F1 - STAT.
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Come all ye faithful, come all ye thoroughbreeds, come all ye, come to the FLAT season.

[pericolo topo]

I take the point about the bikes but I am EXCITED!!!!!!

A couple of points - the points system is pretty similar percentage-wise but there's a slightly higher percentage for winning than last year (should be 25-20 etc, it's now 25-18 so a slightly better reason to win).

Refuelling - it seems lots of time is lost but received wisdom is 2 stops, possibly only one; the reason being that the heavy cars kill the tyres quicker than last year therefore when you stop and change tyres you will come out quicker than before hence stopping earlier may be a benefit. Some teams will go 1 stop only, but the teams have to use BOTH types of tyre. Nevertheless on some tracks it'll be a pish poor spectacle.

On paper this looks like the closest season for years but we'll see, the Merc engine is comfortably the best combination of power and fuel efficiency and McLaren's testing went really well towards the end. They have a terrific invention on the rear wing which is deemed legal and a stupendous driver (Hamilton). He really is that good and will prove it this year. Button represents great value at 14s or so though - if their car is on the island he is a very smooth, balanced driver. Not as quick as Lewis though.

Red Bull have a good car and a consistent driver combo with Vettel as a top talent too. However, one wonders if they have the reliability and engine to win a drivers championship given the opposition. Furthermore they lack race craft and may not do well with new race environment.

Ferrari have a smart car too and a great all round driver (Alonso). Their car will need to be actually better than the McLaren because their engine is slightly less good and Hamilton is simply a better driver (marginal maybe, but he took Alonso in his first year in the same car and has demonstrably improved since). The best thing is Ferrari's favour is the FIA really want them to win. Massa is a cracking driver too and horribly under-rated and worth a punt under the correct conditions. The big question is whether he can adjust again to the new rules; two years ago he failed miserably (see below).

Mercedes; Brawn has a conservative approach to race strategy, as we saw last year, which may create some great race-craft again with Schumacher. That combination is tough to rule out but Alonso had Schumacher on toast in their last two seasons against each other and now has a better start-point. Rosberg is well regarded by Brawn and may be a better back-to-lay if some of Brawns magic rubs off on him.

To sum up...
Last year I said lay Hamilton because the car was carp; and it was too. This year it's apparently a tough call to select the world champ but for me it's pretty simple....

Hamilton. Within 1 point of WDC in his first year, won it in his second, showed immense character and ability to get serious points from a true dog of a car last year and to top all that had the best race simulation in practice and is pushed along by the best engine. Take him at 4-1 or 5-1 if you can. If you want a value pick there's Massa at 11-1, but Button at 15s, which is a pretty good price in my book. I think Alonso is also a great driver but there's no real reason he should be outright favourite at the moment given his record, equipment and performance in testing.

Closer to the now however....
It's Bahrain this weekend and a horrible modification to the track which will bore the letter-after-e-ing hell out of everyone. I have a quandry - Massa goes really well at Sakhir, his middle sections have always been way faster than anyones; problem is he's been off the track for ages and doesn't always hit the ground running. I'm inclined to take the 7 or 8-1 available.

[Gorg_George]

[lochsong]

Typo.  
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[Gorg_George]

[lochsong]

Hmmmmm

Hamilton is too heavy on the brakes leaving it to the last second for the corners. Will render his tyres useless too soon with all that weight.

Button, on the other hand, has a driving style that may see him with more rubber on the track when it counts.
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[Rowan]

Karun Chandhok seems a nice, articulate chap. Just as well really cos the problems they're having with his car he's going to have a lot of free time to talk to the media  
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