Gran Premio de España Santander 2012

[Omegablue]

Also worthy of note were Kobayashi's overtakes. Why hadn't we seen these since Japan 2010? Go for it, man!

There have been plenty since, just then they use to stick out more as it was his first year.

[phil1993]

There's a fire in the Williams pit!" one journalist announced as he returned from the paddock.

"That'll be Mike Coughlan taking no chances this time and burning the 700-page dossier he picked up at the Mugello test!" came the immediate crack

[donald29]

Someone said on Twitter during the podium ceremony they couldn't help but thing of the people oppressed by Chavez as the Venezuelan anthem was playing. Tend to agree, would be nice if he did something about that.

Been to Venezuela lately to know the people are being oppressed? Or did you see it on TV or read an article sponsored by our Western nations?

Have you been to see they aren't? I've read about Chavez politicising the judiciary and people you criticise him suddenly getting arrested.

He also accused the US of giving him cancer.

[phil1993]

An update from Williams including some kind words from Sir Frank
http://www.f1zone.net/news/williams-f1- ... ent/13963/

[reppo]

An update from Williams including some kind words from Sir Frank
http://www.f1zone.net/news/williams-f1- ... ent/13963/

Pit crews really did a great job in putting the fire out. Too bad they inhaled smoke. I seriously think the crew ought have at least one respiratory mask per fire extinguisher and training how to use them. Minimizing damages and injuries requires fast reaction to put out the fire before it spreads. Now people were risking their health because that kind of smoke is dangerous. Shouldn't be too expensive.

If not a full respirators with pressurized air, then at least full masks with smoke filters.

[mikhailv]

Glad to hear 6 of the Williams mechanics are out of hospital, still upsetting that one is being transfered over here for more treatment for burns. Horrid way to end a landmark day for the team.

On a lighter note, share this from autosport forums. Its quite mesmerising to be honest;

[donald29]

Ferrari seem to be the best pit crew. Incredible.

[Omegablue]

Have you been to see they aren't? I've read about Chavez politicising the judiciary and people you criticise him suddenly getting arrested.

He also accused the US of giving him cancer.

Yip. Great holiday it was with the girlfriend.

And you believe everything that the Western press writes, because the British Prime Minister, the US President, the Germans and etc, are all honest people that have never lied?

I mean no ill disrespect towards you as a fellow F1 fan and human being. I enjoy reading your F1 related posts.

I'm just bringing forward as to what is our western conception of oppression? Unless you're able to quit your job tomorrow, and build a cabin and live free from our bill dominated economy, then you like the rest of us are also oppressed in chasing each month's end from Monday to Friday. As for Chavez judiciary his people? Well since he gave the finger to the American corporations in congress to privatise water in Venezuela, there's been an endless stream of such unconfirmed stories. As well, isn't the White House's slow building censorship act over the internet a first step of denying freedom of speech?

I've now said my say on this topic, and will avoid it from now on publically here. My apologies to everyone.
If you wish to continue this debate, please you're more than welcome to message me so we can keep this thread F1 only related.

[Omegablue]

Ferrari seem to be the best pit crew. Incredible.

Well, at least something is fast with their package this year.

[mikhailv]

Ferrari seem to be the best pit crew. Incredible.

Well, at least something is fast with their package this year.

Hard to think really, that Vettel and Alonso are joint leading the championship, and in turn are the equal best drivers this season!

[Omegablue]

Ferrari seem to be the best pit crew. Incredible.

Well, at least something is fast with their package this year.

Hard to think really, that Vettel and Alonso are joint leading the championship, and in turn are the equal best drivers this season!

Undoubtedly they are. But the Ferrari this year has been all Alonso.
Really can't see their progress from Mugello as McLaren and Red Bull had tyre issues in Spain, while Lotus missed their tactics, and now there's Williams. Not to mention Merc and Sauber still fast.

Makes for a great championship, but still difficult watching the race while being a Ferrari fan. Yes was frustrating for me. But was happy to see a new winner. Every racer should one race at least.

[mikhailv]

Ferrari seem to be the best pit crew. Incredible.

Well, at least something is fast with their package this year.

Hard to think really, that Vettel and Alonso are joint leading the championship, and in turn are the equal best drivers this season!

Undoubtedly they are. But the Ferrari this year has been all Alonso.
Really can't see their progress from Mugello as McLaren and Red Bull had tyre issues in Spain, while Lotus missed their tactics, and now there's Williams. Not to mention Merc and Sauber still fast.

Makes for a great championship, but still difficult watching the race while being a Ferrari fan. Yes was frustrating for me. But was happy to see a new winner. Every racer should one race at least.

Really? You can see a clear improvement in Ferrari. Ferrari's pace was obvious, just look at the race. Alonso set the 3rd fastest lap, only the Lotus' were faster due to their much newer tyres. In qualifying, he was half a tenth of pole. Quite telling that 5 of the top 6 fastest laps were all Renault powered cars ;). Ofcourse, lewis took pole by half a second, but it was disallowed. Otherwise, Lewis always nails in quali but falls back in race trim, which is ferrari's strength. And on that, im gonna say it; I expected lewis to be higher than 8th. He drove around half the field with a better car, two stopper was a big mistake personally and what Mclaren thought doing it was best is mind boggling, the car had more in it and Lewis certainly had more in it. He was 4th on lap 13, he should've been pitted and switched to a 3 stop strategy, he had pace, he had the skill. He was pitted on lap 15, botched pit stop as usual, pits again on lap 36 and he does 30 stupid laps on knackered tyres. He shouldve done a quick dash at the end, he had the hard tyres right? Feel right sorry for lewis. F*cked over by the team over and over and yet again he has put a flawless performance.

We saw how much kimi clawed back on alonso, if lewis did a stop on lap 49, say 8 tenths a lap faster, he wouldve gained 27.2 seconds, its 25 for a stop here isnt it? or 22? So he wouldve gained 5 seconds-2 seconds which the gap to rosberg was a mere second. If it was a second a lap, he wouldve gained 7 seconds, which wouldve been on the back of vettel,. mean, he could easily have gone a second a lap or so faster, and I reckon 6th, even 5th was on for him if they went 3 stop. But again, Mclaren failed him and didnt think on their toes.. And jenson? Rubbish.

But yes, ferrari have clearly gained alot. Qualifying was their struggle, race pace was always solid but unspectacular. On one of the most dependant tracks known for the pecking order, It was clearly Mclaren/Ferrari/Lotus/Redbull. Maldanado pulled a blinder, but the ferrari has gained massively to be through to Q3 and fighting for pole position, ontop of being extremly competative on race pace. Massa would've been in Q3 too, but ferrari always let him set his lap 3 minuets before the end of Q2, and sit in the bloody pits.

So combine an improved qualifying pace, improved race pace, its not as hard wearing on the tyres, ontop of having further massive updates in Canada (DDRS and apparently another iteration of its exhausts and a nose), im very optimistic, as you combine the improvements with the fact that ferrari have the best driver, the best pit stops, and theyve been pretty handy with their strategy as well. Leading the championship jointly with a car which every said was slower than not only Mclaren/RB/Lotus/Merc, but 'journalists' said Williams, Toro rosso and Force India was faster. Even sauber.

Dont they look arses!

[Omegablue]

Wow, awesome write up. And thanks!

Yes, Ferrari have improved, but the car still struggled accelerating out of fast corners. Slow corners doesn't have an issue, so Monaco along with Alonso's skill doe's raise the expectations.
Though, as you stated, Hamilton gave half a second during qualifying. And if Lewis kept the pole he would have easily won it. He only came eighth as he had to climb up the field, and as stated by the commentators, the dirty air from traffic tends to eat up the tyres.

To clearly measure Ferrari's improvement, we need to see what another driver can do with the car. As you said, Alonso is one of the best, and if he has a decent car then he wouldn't have issues getting pole and leading to the end. Which means the present Ferrari isn't good enough... yet.
As for Massa, we can't blame his weak qualifying for his final race position. Something else is obviously wrong there, and really hope he's not a reflection of the car's true performance.

I think by Canada, Ferrari's next set of upgrades can better assess if they're successfully improving or not.

And for Button, well I think he got too over confident after Australia. That comment of his that it's 2009 all over again could very well be a sign of it. And maybe he relaxed a bit too much mentality, and now he's cracking?

[Adam]

^^ Nice Ariel Rebel avatar.


I enjoyed the race despite that it was a bit boring IMO, but for being Barcelona it was nice. It was cute how Alonso and Kimi lifted Maldonado in the podium.

[Omegablue]

^^ Nice Ariel Rebel avatar.

Thanks.