2014 Singapore GP - Marina Bay, September 19-21

[basti313]

In the post-quali interview with Niki Lauda on RTL, they talked about the supersoft tires performance window being 12-15 laps. But also that the soft tires didn't last much longer!

So it seems we are in for a 3-stopper, with the supersofts being pure gold.

That sounds reasonable. They are sliding so much on the Softs...they can not last long either. Especially the rain will be crucial tomorrow. Track conditions will be worse.

How many did LH and NR use for qualifying, respectively? And did LH ruin a set on his pole lap?

Everyone did one fast lap on the crucial tires: One lap on the starting tires in Q2, one lap on every set of the Q3 tires. Only Vettel did one and a half fast lap on his starting tires.
I do not think Lewis ruined his tires in Q3. Only a small slide, should not be a flat spot.

If someone banks on the safety car as it so often happens in this race, one could start the second stint on primes, and if they luck into a safety car during their stint they can duck into the pits and run on options for the rest of the race. Would probably work well for a car with decent pace that didn't qualify well like a McLaren or Force India.

This will never work out as those who try it would be so far behind at the SC, that everything is useless.
Furthermore running long after the SC didn't work for most of the teams who tried it last season. Only Alonso could make it work, because Rosberg was slow after the SC and traffic helped him. Everyone else ran out of tires to the end and could not defend his position anymore. This option would need a perfect timed safety car with this years tires and I do not think that Kimi will hit a wall.

[PlatinumZealot]

Yep that is correct. The tyre life is too short to risk not pitting if there is saftey car.

[mkay]

On another note, I expect Ferrari (or at least Alonso) to go well on this circuit.

1. Ferrari were pretty good around both Monaco and Hungary, which are closest to Singapore characteristically.
2. Pirelli are bringing the SS and S tyres to this race, so the hard tyre issue minimizes.
3. Alonso has always excelled around this track. Kimi not so much though.

Told ya guys.

P3 was definitely on the cards today IMO.

What you didn't tell is Lewis beating Rosberg

[Pierce89]

Oh look, can't get much more accurate

After fp2:

Don`t fool yourself people. ferrari has a different fp program and mercs are using strat 6 at best. Wait until the end of q3 and everything will be back to business as usual with merc on top followed by red bull, ferrari and williams.

Though mercs did luck into this front row (kinda, by their standards anyway), and I really wanted someone else to take pole, be it ferrari or rb.

Ferrari being within a couple tenths of the Mercs is NOT back to business as usual.

[FW17]

Due friction: grip gives traction, but too much grip will create so much friction that it will slow the car down. Hence why we see these "decorative" strips on circuits like Abu Dhabi or Paul Ricard: they are a safety measure to slow the car down when it goes off track.

What you say makes no sense at all.

How does increased traction reduce speed?

Paul Ricard is meant for the car to be slowed during braking and not when powered.

[Kingshark]

Oh look, can't get much more accurate

After fp2:

Don`t fool yourself people. ferrari has a different fp program and mercs are using strat 6 at best. Wait until the end of q3 and everything will be back to business as usual with merc on top followed by red bull, ferrari and williams.

Though mercs did luck into this front row (kinda, by their standards anyway), and I really wanted someone else to take pole, be it ferrari or rb.

Ferrari being within a couple tenths of the Mercs is NOT back to business as usual.

Indeed, and really it was even closer than that:

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2014/09/20/2 ... -analysis/

Alonso (if he strung his sector times together) could have done a 45.708, which is only 0.028 slower than Hamilton's pole lap (!)

[max_speed]

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2014/09/20/2 ... -analysis/

Alonso (if he strung his sector times together) could have done a 45.708, which is only 0.028 slower than Hamilton's pole lap (!)[/quote]

i was pretty sure of that. does anyone know if he committed any mistake in his last lap. they did not show his lap but he matched first sector time and then in last corner i was expecting him to take min 3rd and pole too , because across all session ferrari looked most stable car on the track... very big chance lost and i think kimi cud have secured p4 too.

[hollowBallistix]

Don't they get "free" tyres in Q3 ? Having to start the race on the tyres they set the fastest time in Q2 ?

I'm sure 4 of the drivers managed to save a set of super softs for the race, Hamilton being one, Rosberg went out and done additional run....

So all the talk of Hamilton ruining a set in Q3 is irrelevant?

Or am I missing something

[f1universe]

I wonder if the Ferrari can handle a 2 hours race, lol.

[AnthonyG]

Another thing: Vettel was all grumpy because he felt he could have fought for pole ... just no. no.
Combination of personal best sectors would have put him on P5 ... he was actually closest to his "perfect" lap from all drivers in the top5 except for Rosberg

actual perfect difference
HAM 1:45.681 1:45.561 +0,120
ROS 1:45.688 1:45.638 +0,050
RIC 1:45.854 1:45.737 +0,117
VET 1:45.902 1:45.832 +0,070
ALO 1:45.907 1:45.708 +0,199

It's hard to combine best sectors into a time and then tell "he couldn't have been faster".
Not that I'm not appreciating or trying to say that it doesn't give us any indication, just that being faster than your so far best sector times combined should be possible.

[RZS10]

Another thing: Vettel was all grumpy because he felt he could have fought for pole ... just no. no.
Combination of personal best sectors would have put him on P5 ... he was actually closest to his "perfect" lap from all drivers in the top5 except for Rosberg

actual perfect difference
HAM 1:45.681 1:45.561 +0,120
ROS 1:45.688 1:45.638 +0,050
RIC 1:45.854 1:45.737 +0,117
VET 1:45.902 1:45.832 +0,070
ALO 1:45.907 1:45.708 +0,199

It's hard to combine best sectors into a time and then tell "he couldn't have been faster".
Not that I'm not appreciating or trying to say that it doesn't give us any indication, just that being faster than your so far best sector times combined should be possible.

Well ofc it is possible to still improve, but seeing all other times etc it's very unlikely, he would have needed an improvement of 0,151s for pole and 0,271s for "theoretical pole" without other improving^^
He's maybe still not used to not being in the best car on the grid, he probably just hoped for more, but realistically it was not possible ... still nice to have the front runners so close together

[henra]

Someone was saying Monaco and Singapore were driver's tracks and how Hamilton sucked in both.

The funny Thing is, If Kimi didn't have his gremlins, we probably would have had clean Team Pairings per row throughout the top 10. And this despite altogether small gaps at lest between the first 4 rows.
So much for Driver track...

[komninosm]

Don't they get "free" tyres in Q3 ? Having to start the race on the tyres they set the fastest time in Q2 ?

I'm sure 4 of the drivers managed to save a set of super softs for the race, Hamilton being one, Rosberg went out and done additional run....

So all the talk of Hamilton ruining a set in Q3 is irrelevant?

Or am I missing something

Yeah, didn't Hamilton save a tire in Q2 and Rosberg use up one in Q1? Also is the Q3 tire that Hamilton flat-spoted a little the freebie one that won't get used in the race?

[mikeerfol]

Rosberg did an extra run in Q2 as well.

[FoxHound]

Someone was saying Monaco and Singapore were driver's tracks and how Hamilton sucked in both.

The funny Thing is, If Kimi didn't have his gremlins, we probably would have had clean Team Pairings per row throughout the top 10. And this despite altogether small gaps at lest between the first 4 rows.
So much for Driver track...

Or that engines are the biggest performance differential.

Mercedes 1 and 2 with Red Bull(renault) 3 and 4 and Ferrari 5 with an unlucky 7.