2013 Indian GP - Buddh

[Dragonfly]

What was going on in the Ferrari garage after Q1?

[mikeerfol]

Is the "incident" with ham and vet under investigation?

Seems to be the case.

Are you sure? I can't find anything on the internet..

[langwadt]

What was going on in the Ferrari garage after Q1?

I think they had problems with the radio

[f1316]

I don't understand Ferrari. They keep saying qualifying is what lets them down but in Q2 Alonso did a 1:24.8 - that would have been enough for front row of the grid if he had done the same in Q3 (and everyone else improved in Q3 - presumably because of track evolution - so it seems very possible he would have gone a little faster).

Yes, maybe it will turn out to be a good strategy to start on mediums - enough for a podium - but getting P2 would have given them the chance to get in front of Vettel at the start, with the same strategy as the main rival - why not try it?

With the strategy they have chosen, it'll be the same as every other race - fighting through with better race pace than grid slot; but they had the opportunity to fight from the front.

[atanatizante]

With Webber's strategy for the race I think RBR is now repaying him back in compensation for the Suzuka race, don't you think guys? ...

[Gerhard Berger]

I don't understand Ferrari. They keep saying qualifying is what lets them down but in Q2 Alonso did a 1:24.8 - that would have been enough for front row of the grid if he had done the same in Q3 (and everyone else improved in Q3 - presumably because of track evolution - so it seems very possible he would have gone a little faster).

Yes, maybe it will turn out to be a good strategy to start on mediums - enough for a podium - but getting P2 would have given them the chance to get in front of Vettel at the start, with the same strategy as the main rival - why not try it?

With the strategy they have chosen, it'll be the same as every other race - fighting through with better race pace than grid slot; but they had the opportunity to fight from the front.

Have to agree. If Alonso started P2, he could manage the first stint on the softs better than others (if FP was anything to go by) and perhaps get ahead. Starting P8 comes with alot of risks at the start , and of course he could get held up by some other car. The 2 times this strategy was used this year (Vettel in China and Alonso in Germany) it did not really pay off.

It actually would have made more sense to put Massa on the mediums and Alonso on the softs. If they did that then they would have had Alonso in P2/P3, and Massa in P8.

[henra]

I don't understand Ferrari. They keep saying qualifying is what lets them down but in Q2 Alonso did a 1:24.8 - that would have been enough for front row of the grid if he had done the same in Q3

Yup.
Strange. It was the first time since quite a few races they were competitive in Qualifying. (admittedly Vettel was untouchable but compared to the rest they were clearly in the fight).
Maybe they were not prepared for it and had already settled for a strategy starting on the mediums and no one dared to rethink it.
With the strategy chosen Alonso will have a hard time gaining many places at the start. Once the Softs of the others in front of him start to drop off, chances are he will remain stuck behind them until everyone else has pitted. At that point in time we might see Vettel so much ahead that he even will not fall down far in the grid upon his first pit stop, if at all.

The RB9 in the hands of Vettel is indeed an amazing sight. It's incredible how stable and fast it is - Full Marks (and Kudos) to Adrian Newey for tailoring such a perfect car for his diver(s)!
It was even a tiny bit faster than the 2011 monster RB7 with its fully blown diffuser and unlimited DRS.

[Jonnycraig]

Interesting snippet from Ted Kravitz that Pirelli have asked those starting on the soft not to run the rest of the race on mediums.

[mikeerfol]

Interesting snippet from Ted Kravitz that Pirelli have asked those starting on the soft not to run the rest of the race on mediums.

You mean they have to do 2 stints on softs while everyone else starting on primes will probably do just one?

And I'm sure this is only about the drivers in the top 10, right?

[Mika1]

Interesting snippet from Ted Kravitz that Pirelli have asked those starting on the soft not to run the rest of the race on mediums.

Don't think Lewis Hamilton will do that: ''We'll hope for a good start, get rid of the softs early and then focus on pushing as hard as we can on the primes''.

[CHT]

I don't understand Ferrari. They keep saying qualifying is what lets them down but in Q2 Alonso did a 1:24.8 - that would have been enough for front row of the grid if he had done the same in Q3

Yup.
Strange. It was the first time since quite a few races they were competitive in Qualifying. (admittedly Vettel was untouchable but compared to the rest they were clearly in the fight).
Maybe they were not prepared for it and had already settled for a strategy starting on the mediums and no one dared to rethink it.
With the strategy chosen Alonso will have a hard time gaining many places at the start. Once the Softs of the others in front of him start to drop off, chances are he will remain stuck behind them until everyone else has pitted. At that point in time we might see Vettel so much ahead that he even will not fall down far in the grid upon his first pit stop, if at all.

The RB9 in the hands of Vettel is indeed an amazing sight. It's incredible how stable and fast it is - Full Marks (and Kudos) to Adrian Newey for tailoring such a perfect car for his diver(s)!
It was even a tiny bit faster than the 2011 monster RB7 with its fully blown diffuser and unlimited DRS.

Perhaps they ran out of fresh option tires for Alonso?

[oT v1]

oh Lotus, errors way below their station again! What are the chances of a safety car around there for GRO?

Should be a good race with the prime/option spread in the top teams, Vettel will look to destroy the field in the first couple of laps to avoid the drs trains later, so here's hoping Nico can hold him for a lap or two...

[Jonnycraig]

Interesting snippet from Ted Kravitz that Pirelli have asked those starting on the soft not to run the rest of the race on mediums.

You mean they have to do 2 stints on softs while everyone else starting on primes will probably do just one?

And I'm sure this is only about the drivers in the top 10, right?

Presumably they've asked them to 3 stop and run the soft again late on. They can't make them do anything of course and I can't see anyone following it, was just interesting that they wouldn't want the soft binned after 4/5 laps then all medium running.

[iotar__]

Lotus's flexibility is non existent. First sectors on softs from TR, Williams and you change your strategy, or even earlier data from Raikkonen and anyone not named Vettel on mediums. Choosing wrongly is one thing not correcting is another. "Miscalculated" by half a second? Instead of beating Mercedes behind Massa, of course salesmen expect "strong race".

[f1universe]

I really don't get Ferrari, maybe they have an explanation but what they expect from Alonso tomorrow?, is like they like to put stones in his path and let the guy fight under the most bizarre circustances.