The Official 2011 F1 thread.

[naplesE30]

This was a fantastic race. What a drive by Weber and Button. They both looked terrible early on but really stuck with it and finished well. I think after hamiltons tire woes and we will see a new qualifying strategy to just do one late run on the softs to conserve sets for the race. Vettels pace was largely dictated by his minimal tire use during quali. He basically had an extra set of softs over the field. Smart very smart.

[E30Kaiser]

Fuck, I couldn't believe the 20 second penalty on BOTH of them. One or the other, oh, alright, Stewards have to get paid too, sure... but both? C'mon..

I agree, I am not a big fan of either driver, but I considered it just a racing incident. If Hamilton did happen to move too many times in defense than give him a penalty because that caused the accident, don't give both a penalty.

[naplesE30]

They penalized Hamilton for the previous lap before the incedent. The stewards penalties are so inconsistent from one race to the next. Def a race incedent for Alonso but I guess running into the guy in front of you is preventible but I dont think anyone thought it was worthy of a penalty. The very fact that they had to wait till after the race was over to even decide about the penalties shows how marginal both were, even though they did happen late in the race.

I agree, I am not a big fan of either driver, but I considered it just a racing incident. If Hamilton did happen to move too many times in defense than give him a penalty because that caused the accident, don't give both a penalty.

[Heysüß]

petrov got some aaaaaiiiirrrr

[unrlmth]

Fuck, I couldn't believe the 20 second penalty on BOTH of them. One or the other, oh, alright, Stewards have to get paid too, sure... but both? C'mon..

I think the penalty for Hamilton might have been for a different incident coming down the main straight.

Edit, didn't see naplesE30 post above me.

[Hick]

Was anyone else suprised how well Petrov's car held up after flying though the air?

[E30Kaiser]

Petrov was lucky his car did not end up like Joey Hand's BMW at Mid-Ohio. Look how much "Clag" is off the racing line in that gif too, it is redunkulous.

[Hick]

'What clag?' - Pirelli

[323iNathan]

I wish someone could find onboard footage from Hamilton's car showing his view.
If I were him I think I'd find what was unfolding in front of me highly amusing!

[naplesE30]

Yes please a breakaway series with v8's or 10's and bring back engine development. Montezemolo is so right.


The famous Italian marque's president told Auto Bild that the sport "has become too artificial" through deliberately designing tires that degrade and implementing movable wings to increase overtaking.

"A steering wheel is now a computer covered in buttons," said Montezemolo, "and the fans no longer understand."

He then referred to the expiring Concorde Agreement.

"The contracts expire at the end of 2012. We need to discuss now how to proceed," Montezemolo said. "Ferrari will continue to be there, so long as the sport gives us back something for the development of technology of our production cars. Otherwise not."

[quickervicar]

'What clag?' - Pirelli

Good gracious! I never noticed the buildup of marbles in that shot before. Matchett pointed out that there were 64 pitstops throughout the race. That's 256 tires' worth of rubber, not including morning warmup or support races!

[quickervicar]

Formula1.com is down

I blame LG

[elsabor67]

Pole for China as follows.........1. Vettel, 2. Button, and 3. Hammy. Rosberg is in 4th with Massa and Alonso 5&6.

One question though.......WTF happened with Webber?!?!?!?!?! His car was shitty at the least and Heidefeld I think had poor pit management holding him until the last minute adn with Petrov redflagging the last 2 minutes of Q2 it became a crazy shootout.

[Hick]

7/10th faster. game over

[E30Kaiser]

Tomorrow should be exciting in the midfield, with Webber and Heidfeld and a few other random cars back there that got caught out.