The OFFICIAL 2013 Formula 1 thread!

[naplesE30]

Teams will always error on the side of to little fuel as the start of the race is so crucial. One pass or lack of a pass at the start can make or ruin your race. As the race goes on the field gets more strung out so the conseving fuel isn't usually a big issue but yeah that's a downside to no in race refuelling. I really do rue the artificially slow pace of the current formula.

One day hopefully their will be a series of balls out fast as hell engineering to the max racing in open wheel form. No restrictions other than displacement. Wouldn't that be cool to see.

[unevolved]

The fuel situation is pretty straight-forward:

A race car requires a certain Quantity (Q) of fuel to cover the race distance and that amount falls somewhere between:

Qmin = Optimal consumption rate X distance - 1L
Qmax = Optimal performance rate X distance - 1L

From there it is up to the strategists to determine what is the proper tradeoff between fuel load and performance; nobody wants a heavy car in a sport where a few lbs = a tenth or whatever the math is at that particular circuit. When the race pace is faster than the model they decide on, then you can end up short of fuel.

Bottom line: Sometimes you get it wrong!

And the FIA requirement is an arbitrary fixed number that is the same for all teams, so it makes no difference if it's a little more or less than a liter as it's an absolute value.

This time a million. The FIA's regs (aside from the actual test) has nothing to do with how much fuel the cars have left over. That's 100% on the engineers. Could they change the rules/design requirements to eliminate the cars running out of fuel? Theoretically, yes. Probably not happening, though.

[Alex Mc]

The fuel situation is pretty straight-forward:

A race car requires a certain Quantity (Q) of fuel to cover the race distance and that amount falls somewhere between:

Qmin = Optimal consumption rate X distance - 1L
Qmax = Optimal performance rate X distance - 1L

From there it is up to the strategists to determine what is the proper tradeoff between fuel load and performance; nobody wants a heavy car in a sport where a few lbs = a tenth or whatever the math is at that particular circuit. When the race pace is faster than the model they decide on, then you can end up short of fuel.

Bottom line: Sometimes you get it wrong!

And the FIA requirement is an arbitrary fixed number that is the same for all teams, so it makes no difference if it's a little more or less than a liter as it's an absolute value.

[TDE30]

If they changed it to 1/10 of liter, the teams would just put 9/10 of a liter less in the car.

Almost every car is underfueled to start with the expectation at some point in the race the car will run a "conservation stint".

The race started wet (which uses less fuel) and the cars were still conserving at the end.

Heh, I figured that was the next argument. Yes, teams could simply just run with more fuel on board, much in the same way that the FIA could reduce the size of their fuel sample. Anyways, I don't see the answer to this dilemma being found in this thread, so hopefully it won't continue to be a problem like it has been the last few seasons.


And the picture (above) is hilarious, I like Vettel and I still don't place him completely in the wrong, but I see him going through PR hell this season for that stunt.

[rav320uk]

[naplesE30]

Dominicali has said it was a team error but he is prob just covering for alonso. However its the teams responsibility to call him in as he can't see the extent of the damage.

[naplesE30]

Im sure the engineers found it to be more advantageous to be light throughout the race and conserve at the end as opposed to carry more weight for the entire duration of the race.

[Alex Mc]

A pretty exciting race but Vettel has done some reputational damage. Also, why Alonso didn't pit on L1 is beyond comprehension.

FTW
-RBR
-Mercedes
-Vettel

Fail
-Force India
-Alonso
-Vettel

[naplesE30]

Button did the same last year only he came to a full stop I believe. How good were the redbull stops. Flawless. Everyone of them.

[z31maniac]

The Rosberg Hami battle is not going as expected, and Hami's pit move was the funniest thing I have ever seen in an F1 race.

I think Button or someone did something similar last year or the year before.

[z31maniac]

Having to limp the last 10+ laps shouldn't be a part of any team's race strategy. My question is why the FIA can't use a smaller sample of fuel rather than an entire (at times, race-deciding) one liter.

If they changed it to 1/10 of liter, the teams would just put 9/10 of a liter less in the car.

Almost every car is underfueled to start with the expectation at some point in the race the car will run a "conservation stint".

The race started wet (which uses less fuel) and the cars were still conserving at the end.

[unevolved]

I love F1.

Agreed. This race had all kinds of things to enjoy and be talking about.

[GillesBigCowboy]

Even Vettel fanboys have to think less of him after this... Hopefully Webber can use this as a springboard while Vettel stays in doldrums for a while.

NBCsports let me down... At the end of the Indy race, they actually showed the F1 results on their ticker (immediately before the afternoon showing of the race!).

The Rosberg Hami battle is not going as expected, and Hami's pit move was the funniest thing I have ever seen in an F1 race. I expect big things from Brawn and company this year.

I love F1.

[naplesE30]

I think what pisses everyone off is his pass was on a crippled car basically. He took advantage of his teamate who had already switched his car off. Very sporting. What a hollow victory it must feel like. I dont think their is any sincerity in his appology and weber who knows him pretty well by now realises that. Bush leauge racing. Had weber not turned down his engine etc, then fine it was a legit move. Teamates race all the time. Its totally acceptable to race your teamate. Hamilton and Button had some great duels over the past few years. But to pass your teamate when he is obeying team orders as vettel should have as well exposes his true character. That is why everyone is miffed. He totaly put the team in a bad situation by his aroggance. Schumacher has had some shady wins in the past but it was ferraris call to have teamates move over for him, and not him thumbing his nose at the team. Also whenever it happened it was later in the season, and Schumi was always quick to admit rubino deserved the win just as hamilton admitted rosberg drove well enough to place ahead of him.

[XW70]

On behalf of Australia, screw you Vettel!

Mark can never catch a break it seems