Grand Prix Rejects

mario wrote:Sauber finished 2012 with 126 points to Force India's 109, but Force India finished in the points more frequently than Sauber - out of 40 starts (i.e. 20 races with two drivers), Force India had 20 points finishes to 16 for Sauber - and Hulkenberg was in a position to have potentially won the Brazilian GP too had he not been penalised for his collision with Hamilton (the validity of which, I imagine most would say, was highly contentious, but that is an another matter).

Perez was in contention for the win in Malaysia and perhaps Italy as well.

good_Ralf wrote:

mario wrote:Sauber finished 2012 with 126 points to Force India's 109, but Force India finished in the points more frequently than Sauber - out of 40 starts (i.e. 20 races with two drivers), Force India had 20 points finishes to 16 for Sauber - and Hulkenberg was in a position to have potentially won the Brazilian GP too had he not been penalised for his collision with Hamilton (the validity of which, I imagine most would say, was highly contentious, but that is an another matter).

Perez was in contention for the win in Malaysia and perhaps Italy as well.

Malaysia was the one that got away from Checo. I mean, Fernando's arguably the most complete driver on the grid, but I don't think even he could have kept the vastly quicker Sauber behind him for too long had Sergio not thrown it off the road.

GwilymJJames wrote:Jules Bianchi has the dreaded lurgi, which makes possible the EXCITING prospect of Rodolfo Gonzalez driving in an actual Formula One race. Or at least failing to qualify for one.

Bianchi actually had a stomach upset, so Gonzalez will have to wait his turn.

I didn't watch the Practice session but having just seen the best sector times on the F1 website 0.4 of Vettel's 0.6 advantage came in the middle sector so if he doesn't deliver it there then he won't get pole.

Wow, Alonso on softs in Q1...

Gutierrez Gutierrez' drive was ragged from the onboard view. That Sauber is a dog, even bigger than McLaren.

Both Williams out... Ouch!

Way to celebrate 600, Williams.
Perez just got through in 14th, Hülkenberg dropped a 6th time.

Shizuka wrote:Gutierrez Gutierrez' drive was ragged from the onboard view. That Sauber is a dog, even bigger than McLaren.

Yeah, I wouldn't rule Sauber out of ROTY yet. It's gotta either be Sauber, McLaren or Williams.

Worried for Sutil. He struggled in Q1 on the soft tyres and his pace is several tenths away for Di Resta.

Rosberg is out in Q2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As are both FI s and Checo.
But the Hulk is in as well as JB.

good_Ralf wrote:Rosberg is out in Q2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh dear, beaten by a crappy McLaren and Sauber.

Fair play to Hulkenberg and Button, did not expect them to reach the top 10.

good_Ralf wrote:Rosberg is out in Q2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's a suprise!

ROSBERGFAILSLOL

Something strange has happened with the track temperature towards the end of the session... I still expect a battle between Red Bull and Mercedes (well, between Vettel and Hamilton) for pole.

Given that I predicted Vettel or Hamilton to win in Britain and neither finished on the podium, anything can happen!

pablo_h wrote:

good_Ralf wrote:Rosberg is out in Q2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's a suprise!

Rosberg's first failure to get into Q3 since USA 2012.

Very poor decision from Mercedes. They thought they were home and dry, but instead the track improved a lot and just caught them out. Not Nico's fault by any stretch.

Hamilton is on pole position for the German Grand Prix.

And it's Lewisteria all over again!!

Was out and about so only managed to catch the last two minutes, filled with dread seeing Vettel on pole. What happened to Rosberg? And great to see a Sauber in the top 10!

The Lotuses are 4-5 and the Curse of Enoch is really starting to take effect with Ricciardo 6th again.

I was so worried Vettel would get Pole and Hamilton got it instead. Very pleased but WTF Mercedes! you could have locked out the front row!

rachel1990 wrote:I was so worried Vettel would get Pole and Hamilton got it instead. Very pleased but WTF Mercedes! you could have locked out the front row!

They have no-one to blame but themselves. HOW DARE THEY DO THAT TO MY FAVORITE DRIVER!!!!!!

Kimi-ICE wrote:

rachel1990 wrote:I was so worried Vettel would get Pole and Hamilton got it instead. Very pleased but WTF Mercedes! you could have locked out the front row!

They have no-one to blame but themselves. HOW DARE THEY DO THAT TO MY FAVORITE DRIVER!!!!!!

A mature and measured response there from Kimi-ICE. Thank you for that.

Kimi-ICE wrote:HOW DARE THEY DO THAT TO MY FAVORITE DRIVER!!!!!!

There are no words.

Stay cool Kimi-ice, cool like Nico himself.

Kimi-ICE wrote:

rachel1990 wrote:I was so worried Vettel would get Pole and Hamilton got it instead. Very pleased but WTF Mercedes! you could have locked out the front row!

They have no-one to blame but themselves. HOW DARE THEY DO THAT TO MY FAVORITE DRIVER!!!!!!

More like this or

Ataxia wrote:

Kimi-ICE wrote:

rachel1990 wrote:I was so worried Vettel would get Pole and Hamilton got it instead. Very pleased but WTF Mercedes! you could have locked out the front row!

They have no-one to blame but themselves. HOW DARE THEY DO THAT TO MY FAVORITE DRIVER!!!!!!

A mature and measured response there from Kimi-ICE. Thank you for that.

Kimi look on the bright side the top ten might all collide with each other tomorrow and nico will go into the lead

Kimi-ICE wrote:

rachel1990 wrote:I was so worried Vettel would get Pole and Hamilton got it instead. Very pleased but WTF Mercedes! you could have locked out the front row!

They have no-one to blame but themselves. HOW DARE THEY DO THAT TO MY FAVORITE DRIVER!!!!!!

rachel1990 is right. Take inspiration from the first corner collision in 2005 or the monsoon of 2007. Rosberg is going to do well.

Thanks everyone. It was the heat of the moment and i apologise for it.

Hears hoping that Nico can do well

Don't worry Kimi, it's far from the worst outburst seen here and, apart from the capitals maybe, I have no issues with what you wrote. We all have our favourites. For example, after every qualifying and race this year I scream "What have you done to the FW34, you fools!"

Ferrim wrote: For example, after every qualifying and race this year I scream "What have you done to the FW34, you fools!"

I feel like doing the same, it's horrible seeing them so uncompetitive.

FullMetalJack wrote:

Ferrim wrote: For example, after every qualifying and race this year I scream "What have you done to the FW34, you fools!"

I feel like doing the same, it's horrible seeing them so uncompetitive.

I have really come to like the 2012 Williams in the last week. It really looks like a modern Formula 1 car.
It's also the same for the 2012 Sauber and McLaren...

good_Ralf wrote:I have really come to like the 2012 Williams in the last week. It really looks like a modern Formula 1 car.
It's also the same for the 2012 Sauber and McLaren...

Like the 2010 Hispania.

It's going to be an epic race tomorrow if there is no drama. Ham & Vet duel during first laps, maybe they pull away, but do the tyres last? How many places does Web loose in the start? What can the Lotus cars do with their new-found pace? Does Rai repeat Albert Park and does he know what he is doing? How many championship contenders does Gro take out in the first lap? How many places will Ric have lost by the end of the race? Will the Ferrari gamble pay off? How many times will Mas get the radio message "Ok, Felipe, Alonso is faster than you!"? How many places will Alo gain on first lap? How many times will we hear But complaining about tyres, balance and being overtaken? How much will Hul regret not being in a Force India come the flag? AND that is just the top ten, we still have Ros in 11th and a very tight pack after him. It has been one of the closest qualis this year if not the closest.

Has anyone else noticed that Hamilton's Mercedes overalls sometimes look like he's wearing a nappy.

Ferrim wrote:For example, after every qualifying and race this year I scream "What have you done to the FW34, you fools!"

„How does I build fast car?”
I'm actually asking the same after every single double-Q1 knockout. Just how on Earth could they drop the ball so hard like this?
In the case of Sauber, at least Hülkenberg wrangles its throat to get some points out of the car, which could be the worst Sauber car since the C22...

Highlights of qualifying is on BBC1 for those than haven't got Sky Sports F1.

For those hyping up Räikkönen, don't forget about how much bad luck he has had at the Nurburgring. Maybe he will suffer the first retirement of his comeback...

Shizuka wrote:

Ferrim wrote:For example, after every qualifying and race this year I scream "What have you done to the FW34, you fools!"

„How does I build fast car?”
I'm actually asking the same after every single double-Q1 knockout. Just how on Earth could they drop the ball so hard like this?
In the case of Sauber, at least Hülkenberg wrangles its throat to get some points out of the car, which could be the worst Sauber car since the C22...

For some reason, it seems that Williams have really screwed up the calibration of their wind tunnel this year and it seems to have badly affected what was intended to be a major exhaust upgrade (a copy of the Red Bull system) that had to be abandoned early in the season in favour of their 2012 design.

Kimi-ICE wrote:Thanks everyone. It was the heat of the moment and i apologise for it.

Hears hoping that Nico can do well

On the bright side, Nico has at least been able to save some tyres and, given his pace in the practise sessions, should at least have a chance of being able to gain some positions (maybe not a podium, but a top six position is probably within reach).