At a 46 year gap, it's more like marrying your granddaughter. Personally I try to keep the gap at no more than 20 years - give or take.

l8r)

 

There has been a lot of talk going around suggesting that all the teams have a shot at the top due to the unpredictability of the 2012 tires. However, Lotus seems to fell otherwise. This from Permane, trackside operations: "I would expect in three or four races that the field will be more spread,... The top teams will go away and the others will stay the same, because the top teams can develop their car more. But saying that, understanding tyres is much more difficult this year, so anything may happen... there are still performance differentials that do not make sense...In Bahrain, the tyres were working for us and for Red Bull - but it is difficult to believe that it makes one second a lap difference - because that is how much quicker we were than the others there,...It cannot be all tyres - but I don't think anyone really know[s] where they should be, otherwise they would all be doing it."
We heard this same thing, viz. tires not making any sence from Rosberg earlier this year...rear tires felt like they were shot yet were hardly worn. It will B interesting to C if Permane's predictions will come to fruition although history says this is the pattern...big $$$ always wins out...that said, there is still a great deal of uncertainty out there about how best to use and interprete tire performance...whether they finally get it before the end of this year remains to B seen.

Later, Ken

 

Uhhh, I've been saying that for weeks, and receiving nothing but excuses from you in response, but when Permane says it, then you're willing to concede the point? I see how it is.

 

Ease up big fella...I said we shall C if his predictions and, yes, UR's come true...didn't say I believe it but rather hoping it will not come to pass, as per earlier posts...no inconsistancies here.

Later, Ken

 

Well, with all the moaning and groaning from Ferrari about their"uncompetitive car" (read this as "not winning every race) and Allonso saying "We R far away from where we want to B", their whole mantra has been the new Ferrari that they have been frantically assembling for Barcelona will B "radical" and dominant...so what will the radical design consist of?...apparently the only changes will B to the outside of the car...wings, side pods and nose (perhaps the snow plow will B going?) but the chassis will B exactly the same as the current model...this "spec B" better come up with the goods for Marenello has put their a**ss on the line on this one...anything less or equal to the current model will B deemed a failure...i.e., changing the Prancing Stallion to a Clydesdale

Later, Ken

 

It is a rumor and not official yet: http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227...erez-stop-gap- ....At least they R not poaching Perez.

Later, Ken

 

maybe you guys saw this but i will put here :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsvWnGgT7Ok

 

Really impressed with Kimmi's performance this past weekend. Wondering if this is just a late beginning for Vettel's dominance again.

 

More fuel to the tire fire...

I just read on Autosport that Pirelli chose to have a "double gap" in tires for this weekends' GP in Spain. Soft and hard tires are the choices instead of soft/medium or medium/hard.

As if the teams weren't already trying to figure out how to deal with the tire situation, Pirelli does this so they force teams to come up with new strategies. Why don't they just color all the "Pirelli" logos rainbow and have random compounds for each set of tires at this point?

 

I like the idea of a big gap in tire performance, adds to the show.

This is not new btw, they did this a lot last year.

 

^ it still aint going to save ferrari, just saying

 

I like the tyre difference, if there was no degradation McLaren would've already run away with the championship. The degradation forces the teams to set up the cars with strategy in mind, not just outright speed, it evens the field because we all know some cars are faster but harder on the tyres where others are slower but easier on the tyres. I think its a great thing for the sport, I hope they don't change it too much.

 

Well, I suppose you could say that tire degradation is very democratic and affects everyone. It certainly has played a part in 3 of the 4 races. The races have been very entertaining and exciting, especially China. I don't think anyone can fault that.

On the other hand, it is a shame to see the teams not fight it out now in Q3 to see who can qualify the best. And, I hate to see races won by the person who can best save his tires. I think 3 people stand to lose by the current tire formula: Schumacher, Hamilton and Raikkonen. All 3 are hard chargers. What I don't want to see is racing akin to a fuel economy run where the team that uses the least fuel stands the greatest chance of winning, or in this case, the team that least abuses its tires wins.

Tire strategy has always been a part of racing, no matter what the series. However, some of the greatest racing that I can remember was between Goodyear and Firestone and Goodyear and Michelin, and Bridgestone and Michelin. Insane qualifying tires, super soft compounds and insane grip. The technological trickle down caused tires to go from banana peels to sticky gum. We the consumers benefited from that. The racing was fierce and competitive. What I hope is that we don't see a NASCARized F1, complete with multiple caution flags, pace cars and contrived racing, all in the hopes of "improving the show".

 

I agree with you on mostly everything, I would like to see two suppliers, I always liked the battle between Michelin and Bridgestone back in the day. But to solve the qualifying problem why don't they make a specific one use qualifying tyre. That would solve this issue with teams trying to save tyres for the race. Theres no need to restrict tyres in my opinion, keep them with the same degradation but allow the teams to have more fresh tyres so the hard chargers like you mentioned can go full out but maybe make more pit stops in a race. I don't think they'll go as far as Nascarizing F1, at least I hope not but so far its been good. The thing I'm worried about is them changing F1 to a "green" sport, they already have ruined the engines for 2014...

 

^ Great idea. Separate qualifying tires. Let them hang it out for what it is worth and make them use a tire strategy in the race. As for the 2014 rules, I suppose they parallel what Mitsubishi is planning on doing with the Evo XI. Less pollution, greater fuel economy and more environmentally friendly. I guess it is a sign of the times. Sigh.