News 2017 FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN CHINESE GRAND PRIX Shanghai

[Notebook]

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton won a tight fight with Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel to take pole position for Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix.

Hamilton beat Vettel by 0.186 seconds for his second pole in two races, while the German edged the second Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas by 0.001secs.

Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen made it the same top four on the grid as at the season-opening race in Australia.

Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo was fifth but 1.355secs off the pace.

The Australian's team-mate Max Verstappen was 19th after an engine problem.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/39537606

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest.html

 

[N_Molson]

They should ask the pilots to make their best after 2 Heinekens. Would be interesting. :hmm:

 

[GLS]

They should ask the pilots to make their best after 2 Heinekens. Would be interesting. :hmm:

Some don't need to drink. :lol:

 

[Urwumpe]

Somebody should tell him that you don't drift in a formula one car.....

 

[Notebook]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/formula1/38347120

Summary
Hamilton leads Vettel - but reporting tyre wear
Verstappen up to 3rd from back, Bottas spins behind safety car
Kvyat, Vandoorne, Giovinazzi, Stroll out
Laps 33/56

 

[Notebook]

Lewis Hamilton wins Chinese Grand Prix ahead of Sebastian Vettel

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/39538689


2017 Chinese Grand Prix Results

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/2017/chinese-grand-prix/results

 

[fred18]

Couldn't figure out if Ferrari was only unlucky in the Vettel's strategy or if it was anyway a bit too risky. Anyway the feeling is that Ferrari and Mercedes cars are equal or maybe Ferrari even a bit better.

Verstappen confirms of being a great talented pilot here.

Notables:
Vettel's position on the starting grid was quite off his assigned place
Verstappen overtook 9 cars in the first lap
Super Vettel overtake over Ricciardo
Mercedes Team Radio called Bottas "Nico... er... Valtteri"

 

[BenSisko]

I don't think it was a Ferrari strategy issue, I don't think anyone expected the real safety car after the VSC. I think Ferrari and Mercedes have finally reached parity. The Ferrari chassis (or at least their pilots) seem to be gentler on the tires than the Mercs but Vettel couldn't catch Hamilton at the end. Verstappen is a force to recon with! I heard the "Nico... er... Valtteri" slip too.

It's good for the sport to have Ferrari and Mercedes battling it out at the front. Three different constructors on the podium! I just wish McLaren-Honda would get on track. Alonso's sounding despondent

 

[ADSWNJ]

Interesting article on oveetaking in 2017 F1. The Chinese GP showed less than 1/2 the overtakes of 2016, but the quality of the overtakes (e.g. Max, Seb) was better than last year.

It's early, but maybe we will have some good overtakes this year after all! (Still think they need to simplify the aero elements though, and either clean up the trailing wakes or give cars a driver-controlled close-follow wing mode.

 

[BenSisko]

Hmmm, I don't know. I don't think there's a way to have a driver controlled close following mode. Only the mechanical grip of the tires would work. Whatever aero aids you have will be degraded by the disturbed airflow from the wake of the lead car.

 

[ADSWNJ]

Hmmm, I don't know. I don't think there's a way to have a driver controlled close following mode. Only the mechanical grip of the tires would work. Whatever aero aids you have will be degraded by the disturbed airflow from the wake of the lead car.

I know that there are a huge number of possible configurations of front wing. I would be interested in whether by manual control you could set a flap mode that reduced scrubbing or washout of the front tires (e.g. crudely by adding more flap, but I am sure there are more complex versions). Make it enableable within say 2 seconds of following somebody, and make it work like a front-wing reverse-DRS and available anywhere on the track (i.e. it has to increase front wheel downforce).