2013 Chinese F1 GP @ Shanghai

[BoldUlysses]

Yeah yeah, it's not Tuesday, but it's been damn near 3 weeks since we got our last F1 fix, so it's time for another GP thread.

- Will the newfound tension in the RBR paddock spill over into quali or the race itself?
- Will the saber-rattling by everyone's favorite little dictator a few hundred miles away affect the context of the event?
- Will it be another good weekend for Mercedes?
- Tires, tires, tires...

Gaaah. Sunday can't come soon enough. I dunno about you guys, but after discussing the Horner/Seb/Mark love triangle for the past 3 weeks, I'm ready for some real racing to contribute another storyline to this season besides what happened in Sepang.

[BSM_135i]

Will someone fill me in on the tension over at RBR?

[Kyldare]

Will someone fill me in on the tension over at RBR?

http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2013/0...-malaysia-win/

http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2013/0...d-pass-webber/

http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2013/0...s-team-orders/

http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2013/0...d-prix-dramas/

Read all of those in order.

[ArticM3]

I am hopeful that the break gave McLaren a chance to work out some issues.

Outside of that, I think its going to go all RBR's way, with Mercedes and Ferrari duking it out just a few car lengths back.

[RidgeBack]

Artic, you don't think Lotus will be anywhere near the front?

Looking forward to the race, have been jones'ing hard the past couple of weeks.

[Hugo]

I hope Vettel crashes and burn. Like, literally.

[BoldUlysses]

Somebody watched the Rush trailer one too many times...

Harsh, man. Weren't you in the Vettel camp up until last race?

[RidgeBack]

Shouldn't give a hoot.

[Kyldare]

I doubt Hugo (actually) "literally" wants to see someone get in a wreck where half of their face gets BBQ'd.

[snk328is]

I am really looking forward to another inter-RBR fight on track. No matter what anybody else says about them, they still allow their drivers to be race car drivers and I doubt they will clamp down hard on either of them as long as they don't take each other out. Christian Horner said it best when he said that they're race car drivers, it happens.

Also looking forward to another inter-Mercedes fight. Hopefully Nico will be strong again and challenge Hamilton all throughout the race.

I really hope McLaren have got their shit together so that they can enter the fray up front.

BTW, joking about racers dying is not cool, because it happens and they usually don't deserve it. Remember, this is not OT.

[ArticM3]

I am not sure Lotus is truly at the same level as Ferrari and Mercedes (though I'd love to see Kimi win it all). As the year progresses, I think they are going to slide a bit... Just a gut feeling.

I'd place the teams in this order (as of now): RBR, Ferrari, Mercedes, Lotus, McLaren, Force India, Sauber, Williams, STR, Marussia, Caterham

[maxell0405]

Webber will punt Vettel if given the chance. Maybe not in China but soon. The situation at RBR is pathetic but it has made and it will make for on track drama second to none. My vote is for Alonso to drive through the wreckage and onto the top step.

It will also be interesting to see how much progress the vaunted McLaren development machine can make. I was hopeful that Button might really shine as the No. 1 driver there, but so far the effort has not been impressive.

Hamilton will not pit at McLaren this time.
Kimi will know what to do.
Perez will not make it out of Q2.
Sutil will finish 5 places higher than he qualifies.

[RidgeBack]

True, if past years are anything to go buy their mid year development has suffered compared to the other top tier teams.

Interesting that you rate FI ahead of Sauber. They did look good last time out while Sauber seemed to struggle compared to last year's form so I think you're right but I think Hulk and Sutil make the cars look better than what they actually are.

Hopefully the wider setup range on the STRs will reap some benefits and I'd really like to see Bottas to well in the Williams but they have a lot of work to do.

And agree that Caterham is the worst of the pack. I don't see it getting any better by season's end either.

[auaq]

Gentlemen! Rev those engines all the way to heaven.

I hope you guys are ready for more action and just forget about what happened at the last race.

[Hugo]

Harsh, man. Weren't you in the Vettel camp up until last race?

Yes. Until last race. It's over now. Forever.

I doubt Hugo (actually) "literally" wants to see someone get in a wreck where half of their face gets BBQ'd.

Not quite. But if his car burned down to a crisp, and he barely escaped, I'd be fine.

BTW, joking about racers dying is not cool, because it happens and they usually don't deserve it. Remember, this is not OT.

You are right, I don't want anyone to die. But a healthy dose of karma is in order, even if it means him getting hurt a little. Not too much though. No one likes a career to end because of an injury.

[randomy]

My predictions for RBR is that a battle will occur, but it will be passive-aggressive; Trying to pass while the other car is in the pits, and then keep the position. I don't think we will see them do anything that may be considered risky, only passing in DRS zones perhaps, no wheel-to-wheel.

[Jims5543]

Yes. Until last race. It's over now. Forever.
Not quite. But if his car burned down to a crisp, and he barely escaped, I'd be fine.
You are right, I don't want anyone to die. But a healthy dose of karma is in order, even if it means him getting hurt a little. Not too much though. No one likes a career to end because of an injury.

I really do not understand this.

It was OK for Mark to disobey team orders (even though he failed) not only once but two times. No one has a problem with that.

God forbid the underdog gets stomped on (rightfully so IMHO as he demonstrated he would do the same) and everyone suddenly hates Vettel.

I will take what happened ANY day at RBR over what happened at Mercedes. I would prefer them all to just race and not procession around any more than we are already suffering through with these tires.


My prediction?

Rosberg is going to be on the podium this weekend, Hamilton will suffer his first failure from out in front of Rosberg.

Webber will be back to his shitty start, especially if it is a dry start.

Seb will win the race this weekend with Kimi rounding out the podium.

I do not think Ferrari or McLaren will have the pace to finish in the top 5.

I may be all wrong but that is what is so fun about F1, it seems so unpredictable these last couple of years.

[auaq]

Joe Saward's another blog:

http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2013/...astian-vettel/

[ArticM3]

(Posted this in the Malaysian GP thread as well)...

Vettel sat through an interview on Wednesday and basically gave Webber the verbal finger....
http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2013/0...g-webber-back/

[M3Alpine99]

I can't believe someone said literally and wished death/burning. Come on Huge, seriously? I will say again what I said in the other thread. Senna intentionally hit people and is a hero. Said he would do anything to win. He wrecked cars out trying to win... while in first place. Easily winning and wanted to push harder and harder. Schumi runs people to wall. Asks for team orders. Etc. He is a hero to many as well.

Vettel breaks team orders, something EVERYONE he has said they hate. And team orders were broken and admitted to be broken by his teammate before. Suddenly Vettel is the worst person ever and deserves to die in a fiery crash? Wow...

I hope Vettel gets in his car and stomps everyone. In full Vettel fashion. Last lap destruction in qualifying. Pulls huge gap in the race and just cruises around leaving the scraps from the table for everyone else. And his finger should be a middle finger after he wins.

Mercedes will probably fall off a bit along with Lotus. It will be interesting to see a fully dry weekend. See what goes down. Can't wait!

[auaq]

Just one and a half hours left to go for P1.

Can we stop talking on Vet/Web for the time being please! If he wants to do it again, so let it be.

[gary88]

1 hour to FP1

- - - Updated - - -

Stream:

http://www.firstrow1.eu/watch/112960/1/watch-sky-sports-f1.html

[M3Alpine99]

Never trust random plugins... Is that safe Gary?

[gary88]

Always works great for me on Safari with adblock on.

[M3Alpine99]

Weird. Firefox loads and says it needs some plugin to download.