Grand Prix 2013 Indian Grand Prix Practice, Qualifying & Race Discussion

Here's CTA's discussion thread on the Indian GP, as F1 travels to New Delhi from October 25-27:

WDC:

Despite the best efforts of Webber and RoGro, Vettel needs only a fifth place finish to secure his 4th title, which means its all over in the WDC. But the drivers down the grid have more than pride at stake.

Alonso's lack of performance over the last 2 races, better pace from Hamilton and Kimi and the lack of any bad luck for Webber means that the 2nd to 5th positions in the WDC are yet to be settled. And good performances (or the lack of it) from several drivers (Hulkenberg, Massa, Sutil, Di Resta to name a few) could still determine where (and if) they are driving next season.

WCC:

RBR may be on the verge of winning the WCC, but only 33 points separate 2nd placed Ferrari from 4th placed Lotus, and the battle for 2nd position (very important from a monetary standpoint) is poised to go down to the last couple of races. Sauber and McLaren may have secured their respective positions from their rivals, but can McLaren get that elusive podium to avoid the record books from being rewritten.

Circuit and Race:

Despite having an interesting track layout, with each and every lap of the Indian GP being led by Vettel to date, its no wonder that the past races don't trigger too many memories. And with race not being held next year, a good race and crowd support will be essential for the race to return in 2015.

But throw in some encouraging signs from the Japanese GP (atleast Vettel didn't win it in Lap 1) and the tyre degradation battles in the last 2 races (tracks similar in nature to the BIC) and who knows, we could have an interesting Indian GP. But one things for sure, it will be a pleasant surprise if we dont see that finger....

 

[Fenderman]

Waiting for MotoGP qualifying so watching rerun of F1 practice session on Beeb Red Button. Thought about posting this yesterday but fell asleep. Just remembered so here it is ... might be a case of closing the stable door after the horse has bolted but what the heck.

It's rather worrying when one hears the experts come out with statements that whilst not being incorrect are misleading. In P2 James Allen, Gary Anderson and Paul Hembery talked about Rosberg's comment to his pit about how he was now getting more understeer. GA pointed out that as the track "rubbered in" the rear end gets more grip PH simply agreed and their consensus was that that was a challenge. Duh, pf course it is but that's what setting up the frickin' car is all about. So for those who are wondering how Merc' (or anyone else) will deal with understeer this is what our "experts" should have told us:

The team can tweak one or more of the following areas to give the front end more grip relative to the rear end and therefore dial out the understeer:

• Soften the front suspension - by adjusting bound, rebound - and/or adjust rollbar stiffness
• Increase front wing angle to increase front end downforce
• Reduce rear wing angle to reduce downforce
• Stiffen rear suspension - by adjusting bound, rebound - and/or adjust rollbar stiffness

Yes the challenge is to balance the set up (with those adjustments) but that is what practice sessions are all about and it's not hard to relay that to the punter. Later in the commentary Gary Anderson talks about a roll bar adjustment being made to one of the red Bulls (or it might have been a Torro Rosso - I was actually typing this post at the time) where he referred to the pro's and con's of the adjustment. Now guest driver - missed who that is - gives another titbit. WTF! Are they afraid that humble race fan can't take in more than one factoid at a time? Who do they think gets up at 4.30am to watch F1 practice? Somehow I doubt it's the casual fan.

Now they're going on about how difficult it's going to be for young guns coming in with all of the complicated new technology ... jeebs

Edit: Davide Valsecchi pops into commentary box and does a Karun Chandhok style annihilation of the stock commentary squad with astute observation and a tidy summation of the session's events. The man really knows F1. Cool.

Edit 2: GA uses the following term to describe Williams' wheel nut issue: "... clearly they're blatantly not complying with the regulation...". Ahem, GA, the implication of that phrase is that Williams are intentionally using a faulty system or method. That something is faulty is obvious but, frankly, it is disingenuous at worst and careless at best to use language that implies it is anything other than unintentional error. The problem may be a design flaw in the equipment, mishandling by the wheel-man or a production defect in the part or the wheel gun and Williams are not the only team to suffer the issue. Perhaps the tech' boffins of the FIA and teams should work together on this one to identify and fix the root problem. Fines and punishment are not really a remedy for technical failures are they?

 

[Greenlantern101]

P3 shortened to 40mins this morning as the medical helicopter couldn't take off in the smog.

Williams wheel nut was cross threaded which is why failed to engage the locking mechanism.

 

[Fenderman]

Claire Williams has confirmed it was the result of a procedural error and defended their equipment. Other teams have changed types of wheel nut and wheel guns to solve issues they've had, maybe they should share info' since it is a safety issue. F1 has virtually standardised everything else!

 

[Greenlantern101]

Ross Brawn in the press conference was talking about standardising items for the purposes of cost saving such as pedals and steering rack. I don't see any reason to not throw wheel nuts, guns, and hubs into that mix. If it improves safety and cuts costs then why not.

 

[FB]

Brilliant analysis of Vettel's driving form Anthony Davidson on the "Sky Pad". Helps to explain why he's so much faster than his team mate as he extracts every last ounce from what the car is capable of.

 

[Greenlantern101]

Interesting that he thinks Hamilton is the only driver that could compete with him as his team mate. Seems to rate Kimi and Alonso a little lower.

Always interesting to find out what other drivers think.

 

[Greenlantern101]

Alonso seems happy this weekend.

 

[FB]

David Croft "the risk of rain in the qualie session is 0%"

 

[Bill Boddy]

Sorry, what Charlie Whiting said was that there would be no penalty for going off the circuit a no advantage would be gained.

 

[Greenlantern101]

Meh rules is rules. CW is talking piddle.

 

[GeoffP]

Interesting

 

[Incubus]

That pic of Alonso is quite disturbing. Looks a bit like Renfield after Bela Lugosi's Dracula put, quite literally, the bite on him.

 

[Bill Boddy]

He is talking about what will happen, rules are there to be broken. If they got rid of the kerbs, just have the road then around 10 yards of grass with tarmac outside and there would be no doubt that staying on the circuit would be the quickest way.

 

[ramilas1]

Don't know if there's another thread for discussing this but:
The '4 wheels off the track' rule is nonsense if it is only to be applied as and when some dozy old duffer can be arsed to do it.

If most of the drivers, like today, go off track on corner exits (over what are pitiful excuses for what any sane person would consider to be kerbs) then it is because they all know that that is the quickest way to get the best 'racing line' without braking or even lifting.

There shouldn't have to be any decision making process; the track is black tarmac and if all 4 wheels are off it then no part of the car is on it, and questions as to whether that resulted in a faster or slower lap are completely meaningless, in terms of qualifying times.

This is equally relevant whether one particular car is so much faster than the rest and can afford to run a bit wide, as it is further down the grid when one car stays legally on and another goes off but beats the former time by even 0.001 of a second.

The decision making process, as to any gained time, should be reserved solely for during the race.

 

[Titch]

Fairly predictable qualifying session.

 

[siffert_fan]

Fairly predictable qualifying session.

I may be a bit thick, but I didn't think Grosjean stinking up the place was predictable at all. He has been looking pretty good of late but may be reverting (hopefully not and today is an aberration).

 

[teabagyokel]

siffert_fan - Simply a botched tyre strategy; he's not the first and will not be the last!

 

[RasputinLives]

Bit of a learning curve for Grosjean I think. Q1 and Q2 are just about getting through and hopefully today will hammer that home.

Alonso behind Massa again and Hulkenberg. Maybe he should be less happy about his meaningless points record and get his act together in quali. Kimi is slightly better than usual but both have been bloomin awful in quali this year.

 

[Incubus]

I don't think this quali was predictable at all apart from Vettel's pole. There are quite quite a few intriguing aspects deriving from the different tyre strategies at play.

Unfortunately for those hoping for a more open race tomorrow I have this gut feeling that Vettel's decision to opt for the softer tyre might actually turn out to be the right one. Given the Red Bull's superiority this week-end I wouldn't put it past him to established a pit stop-sized gap by the time he has to switch...

 

[sushifiesta]

Obviously qualifying didn't go to plan for Grosjean today but it's actually a fantastic opportunity for him to shake off his destruction derby reputation and fight his way back in to the points.