Grand Prix 2011 Korean Grand Prix Practice, Qualifying & Race Discussion

Party time has officially begun... if you are Red Bull anyway

So, its now over, Sebastian Vettel is the 2011 world champion after finishing third behind Fernando Alonso and winner Jenson Button. Vettel is not only the youngest ever world champion, but the youngest person to defend his championship after walking to the championship with (so far) a podium in every race bar one and a phenomenal record in qualifying with pole in near enough every single race.

The RB7 has no doubt been the best car of the season and has been night and day quicker than anything else on wheels. Adrian Newey must now be known as the scourge of F1 as he has designed yet another car that has won the championship but surely this has to be one of if not the best car he has ever designed as the RB7 doesn't have the fragility that has struck Newey designed cars.

For Mclaren they have finally found the winning formula again after winning a track that everyone thought Red Bull would walk, however , like in 2010 and 2009, it has come too late and has cost them a shot at the title, but Mclaren really have been Red Bulls only consistent challenger this year due to the surprise lack of speed from the Ferraris.

It hasn't been a great season for Ferrari, in pre season all the signs pointed towards a very strong year for the Scuderia, but it was apparent early on that they were only the third fastest team behind Mclaren (whose pre season was shocking in comparison). After an early season shuffle and because of new regulations they were able to win in Silverstone but that has been the only highlight for Fernando Alonso and as for Massa it has been even worse.

Going into Korea we go into the real unknown as it is unclear who has the best package suited to Korea as the only race we've had at the circuit was severely rain affected so it should be a jump into the darkness, although it will be an even bigger jump when we go to India in the not too distant future.

So congratulations Seb, who is starting to rewrite the record books almost with the ease that Schumacher did in his pomp. Eight world championships for Seb by the time he's finished?

For Galahads brilliant circuit write up, see here http://cliptheapex.com/pages/korean-international-circuit/
 
No sooner did I type that than Crofty started discussing the lack of development at the circuit since last year. Great minds think alike and fools rarely differ LOL
 
... Did anyone notice the top of Bruno Senna's helmet this weekend? (I'm sure it hasn't always looked like this) - the top logo had 88, 90, 91 painted on (i.e. Uncle Ayrton's championships.....) (On the iplayer, see practice 2, 1:26:06 for an example)
 
There's no incentive or reason for the Korean circuit owners to spend more money finishing it; they already have the contract.
The race should have been cancelled last year when it was clear the circuit wasn't finished.

I'm betting exactly the same will happen with the Indian circuit.

Oh and it looks like a blue light is going to be installed, to warn drivers when someone is leaving the pits.
This is after Rosberg hit Alguersuari in FP2.

You have to wonder why this design flaw wasn't picked up during the years of planning...
 
Rosberg escapes penalty for the collision, but is fined €10,000 after he "failed to appear in a timely manner as summoned before the Stewards in relation to a disciplinary investigation."

:rolleyes:
 
Oh and it looks like a blue light is going to be installed, to warn drivers when someone is leaving the pits.
This is after Rosberg hit Alguersuari in FP2.

You have to wonder why this design flaw wasn't picked up during the years of planning...

Isn't that a standard at every grand prix? I see it everywhere, should be a requirement at every track imo. Strange how this wasn't picked up by the drivers last year...
 
It seems to me that Hermann Tilke got bored with designing the same circuit repeatedly and decided to innovate with pit in and out.

The pit out into the exit of Turn 1 is a recipe for disaster, the pit in is the most stupid and dangerous thing I have ever seen. There's no excuse, either, there was a blank sheet of paper for this track (and Abu Dhabi, for that matter). Monaco has better pit in and out, and its the most ridiculously tight circuit ever!

There is one simple answer. The pit should be on the inside of the circuit!
 
It seems to me that Hermann Tilke got bored with designing the same circuit repeatedly and decided to innovate with pit in and out.

The pit out into the exit of Turn 1 is a recipe for disaster, the pit in is the most stupid and dangerous thing I have ever seen. There's no excuse, either, there was a blank sheet of paper for this track (and Abu Dhabi, for that matter). Monaco has better pit in and out, and its the most ridiculously tight circuit ever!

There is one simple answer. The pit should be on the inside of the circuit!

I completely agree, though unfortunately your answer wouldn't be that simple or should I say 'cost-effective' for the track organisers to implement.

The pit lane was originally designed to go all the way around the run off area between turns 1 and 2 but I think they changed it as they thought the pit stop time loss was too much.
 
The pit lane was originally designed to go all the way around the run off area between turns 1 and 2 but I think they changed it as they thought the pit stop time loss was too much.

In that case I have a new idea (my new pitlane in red).

f-one.jpg

Minimises pit lane time loss whilst failing to achieve any of the basic functions of a pit lane!
 
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