2019 Chinese Grand Prix Free Practice & Qualifying Thread

UnlikeUday · Post by **UnlikeUday** » Mon Apr 08, 2019 3:58 pm

Source - http://www.imgur.com

Source - http://www.imgur.com

Power elements used till China:

Source - http://www.imgur.com

JN23 · Post by **JN23** » Mon Apr 08, 2019 6:27 pm

Race 800 was the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, race 900 was the 2014 Bahrain Grand Prix. Hopefully another crazy/great race.

M44 · Post by **M44** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 11:07 am

Cant see past a dominant Leclerc win here.. unless Mercedes have managed to find something.

JN23 · Post by **JN23** » Wed Apr 10, 2019 6:33 pm

The top five finishers have been the same drivers in both of the first two races. I wonder if it has ever happened before and looking at the predictions for this weekend it seems like most expect it to happen again.

UnlikeUday · Post by **UnlikeUday** » Thu Apr 11, 2019 8:36 am

No rain expected during the weekend!
https://www.racefans.net/2019/04/11/dry-race-weekend-expected-in-shanghai/?fbclid=IwAR2Nl5ccSSS-08EM2NVnhl8hcbxe4tRF4lDW3860_U-OnjaMsruzRG7H1uI

F1 Racer · Post by **F1 Racer** » Thu Apr 11, 2019 12:16 pm

JN23 wrote:The top five finishers have been the same drivers in both of the first two races. I wonder if it has ever happened before and looking at the predictions for this weekend it seems like most expect it to happen again.

This happened many times last year too, (with both the same top 5 and same top 6 even). Remember modern day F1 is more predictable than ever. :-)

JN23 · Post by **JN23** » Thu Apr 11, 2019 1:51 pm

F1 Racer wrote:
JN23 wrote:The top five finishers have been the same drivers in both of the first two races. I wonder if it has ever happened before and looking at the predictions for this weekend it seems like most expect it to happen again.

This happened many times last year too, (with both the same top 5 and same top 6 even). Remember modern day F1 is more predictable than ever.

Sorry, my original post wasn't clear.

I was wondering if the top five finishers have been the same in three consecutive races. Which having checked happened in Italy, Singapore and Russia last year.

ReservoirDog · Post by **ReservoirDog** » Thu Apr 11, 2019 8:02 pm

Ferrari pole by 3/10ths. RBR a further 1.2 secs behind Ferrari.

SmoothRide · Post by **SmoothRide** » Fri Apr 12, 2019 3:21 am

ReservoirDog wrote:Ferrari pole by 3/10ths. RBR a further 1.2 secs behind Ferrari.

RBR has been disappointingly slow at the start of this year. Is it the Honda power unit or is the chassis not that great?

UnlikeUday · Post by **UnlikeUday** » Fri Apr 12, 2019 3:54 am

FP1 done:

Source - https://scontent.fbom16-1.fna.fbcdn.net ... e=5D465EC8

kowen1208 · Post by **kowen1208** » Fri Apr 12, 2019 5:29 am

Only 0.6s covering the whole midfield, and Williams within a second of that. Hope to see the gap from 1st to 6th close up, but I feel like a wider gap from midfield to Williams is more likely.

Zoue · Post by **Zoue** » Fri Apr 12, 2019 6:44 am

Looking quite tight in the qualifying sims at the moment. Bottas ahead by a whisker

Zoue · Post by **Zoue** » Fri Apr 12, 2019 7:12 am

Leclerc's Ferrari has been in the garage for a long time and he's now formally hanging up his helmet. Ferrari reliability not looking too impressive so far this year.

purchville · Post by **purchville** » Fri Apr 12, 2019 7:16 am

Yes, the midfield race (+ Gasly) shaping up as a classic.

Greenman · Post by **Greenman** » Fri Apr 12, 2019 7:36 am

.

Am I meant to be surprised that for the 1,000th Grand Prix the Ferrari second driver is having problems, whilst their number 1 is not ?

.

kowen1208 · Post by **kowen1208** » Fri Apr 12, 2019 7:45 am

Greenman wrote:.

Am I meant to be surprised that for the 1,000th Grand Prix the Ferrari second driver is having problems, whilst their number 1 is not ?

.

Can you really say that Leclerc having problems in FP2 is a conspiracy? Is there not ample time for the team to remedy the issue before qualifying? Would Ferrari not equally enjoy producing the 100th different grand prix winner at the 1000th grad prix as they would having their #1 driver win?

SmoothRide · Post by **SmoothRide** » Fri Apr 12, 2019 7:46 am

Greenman wrote:.

Am I meant to be surprised that for the 1,000th Grand Prix the Ferrari second driver is having problems, whilst their number 1 is not ?

.

Yes, I am sure that they are deliberately sabotaging themselves. It makes perfect sense.

UnlikeUday · Post by **UnlikeUday** » Fri Apr 12, 2019 7:50 am

FP2 done:

Source - https://scontent.fbom16-1.fna.fbcdn.net ... e=5D3DA3D5

Junglist · Post by **Junglist** » Fri Apr 12, 2019 8:13 am

SmoothRide wrote:
Greenman wrote:.

Am I meant to be surprised that for the 1,000th Grand Prix the Ferrari second driver is having problems, whilst their number 1 is not ?

.

Yes, I am sure that they are deliberately sabotaging themselves. It makes perfect sense.

Playing the ultimate long game!

Uffman · Post by **Uffman** » Fri Apr 12, 2019 10:00 am

Mercs new front wing is apparently illegal.
They ran it on FP1 and FP2

https://www.grandprix247.com/2019/04/12/mercedes-new-front-wing-for-china-not-legal/

UnlikeUday · Post by **UnlikeUday** » Fri Apr 12, 2019 10:24 am

Damon Hill driving his father's Lotus car from 1969 at a demo today in Shanghai. Wish F1 cars were still like this - Gorgeous but hard to drive.

Source - http://www.imgur.com

Junglist · Post by **Junglist** » Fri Apr 12, 2019 10:47 am

A user on Reddit, u/Nexsus1011, went through the effort to compare race simulations across the main 3.
Hopefully he doesn't mind me posting his hard work here!

https://www.reddit.com/r/formula1/comments/bcb5z5/race_simulation_times_from_fp2_in_china/

Mort Canard · Post by **Mort Canard** » Fri Apr 12, 2019 3:43 pm

Toro Rosso have fitted new power units to Kvyat and Albon's cars as a precautionary measure. Wonder if they will use the new units for Quali and the Race???

Not that the penalties would hurt them all that much.

UnlikeUday · Post by **UnlikeUday** » Fri Apr 12, 2019 3:47 pm

Some important stats from today's running:

Source - www.imgur.com

Source - www.imgur.com

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.friday-pace-analysis-china-2019.5aCiB48WUq6AEsSLSvh1BM.html

Zoue · Post by **Zoue** » Fri Apr 12, 2019 3:57 pm

interesting charts. Tbh I'm struggling with the idea that TR has better race pace than either Red Bull or Ferrari, but stranger things have happened! I suspect it's not a wholly accurate picture, though

kowen1208 · Post by **kowen1208** » Fri Apr 12, 2019 4:42 pm

Zoue wrote:interesting charts. Tbh I'm struggling with the idea that TR has better race pace than either Red Bull or Ferrari, but stranger things have happened! I suspect it's not a wholly accurate picture, though

Yeah, that's got to be a lighter fuel load or more aggressive engine map from some of the others.

UnlikeUday · Post by **UnlikeUday** » Sat Apr 13, 2019 4:02 am

Albon's car destroyed after a big shunt at final corner. Don't think e'll make it for qualy. He's fine but his car has too much damage. Was doing good, finished 9th in FP3.

Source - www.imgur.com

Exediron · Post by **Exediron** » Sat Apr 13, 2019 4:19 am

Mort Canard wrote:Toro Rosso have fitted new power units to Kvyat and Albon's cars as a precautionary measure. Wonder if they will use the new units for Quali and the Race???

I'm guessing they won't be using Albon's new unit for quali or the race! :twisted:

UnlikeUday · Post by **UnlikeUday** » Sat Apr 13, 2019 4:19 am

FP3 done:

Source - https://scontent.fbom16-1.fna.fbcdn.net ... e=5D3C09F2

UnlikeUday · Post by **UnlikeUday** » Sat Apr 13, 2019 4:40 am

The crash:

Todd · Post by **Todd** » Sat Apr 13, 2019 6:04 am

With Bottas performing well, RedBull should offer Mercedes-Benz whatever they want for Ocon's services. Heck, they should offer any of their four drivers and thirty million dollars to get Ricciardo back from Renault.

Tassadar · Post by **Tassadar** » Sat Apr 13, 2019 6:04 am

That Williams looks like it's lacking a lot of grip. Looks a bit of a mess to control.

mcdo · Post by **mcdo** » Sat Apr 13, 2019 6:13 am

So is the sport doing anything of note to commemorate the 1000th GP? Other than plastering the number 1000 everywhere?

Because they were surveying fans last year looking for input on how to celebrate it. I haven't seen anything suggested

Mayox · Post by **Mayox** » Sat Apr 13, 2019 6:21 am

2 guys out of quali... 2 Williams on track... Stroll still out after Q1 3rd time in a row... xd

Todd · Post by **Todd** » Sat Apr 13, 2019 6:28 am

mcdo wrote:So is the sport doing anything of note to commemorate the 1000th GP? Other than plastering the number 1000 everywhere?

Because they were surveying fans last year looking for input on how to celebrate it. I haven't seen anything suggested

They should have made it a real race to commemorate what F1 once was:
1. No DRS meaning no gimmicky contrived passes.
2. Whatever powerunit the drivers start the weekend with, this should be its last race appearance. Run at more than 75% of performance potential all race. The driver's should be on the limit more than 5% of the time, like when the racing was exciting from 1994 through the end of refueling.
3. No fuel limit - if the cars can carry it, let them. If they can't then refuel during the race.
4. Local yellows only. That's what once made F1 better than US-centric series.
5. Leave tire selection up to the teams. Two compounds for the same conditions? Why not pick one tire to overinflate? It would be just as ridiculous.

FormulaFun · Post by **FormulaFun** » Sat Apr 13, 2019 6:34 am

If Hamilton can't get ahead of bottas he NEEDS to make sure he qualifys ahead of the Ferraris I think

Bacus · Post by **Bacus** » Sat Apr 13, 2019 6:43 am

FormulaFun wrote:If Hamilton can't get ahead of bottas he NEEDS to make sure he qualifys ahead of the Ferraris I think

Well he found some pace at the end of that Q2. Hopefully will last.

lucifers · Post by **lucifers** » Sat Apr 13, 2019 6:43 am

better lap from Hamilton now

Zoue · Post by **Zoue** » Sat Apr 13, 2019 6:48 am

Ferrari not even in the same picture at the moment. Hope they're keeping their powder dry

Todd · Post by **Todd** » Sat Apr 13, 2019 6:49 am

Herbert and Rosberg apparently missed that Verstappen was well on his way to setting a new best time on Softs when he backed off. They really want Bottas to have an advantage in his extra set of new Mediums that he probably has lost. Hamilton on Softs could be extremely fast.