Oct 08 2011

F1: Suzuka Qualifying

What drivers like about Suzuka is that other than Spa it’s the fastest track on the tour.

What pit crews hate about it is that the asphalt is abrasive and eats up tires.

The choices are Mediums and Softs.  Softs are about 1.6 Seconds a Lap faster, but they only last for 10 – 15 laps at all and drop off quite quickly after a mere 4 or 5 laps, barely enough to turn a hot one.  This will be magnified under heavy fuel so Pirelli expects that even some Q3 teams to switch to the Mediums at the end of Qualifying so they don’t have to pit extraordinarily early.

Mediums are good for 17 – 22 laps which means it’s technically possible to run a 2 pit strategy, but I wouldn’t count on it unless the driver is very easy on the equipment like Jenson Button.

Speaking of Button, his contract extension with McLaren kind of one ups Hamilton’s existing agreement so negotiations for next year could be interesting since McLaren has done nothing for 2 years now except fuck up his chances at a second title with bad pit decisions.

On the other hand McLaren has the second fastest car on the track and he likes to win and is unlikely to score a Red Bull ride.

About that championship, Vettel would have to park for the rest of the season to lose it and it’s highly likely that if he scores any points at all he’ll clinch this weekend and it will officially become The Race For Second Place.

Surprises (if any) below.

rustymancuso581

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  3. Less than 4:00 to go, could run afoul of the 107% rule.

  6. No Time- Rosberg, Luizzi (Liuzzi speared a wall in P3 and might have broken his chassis, Rosberg is speculated to have had electronics/computer problems).

    Kovalianen

    Trulli

    d’Ambrosio

    Glock

    Ricciardo

  8. Teams are sitting on their tires.

  9. Sutil

    di Resta

    Barrichello

    Maldonado

    Buemi

    Alguersuari

    Perez did not set a time.

  11. AND uses his tires.

    Another massive McLaren FAIL!

  12. Vettel

    Button

    Hamilton

    Massa

    Alonso

    Webber

    Schumacher

    Senna

    Petrov

    Kobayashi

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