The Official Not606 Chinese GP Chat & Predictions

after the fireworks of the last race what will fall out amount to China? Will mercedes repeat the trick they did last year? Can Alonso get his early promise back on track? Will Massa out Qualify Alonso again? What will happen between Vettel and Webber?

Round 3: China

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TV Links
SKY (Live) BBC (Live)
Streams:
http://www.time4tv.com/2012/03/sky-sports-f1.html
FirstRow Sports
VIPboxSport
Lemon

Schedule:
Friday 12 April
Practice 1: 0255-0435, BBC Two/BBC Two HD /SKY F1
Practice 2: 0655-0835, BBC Two/BBC Two HD /SKY F1
Saturday 13 April
Practice 3: 0355-0505, BBC Two/BBC Two HD /SKY F1
Qualifying: 0600-0830, BBC One/BBC Red Button /SKY F1
Qualifying replay: 1300-1415, BBC One/BBC One HD
Sunday 14 April
Grand Prix live : 0700-1015, BBC One/Red Button /SKY F1
Grand Prix replay: 1400-1600, BBC One/BBC Red Button
Grand Prix highlights: 1900-2000, BBC Three

Former Winners:
Rosberg 2012
Hamilton 2011, 2008
Button 2010
Vettel 2009
Raikkonen 2007
Schumacher 2006
Alonso 2005
Barrichello 2004

Most Wins:
Lewis Hamilton 2
Ferrari & Mclaren 2

Last Race Statistics:



Pole: 1:35.121 Nico Rosberg
Fastest Lap: 1:39.960 Kamui Kobayashi
Podium: Nico Rosberg, Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton

Lap Record:
1:32.328 Michael Schumacher (Ferrari) 2004

Tyre Allocations:
Medium (White)Soft (Yellow)
Other tyres in the season are Hard/SSofts/Inters/Wets

 

Bring back Manny!
No Poll.. No Circuit pic...

 

Work in progress

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Thank God BBC are showing this live.. F1 commentary will be a Crofty Free Zone!

 

Predictions Table:
[TABLE="width: 500"]
[TR]
[TD]allsaintchris, di Fredsta!, Drudeboy, happyal, jackjefferies, Julius Caesar, JustJazz, Miggins, Schneiderlin is the goal king, Stephen Licorish, tomcat606, MarkLarmerGerbilFarmer, Pit Lane Charlie[/TD]
[TD]1 Point[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

EJ will be back too

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http://www.accuweather.com/en/cn/shanghai/106577/april-weather/106577

Looking at those temps, it could favour the Lotus and Ferrari's again (same conditions in Melbourne?) and were these not the same conditions that the Mercs did well in last year?
If so, could be a nice 5 way team fight (hoping McLaren join the party) at Shanghai

 

I'm sure I read somewhere (can't remember where) that Mclaren fully expect to be challenging Ferrari and Lotus in Shanghai. If that's the case then their turnaround will be remarkable. They were pretty realistic with hopes for Malaysia, so hopefully this is also realistic. The more competition the better.

 

Got a feeling about Lewis for this one. Hamelots Unite!

 

He's won there twice..
Car went well there last year, conditions maybe similar this year..
Car has started off 2013 well..
Get the fuel right, pace himself and he could have a chance..
But I think Alonso will want to make amends for his lack of points in Malaysia and take the win here..
Grosjean is the Dark horse for me here, he's kept his powder dry so far in 2013, drove well enough in Malaysia, he's gonna get a win at some point this year me thinks, could be here..

 

I'm going to be boring and go for a Alonso win. Hopefully Button and Hamilton can challenge for a podium with a Williams recovery starting.

 

I'm going for a Rosberg win. The merc looks a good car, hopefully Britney will be buoyed by the fact he matched LH in Malaysia.



Bianchi to win best of the backmarkers.

 

Rosberg and Lewis for the podium! Gone for Lewis to win Rosberg to finish 2nd and Alonso 3rd.

 

I just dont think that the Merc can match front running pace without things falling into play for them. They are quick on low tanks and with Lewis have to be in with a shot for pole, but fueling both cars low in Sepang would indicate that they either cant run the pace they want when on full tanks or are trying to limit tyre deg by being slightly lighter. One car running light is one thing but both and Lewis saving fuel from mid point just doesnt compute for me.

I'm going for Alonso with Button on the podium.

 

Did anyone see that article with the FIA apparently stating that they have "not" instructed RB, Lotus and Merc to change their flexie wings for the next race? It popped up on twitter today.

 

I have a feeling that Mercedes are going to be strong here and either Nico or Lewis will win , especially as Mercedes won the race last year

 

Hahaa, ewwwww...

 

Could be spot analysis that....
Or, they could have played the "rain" card? They may have thought it would have rained longer and therefore not need to top their tanks up?
But even then, when running lighter than the RBs, whilst they could keep up they couldn't overtake, so tend to agree, their "race" pace isn't up there with the RBs, Lotus, Ferrari's and if McLaren continue to improve, they could find themselves behind them.as well.

 

I think I read somewhere that the Mercs were short-fuelled in anticipation of a safety car?

 

Mercedes had consistent long run pace in practice in Sepang.They anticipated rain and carried less race fuel. Lewis had said he was saving fuel from Lap 25 and to finish just over 14 seconds off the Red Bulls at the end of race whilst fuel saving massively is still impressive. Ferrari weren't strong, Button's pace was ok but not spectacular and Lotus were inconsistent.