Vettel not taking Friday lead for granted

17 comments on “Vettel not taking Friday lead for granted”

1. 

   JamieFranklinF1 (@jamiefranklinf1)
   22nd June 2012, 19:09

   Very interesting, once again. I think with these kind of temperatures, we might have an emulation of the Bahrain GP. The Lotuses will continue to look faster as the weekend goes on, and Vettel will be in the mix for the win, probably fighting from pole on Sunday.

   I think it’ll be interesting to see how Force India do though. By my recollection, they were quite strong in Bahrain.
   1. 

      Tom (@newdecade)
      22nd June 2012, 19:35

      Redbull/Lotus battle for the win it seems. 8 from 8? Try comparing the redbull/lotus stints vs jenson button’s without thinking “ouch”… I imagine Lewis will provide a good show in quali but I don’t believe the Mclaren noises about getting their setups straightened out by end of fp3.
      1. 

         Snafu (@snafu)
         22nd June 2012, 20:38

         a podium is all I can predict for Mclaren here. but it’s 2012…anything is possible!
      2. 

         arvindsi (@arvindsivaraman)
         22nd June 2012, 21:28

         Don’t count out Ferrari yet. Alonso looked really good in his long stint considering he was on medium tires. I believe they’re in strong contention for the win here.
      3. 

         bosyber (@bosyber)
         23rd June 2012, 9:34

         Lotus and Force India looks great on long pace; Ferrari, Red Bull and Maldonado’s Williams are okay, but much shorter runs than those two teams, so hard to tell. If Button’s long run pace is it, McLaren would be lucky to get points really. Mercedes not looking great, but faster than Button. I don’t know the tyres though.
   2. 

      @HoHum (@hohum)
      23rd June 2012, 2:30

      At most races the Lotus cars have been really competitive in practice doing race simulation but just can’t convert in the race. I guess the lack of a good starting place combined with the tyres inability to take the fight to the car ahead are holding them back.
2. 

   Bradley Downton (@bradley13)
   22nd June 2012, 21:07

   With this being 2012… don’t rule out Force India for a strong result. They think they’ve worked something out about the tyres that no-one else has, hence why they won’t say what. But if they have, they could have a MASSIVE advantage. Not saying they’re going to beat everyone, but this is 2012. I think a podium is possible for Force India. Thought probably more so for Hulkenberg than di Resta. I think the Hulk just seems more comfortable fighting up front, whereas di Resta seems more comfortable battling in midfield. Just my opinion though.
3. 

   AdrianMorse (@adrianmorse)
   22nd June 2012, 21:18

   I’m a little surprised the McLarens are so high up in the speed trap. For most of last year, they ran very high downforce settings which made them fast over a lap (in race and qualy), but slow on the straights. At Spa last year, for example, I don’t think they even reached 300 kph on the Kemmel straight, and Jenson Button had to use both DRS and all of his KERS to pass Rosberg on the straight. With regards to their chances for this European GP, I think at least Hamilton will make it into Q3, but with Hamilton doing no long run and Jenson doing a slow one, I fear for their pace in the race.

   During FP2, JEV was one of the first drivers out on softs, and the onboard cameras stayed with him quite a while, as he struggled massively to hit his apexes and make his braking points. I think it’s a real shame the Toro Rosso is turning into such a dog, because the intra-team battle between Vergne and Ricciardo would be much more interesting if it were played out inside the top 10. Also, I suspect this damages their chances of getting a Red Bull seat any time soon; I doubt even Vettel would look good in this Toro Rosso.

   Finally, it’s good to see Senna third in the ultimate lap chart, with a final sector time more than a tenth faster than Vettel’s. His performance went mostly unnoticed by the SKY F1 crew, I think, but this is a good first step towards a much needed turnaround of his fortunes.
   1. 

      matt90 (@matt90)
      22nd June 2012, 23:42

      If they didn’t reach 300 kph at Kemmel last year, I image that was just the speed trap rather than the entire straight.
   2. 

      Metal Mr. L (@metalluigi)
      23rd June 2012, 9:06

      +1
      It’s good to see someone finally acknowledge the Toro Rosso is a dog rather than just pinning it on the drivers.
4. 

   PaulM (@pmelton)
   22nd June 2012, 21:30

   I was wondering today whilst watching the practices play out, if McLaren are setting their cars up for the expected warmer temperatures… They seem to be really focused on tyre wear these days, and could be positioning themselves for a long first stint to get track position.
   1. 

      AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
      22nd June 2012, 23:02

      @pmelton Would be clever but didn’t they say about being able to get on top of the problems from practice? That said they could just be calling our bluff!
5. 

   ozzy (@ozzy)
   22nd June 2012, 22:42

   I would not bet on any one to win, but i must bet on redbull to make the rest look incompetent
6. 

   ozzy (@ozzy)
   22nd June 2012, 22:44

   Vettel – Webber – Hamilton – Alonso – Kimi – Grosean – Button – Perez
7. 

   Pedro Costa (@pnunocosta)
   22nd June 2012, 23:26

   Totally unpredictable, I think that we’ll see some overnight improvement from Mclaren and Ferrari and they’ll show strongly tomorrow. Vettel on single lap and Lotus on long runs doing well for now. If Mercedes sorts out their long runs low key performance they must be seriously considered if not the favourites.
   Happy to see Caterham closing up to STR, they deserve this morale boost.
8. 

   Eggry (@eggry)
   23rd June 2012, 2:23

   Mercedes and Mclaren’s speed trap speed are insane!! It’s interesting to note some promising teams(Red Bulls, Lotuses, Ferraris and one of Force India) are fairly slower in terms of speed trap.
   1. 

      bosyber (@bosyber)
      23rd June 2012, 9:37

      Yeah, setting themselves up for overtaking in the race or something?

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