No tyre trouble but drivers alert to rising temperatures

2013 German Grand Prix Friday practice analysis

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The F1 drivers’ threat to boycott the German Grand Prix if the tyre failures seen at Silverstone recur meant today’s two practice session were anxiously watched for any sign of a repeat.

Fortunately there was none. Although we can expect the tyres will come under greater strain as more rubber goes down on the track and temperatures rise, the early signs are F1 is in no danger of a boycott.

Conditions at the track today were cloudy and slightly cool. That is forecast to change tomorrow with higher temperatures expected. So drivers were cautious about reading too much into how the changes to the tyres will affect the competitive order this weekend.

“They are different and require a different set-up, so today was a good opportunity to learn something,” said Nico Rosberg of the revised Pirellis. “We want to understand them quicker and better than the other teams.”

“Generally it seems that we are quick again over one lap and the long run was not bad. It’s difficult to predict where we are, because you never know exactly about the fuel levels of the others. Also it’s going to get warmer on Sunday and this could change also the whole picture again. ”

Mercedes had a second over their rivals in the first session but in second practice Red Bull led the way with less than nine-tenths covering them, Mercedes, Lotus and Ferrari. Sebastian Vettel said: “I wasn’t so happy with the car this morning and Mercedes were quick, but in the afternoon we were in better shape.”

Ferrari were unable to make any progress with Fernando Alonso’s car in the first session due to an electrical problem. It came at an unfortunate time for the team as they try to understand why their cars were off the pace at Silverstone. Pat Fry said they had completed “nowhere near as much” of their programme with Alonso’s car as they intended to.

Lotus were slightly quicker than Ferrari but have decided not to use their Drag Reduction Device for the rest of the weekend.

The second practice session showed that while the medium tyre is very durable, the soft has a very short life. Jenson Button said: “It seems that the idea behind the two compounds is to give us a qualifying tyre that doesn’t last long – the [soft] – and a race tyre – the [medium].”

“It’s not a bad compromise, we just need to deal with the tyre not lasting too long on Sunday.”

According to Pirelli the performance gap between the two compounds is as much as 1.5 seconds.

It was a light day for an unwell Jules Bianchi – Rodolfo Gonzalez drove his car in the first session. “It was already scheduled some time ago that Rodolfo would drive in FP1 and as things turned out that enabled me to rest and hopefully feel better,” said Bianchi.

“This afternoon I completed two runs in FP2 – ten laps in total – but I was not feeling my best, so it was better to stop and properly recuperate. I hope after a good night’s sleep I will be back on form tomorrow.”

Here’s all the data from the first two practice sessions:

Longest stint comparison

This chart shows all the drivers’ lap times (in seconds) during their longest unbroken stint:

https://www.racefans.net/charts/2013drivercolours.csv

1234567891011121314151617181920212223
Sebastian Vettel96.34496.29196.92296.06796.36496.38199.45196.18196.29596.94596.011
Mark Webber97.17397.08996.69596.63497.36397.68296.76796.56296.45196.25896.59596.37696.21197.84996.32196.91196.601100.04197.59896.40196.1796.18396.368
Fernando Alonso96.54296.4997.30697.17196.657101.05297.029
Felipe Massa96.21795.91696.33196.633100.51997.454100.77898.44899.249
Jenson Button97.85298.62497.81697.87899.45797.86397.8798.13698.883
Sergio Perez98.51598.56498.35698.0998.14598.0198.49898.531100.024100.54898.36498.24898.95
Kimi Raikkonen96.35996.77397.45898.51399.282104.20499.356
Romain Grosjean96.97296.71796.5797.42598.704101.03597.54398.263
Nico Rosberg97.57596.496.71296.99898.9396.7796.94298.28696.938101.642100.90797.45397.39397.307
Lewis Hamilton99.49496.66892.74999.88792.38892.193102.72892.031
Nico Hulkenberg98.1998.26999.88298.16198.01398.01297.66697.87897.78498.08698.34998.04598.12298.17898.19398.38698.78298.84399.28499.78499.199
Esteban Gutierrez97.41999.02699.61698.65997.05397.10696.99197.35196.55896.92897.14997.57396.87797.12299.51497.002
Paul di Resta97.34297.18198.6399.04498.343101.85899.12399.03199.13100.08799.6599.70899.845
Adrian Sutil96.80696.9597.70998.8699.56100.255107.575100.363
Pastor Maldonado99.96699.597101.695100.8101.69105.125101.581
Valtteri Bottas99.89199.48299.2399.31699.099100.61399.46699.783101.441100.97599.676
Jean-Eric Vergne98.75498.64298.47698.24698.44299.32698.862100.24498.49898.55
Daniel Ricciardo98.47598.13498.04198.00697.90998.26298.46298.72798.30598.44598.03298.03997.986
Charles Pic99.02199.15298.53598.47298.27998.72299.55999.23102.428101.247100.075102.662
Giedo van der Garde100.389100.17399.69599.66299.61799.14998.86999.02599.698.98899.1199.0498.98399.04999.579
Jules Bianchi97.24296.544106.52795.818
Max Chilton102.097100.718100.392101.553100.102100.515100.559101.371100.976101.82

Sector times and ultimate lap times – second practice

PosNo.DriverCarS1S2S2UltimateGapDeficit to best
11Sebastian VettelRed Bull-Renault29.586 (3)37.698 (1)23.080 (1)1’30.3640.052
22Mark WebberRed Bull-Renault29.534 (1)37.833 (4)23.284 (4)1’30.6510.2870.032
39Nico RosbergMercedes29.584 (2)37.865 (6)23.202 (2)1’30.6510.2870.000
48Romain GrosjeanLotus-Renault29.667 (5)37.860 (5)23.316 (6)1’30.8430.4790.000
57Kimi RaikkonenLotus-Renault29.685 (6)37.798 (3)23.365 (8)1’30.8480.4840.000
64Felipe MassaFerrari29.786 (7)37.935 (7)23.265 (3)1’30.9860.6220.073
73Fernando AlonsoFerrari29.955 (10)37.767 (2)23.299 (5)1’31.0210.6570.035
810Lewis HamiltonMercedes29.638 (4)38.223 (11)23.381 (9)1’31.2420.8780.062
915Adrian SutilForce India-Mercedes29.854 (8)38.091 (8)23.427 (10)1’31.3721.0080.452
105Jenson ButtonMcLaren-Mercedes29.953 (9)38.174 (10)23.441 (11)1’31.5681.2040.000
1114Paul di RestaForce India-Mercedes30.005 (11)38.328 (13)23.464 (12)1’31.7971.4330.000
1219Daniel RicciardoToro Rosso-Ferrari30.253 (15)38.263 (12)23.339 (7)1’31.8551.4910.000
1318Jean-Eric VergneToro Rosso-Ferrari30.180 (14)38.154 (9)23.721 (16)1’32.0551.6910.000
146Sergio PerezMcLaren-Mercedes30.030 (12)38.432 (16)23.624 (13)1’32.0861.7220.000
1511Nico HulkenbergSauber-Ferrari30.260 (16)38.358 (15)23.707 (14)1’32.3251.9610.170
1612Esteban GutierrezSauber-Ferrari30.280 (17)38.357 (14)23.875 (19)1’32.5122.1480.250
1716Pastor MaldonadoWilliams-Renault30.158 (13)38.772 (17)23.756 (18)1’32.6862.3220.194
1817Valtteri BottasWilliams-Renault30.298 (18)38.807 (18)23.714 (15)1’32.8192.4550.060
1920Charles PicCaterham-Renault30.663 (19)39.160 (21)23.745 (17)1’33.5683.2040.127
2021Giedo van der GardeCaterham-Renault30.715 (20)39.108 (20)23.962 (20)1’33.7853.4210.019
2122Jules BianchiMarussia-Cosworth30.958 (22)39.090 (19)23.969 (21)1’34.0173.6530.000
2223Max ChiltonMarussia-Cosworth30.850 (21)39.422 (22)24.181 (22)1’34.4534.0890.214

Complete practice times

PosDriverCarFP1FP2Total laps
1Sebastian VettelRed Bull-Renault1’33.2131’30.41659
2Nico RosbergMercedes1’31.9731’30.65163
3Mark WebberRed Bull-Renault1’32.7891’30.68363
4Romain GrosjeanLotus-Renault1’33.2601’30.84359
5Kimi RaikkonenLotus-Renault1’32.9561’30.84849
6Fernando AlonsoFerrari1’31.05641
7Felipe MassaFerrari1’33.0651’31.05959
8Lewis HamiltonMercedes1’31.7541’31.30460
9Jenson ButtonMcLaren1’33.1391’31.56861
10Paul di RestaForce India-Mercedes1’33.4931’31.79758
11Adrian SutilForce India-Mercedes1’32.8221’31.82450
12Daniel RicciardoToro Rosso-Ferrari1’33.9011’31.85565
13Jean-Eric VergneToro Rosso-Ferrari1’33.9761’32.05565
14Sergio PerezMcLaren1’33.4561’32.08654
15Nico HulkenbergSauber-Ferrari1’33.8101’32.49559
16Esteban GutierrezSauber-Ferrari1’34.4371’32.76268
17Valtteri BottasWilliams-Renault1’34.2001’32.87957
18Pastor MaldonadoWilliams-Renault1’34.0251’32.88056
19Charles PicCaterham-Renault1’35.6741’33.69561
20Giedo van der GardeCaterham-Renault1’36.0781’33.80463
21Jules BianchiMarussia-Cosworth1’34.01710
22Max ChiltonMarussia-Cosworth1’35.9871’34.66758
23Rodolfo GonzalezMarussia-Cosworth1’37.45921

Speed trap

#DriverCarEngineMax speed (kph)Gap
15Jenson ButtonMcLarenMercedes303.3
26Sergio PerezMcLarenMercedes303.20.1
314Paul di RestaForce IndiaMercedes302.40.9
415Adrian SutilForce IndiaMercedes302.21.1
523Max ChiltonMarussiaCosworth3012.3
618Jean-Eric VergneToro RossoFerrari3012.3
79Nico RosbergMercedesMercedes300.72.6
810Lewis HamiltonMercedesMercedes300.42.9
916Pastor MaldonadoWilliamsRenault300.33
1021Giedo van der GardeCaterhamRenault3003.3
1122Jules BianchiMarussiaCosworth299.93.4
124Felipe MassaFerrariFerrari299.73.6
1320Charles PicCaterhamRenault299.53.8
143Fernando AlonsoFerrariFerrari2994.3
1517Valtteri BottasWilliamsRenault298.54.8
168Romain GrosjeanLotusRenault297.16.2
1719Daniel RicciardoToro RossoFerrari296.46.9
182Mark WebberRed BullRenault296.46.9
191Sebastian VettelRed BullRenault296.37
2011Nico HulkenbergSauberFerrari296.27.1
2112Esteban GutierrezSauberFerrari295.47.9
227Kimi RaikkonenLotusRenault295.28.1

2013 German Grand Prix

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    Keith Collantine
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    25 comments on “No tyre trouble but drivers alert to rising temperatures”

    1. Did I read correctly? Lotus won’t use DRS for the race?

      1. DRD….not DRS.

        however their top gear setting seems to put themselve on vulnerable position on DRS zone when try to overtake car in front

        1. Aahhh. So, DRD=DDRS.

          1. Speaking of DRD, did anyone notice Mercedes running a variant of it this morning, or was it just me?

          2. Technically, no. What was DDRS last season is completely different from the DRD. The DDRS used a hole which the airflow could then be sucked into once the DRS was open, and then flow into the front wing to stall that as well. Whereas the DRD is completely passive in that it reduces drag upon the car reaching a certain speed, which is why it is so difficult to get right.

    2. wow..Hulk seems good in long runs, hard to believe to see that in this year’s Sauber.

    3. RBs’ stints look pretty consistent. Why are the Merc’s so erratic.

    4. Looking at the graph, I don’t think the longest stints were all done on the same tire. It would have been useful to have two separate graphs, one for the option and one for the prime tire. Otherwise it is hard to read it as it is.

    5. Very impressive stint by Webber. Wish he’d gone further and see how long the Medium’s really last

    6. what a bunch of cowards.
      They only say that f1 is dangerous, to make it more appealing to the fans, because when they feel the real danger of a blow up they menace with a boycott.
      What the drivers of the past would think a bout these prima donnas. they would be ashamed. I know i am.

      1. So you want to go back to the days of multiple fatalities every season? You’d be the only one.

        1. Lucas Wilson (@full-throttle-f1)
          5th July 2013, 20:03

          Lol plus a one!

      2. I take it you’ve never had a tyre blow explode on the motorway then?
        Now consider these drivers doing nearly triple the speed?

        Look at what happened to Massa when a 1kg spring struck his helmet. The total weight of the rubber, metal belts etc are easily more than 1kg.

        These guys are not cowards, they just don’t want to die.

        1. I’ve experienced a tyre failure at 50, so I’m able to expand on @minnis assertion you don’t want to experience it. I held on only because the blow was preceded by a major vibration, so I was expecting the failure. Had it been unexpected, I fear I would have inadvertently tested the steel barriers.

      3. Shreyas Mohanty (@)
        5th July 2013, 21:29

        Are you kidding. Try to imagine your car going out of control at 300kph. They are human beings. They have families and loved ones. They don’t want to die. That doesn’t make them cowards. People must be ashamed you live amongst us. I KNOW I AM.

      4. They are far from cowards; they frequently race cars millimeters away from each other without wanting to back down; that is extremely brave.
        They don’t want to die.
        is that too much to ask?

    7. It’s a bit hard to read the long-run performance from the session, but Webber’s medium-tyre run was very impressive. It’s difficult to judge how far away Mercedes are, both on the long runs and on the short, because Hamilton was complaining of choosing a wrong setup direction for FP2, and Rosberg did two longish runs, split over soft and medium compounds.

      I followed the session and got the impression that Mercedes was quite a bit slower than Red Bull over the long run, though. However, this was also the case in Silverstone, and on Sunday there was little to choose between the two teams.

      Strategy is going to be interesting on Sunday. With the soft tyre good for no more than four laps, and perhaps usable for six, it will be interesting to see who uses mediums in Q2 tomorrow. It could be worth a gamble for Alonso, if he doesn’t anticipate doing better than fifth anyway. Equally, perhaps for Red Bull and Mercedes it will be tempting to run mediums and still qualify around P5, though I suspect those two teams will use the softs to fight for pole. Still, if all other teams qualify on the mediums, they can too.

      1. Surely they would be equally keen to save the mediums for the race and just keep 1 set of options in case there is a similar late race opportunity to change as in silverstone.

    8. Could Marussia have put Speedy back in the car, to get some more laps in, after Bianchi had to stop – or do the rules change after first practice, for substituting drivers?

      1. Unfortunately drivers have to be nominated before P1 and P2 begin.

    9. Based on the short life of the soft tyres, I am not sure whether a 2 pit stop strategy will be possible

      1. Medium has a long life! So 2 pit stops definitely possible. 6-7 laps on soft, then 25-27 on medium, then 26-29 on medium. This means doing qualifying on soft only.

      2. That is interesting indeed. Perhaps a three-stop would be quicker, provided you can run in clean air.

        1. Absolutely, a three stop may well be quicker. But I am certain that it can be done with 2 stops without going ridiculously slow. Webber showed no slow-down after 23 laps, so I think they would have held up for a few more laps. Which means a two-stop is feasible.

          Looking at Di Resta in Canada, he may even be able to do a one-stop!

          1. For a One stop to work he has to Drag the Mediums for atleast 51 laps and 9 on Softs. I don’t think it was possible 2 stops is Best way to for most of teams

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