They were expecting a driver of Vettel or Webber's quality. It seems neither Alguersuari or Buemi satisfied that test.
It's harsh, especially for Alguersuari who has improved during the season. But that is the way of Red Bull's driver development program: be promoted or be sodded.
https://www.youtube.com/watch? ... E4Cwc&feature=related
ERDF Masters kart race with F1, GP2, WRC, and other drivers!
ERDF Masters kart race with F1, GP2, WRC, and other drivers!
Seems like a decent choice. Petrov lost his seat when he shot his mouth off about the team a few weeks ago. Ranting against your own team is never a good move when your seat retention is in question.
Senna? He's reasonably solid, but I don't think he could match the top talents, including Grosjean.
I am surprised that they've discarded both of their drivers though.
Senna? He's reasonably solid, but I don't think he could match the top talents, including Grosjean.
I am surprised that they've discarded both of their drivers though.
He crashed only once by his own error this year (Canada). Same goes for last year, just one at-fault crash (with Kamui in Korea).
Majority of his DNFs are through mechanical failures, and he has been crashed into by other drivers (Petrov, Raikkonen, etc), more than he has crashed himself.
No, he isn't top-tier material, but he is easily one of the best of the rest IMHO. His points tally reflects it - 9th in the WDC in the 6th team, with only the drivers from the top 4 teams placed higher.
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F1 2012 Silly Season
The FIA published its first entry list for the 2012 F1 season a couple of days ago (source).
Since then, Williams has confirmed Pastor Maldonado.
That leaves these seats to be filled:
I think STR will retain Buemi and Alguersuari. They've revamped their tech team with two ex-McLaren signings: aerodynamicist Jon Tomlinson becoming deputy head of aero, and Luca Furbatto becoming chief designer.
The other teams are much more tricky to predict. However, I think Adrian Sutil is the man of the moment. If Renault wants a fast, reliable driver with a proven track record of delivering results, they should get Sutil rather than Petrov, Grosjean, or Senna. But I'm afraid they'll most probably pick one of the latter three in a conditional contract pending Kubica's recovery.
The Williams' seat will probably go to a well-sponsored driver if Barrichello is shown the door. They are in dire financial straits, and with Maldonado's state sponsorship under threat in Venezuela, they'll need another driver with solid financial backing.
HRT will definitely go for big wallets. No thoughts required for that. But Ricciardo's seat will probably be safe with Red Bull money. Jean Eric Vergne could be a dark horse.
Since then, Williams has confirmed Pastor Maldonado.
That leaves these seats to be filled:
- Two seats at Force India
- Two seats at STR
- One seat at Williams
- One seat at Lotus
- Two seats at HRT
I think STR will retain Buemi and Alguersuari. They've revamped their tech team with two ex-McLaren signings: aerodynamicist Jon Tomlinson becoming deputy head of aero, and Luca Furbatto becoming chief designer.
The other teams are much more tricky to predict. However, I think Adrian Sutil is the man of the moment. If Renault wants a fast, reliable driver with a proven track record of delivering results, they should get Sutil rather than Petrov, Grosjean, or Senna. But I'm afraid they'll most probably pick one of the latter three in a conditional contract pending Kubica's recovery.
The Williams' seat will probably go to a well-sponsored driver if Barrichello is shown the door. They are in dire financial straits, and with Maldonado's state sponsorship under threat in Venezuela, they'll need another driver with solid financial backing.
HRT will definitely go for big wallets. No thoughts required for that. But Ricciardo's seat will probably be safe with Red Bull money. Jean Eric Vergne could be a dark horse.
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The level of oil is a direct problem with the gearbox. When the oil level drops, it indicates a problem with the integrity of the device - a compromised seal, metal fatigue, etc. That is a direct problem.
Meanwhile, back at Sao Paulo...
40% chance of precipitation with 1.5 to 2mm of rain expected. Chance of thunderstorms.
Hmmm!
40% chance of precipitation with 1.5 to 2mm of rain expected. Chance of thunderstorms.
Hmmm!
You're thinking back to 2005/2006. He drove with aggressive turn-in during those years because the Michelin tyres were softer and capable of retaining traction even with very large slip angles. It was the optimal way to make use of those tyres.
When he switched to McLaren and their Bridgestone tyres, he had to change to a smoother style, as the tyres' tolerances were narrower.
(Interestingly, Kubica used the same style in 2006, and toned it down slightly in later years. Being good friends with Alonso, perhaps there was some advice from the latter.)
What Alonso's natural preference is, who knows? At the moment, he uses the same/similar style as Vettel: they drive exactly the same lines. Whether that is driven due to the car's characteristics, or whether the two drivers prefer the same style, is unknown. As a comparison though, Vettel prefers the RB6 to the RB7, the former having sharper turn-in characteristics and the latter tending to understeer in high/medium-speed corners.
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Speaking of oversteer, and getting back on topic
... Peter Brock at his finest: Bathurst in the wethttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRHAISpRoFg
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Antonin Charouz? Just out of curiosity, what does/did he do? (I know he was a racing driver and runs several motorsport organisations including his own Le Mans team, but I'm talking about his alleged "legal" thievery.)
2011 Macau Grand Prix F3 race (main).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xj0FOV4-D-E
Bottas qualified P4. He was running 3rd and had just passed a rival into 2nd, then oversteered into a wall. Tough luck. He was doing so well.
The main race was won by Daniel Juncadella, who is currently running 3rd in the F3 Euroseries.
Notable performance from Felipe Nasr, FBMW and 2011 British F3 champion. He qualified 6th, and was 2nd in both races. Managed by Steve Robertson (Kimi Raikkonen's manager). Possible F1 candidate?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xj0FOV4-D-E
Bottas qualified P4. He was running 3rd and had just passed a rival into 2nd, then oversteered into a wall. Tough luck. He was doing so well.
The main race was won by Daniel Juncadella, who is currently running 3rd in the F3 Euroseries.
Notable performance from Felipe Nasr, FBMW and 2011 British F3 champion. He qualified 6th, and was 2nd in both races. Managed by Steve Robertson (Kimi Raikkonen's manager). Possible F1 candidate?
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Yeah, I was going to mention the fact that the majority of GPs are funded by governments.
The problem with Austin GP is caused by New Jersey. With two GPs in the USA, regional government bean-counters don't like the possibility that their race's popularity will be undermined by a rival GP in another state. If they believe New Jersey will pull away enough commercial and public interest away from Austin, to the extent that they won't receive a reasonable return for investment, there won't be government funding, and the race will be naught.
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Looks like an array of pitot tubes to measure air flow. Red Bull was obviously measuring the flow off the front wing, while Ferrari seems to be more focused on the front tyres.
Impossible to make anything from that. Most of the teams are testing concept components for 2012.
I'm quietly impressed by Dani Clos, however. JEV and Bianchi both look very threatening up there. If Massa and Webber can't get closer to their team mates next year, lack of young driver options won't save them.
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Ah, that makes sense.
"I can see clearly now the rain has gone..." :bannana_g
Sigh.... Lexus LFA (as it very clearly shows in the video title).
Qualified P25 and finished P18 outright.
(Are we talking about the same video?)
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Wakisaka is a Toyota works driver. I don't think he would represent Honda.
I'll think they'll retain BUE and ALG for now.
Ricciardo and Vergne both seem really good (I'm in favour of Ricciardo, and not just because he's Australian), but neither of them have done anything to prove they're better than Buemi or Alguersuari.
Between Buemi and Alguersuari, I think Alguersuari has more potential for future growth and more natural talent to play with. I have a feeling that there might be a mid-season change in 2012.
Ricciardo and Vergne both seem really good (I'm in favour of Ricciardo, and not just because he's Australian), but neither of them have done anything to prove they're better than Buemi or Alguersuari.
Between Buemi and Alguersuari, I think Alguersuari has more potential for future growth and more natural talent to play with. I have a feeling that there might be a mid-season change in 2012.
Unless a manufacturing fault is discovered, we will never know what the cause is. Vettel said there wasn't anything unusual at T1 when he inspected it after the race, the engineers haven't been able to figure anything out. The only thing left is Pirelli's forensic analysis of the offending tyre and its debris.
I don't like two-stage kerbs (used here and India). The flat portion invites overuse, and the high-angle portion poses too much risk of physical damage to the car.
I don't like two-stage kerbs (used here and India). The flat portion invites overuse, and the high-angle portion poses too much risk of physical damage to the car.
He was actually referring to the 2010 race at Abu Dhabi.
Poor Vettel. He managed to get away with bad luck earlier in the year, but not this time. I was hoping he would have to fight his way through the field, but alas, no!
I was hoping that. It's hard to tell on the Internet!
Hamilton has warned Vettel that he won't be backing off in T1. Hopefully they'll have a race-long duel rather than a pile-up.
Are you suggesting that RBR is allowing Webber's car to be off pace?
Actually you can.
Of the top four, Vettel and Button made improvements from Q2 to Q3, while Hamilton and Webber went slower. If Hamilton and Webber made the same proportional improvements that their respective teammates did, P1 would easily go to Hamilton, with Vettel in P2, Button in P3, and Webber would still be in P4. Even if Hamilton's Q3 time was on par with his Q2, he would still be on pole, followed by Vettel, Button, and Webber respectively.
So the numbers suggest the McLarens are faster (at least in qualifying trim) than the Red Bulls.
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Hamilton just plonked it. The pole should have been his.
Good on Vettel for snatching it. I wonder how Mansell's ego is feeling right now.
Good on Vettel for snatching it. I wonder how Mansell's ego is feeling right now.
FGED GREDG RDFGDR GSFDG