How do you define a car on the edge? Different drivers like their cars understeer or oversteer different amounts.
The video shows that Button doesn't use all the space he could use in the track and how Vettel is is using the track much better and thus, driving faster. The difference between the cars balances Vettel's driving and only because of the car difference Button puts up a decent fight for pole.
It's obvious that if the cars were equal Vettel would've won Button with at least a tenth, probably even more.
During ''those'' laps Vettel drove better than Button and there were clear signs of car advantage going to Button. That's a fact, not MHO. Vettel drove most of the track on the limit where Button was nowhere near the limit.
What part do you think I should put ''IMHO''? I was only talking about those two laps and the difference between the laps and the cars there.
Damn you british and your "Available to UK users only." -_-
And Juzaa, maybe Vettels car was set up in a way that he can attack the curbs more than Button? I'm just saying it might not be as clear cut as you seem to make it sound. If the way Vettel was driving it was quicker in Buttons car, surely his engineers would know and tell him to change his line...
Just look at the video: Button leaves massive amounts of room to the outside after his turns. ( which means he could've driven the corners faster) and Vettel uses every inch there is on the track. (which means there's not much he could do to improve his lap)
To drive perfectly you need to brake exactly the right time, turn in at the right time and then hit the gas at the right time. Do you seriously think Button didn't know there was room? He is a professional, he knows how to drive better than any mechanic who could tell him that Vettel was faster. He just didn't drive on the limit for either because of mistakes or because he wanted to make sure he'll have a good position in the grid and didn't want to do any mistakes.
The point, which was lost a while ago, was that Button had a better car than Vettel and Vettel still managed to beat him. If I remember correctly even the BBC crew said so when watching that video before the race.
Button takes slightly tigher lines through the esses yes, but since they all immediately lead into following turns, this is NOT a slower line. As long as he is hitting his apexes for each "s" (he does), and is on the limit of grip (certainly appears to be), he has extracted the max from those turns. Vettel runs wider yes, but he is close to overdriving. The only other place Vettel uses more of the track is through Spoon, where he runs wide out over the curb, which probably reduced his traction and drive slightly onto the straight, unlike Button who ran out up to the curb, but didn't run over it. The only place I can see where Button obviously left some time on the table is with his conservative line through the final chicane, and taking a wider line during his approach to the start / finish line.
Lots of rumors about a Grand prix not an hour from my house, in West New York (actual name of a town in New Jersey). There's a press conference in regards to the race tomorrow.
I find it hard to believe the NYC hipsters will allow such a polluting sport to race so close to their precious city air. I also find it hard to believe that they will have the funding to make this go more than 3 races.
In other F1 related news, Martin rumoured to be paired with David Croft on SKY.
Also, Kimi apparently can get a drive with Williams aslong as they get backing from Qatar National Bank (Does this mean Maldonado is gonna get booted?).
Given that Rubens was rumoured to leave, maybe Bottas and Kimi will drive the Williams cars next season???
Do you not read? Kimi can only get into the team with Qatar Bank onboard, why would he need that if Maldonado stays? PDVSA would be enough with just him and Kimi so, obviously they are thinking of getting rid of Maldonado.
Barrichello has beaten Maldonado 10 times to 6 in quali. And according to Autosport's most recent supergrid(which attempts to put together the best laps of each driver for each week-end, and see how far they are from the "optimal pace"), Barrichello's times are worth 102,97% of the optimal pace, Maldonado 103,07%. Close indeed, but Maldonado is hardly "topping" Barrichello according to those datas.
But anyway, Maldonado's skills are totally irreleveant here. Williams are never going to let him go away, because they need PSDVA's money. No matter how good/bad he is.
And Bottas... I'd rather bet on him for 2013(not necessary at Williams if we assume that Maldonado stays, and Raikkonen replaces Barrichello). In those periods of limited testing, going to F1 with no GP2 or WSR experience, and no practice sessions at GPs... that's suicide more or less. Just an educated guess, I'd rather see him taking Gutierrez's path(with hopefully more success on short term) and do GP2 with ART.
Yes. Why should they let Maldonado go? 40 million dollars gained with a ''not so good'' second driver is much more valuable than few millions gained with a ''good'' second driver. 40 millions to R/D makes a difference and in order to give Kimi a decent car to drive Williams needs all the money they can get.
It is also rumored that Williams needs Qatar National Bank to be able to pay Räikkönen his salary demands and without their money Williams can't afford Kimi.
If they get enough money to barely pay Kimi's salary and then throw away 40 millions how do you think that'll effect their performance?
Oh noes quali. If it wasn't for the late incident in Monaco, Pastor would be blowing Rubens out of the water in terms of points. Rubens has been horrendous in many races this season, with bad starts and bad pace in the race, and certainly of late Maldonado has a firm upper hand.