Will SchM succeed in his comeback?

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Originally Posted by eu

Didn't Wurz say Brawn's car was probably the most expensive one ever built in f1? That they've started working very early on it? That they've used up to 3 tunnels? That they've spent quite a lot of money before Honda decided to retire?

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I'm pretty sure Honda were not simultaneously building a 2009 and 2010 car.
The extra weight and larger fuel tank and the changes in regs have essentially forced the teams to make some significant alterations to the 2010 car so it might seem reasonable that Brawn, who struggled to keep up in the latter stages of 2009 ( but still a strong car) would struggle to match the pace of development by the likes of RBR, Mercedes and Ferrari. Now Mercedes owned,. we can expect to see some solid improvements.

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Originally Posted by tamburello

No it wouldn't, as it would be stuck behind slower cars and unable to pass because of its higher fuel load, negating any speed advantage.

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Thats the whole point, if such fast cars are going to start behind slower cars then they would leap ahead of them by pitting far far later without needing to overtake them. Take any top driver who has started at the back end of the grid and you'll find that in nearly all cases they've gone for the heavy option. As I said, its convention.

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Originally Posted by tamburello

At best, Alonso could have hoped for an 8th place with that kind of strategy.

Short-fuelled would mean that the car would be in clean air and no traffic but still on the lead lap, a technique often employed in IndyCar.

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Wrong, in overtaking hell Singapore it would have meant he would have been kept behind slower cars on a heavier fuel load meaning he would lose his speed advantage AND pit earlier than them. Chances were that Alonso would actually have lost places by pitting as early as he did had there been no safety car incident.

If you don't believe me remember what happened when lightly fuelled cars got caught behind Trulli who was on an extremely heavy fuel load. They had their races ruined except for Rosberg who was lucky to get past.

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Originally Posted by tamburello

It would always need a safety car for the strategy to work, but the chances of a safety car were higher than normal given that it was a street circuit, a night race and a new track.

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True.

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Originally Posted by tamburello

To that extent, it was a plausible strategy to a driver whose weekend had otherwise just gone down the pan.

That Renault, or rather Flavio, Pat and Piquet, were planning on creating a safety car situation does not mean that it was an implausible strategy without knowledge of the plan.

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You assume that Alonso and his engineer would have gone for such a gamble without questioning it when he had a history of heavy fuelling when qualifying low down the field. Interesting. I thought Alonso was renowned not only for being intelligent but also being prepared to go against his team's advice?

Now tell me, had the situation been reversed and Hamilton had won an unlikely victory after Kovalainen had a rather well timed crash would you honestly be as charitable to Lewis?

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Originally Posted by truefan72

Now Mercedes owned,. we can expect to see some solid improvements.

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I don't believe so I'm afraid. Despite Honda's investment into the team the Brackley team still does not have the resources of McLaren or Ferrari. Mercedes has not invested much money into the project beyond buying the team, itself an astonishing bargain given how much Honda had spent over the years. By their own admission they have slashed their F1 spending to a quarter of what it used to be, and that is when they merely had to supply engines to McLaren. The Brackley team is going to have to develop their car on their own with financial and R/D resources that are not going to be on a par with what they had during the Honda days. I think Ross will manage his resources well but he can't perform miracles.

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Originally Posted by henners88

Exactly but no matter who we follow in this sport, we all can recognise talent to some degree. You and I have differing opinions but we both know Hamilton and Vettel are not the bewildered, simpleton's SD seems to paint them as. No other driver on the grid can make recommendations over the radio to his team other than the Spaniard apparently.. Alonso is an awesome driver and being a double WDC he deserves alot of respect, but he is not Jesus Christ. :)

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Not true!! After he qualified that Minardi at Albert Park, there were numerous reported sightings that evening of Fernando walking across the lake.

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Originally Posted by truefan72

I'm pretty sure Honda were not simultaneously building a 2009 and 2010 car.
The extra weight and larger fuel tank and the changes in regs have essentially forced the teams to make some significant alterations to the 2010 car so it might seem reasonable that Brawn, who struggled to keep up in the latter stages of 2009 ( but still a strong car) would struggle to match the pace of development by the likes of RBR, Mercedes and Ferrari. Now Mercedes owned,. we can expect to see some solid improvements.

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As I'm pretty sure you didn't read the whole thread as I admitted I did't understand what he was saying.

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Originally Posted by tamburello

Short-fuelled would mean that the car would be in clean air and no traffic but still on the lead lap, a technique often employed in IndyCar.

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Short fuelled would mean he would have to overtake a lot of slower cars, make up many many places before making his ridiculously early pit stop. If not, he'll just come straight back out behind the cars he had just passed.

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Originally Posted by tamburello

a technique often employed in IndyCar.

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And how many 'guaranteed' yellows does the average Amayreecan race have to 'spice' up the show exactly?

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Originally Posted by tamburello

I have all the proof of Mclaren being liars that I need, thanks.

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That's no good if you can't articulate the facts in order to shore up your accusations.

I know I just love an argument, but does anyone think SchM will improve on his Bahrain finish this weekend?

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Originally Posted by Valve Bounce

I know I just love an argument, but does anyone think SchM will improve on his Bahrain finish this weekend?

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Given that Ferrari, Red Bull and McLaren seem to have the edge over Mercedes at the moment, and if they're all reliable, then I think not.