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fuel loads for tomorrow??

Last post 05-11-2008, 10:31 AM by nicekim. 9 replies.
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  •  05-10-2008, 11:36 PM 697995

    fuel loads for tomorrow??

    I'm at a loss trying to work out whether it's Ferrari's relative lack of one lap pace and Massa therefore being on pole because of lighter fuel load that the Mclarens or whether the pace was always there and is carrying as much/ more than Heikki or Lewis.

    Also watching Raikkonen come through will be interesting - if he gets a good start and takes a Mclaren at the start I reckon he could have a shot at Massa - but it all depends on fuel loads. I suspect he'll be carrying one lap more than Felipe - as he did in Malaysia, so it will be crucial to get ahead of the McLarens asap - if he becomes mired behind Kovalainen he could lose 5/6s to Massa by the first stop and will need to do his famous 'charge'.

    All-in-all should be fascinating - in a way it's better for the neutral observer to have a clearly dominant driver on race day being down the grid slightly. Kimi was peerless in Spain but it wasn't the most exciting race because he was streets ahead of the opposition.

  •  05-10-2008, 11:45 PM 697998 in reply to 697995

    Re: fuel loads for tomorrow??

    peasantburner:

    I'm at a loss trying to work out whether it's Ferrari's relative lack of one lap pace and Massa therefore being on pole because of lighter fuel load that the Mclarens or whether the pace was always there and is carrying as much/ more than Heikki or Lewis.

    Also watching Raikkonen come through will be interesting - if he gets a good start and takes a Mclaren at the start I reckon he could have a shot at Massa - but it all depends on fuel loads. I suspect he'll be carrying one lap more than Felipe - as he did in Malaysia, so it will be crucial to get ahead of the McLarens asap - if he becomes mired behind Kovalainen he could lose 5/6s to Massa by the first stop and will need to do his famous 'charge'.

    All-in-all should be fascinating - in a way it's better for the neutral observer to have a clearly dominant driver on race day being down the grid slightly. Kimi was peerless in Spain but it wasn't the most exciting race because he was streets ahead of the opposition.

     

    I think Kimi is fuelled slightly heavier than Massa, I just hope he stays out of any possible trouble at the first corner. Heikki seems to be well fired up, and might fancy a crack at passing Massa.

    Hamilton wasn't very happy at the press conference, so might just have put pressure on himself, they do say your biggest opponent is your team-mate, and he'll want to get past Heikki sooner rather than later I think. He's still yet to win other than from pole, and being closest in points to Kimi, I think he'll maybe push a little to hard.

    Kimi can come from behind, but I dont doubt that if he thinks there's a good chance of nicking a place or two at the start, he'll go for it.

    As you said, it's a mix that might see some interesting manouvers. Smile

  •  05-10-2008, 11:51 PM 698000 in reply to 697995

    Re: fuel loads for tomorrow??

    Well it depends who do you ask from. Some experts (for example  Luis Vasconcelos) expects that Lewis Hamilton would have smallest fuel load on top four..then Kovalainen. Ferrari's pace on single lap has been better than McLaren's this week.. Don't know why this should change in Q3?
  •  05-11-2008, 12:02 AM 698004 in reply to 698000

    Re: fuel loads for tomorrow??

    nicekim:
    Well it depends who do you ask from. Some experts (for example  Luis Vasconcelos) expects that Lewis Hamilton would have smallest fuel load on top four..then Kovalainen. Ferrari's pace on single lap has been better than McLaren's this week.. Don't know why this should change in Q3?
    Hamilton is usually a demon into the first corner (providing he gets things right in the cockpit) it will be a very interesting and exciting start I think.
  •  05-11-2008, 6:11 AM 698010 in reply to 697995

    Re: fuel loads for tomorrow??

    I think that between the two Ferraris there will only be a 1 lap difference in fuel and that both the McLarens will be lighter than the red cars, with Heikki lighter than Lewis.  Speculative I know, but that's what my gut tells me, which is never  hardly ever  almost 50% 20% reliable.
  •  05-11-2008, 6:39 AM 698014 in reply to 698000

    Re: fuel loads for tomorrow??

    nicekim:
    Ferrari's pace on single lap has been better than McLaren's this week.. Don't know why this should change in Q3?

    Kimi has admitted he made lots of mistakes in last session... that would certainly explain it in my book...

  •  05-11-2008, 8:20 AM 698018 in reply to 698000

    Re: fuel loads for tomorrow??

    I just hope Kimi beind held up by Alonso didn't end up ruining his stratergy for today :-(
  •  05-11-2008, 10:06 AM 698031 in reply to 697995

    Re: fuel loads for tomorrow??

    peasantburner:

    I'm at a loss trying to work out whether it's Ferrari's relative lack of one lap pace and Massa therefore being on pole because of lighter fuel load that the Mclarens or whether the pace was always there and is carrying as much/ more than Heikki or Lewis.

    Also watching Raikkonen come through will be interesting - if he gets a good start and takes a Mclaren at the start I reckon he could have a shot at Massa - but it all depends on fuel loads. I suspect he'll be carrying one lap more than Felipe - as he did in Malaysia, so it will be crucial to get ahead of the McLarens asap - if he becomes mired behind Kovalainen he could lose 5/6s to Massa by the first stop and will need to do his famous 'charge'.

    All-in-all should be fascinating - in a way it's better for the neutral observer to have a clearly dominant driver on race day being down the grid slightly. Kimi was peerless in Spain but it wasn't the most exciting race because he was streets ahead of the opposition.

    Ferrari are still HOT, nothing wrong with Kimi's car and I think as usual he is carrying more fuel than Massa, Kimi is not a light traveller. However, Kimi has admitted to making a mistake, and still no complait on being blocked by Alonso...I know it was not on purpose on Alonso's behalf, but what we have seen this season, some drivers could have a good whinge and put in a complait.

    But Ferrari have a problem with warming up their tyres, their car is obviously more superior to McLaren, but I think they might have problems with their tyres on the first couple of laps or so...so it is for Heikki and Hamilton to take advantage of it....especially Heikki on the softs.

  •  05-11-2008, 10:29 AM 698034 in reply to 698010

    Re: fuel loads for tomorrow??

    raikkster:
    I think that between the two Ferraris there will only be a 1 lap difference in fuel and that both the McLarens will be lighter than the red cars, with Heikki lighter than Lewis.  Speculative I know, but that's what my gut tells me, which is never  hardly ever  almost 50% 20% reliable.

    It would be weird if Kovalainen would have lighter car than Hamilton. Kovalainen were faster in Q2 with same tyres and difference between them remained the same in Q3 when Hamilton used harder tyres..

  •  05-11-2008, 10:31 AM 698036 in reply to 698014

    Re: fuel loads for tomorrow??

    RaggedEdge:

    nicekim:
    Ferrari's pace on single lap has been better than McLaren's this week.. Don't know why this should change in Q3?

    Kimi has admitted he made lots of mistakes in last session... that would certainly explain it in my book...

    No it doesn't explain anything why it would have changed for Q3. He admits making mistakes which is unusual thing for F1 driver.

     

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