A very wet Qualifying at the Shanghai Circuit meant that no Toyota powered car made it past Q1 with both Toyotas and both Spyker MF1s joining the Super Aguris in their usual low grid spots. The Toro Rosso cars were impressive in the first session, but kept falling off the track in Q2 so didn’t make the top 10. The Michelin tyred cars definitely ruled Qualifying today, with Michael Schumacher being the only Bridgestone equiped car to make Q3. An all Renault front row with the Hondas on row two should help Alonso’s run for the title, but I can’t see Ferrari-bound Raikkonen staying in Schumacher’s way for too long – depending on their respective pace.
Button for the win? If it stays wet for the race, why not? Two-stop, first stop fuel only, and if the track dries towards the end of the race chuck some dry tyres on at the second stop. Possibly even three stop, but I doubt that very much. I think that Alonso will take the win, as long as the FIA don’t mysteriously find something wrong at Renault………
David Coulthard showed that maybe he isn’t in the right job when he complained that the conditions were dangerous as it restricted visibility. Sorry DC but those conditions are nothing compared to what we used to see in the late 80’s/early 90’s – maybe you should move to Indycar so you don’t get wet anymore?!
When Ralf was asked about the conditions he replied
Sure it’s dangerous, but surely any driver out there is qualified to drive and knows to brake a bit earlier and not drive as fast?
Well said, take note DC!
I’m disgusted – though not at all surprised – that Ferrari are still allowed to run those things on their rear wheels! They say they are for brake cooling and not an aero aid, funny that, as Mercedes run similar devices in the DTM. They only use them in Qualifying though as they help tidy the airflow around the car but cause the brakes to overheat if used for a race distance. The opposite of what Ferrari claim. But Ferrari are in F1 and they are the FIA’s favourite team , so nothing will be said. If Renault or McLaren had introduced them, they’d be gone by now.
Compton Grand Prix 