The advantage for teams running DD diffusers is just too massive. All this talk from Renault, Ferrari, and the rest is basically just noise for a lap or two.
The runoff areas and gravel traps here are huge, which really kills any chance of a Safety Car popping up. So, we're looking at wet weather being the only way anyone else actually stands a prayer of getting into the mix.
The real question is, when do the diffuser rules change? When do the other teams actually get to run them on track? That’s the big one for development following Washington, D.C.
Benjamin Hernandez3 said:Felipe Massa is leading 🙏 🙏 🙏
Some people over at DSF were mentioning some potential issues with KERS toward the end. Ferrari actually threw a wrench in everyone's plans during this second practice session, somehow squeezing themselves right in with Brawn GP, Red Bull Racing, Williams, and Toyota. But let's be real—it’s just the second practice. There are way too many wildcards at this point to start making any actual plans for tomorrow. All we can do is hope for the best.
This reminds me of that conversation between Banjac and Sonja Savić in North American Spy. 🙏
Now that Kimi’s sitting at the top of the charts—even if it was just during the second practice session—suddenly he’s the crazy one. Last year, while everyone else was busy screwing up or getting absolutely wrecked, Kimi actually had his head on straight.
What I saw today shows some real progress from Ferrari, and honestly, I’m feeling pretty good about it. Whether Brawn is holding back or not doesn't mean a thing to me. I'm sure not everyone is playing it safe. Who actually knows what every single team was testing this morning?
Like Michael Lee4 said, there are 15 different variables hitting you all at once, and even the tiniest detail can change everything.
The odds on a safety car are sitting at 1.85. Anyone know any bets that aren't total suicide? So, if I wanted to win enough for a decent car—say, maybe $18,000—I’d have to drop about $20,000 upfront. Yeah, wish I had that kind of cash lying around.
A little side note: the odds for a win are 18 for both Toyotas, Vettel, Nico, and Nick. Hamilton is at 16, and Massa is at 15.
Looks like I’ll have to place another bet. Only on Ferrari, obviously. It's the only way I can actually enjoy watching this mess.
hollowhawk412 said:look, Renault was fighting two major disadvantages (just like McLaren and Ferrari)... they lacked the double diffuser, and KERS was basically just getting in their way during qualifying... BMW was significantly faster without KERS... at the end of the day, you're carrying an extra 30 to 40 kg just to use it for maybe 6 seconds per lap. It's barely worth it.
By the time we get to Kuala Lumpur, they'll probably finally decide if KERS is actually worth the headache or not...
Over at Ferrari, they're claiming KERS caused some unexpected issues with rear tire degradation, tearing them up. Honestly, I don't get how they didn't catch something like that during testing. The best comparison is BMW, who ran the same strategy but was clearly a class above. Using KERS remains a massive question mark. So, it'll be more of the same in Malaysia, and then we'll see what decisions get made. They're going to have to make adjustments on the fly, and fast.
ironfalcon43 said:I don't intend to comment on the race until the dust settles and the official RESULTS are confirmed... However, I was quite taken aback by this sudden onslaught against the current champion... It’s truly unfortunate to see people projecting their frustrations over their own teams' poor finishes by insulting Lewis😕. There is honestly no point in wasting words on such individuals...
It sounds incredibly pathetic to hear all this jealousy directed at Lewis... but if that's how you choose to feel, carry on... For McLaren fans, this was an absolutely stellar race, and we have plenty of reasons to celebrate👍
Lewis absolutely crushed that race in Australia.
ironfalcon43 said:I don't intend to comment on the race until the dust settles and the official RESULTS are confirmed... However, I was quite taken aback by this sudden onslaught against the current champion... It’s truly unfortunate to see people projecting their frustrations over their own teams' poor finishes by insulting Lewis😕. There is honestly no point in wasting words on such individuals...
It sounds incredibly pathetic to hear all this jealousy directed at Lewis... but if that's how you choose to feel, carry on... For McLaren fans, this was an absolutely stellar race, and we have plenty of reasons to celebrate👍
I don't think that’s enough reason to throw a massive party if you ask me. If I were in your shoes, the only thing I’d be banking on is Lewis Hamilton and his sheer skill level. He’s a reliable benchmark, period. As for anything else? I wouldn't hold my breath. We already saw enough issues with McLaren to know things aren't perfect, so let's just wait a race or two before we start making any definitive calls.
John Johnson21 said:Ross Brawn is making his comeback, and he’s bringing a car that’ll make both the Benetton and the F2004 look like relics of the past.
If you’re going to be such a huge fan, you might want to actually learn how to spell their name correctly.
stormybadger8 said:doesn't have to be😉 clearly the best engines are Toyota and Mercedes. Now, the question is whether it's really Aerodynamics or the new Renault engine that makes Red Bull so dominant 🤷 because if Renault were truly that bad, then STR would actually be better than Red Bull, wouldn't they?🤷
One race is way too little to claim who has the best engine or anything else. Looking at today's race, the red cars held their own for a while. Then everything went downhill once Massin made those tire changes.
BTW, the way these tires were picked—specifically their characteristics—just gives more reason to focus on tactics. It’s going to matter more who pits when rather than who has the better driver or car. It's stupid.
stormybadger8 said:Not sure why I would be. They had a total meltdown during the race, just like Red Bull Racing, and even Toyota struggled big time. Realistically, right now the power rankings look like this:
unknown and Toyota, somewhere in that bracket Red Bull Racing and Williams Racing, somewhere there Ferrari unknown everyone else☕
Assuming the FIA doesn't hand out penalties and everyone actually finishes the race—even Ferrari isn't looking at points, let alone the rest of the field.☕
The scenarios you're describing? Pure science fiction this season. Just forget about it.
Rebecca Thomas5 said:did you ever stop to realize that Brawn actually managed to snag more points in just one race—we're talking 18 here—than they hauled in during the entire previous season combined... which was only 14... and Jenson is right there with them too
Honestly, I can barely remember Brawn even existed last year. 🤷
I honestly don't even have the energy to write anything. Last year, I mentioned once that instead of Kimi Raikkonen, I’d love to see Sebastian Vettel and Robert Kubica driving for Ferrari this season. Hey everyone.
People keep arguing that Brawn is only ahead because of their diffuser. Honestly, they're missing the point. Right now, they’ve got something under the hood that nobody else can touch. I really don't see anyone catching up to them anytime soon.
If they run into any trouble, it’ll probably be due to potential Safety Car situations. Cars running KERS are visibly more unstable, and don't even get me started on everyone's front wing issues.
Personally, if we start seeing more frequent Safety Cars, it’s just going to kill the quality of the racing.
Sebastian Vettel and Robert Kubica 👍, I didn't see that coming. Even Ferrari is looking a little 👍. I just hope Brawn doesn't stay like this for too long.
As for what the race actually brings—debris, tire issues, whatever—we'll find out tomorrow.
The cars are heavily damaged. Every single one looks like a total wreck from the front. We'll just have to wait and see how these beat-up machines hold up during actual race conditions when things get tight. I’ve got a bad feeling about this...
Thomas Martin4 said:It would be nice to see things shake up a little... and honestly, I don't see any reason why those diffusers should be banned if they were built strictly by the book. It seems to me the rules themselves are the issue here, not the diffusers. If three teams managed to pull that off, then everyone else could have too—but instead, they chose a different path last time (due to some questionable decisions at 🙂), and now they’re whining because someone else actually has a faster car. If they want to complain, they should just design a similar diffuser and get it approved. They simply won't admit the truth: our cars are slower than theirs, plain and simple. We should be trying to catch them on the track, not running to court to beg for a ban. That’s just pathetic—it turns the Formula 1 courtroom into the main event, rather than letting the racing, the skill, and the innovation take center stage.
It’s not quite that black and white. Those diffusers are definitely sitting in a gray area right now. The teams using them took a gamble and it paid off. I’m not losing any sleep over it. That said, it’s a massive headache when the rulebook is written so vaguely that everyone can interpret it differently.