Malaysia Grand Prix (Indianapolis Motor Speedway) March 29, 2015

William Bennett53 said:Kimi did a fantastic job, truly fantastic. The entire race was overshadowed by Sebastian Vettel’s massive victory over the dominant Mecam, so his performance kind of flew under the radar, but the man started in 11th, got caught up in some contact right at the start, and had to pit for fresh rubber (not to mention he spent a good portion of a lap limping along on three wheels, losing precious time), yet he fought his way back to finish fourth. I was genuinely impressed with what he delivered. 🙏

Kimi put on an incredible show 👍
So what? He had a puncture or went to the pits—it doesn't matter because the SC just reset everything and put him right back in the mix...
Sure, he started near the back of the pack, but he wasn't actually trailing the leaders; he was just stuck behind a massive traffic jam...
http://www.fia.com/sites/default/fil...ry_chart_0.pdf
Besides, after that, he ended up sitting in 16th place behind Manor, which basically means he was 15th... 😉

stormybadger8 said:Kimi put on an incredible show 👍
So what? He had a puncture or went to the pits—it doesn't matter because the SC just reset everything and put him right back in the mix...
Sure, he started near the back of the pack, but he wasn't actually trailing the leaders; he was just stuck behind a massive traffic jam...
http://www.fia.com/sites/default/fil...ry_chart_0.pdf
Besides, after that, he ended up sitting in 16th place behind Manor, which basically means he was 15th... 😉

Kimi performed on a completely different level. It seems certain that Vettel will face significant struggles against the Finns this season.

mellowtiger83 said:Kimi performed on a completely different level. It seems certain that Vettel will face significant struggles against the Finns this season.

Duh, obviously...

I wasn't even expecting him to struggle, but now I'm pretty sure any win Vettel manages to snag won't be easy at all.
Kimi is a weird one—when he’s not feeling it, he just straight up doesn't care. 🤣
But when he sees an opening, he grabs it.

stormybadger8 said:Sure, except I have zero clue why Kimi couldn't match Vettel's lap count on the Mediums, especially since Kimi was on fresh rubber while Vettel was nursing his used ones from qualifying.😳

Kimi's first stint on the new Mediums (after that puncture fix) lasted 12 laps. Vettel managed 17 on those used Mediums from Q2...
And honestly, that opening stint and those times are exactly why he won. That's where he built that 10-second gap over Hamilton, and he held onto it until the checkered flag.

Clean air? Are you kidding me? Look at how much clean air Kimi had once he changed tires!

The real MVP here were the temperatures. Then, of course, you have the Safety Car, which completely wrecked Mercedes' entire pit strategy. It wasn't like he drove some legendary, earth-shattering lap; he just took advantage of the situation handed to him. The Safety Car gave him that clean air, and that's pretty much the whole story. It's not like we didn't already know he's a beast in conditions like those.

stormybadger8 said:Kimi put on an incredible show 👍
So what? He had a puncture or went to the pits—it doesn't matter because the SC just reset everything and put him right back in the mix...
Sure, he started near the back of the pack, but he wasn't actually trailing the leaders; he was just stuck behind a massive traffic jam...
http://www.fia.com/sites/default/fil...ry_chart_0.pdf
Besides, after that, he ended up sitting in 16th place behind Manor, which basically means he was 15th... 😉

So yeah, starting at the back meant he was about 15 seconds down after half a lap, and since Merhi couldn't even catch the pack before the restart, he was realistically looking at a 20-second deficit after that first lap...

stormybadger8 said:Don't give me that 🤦
Vettel passed both Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton right out there on the asphalt, pure and simple 😳
Seriously, what race were you even watching if you missed that? 🤦

Lewis Hamilton was struggling on 20 laps of old tires, and then he got blown past when he was on 13 laps of much fresher, faster rubber.

F1 is a lullaby, while MotoGP is pure adrenaline.

Naturally, this is how they're making headlines over in Italy today:

Joshua Scott said:F1 is a lullaby, while MotoGP is pure adrenaline.

Naturally, this is how they're making headlines over in Italy today:

I believe that was about 105 wins for Rossi... one hundred and five, seriously. 👏🎉👍

gentlemoose57 said:Clean air? Are you kidding me? Look at how much clean air Kimi had once he changed tires!

The real MVP here were the temperatures. Then, of course, you have the Safety Car, which completely wrecked Mercedes' entire pit strategy. It wasn't like he drove some legendary, earth-shattering lap; he just took advantage of the situation handed to him. The Safety Car gave him that clean air, and that's pretty much the whole story. It's not like we didn't already know he's a beast in conditions like those.

That SC was almost tailor-made for Mercedes, rather than ruining their plans. 🤣
Seriously guys, stop being ridiculous. They would've had to pit one way or another by lap 7 or 8 at the latest, but instead, they got a free pit stop...

There isn't a single theory where Germany could have even managed 7 or 8 laps on used mediums for that first stint, so maybe use your brains before coming up with these theories. 🤣

If they actually had the pace to go longer, they would've stayed out after the SC. Instead, Hamilton's longest stint on fresh mediums was only 14 laps in the second half of the race (and Rosberg's last stint was 15), which means at the start, they were looking at a super optimistic 9-10 laps on fresh mediums or a wildly hopeful 7-8 on used ones...
At the end of the day, during Friday practice, their ceiling was barely 7 laps on new mediums with full tanks...

And imagine trying to explain to Hamilton over the team radio after that medium stint that he couldn't make it to the end on one more set of mediums (18 laps) and actually needed a fourth pit stop. 🙂
Bottom line: if they actually had the capability to finish with just two stops, they would've done it right after the SC (only needing one more stop), but let's be real—both drivers were forced to change tires again...

Besides, if that SC hadn't happened, Hamilton probably would've spun out in the DRS zone within two or three laps...

Plus, Vettel wasn't exactly cruising in clean air the whole time; he was constantly stuck behind someone for a lap.

stormybadger8 said:That SC was almost tailor-made for Mercedes, rather than ruining their plans. 🤣
Seriously guys, stop being ridiculous. They would've had to pit one way or another by lap 7 or 8 at the latest, but instead, they got a free pit stop...

There isn't a single theory where Germany could have even managed 7 or 8 laps on used mediums for that first stint, so maybe use your brains before coming up with these theories. 🤣

If they actually had the pace to go longer, they would've stayed out after the SC. Instead, Hamilton's longest stint on fresh mediums was only 14 laps in the second half of the race (and Rosberg's last stint was 15), which means at the start, they were looking at a super optimistic 9-10 laps on fresh mediums or a wildly hopeful 7-8 on used ones...
At the end of the day, during Friday practice, their ceiling was barely 7 laps on new mediums with full tanks...

And imagine trying to explain to Hamilton over the team radio after that medium stint that he couldn't make it to the end on one more set of mediums (18 laps) and actually needed a fourth pit stop. 🙂
Bottom line: if they actually had the capability to finish with just two stops, they would've done it right after the SC (only needing one more stop), but let's be real—both drivers were forced to change tires again...

Besides, if that SC hadn't happened, Hamilton probably would've spun out in the DRS zone within two or three laps...

Plus, Vettel wasn't exactly cruising in clean air the whole time; he was constantly stuck behind someone for a lap.

Give me a break. Ferrari absolutely crushed them, both tactically and on pure pace. Such a shame about Kimi's tires; maybe he could've scraped more points out of it. Ferrari is BACK...

Samuel Ruiz4 said:So yeah, starting at the back meant he was about 15 seconds down after half a lap, and since Merhi couldn't even catch the pack before the restart, he was realistically looking at a 20-second deficit after that first lap...

I'm not buying this idea that Merhi had anything to do with Kimi being stuck behind him. 🤷
Just click the link and look at the data. 😉
Merhi was actually a headache for Jenson Button, who couldn't even get past him before the restart (lap 6), so he was just stuck right on his tail and wiped him out immediately when they went again. Pretty sure Button said something to that effect too. 🤔
Meanwhile, Kimi needed an entire extra lap just to reach Merhi. 😉
At the restart, he was 5 seconds back, so Kimi was actually trailing more than Merhi was.

Kimi's issue wasn't getting blocked; it was just that his pit stop timing meant he couldn't catch the back of the pack in time. Just compare Kimi's times under the SC to everyone else's and you'll see. 😁

If Merhi was really the bottleneck, how do you explain this?
Lap 5: Merhi 2:24.906, Kimi 1:49.747
Lap 6 (restart at end of lap): Merhi 2:23.195, Kimi 1:57.757... Kimi was about 5.7 seconds behind Merhi at the end of that lap. 🤔
Lap 7: Merhi 1:52.666, Kimi 1:46.534—Kimi's already 0.400 ahead of Merhi...

gentlemoose57 said:Lewis Hamilton was struggling on 20 laps of old tires, and then he got blown past when he was on 13 laps of much fresher, faster rubber.

So?
Did he actually pass him in the end or what?

Taylor Watson15 said:Give me a break. Ferrari absolutely crushed them, both tactically and on pure pace. Such a shame about Kimi's tires; maybe he could've scraped more points out of it. Ferrari is BACK...

True, huge bummer.
I think Kimi almost certainly would've taken down Nico Rosberg if it wasn't for that tire bullshit...
Hard to say if he would've caught Lewis Hamilton since he started way back there, but he likely would've cleared Rosberg...
Though maybe Hamilton too, who knows... everything depends.
Kimi was right on Sainz's tail before the blowout, and Sainz was ahead of Pérez, who was ahead of Hamilton at the restart.
So it all comes down to how fast Kimi could have picked off Sainz, Hülkenberg, and Grosjean before Hamilton ended up breathing down his neck....

But yeah, he definitely could've had Rosberg, and maybe Hamilton if he was lucky...

stormybadger8 said:So?
Did he actually pass him in the end or what?

The real issue arises when people start obsessing over the mechanics of an overtake—dwelling on how it might shave a second or two off a lap time—while completely glossing over the fundamental catalyst that made the whole situation possible in the first place; it is a glaring, almost textbook example of how subjectivity and sheer tunnel vision can blind even the most attentive observer.

Look, even before the Safety Car, Vettel was within a second of Hamilton—probably would’ve made a move just a lap or two later. By that point, Hamilton's tires were already way more shot than Vettel's

My predictions for the upcoming races:

If track temps hit above 58-60, I don't see anyone having a chance during those long stints. The guys at Ferrari are just too good at managing their rubber... they can basically power through if they get stuck behind someone (just look at what happened to Kimi)
If track temps sit between 50-58, I think that’s where the real fight happens—assuming Kimi and Vettel don't end up stuck behind a Haas or something
If track temps drop below 50, I honestly don't think anyone can make anything happen during the races

Of course, this is all assuming current car and engine setups stay the same—especially since Ferrari keeps hinting they've got a better engine coming, though they aren't totally sure about its reliability yet. If they have an extra one ready to go, they might finally be able to push it

Nicole Torres said:The real issue arises when people start obsessing over the mechanics of an overtake—dwelling on how it might shave a second or two off a lap time—while completely glossing over the fundamental catalyst that made the whole situation possible in the first place; it is a glaring, almost textbook example of how subjectivity and sheer tunnel vision can blind even the most attentive observer.

And honestly, seeing this kind of logic on a forum is a first.
🤣

Sure, let's say the gap between brand-new tires and old ones is roughly a second or a second and a half. It doesn't matter. Lewis still needs to pass Max on track regardless of what rubber they're running...
It’s hardly a miracle that there's such a gap in the first two or three laps, but Vettel was putting up consistently fast times, and the tires weren't falling apart...
And it wasn't some lucky break where he caught him coming out of the pits with fresh tires while Lewis was struggling on dead ones...
That's the part that actually matters. It shows he's settled in perfectly at Ferrari, and clearly, they've built an incredible car that works for both him and Kimi.
Finally, they have two drivers who actually fit the car, which is a total win-win for the team. 👍

Ashley Ramirez4 said:Look, even before the Safety Car, Vettel was within a second of Hamilton—probably would’ve made a move just a lap or two later. By that point, Hamilton's tires were already way more shot than Vettel's

My predictions for the upcoming races:

If track temps hit above 58-60, I don't see anyone having a chance during those long stints. The guys at Ferrari are just too good at managing their rubber... they can basically power through if they get stuck behind someone (just look at what happened to Kimi)
If track temps sit between 50-58, I think that’s where the real fight happens—assuming Kimi and Vettel don't end up stuck behind a Haas or something
If track temps drop below 50, I honestly don't think anyone can make anything happen during the races

Of course, this is all assuming current car and engine setups stay the same—especially since Ferrari keeps hinting they've got a better engine coming, though they aren't totally sure about its reliability yet. If they have an extra one ready to go, they might finally be able to push it

I'm not so sure Ferrari is actually that much worse when it's cooler...
If I remember correctly, it wasn't hitting 140°F in Austin, and they were consistently at the top there.😉

It feels like they played it way too safe in Australia, just trying not to lose ground to Haas. But even then, don't forget Vettel clawed back three seconds on Hamilton in just eight laps after finally getting past Massa, and then just held that gap until the end.😉

The real headache for Ferrari is qualifying speed...
Because the nightmare scenario is starting the race and immediately getting stuck behind a Haas or something similar. If they find themselves behind Mercedes right off the line, it looks like they'll be able to keep pace.

Look, I guess after China everyone’s gonna be a bit sharper—like, things will finally make sense and maybe even the teams won't pull those dumb moves anymore. They might actually go with mediums in Q1... or maybe they already knew there was zero chance of making it to the end using just two medium stints and one hard stint. Honestly, from what I can tell, those guys would have cruised to the finish line with three medium stints if the rules actually let them 😍

Ashley Ramirez4 said:Look, even before the Safety Car, Vettel was within a second of Hamilton—probably would’ve made a move just a lap or two later. By that point, Hamilton's tires were already way more shot than Vettel's

My predictions for the upcoming races:

If track temps hit above 58-60, I don't see anyone having a chance during those long stints. The guys at Ferrari are just too good at managing their rubber... they can basically power through if they get stuck behind someone (just look at what happened to Kimi)
If track temps sit between 50-58, I think that’s where the real fight happens—assuming Kimi and Vettel don't end up stuck behind a Haas or something
If track temps drop below 50, I honestly don't think anyone can make anything happen during the races

Of course, this is all assuming current car and engine setups stay the same—especially since Ferrari keeps hinting they've got a better engine coming, though they aren't totally sure about its reliability yet. If they have an extra one ready to go, they might finally be able to push it

Track temperature isn't the only variable. Take Malaysia, for instance.
Certain tracks just eat through tires naturally, regardless of the temperature, and that is where Ferrari should gain their advantage.

Ashley Ramirez4 said:Look, I guess after China everyone’s gonna be a bit sharper—like, things will finally make sense and maybe even the teams won't pull those dumb moves anymore. They might actually go with mediums in Q1... or maybe they already knew there was zero chance of making it to the end using just two medium stints and one hard stint. Honestly, from what I can tell, those guys would have cruised to the finish line with three medium stints if the rules actually let them 😍

That bolded part right here...
On Friday, they ran 6 or 7 laps on mediums and the tires just gave up on them. And obviously, they knew Sunday was going to be hotter...
Plus, Rosberg mentioned that they basically had a pact before the race: if a Safety Car comes out within the first 2 or 3 laps, they pit immediately for fresh rubber...

The whole tire situation was kind of expected, really. 😉
Last year, Pirelli played it super safe with conservative tires because they were terrified of another massive disaster with degradation once these turbo hybrids showed up...
Now that they actually have some data, they've made this year's tires noticeably faster—which naturally means they don't last nearly as long...
At the end of the day, the fact that everyone is shaving off huge chunks of time compared to last year isn't just because of better engines.
About 60% of that 2-3 second improvement over last season is thanks to the tires; the rest is likely the Power Unit or the chassis itself...