2013 Chinese Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (April 12-14)

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/106769
No penalties for the DRS mess... just more nonsense regarding telemetry and electronics. 🤦

Mother mine, this is the third race in a row where the telemetry has been acting like total garbage. 😳
Is it a crisis? Cost cutting? Or maybe it's just McLaren's latest brainchild—built like their car: not particularly fast or reliable, but plenty of room for "upgrades." 😬

If they actually handed out penalties... here’s how the positions would look compared to the finish line...
1 Fernando Alonso
2 Lewis Hamilton +12.3 secs (+1)
3 Kimi Räikkönen +35.1 secs (-1)
4 Sebastian Vettel +37.5 secs
5 Felipe Massa +40.8 secs (+1)
6 Paul di Resta +51.0 secs (+2)
7 Nico Hulkenberg +56.5 secs (+3)
8 Jenson Button +60.2 secs (-3)
9 Sergio Perez +63.8 secs (+2)
10 Daniel Ricciardo +67.6 secs (-3)
-----------------------------------------
11 Jean-Eric Vergne +72.6 secs (+1)
12 Romain Grosjean +78.4 secs (-3)
13 Pastor Maldonado +95.4 secs (+1)
14 Jules Bianchi +1 Lap (+ 18.5) (+1)
15 Charles Pic +1 Lap +1 Lap (+20.05) (+1)
16 Valtteri Bottas + 1 lap (+ 22.6) (-3)
17 Max Chilton +1 Lap
18 Giedo van der Garde +1 Lap

What a complete disaster the results would be if they actually shuffled things after the race. 🙏🤣
Only Vettel, Alonso, Chilton, and van der Garde would actually stay in their spots. 🙏🤣

swifttiger75 said:I'm pretty sure both Red Bull cars—and Daniel Ricciardo too—are under investigation. What kind of decision are they going to make behind closed doors now?! 🙂

Felipe Massa is doing exactly what he's supposed to be doing at Ferrari. Just follow orders, boss says! Sit, Buba, sit... good dog! Woof-woof!!! 😁

Nice one, swifttiger75, but remind me—which series was that again?

Drew Bennett68 said:Nice one, swifttiger75, but remind me—which series was that again?

I think it was some kind of intro from an HBO production or something...
Anyway...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_7zkK6XzmE

stormybadger8 said:http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/106769
No penalties for the DRS mess... just more nonsense regarding telemetry and electronics. 🤦

Mother mine, this is the third race in a row where the telemetry has been acting like total garbage. 😳
Is it a crisis? Cost cutting? Or maybe it's just McLaren's latest brainchild—built like their car: not particularly fast or reliable, but plenty of room for "upgrades." 😬

If they actually handed out penalties... here’s how the positions would look compared to the finish line...
1 Fernando Alonso
2 Lewis Hamilton +12.3 secs (+1)
3 Kimi Räikkönen +35.1 secs (-1)
4 Sebastian Vettel +37.5 secs
5 Felipe Massa +40.8 secs (+1)
6 Paul di Resta +51.0 secs (+2)
7 Nico Hulkenberg +56.5 secs (+3)
8 Jenson Button +60.2 secs (-3)
9 Sergio Perez +63.8 secs (+2)
10 Daniel Ricciardo +67.6 secs (-3)
-----------------------------------------
11 Jean-Eric Vergne +72.6 secs (+1)
12 Romain Grosjean +78.4 secs (-3)
13 Pastor Maldonado +95.4 secs (+1)
14 Jules Bianchi +1 Lap (+ 18.5) (+1)
15 Charles Pic +1 Lap +1 Lap (+20.05) (+1)
16 Valtteri Bottas + 1 lap (+ 22.6) (-3)
17 Max Chilton +1 Lap
18 Giedo van der Garde +1 Lap

What a complete disaster the results would be if they actually shuffled things after the race. 🙏🤣
Only Vettel, Alonso, Chilton, and van der Garde would actually stay in their spots. 🙏🤣

Poor Felipe. 😢

placidridge2 said:Give me a break, everyone... the season has barely started. I honestly can't tell if you guys are being dead serious or just messing around.

We're nowhere near the end of the season, not to mention how much everyone's form is bouncing around right now.

You can't seriously expect Ferrari to stay this far ahead of the pack in every single race, right? 😕

You aren't quite seasoned enough here to catch all the nuances... 😁
If the sole reason Alonso hasn't secured a title is because Newey always managed to build a superior car, then he should theoretically be able to clinch it now that they've been better than Red Bull three times running.

🙂

We're the best.

The start of a dynasty 😁

China is a unique beast; I don't think we should get carried away just because of today's win.
I really don't expect this level of performance to carry over to Bahrain.
To me, this victory was more about Fernando's brilliant strategy and how he managed his tires better than anyone else out there today.
In terms of pure raw pace, I actually think McLaren is right up there with Ferrari—maybe even faster during a qualifying lap—but they’re absolutely shredding their tires. Lewis isn't exactly known for being a master at managing difficult rubber (or at least, he isn't on the same level as Alonso, for instance), and I think that's where he's struggling a bit.
Kimi would have been right in the mix for the win if it hadn't been for that close call with Perez.

Winning comes down to an incredible start, as usual. Honestly, I’ve had this gut feeling for ages that Ferrari is using some kind of traction control system for their launches.😁

Also, we can't ignore how solid Fernando Alonso's driving was during that first stint while he was fighting his way through the field...
It definitely helped that most people ended up opting for softs, allowing them to bolt off the line quickly.
If they’d gone with mediums, I’m not even sure how that would have played out, though Ferrari looked incredibly strong on the straights even without DRS.
Overall, Ferrari looks great, but the big question remains: how is this going to look in Bahrain or during the rest of the European work?

On another note, it’s actually pretty weird seeing such massive gaps between the No. 1 and No. 2 drivers across almost every single team...
It’s honestly wild how Felipe Massa just vanishes mid-race, and don't even get me started on how invisible Rosberg and Romain Grosjean were.
Plus, it's super strange that, just like last year, we're seeing these huge fluctuations in car pace on the exact same tire compound at different stages of the race.😳

And the most interesting part? That conversation Bernie Ecclestone was having on the grid. I'm dying to know what kind of tire changes they're cooking up for Barcelona.🍿

shadowhawk24 said:Hmm, I honestly can't say if he'll bother dissecting Alonso's girlfriend and their dynamic this time around, much like how he previously tore apart Hamilton's relationship with his lady love. 🤷

Coulthard already pulled that move on the podium after the race.

McLaren is still absolute trash. Given how they started this year, I seriously doubt we'll see them on the podium at all this season. Total disaster.

And there we have it—some much-needed celebration for Nanda. Just the kind of boost we need to lift everyone's spirits.

stormybadger8 said:Winning comes down to an incredible start, as usual. Honestly, I’ve had this gut feeling for ages that Ferrari is using some kind of traction control system for their launches.😁

Also, we can't ignore how solid Fernando Alonso's driving was during that first stint while he was fighting his way through the field...
It definitely helped that most people ended up opting for softs, allowing them to bolt off the line quickly.
If they’d gone with mediums, I’m not even sure how that would have played out, though Ferrari looked incredibly strong on the straights even without DRS.
Overall, Ferrari looks great, but the big question remains: how is this going to look in Bahrain or during the rest of the European work?

On another note, it’s actually pretty weird seeing such massive gaps between the No. 1 and No. 2 drivers across almost every single team...
It’s honestly wild how Felipe Massa just vanishes mid-race, and don't even get me started on how invisible Rosberg and Romain Grosjean were.
Plus, it's super strange that, just like last year, we're seeing these huge fluctuations in car pace on the exact same tire compound at different stages of the race.😳

And the most interesting part? That conversation Bernie Ecclestone was having on the grid. I'm dying to know what kind of tire changes they're cooking up for Barcelona.🍿

I think Fernando Alonso will be solid in Spain and Monaco; Germany and the GP Bahrain should suit him too. Bahrain is a good fit for Ferrari.
The real trouble starts after Canada, especially during the Asian tour. Red Bull Racing is always tough in Asia because those tracks just suit their style perfectly.
If Alonso doesn't have a car capable of winning (winning, not just podiums ) in Asia, he's going to lose the title again.

stormybadger8 said:Winning comes down to an incredible start, as usual. Honestly, I’ve had this gut feeling for ages that Ferrari is using some kind of traction control system for their launches.😁

Also, we can't ignore how solid Fernando Alonso's driving was during that first stint while he was fighting his way through the field...
It definitely helped that most people ended up opting for softs, allowing them to bolt off the line quickly.
If they’d gone with mediums, I’m not even sure how that would have played out, though Ferrari looked incredibly strong on the straights even without DRS.
Overall, Ferrari looks great, but the big question remains: how is this going to look in Bahrain or during the rest of the European work?

On another note, it’s actually pretty weird seeing such massive gaps between the No. 1 and No. 2 drivers across almost every single team...
It’s honestly wild how Felipe Massa just vanishes mid-race, and don't even get me started on how invisible Rosberg and Romain Grosjean were.
Plus, it's super strange that, just like last year, we're seeing these huge fluctuations in car pace on the exact same tire compound at different stages of the race.😳

And the most interesting part? That conversation Bernie Ecclestone was having on the grid. I'm dying to know what kind of tire changes they're cooking up for Barcelona.🍿

So, here we go.
Alonso had a great start compared to Raikkonen today. As for Kimi? He absolutely botched his launch—wheels spinning right at the lights, and then he struggled again just after shifting into second.

Last season, Alonso was consistently gaining more ground on the starting grid at the expense of Mark Webber. 😁
Just how many times did he actually screw up the start? It’s getting ridiculous.
I mean, if you look at last season, he barely even showed up three times. Anti-stall. Is there anything more frustrating? At the start. 😂

Raymond Anderson4 said:I think Fernando Alonso will be solid in Spain and Monaco; Germany and the GP Bahrain should suit him too. Bahrain is a good fit for Ferrari.
The real trouble starts after Canada, especially during the Asian tour. Red Bull Racing is always tough in Asia because those tracks just suit their style perfectly.
If Alonso doesn't have a car capable of winning (winning, not just podiums ) in Asia, he's going to lose the title again.

I went to go count them up—there are 8 races in Asia. Who would've thought!?
Alright, you were probably talking about that specific stretch in Asia right after Monza.

Raymond Anderson4 said:I think Fernando Alonso will be solid in Spain and Monaco; Germany and the GP Bahrain should suit him too. Bahrain is a good fit for Ferrari.
The real trouble starts after Canada, especially during the Asian tour. Red Bull Racing is always tough in Asia because those tracks just suit their style perfectly.
If Alonso doesn't have a car capable of winning (winning, not just podiums ) in Asia, he's going to lose the title again.

See, I’d actually argue that Red Bull holds the biggest advantage right in Monaco.

They already have downforce to spare, so imagine what happens when they show up to Monaco with a massive rear wing.
And let's be honest, we don't exactly remember Monaco from recent years being defined by brutal tire degradation, do we?

Amanda Kelly said:I went to go count them up—there are 8 races in Asia. Who would've thought!?
Alright, you were probably talking about that specific stretch in Asia right after Monza.

Well, I wouldn't exactly bet on the GP Korea actually happening this season. 😁

Jason Campbell70 said:So, here we go.
Alonso had a great start compared to Raikkonen today. As for Kimi? He absolutely botched his launch—wheels spinning right at the lights, and then he struggled again just after shifting into second.

Last season, Alonso was consistently gaining more ground on the starting grid at the expense of Mark Webber. 😁
Just how many times did he actually screw up the start? It’s getting ridiculous.
I mean, if you look at last season, he barely even showed up three times. Anti-stall. Is there anything more frustrating? At the start. 😂

Did everyone start well compared to Kimi Raikkonen? Maybe. But Ferrari? They didn't just pull away from the pack; they absolutely vanished.
It wasn't just about the gap to Kimi Raikkonen; it was also about how he stacked up against Lewis Hamilton and the rest of the field.
Let's be real, Felipe Massa basically cruised right past Nico Rosberg and Kimi Raikkonen, leaving everyone else in his rearview mirror like they were standing still.

Some kid out there definitely has their start figured out way better than everyone else.🤷
Maybe it’s just that their KERS is dialed up higher than everyone else's, but whatever the case, Ferrari looks like they have a massive power advantage over the rest of the grid at the start.

stormybadger8 said:Winning comes down to an incredible start, as usual. Honestly, I’ve had this gut feeling for ages that Ferrari is using some kind of traction control system for their launches.😁

Also, we can't ignore how solid Fernando Alonso's driving was during that first stint while he was fighting his way through the field...
It definitely helped that most people ended up opting for softs, allowing them to bolt off the line quickly.
If they’d gone with mediums, I’m not even sure how that would have played out, though Ferrari looked incredibly strong on the straights even without DRS.
Overall, Ferrari looks great, but the big question remains: how is this going to look in Bahrain or during the rest of the European work?

On another note, it’s actually pretty weird seeing such massive gaps between the No. 1 and No. 2 drivers across almost every single team...
It’s honestly wild how Felipe Massa just vanishes mid-race, and don't even get me started on how invisible Rosberg and Romain Grosjean were.
Plus, it's super strange that, just like last year, we're seeing these huge fluctuations in car pace on the exact same tire compound at different stages of the race.😳

And the most interesting part? That conversation Bernie Ecclestone was having on the grid. I'm dying to know what kind of tire changes they're cooking up for Barcelona.🍿

That driver gap between No. 1 and No. 2 has been stuck in my head all afternoon.
And if you ask me, it's most glaring at Ferrari (the biggest headache, at least in my book).

Once again, I think the main issue is Massa. The guy just doesn't function—well enough, anyway—when things get chaotic. And it isn't just about traffic. He lacks consistency. You can't bank on him for anything.

Overtaking wasn't even the issue today. Alonso sliced through the top 3 or 4 like they weren't even there—clearly the best and the fastest. Plenty of spots to move, two DRS zones. Everyone was passing anyone they could catch.
That 40-second gap? For me, it's unbearable, and I'm putting it squarely on the driver. It's too wide. Unacceptable.
And I can't view Massino grabbing 6th place as some kind of success or an "OK" result. Rosberg and Webber dropped out, and if they had finished, they probably would've been ahead of him anyway.

I get the feeling Felipe is pretty disappointed and frustrated himself. He was flying during the FP's and expected more from qualifying—he said so himself. So what happens to him during the race? I wish I knew that too.

As I previously stated, he was essentially killed off by an extra lap on those subpar soft tires. He was sacrificed all for the sake of Fernando Alonso. And as for the argument that Alonso was "at a disadvantage because everyone started on softs"—give me a break. Could they not have simply run the third lap of qualifying on mediums so everyone would be on equal footing at the start? Honestly, what kind of conversation are we even having here?🙂 If we are going to engage in these debates, let's actually use meaningful data.😕

Lotus and Kimi Raikkonen are looking seriously fast... that P2 in qualifying just proves they dialed in the single-lap pace, and clearly, it worked. They were already looking solid for the race anyway. Kimi basically admitted he could've gone even faster if it wasn't for that damage... he had a winning car on him. Honestly, they look best alongside Ferrari, and it’s pretty cool seeing three different winners across three races...