2012 Spanish GP - Qualifying Thread

[Fiondella]

when was that? Mrs Rob got Britian Hasnt Really Got Talent atmo

Just after qualy. JH and EJ talking to him. He said that they were looking into the problem with Hamster's car or something simlar. Yeah right! What's that i smell!!

[Rob]

Just after qualy. JH and EJ talking to him. He said that they were looking into the problem with Hamster's car or something simlar. Yeah right! What's that i smell!!

didnt watch the Beebs coverage.

[Ferrari Man]

With a good result tomorrow this surely is the start of the Ferrari fightback we much need...........

[Kiwi Nick]

Victory will be tough. There are 2 Lotuses right behind Alonso and they proved, that they are super fast in races.

What is really scary about the Lotuses is that they are fastest through the speed trap and in sector 1 which includes the DRS zone and the speed trap (both @ 232km). Alonso is at least 5km slower. If they can get to within 1 sec for the DRS zone they may be able to pass him. This circuit is so difficult to pass on that top end speed and DRS may be the ultimate decider. Alonso's only chance will be to put Maldo between himself and the Lotuses at the start. If he can do that he will win. If not, it could be a Kimi kind of day!

[Ferrari Man]

What is really scary about the Lotuses is that they are fastest through the speed trap and in sector 1 which includes the DRS zone and the speed trap (both @ 232km). Alonso is at least 5km slower. If they can get to within 1 sec for the DRS zone they may be able to pass him. This circuit is so difficult to pass on that top end speed and DRS may be the ultimate decider. Alonso's only chance will be to put Maldo between himself and the Lotuses at the start. If he can do that he will win. If not, it could be a Kimi kind of day!

In terms of the championship it's not the end of the world if it's a Lotus day tomorrow so long as we finish next best

[Red passion]

Just after qualy. JH and EJ talking to him. He said that they were looking into the problem with Hamster's car or something simlar. Yeah right! What's that i smell!!

He said: they were looking into the problem ha ha
translate: they should looking into the fuel tank

What do you smell????? defo not petrol

[FerrariFanBoii]

Yeah I'm gonna say it. I feel sorry for Hamilton, that lap was amazing, he deserved pole, yeah I'm probably gonna hate for this, but he's one of the best racers on the grid, and seeing him do so badly sucks, maybe a 10 place drop I can understand.

But

Come on Alonso!!! This is your win now! in front of the adoring fans!

Forza Fernando!

[zeus2]

I'm pretty amazed with the 3rd place today (2nd if you count Hamilton's penalty), but I'm even more amazed that nobody has insinuated that ferrari is to blame for mclaren's penalty . Crazy times in F1 all around.

[MRRabbit]

I don't know what's more pleasing, the 2nd place in quali or the whining from the macca fans

[Nova]

Its kind of surprising to me, the Mac thing..they are a well run team,
even though they are Ferrari's arch rival, I think someone really screwed up.
I mean, they wouldnt try to pull an stunt like that..

[FerrariF60]

We need to be aware of the fast cars starting on hards, this will prob be an advantage as they can use softs later when fuel is low they will last longer. We need Massa who is included in this list to slow the others down if he cant out race them for whatever reason.

yes, massa the "guinea pig"....mind as well use his services for something usefull

[FerrariF60]

Remember, Ferrari have improved their car, and beat Lotus ON PACE today, with Fernando. Their car is good, but Ferraris strong point is the race.
Williams could be the bigger threat with Maldonado. Even before they improved, they were with Ferrari in China/Aus, so let's see.

....i'd like to make some adjustment to your comment if you don't mind:

Remember, Ferrari have improved their car, and beat Lotus ON PACE today, with Fernando. Their car is good, but Ferraris strong point is the race...as well as the driver himself, Fernando, who is ALSO a strong, committed and not to mention FAST driver

[scuderiafan]

....i'd like to make some adjustment to your comment if you don't mind:

Remember, Ferrari have improved their car, and beat Lotus ON PACE today, with Fernando. Their car is good, but Ferraris strong point is the race...as well as the driver himself, Fernando, who is ALSO a strong, committed and not to mention FAST driver

Yep, his stint in Malaysia when the car was going well and Silverstone shows when he sniffs victory, no one can stop him, and he just goes off into the distance pulling gaps of 1 sec a lap at times. If the car is at all competitive tomorrow, he will make full use of it, I am sure.

[FerrariF60]

Yep, his stint in Malaysia when the car was going well and Silverstone shows when he sniffs victory, no one can stop him, and he just goes off into the distance pulling gaps of 1 sec a lap at times. If the car is at all competitive tomorrow, he will make full use of it, I am sure.

true indeed; Ferrari are so LUCKY to have snatched such an amazing and complete driver as Fernando; no wonder they have made a multi year deal contract with him.
i can just imagine what he can do if he has a car ON par and equally fast to the fastest car on the grid today....he'd be destroying everyone, including Vettel's (the screaming school girl) pole positions and wins records he has had last year

[Hermann]

Found this on autosport and for me its the posting of the day. The most funny thing being- you can't even be sure if the poster is joking or not.

Well I was just speaking to an F1 insider and apparent McLaren's incompetence has become so commonplace that rival teams now factor it into their strategy. People are keen to blame the Pirelli's for the lack of running in qualifying and in a sense it's true. But why bother to try and get into Q3 or use up your tyres when you know McLaren will just give you a place anyway via a grid penalty. It also explains why only Grosjean and Raikkonen have overtaken a McLaren on track this season; why risk burning your tyres trying to pass when you know that as long as your within 8 seconds of them you'll jump them in the pit stops. In fact when assessing unpredictable events that will have an impact on their own race the teams, along with rain, and a safety car have added the minute possibility of a McLaren having a clean race.

[anrtid]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/99561

Massa now blames traffic for poor show....

Interesting how the "best driver" rated by the guy on the front row qualifies 17th....

[Alfa159]

I actually read that some posters would hope it's a wet race as it may benefit us ... I personally would like to see a dry race to see where we're at, after all, the majority of races will probably be in the dry .... we can't rely on wet races for the remainder of the season.

[DJTaurus]

Remember, Ferrari have improved their car, and beat Lotus ON PACE today, with Fernando. Their car is good, but Ferraris strong point is the race.

In the last 2 races ferrari lost its racing pace... sadly :(

[Raz]

What's Really Ironic is that Mclaren, and Hamilton got done for the Rule that was Created BECAUSE of what they did in Canada 2010.. Clearly they haven't learnt a single thing..
http://vimeo.com/14882304

[Ferrari_Fanatic]

In the last 2 races ferrari lost its racing pace... sadly :(

You can't say that now! nobody knows how the car is gonna act in race conditions for sure its quicker in quali it sould be quicker in the race no?

[Hornet]

In the last 2 races ferrari lost its racing pace... sadly :(

In the last 2 races, qualifying above P8 was also difficult, P3 would have been impossible. Now we've made some improvements which should also be useful in the race.

[Fer12]

What is really scary about the Lotuses is that they are fastest through the speed trap and in sector 1 which includes the DRS zone and the speed trap (both @ 232km). Alonso is at least 5km slower. If they can get to within 1 sec for the DRS zone they may be able to pass him. This circuit is so difficult to pass on that top end speed and DRS may be the ultimate decider. Alonso's only chance will be to put Maldo between himself and the Lotuses at the start. If he can do that he will win. If not, it could be a Kimi kind of day!

Yes the lotuses are quick in the straights.But are slow in second and third sectors.If alonso manages to get a couple of seconds ahead in the first two laps,i think he can manage the race from there on...The lotuses can only overtake in the straights in barcelona.they cant follow the car infront closely since this track is so highly dependent on aero grip...looks like its soing to be a cracker of a race...

[Rishu]

Yes, Alonso will have much better exit speed through mediun/slow corners compared to Lotuses. Remember Alonso was struggling to get past Vettel in Monaco last year due to this same reason.

[Cemz85]

guys, we all no track temperature makes a big difference to all cars..
Mercedes seems to go better in colder conditions like China, What was the average track temp then?
Bahrain was very high track temp and looked like it suited the lotus but not mclaren
Where do we stand? Does our car like the colder conditions or warmer ones? Yesterdays quallifying was 42 track temp..
Its soo hard to tell

[sagi58]

So... I seem to remember Schumi winning after starting last on the grid; but, has anyone else done that?

p.s. and not when there were only 6-7 cars racing!!

[Stormsearcher]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/99561

Massa now blames traffic for poor show....

Interesting how the "best driver" rated by the guy on the front row qualifies 17th....

cant decide which of the ferrari pilots you want to bash eh?

[Stormsearcher]

Maldonado a bigger threat than Raikkonen? I think experience will come into play.

I would say that too. But not because pastor is faster than kimi or their car is superior. I say it mainly cause Maldonado is a dangerous person to be around in an F1 car. He is like lewis of 2011. i just hope Sir Frank has drilled him enough in the williams camp to not go bust on lap 1. If we get past him, i think we are good.

[EL NANO]

yes, massa the "guinea pig"....mind as well use his services for something usefull

He won't do it .. He must b devo

[Cemz85]

tommorow we will know our true race pace in cooler conditions against the lotus, im sure they would pass the williams rather quickly..

[EL NANO]

You can't say that now! nobody knows how the car is gonna act in race conditions for sure its quicker in quali it sould be quicker in the race no?

Car is good in race pace, if we can keep away from Maldonado we will win this one !