2015 Chinese Grand Prix - Shanghai

**Sriharsha** · 5th April 2015, 05:36

Race Date : 12-04-2015
Tire Choices :
Option - Soft (2014 - Soft)
Prime - Medium (2014 - Medium)
Number of Laps : 56
Circuit Length : 5.451 km
Race Distance : 305.256 km

**Sriharsha** · 5th April 2015, 05:41

Things to watch out :
1.Ferrari pace in colder conditions and where they stack with Mercedes
2.New Fuel Flow Directive
PU status after the Round 2

**fmatiasii** · 5th April 2015, 06:24

A podium finish here will definitely show our true pace and prove to the critics that we are a force to reckon with.

**Rob** · 5th April 2015, 07:53

What i like, a podium, and a clean decent race for Kimi to make up for last 2 races. Also, i dont want to know the result, as off to Silverstone the Sunday for the opening race of the FIA WEC

so watch F1 when get home at night.

Forza AF Corse #51 #71

**wisepie** · 5th April 2015, 08:26

Originally Posted by Rob

What i like, a podium, and a clean decent race for Kimi to make up for last 2 races. Also, i dont want to know the result, as off to Silverstone the Sunday for the opening race of the FIA WEC

so watch F1 when get home at night.

Forza AF Corse #51 #71

Definitely want a podium and a good result for Kimi, a win would be incredible but just to be up there at the front from quali through to race would be fantastic. Weather may interfere, of course, as it may do at Silverstone but Forza Ferrari and AF Corse whatever the weather!

**PURE PASSION** · 5th April 2015, 10:02

I will dare to say that i want another win.A podium whould be ok also(for now)but from now on we are aiming right in the front!!!!

**ManFromMilan** · 5th April 2015, 10:14

I'm hoping the weather plays to our strengths. It is also about time the Merc's suffers reliability issues in the race when they are pushed.

Here's hoping for a great weekend

**mirafiori** · 5th April 2015, 10:19

If it's a dry qualiy then the aim is 3 and 4, wet then at least one car on the front row, would love to see both cars have a clean and faster start off the grid. For the race both cars in the mix and podiums for both cars. Forza Ferrari.

**Paulpg87** · 5th April 2015, 10:25

how is the track in terms of tyres degradation?
i'm a bit scared we won't be able to get temperature in the tyres.

**Sriharsha** · 5th April 2015, 11:02

Originally Posted by Paulpg87

how is the track in terms of tyres degradation?
i'm a bit scared we won't be able to get temperature in the tyres.

In terms of Degradation China is medium to High in which way it goes depends on Temperature. If they are normal then we can see the High Degradation, if they are cool then we can see Graining

**fmatiasii** · 5th April 2015, 12:32

Originally Posted by Paulpg87

how is the track in terms of tyres degradation?
i'm a bit scared we won't be able to get temperature in the tyres.

I do think that we won't have any issue with the tire temp as expressed by seb during the winter testing.

**Hornet** · 5th April 2015, 13:44

I'm think Ferrari should be able to fight for a podium this weekend.

The conditions in Sepang may have helped us get a win, but I think we should be able to challenge for a podium on performance alone. Merc is still ahead in terms of pure performance, but we may very well be the 2nd fastest team.

**Stormy** · 5th April 2015, 14:44

Originally Posted by Hornet

I'm think Ferrari should be able to fight for a podium this weekend.

The conditions in Sepang may have helped us get a win, but I think we should be able to challenge for a podium on performance alone. Merc is still ahead in terms of pure performance, but we may very well be the 2nd fastest team.

I think that there is no question that we are the second fastest team :)

**FerrariF60** · 5th April 2015, 14:45

Originally Posted by Stormy

I think that there is no question that we are the second fastest team :)

exactly, and we're slowly AIMING to be the FASTEST....let's hope by mid to end of season we'll be the TEAM TO BEAT...and that the Merc cars will see A LOT of our rear diffuser....

**Kristof_F40** · 5th April 2015, 15:04

China is mainly hard on the fronts, but last year Mercs didn't have to much of a problems so why would they now.. I think they had a bit of an off race in Malaysia, I expect them to be stronger here, however, in Australia, when Seb had free air, he was also matching Mercs pace, so we are not that much of the pace. Merc is quicker, they were also a bit quicker in Malaysia BUT, they used there tyres to much, we did a stop less and finished 10s ahead. Not sure if it's possible to do a stop less here, if temps aren't super high I don't think that.
So our goal needs to buy to start at least 2nd row, than try to follow the merc as good as we can.
Race tyre will be the medium, which is a tyre Mercs were struggling on in Malaysia (actually they were struggling on every tyre). But somewhere I read that Ferrari focused on the medium tyre in winter testing, since that will be the tyre on which we will race the most. So if true, and we are good on the medium that good be promising.
Main thing here I think is to have a clean weekend and try and match Merc pace, if we can to a stop less that would be awesome. Otherwise it will be hard to win from them, but if we can show we have pace to almost match them, that's very promising

**zike** · 5th April 2015, 15:35

If Alo could do 3rd last year, why cant we win this year

**Jax** · 5th April 2015, 15:48

I read Ferrari will be bringing 0.5 seconds of aerodynamic developments to china :)

**zike** · 5th April 2015, 16:27

Originally Posted by Jax

I read Ferrari will be bringing 0.5 seconds of aerodynamic developments to china :)

Give us a link

**F1 Dream Team** · 5th April 2015, 19:04

[QUOTE=Kristof_F40;883133]China is mainly hard on the fronts, but last year Mercs didn't have to much of a problems so why would they now..

Cos last yr they had the FRIC Front to Rear Interlinked Suspension

**F1 Dream Team** · 5th April 2015, 19:12

Kimi Raikkonen says the pace showed by Ferrari in the Malaysian Grand Prix is not a one-off and expects the team to show similar performance in China.

Sebastian Vettel beat both Mercedes cars to win in a straight fight at Sepang, with Raikkonen recovering from an early puncture to finish comfortably in fourth place. With the heat in Malaysia leading to a two-stop strategy from Vettel which proved victorious over the three-stopping Mercedes', the conditions have been highlighted as a key factor in the result.

However, Raikkonen believes the impact of the conditions has been overstated, saying Ferrari would have been much closer to Mercedes in Australia - where Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg finished 30 seconds clear of Vettel - if it had enjoyed a smooth race.

“It might be the conditions [in Malaysia], very hot and good for us but I think even in Melbourne if we got behind them at the beginning I don’t think they would have pulled away a lot," Raikkonen said. "Obviously every circuit, conditions, everything plays a part of it but for sure it doesn't take away that it’s a pretty strong package.

"We know that we’re not exactly as fast as them - at least on one lap - but we’re working on that and from where we finished last year and have been starting this year is a big step.

"The team has been doing the right things, pushing us in the right direction and little by little we will try to catch up with Mercedes, even though Sebastian won we still know we have to improve in certain areas.”

http://en.f1i.com/news/8693-raikkone...-one-off.html?

**abbottcostello** · 6th April 2015, 01:11

I think I am going to just start paying closer attention to what Kimi is saying! So far he has been pretty accurate with his observations of our cars potential.

**Giallo 550** · 6th April 2015, 02:05

I'll be the one to say it. Another podium is in order and it should not come as a surprise if we see another Ferrari driver at the top of the podium this weekend.

**killer** · 6th April 2015, 02:43

Both cars 3 and 4, 4 and 5, or 5 and 6 are realistic goals, IMO. Mercedes are still on top and I cannot count out Williams just yet. A strong performance in China will be massive for the team even in non-tangible terms, though--it should prove to be a huge morale boost that will serve us well throughout 2015.

**abbottcostello** · 6th April 2015, 07:52

From Ferrari.com

Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai
The Shanghai International Circuit has hosted every edition of the Chinese Grand Prix. It’s one of the new generation of circuits, designed by Hermann Tilke and is 5.451 kilometres in length. It features a mix of high-speed and right angle corners, as well as some out and out hairpins, which compel the driver to brake hard, increasing the number of passing opportunities. The hardest compromise to get right is the balance between aero downforce and top speed. Going too far either way can end up with the car struggling to stay on track or being too slow down the straights. Tyre wear is also a key factor here. Scuderia Ferrari won the maiden Chinese race, in 2004, courtesy of Rubens Barrichello, obtaining three further victories, with Michael Schumacher, Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso.
Turn 13
Leading onto a straight that’s over a kilometre long, getting through it well is vital to carry speed down the aforementioned straight and to fend off anyone attempting a DRS-enabled attack.
Turn 15 and pit lane entrance
It’s tricky, because it’s a shallow but quick turn and leads on to a section where DRS can be used. The pit lane entrance is another place where it’s easy to make a mistake, which Lewis Hamilton can attest to, after he got stuck in the gravel, which put Raikkonen back in the 2007 title fight.

**Brembo** · 6th April 2015, 08:12

Ferrari is ahead of Mercs in performance as of last race. Seb knows how to stay up front! That's how we won the last race. Mercs are no longer the team to beat, Ferrari is. Mercs needs to watch out for Felipe and co. Source...Kimi !

**aroutis** · 6th April 2015, 09:58

I honestly don't see why we should not be aiming for a podium, a possible 2/3 or a 1/2.
This is not an optimistic scenario ,rather a realistic one, with only a little asterisk, that we're not going to be influenced by that rule that comes in place come this weekend.

**Jax** · 6th April 2015, 10:11

LOL

**Sriharsha** · 6th April 2015, 10:33

I say just wait and watch. Pirelli said temps will range over 11-15 C which will help a lot with tire wear for the tire eaters. Also how Fuel flow directive will effect is also yet to unfold. All i just hope is that its not us doing the trick with fuel flow and merc is the one behind it

**PURE PASSION** · 6th April 2015, 10:49

Originally Posted by Sriharsha

I say just wait and watch. Pirelli said temps will range over 11-15 C which will help a lot with tire wear for the tire eaters. Also how Fuel flow directive will effect is also yet to unfold. All i just hope is that its not us doing the trick with fuel flow and merc is the one behind it

Well, i see the team on the same mood (quiten upbeat) as before,so i dont think it has to do with us!