2015 Chinese GP Qualifying Thread

**Kristof_F40** · 11th April 2015, 15:03

Originally Posted by Black Adder

I don't understand the negativism about this race on this forum. Mark my words: we have a shot! Based on Rosberg's long stint during P2 on Medium, I am sure Mercedes can not run 20 laps at 1:43-1:44s. After 11 laps time the laptime went higher then 1:44, which indicates the tyres were in decline. Kimi did easily 16 laps before the checkered flag. I don't think we need to gamble with Softs, the key is in our long stints on Medium.

Yeah, I agree, O-P-P is the way to go I think.. First stint on softs from Mercs will be around lap 15 somewhere I suppose, so that leaves around 50 laps, so 2 times 25, I think Mercs can manage this, but there pace won't stay as good.
If we can put pressure on them they might struggle and perhaps be forced in an extra stop
However if we don't push because we are saving tyres, Merc will ave the benefit of being able to do there own pace..
If we are behind Mercs in first stint I really think we just have to push, not be conservative
Remember our victories in China an Spain 2013 when we were also better on tyres...

**Silent Bob** · 11th April 2015, 15:17

Might have to do an early first stop if we are close to Mercs and undercut them. If we can get seb in clean air out front on mediums, then he should be able to control the race and save his tires. If we aren't close at first stop, then we need to go longer if there is some time left in the tires. If we just match Merc they'll have the win.

**darkchild** · 11th April 2015, 15:32

Originally Posted by Kristof_F40

Yeah, I agree, O-P-P is the way to go I think.. First stint on softs from Mercs will be around lap 15 somewhere I suppose, so that leaves around 50 laps, so 2 times 25, I think Mercs can manage this, but there pace won't stay as good.
If we can put pressure on them they might struggle and perhaps be forced in an extra stop
However if we don't push because we are saving tyres, Merc will ave the benefit of being able to do there own pace..
If we are behind Mercs in first stint I really think we just have to push, not be conservative
Remember our victories in China an Spain 2013 when we were also better on tyres...

How exactly are they going to last for 15 laps? With used softs I just don't see it. They couldn't pull more then 10 laps on new softs yesterday until high deg started, how are they going to get 15 on used?

We could go for 15 lap soft, then 20 something lap mediums and then see where it goes and can we go soft again on light fuel.

**Kristof_F40** · 11th April 2015, 15:34

Originally Posted by darkchild

How exactly are they going to last for 15 laps? With used softs I just don't see it. They couldn't pull more then 10 laps on new softs yesterday until high deg started, how are they going to get 15 on used?

We could go for 15 lap soft, then 20 something lap mediums and then see where it goes and can we go soft again on light fuel.

Lewis did a stint of 14 laps on soft I think, however not 100% sure
Yes indeed, the tyres will start to degrade, but doing a few somewhat slower laps is still faster than an extra stop...
if they com in around lap 10, they need to do 46 laps with 2 mediums, which is 23 laps each, so for sure they are going to try and extend the first stint, that's why we need to push them in the first stint, not being concerned about our tyre usage

**wacc** · 11th April 2015, 15:38

Ferrari probably plan to run 2 stints on option and 1 on prime tyres. That is why they saved one set of soft tyres in qualifying.

**Kristof_F40** · 11th April 2015, 15:56

Originally Posted by wacc

Ferrari probably plan to run 2 stints on option and 1 on prime tyres. That is why they saved one set of soft tyres in qualifying.

We didn't save a set of tyres. We used one in Q1, therefore only one new in Q3 compared to Merc. If we pit for softs, it wil be softs with 1 timed lap on

**darkchild** · 11th April 2015, 16:02

We have one new soft and one soft used in Q2 that we are going to use at the start race so same as Merc.

**PURE PASSION** · 11th April 2015, 16:04

Niki Lauda: Ferrari will be so dangerous. They've worked like bees over the winter to improve their car.

Vettel: Hamilton must know best what his pace is in the race. And if he [says] he fears [Ferrari] then I am sure there is truth in it

**Ilsan** · 11th April 2015, 16:07

Originally Posted by Kristof_F40

We didn't save a set of tyres. We used one in Q1, therefore only one new in Q3 compared to Merc. If we pit for softs, it wil be softs with 1 timed lap on

Q1: new medium - new option
Q2: new option
Q3: used option - new option which were allocated to top 10 cars for Q3

If we were going for O-P-P, it doesn't make any sense that they saved a set of option by doing a banker lap on used sets which put the drivers under extra pressure. Seb pointed out that they saved softs that could be useful in race. It's fairly obvious which strategy they are aiming for.

**Kristof_F40** · 11th April 2015, 16:34

Originally Posted by Ilsan

Q1: new medium - new option
Q2: new option
Q3: used option - new option which were allocated to top 10 cars for Q3

If we were going for O-P-P, it doesn't make any sense that they saved a set of option by doing a banker lap on used sets which put the drivers under extra pressure. Seb pointed out that they saved softs that could be useful in race. It's fairly obvious which strategy they are aiming for.

I don't know if it's the strategy they are aiming for or, it's a possibility they want to keep.. The thing is that Kimi didn't seem super comfy on the softs and we are very good on the mediums, so.. Ofcourse there are so many variables... I just think that we need to have a push strategy, to push Merc to use their tyres instead of a conservative strategy.. But everything depends on how the softs will behave in the first stint, so I think everything is still possible..

**Ilsan** · 11th April 2015, 16:48

I agree that nothing is set yet except I'd call O-P-P a conservative strategy. They can push harder on mediums but it's definitely less risky. It depends on which way you look at it, I guess.

**Kristof_F40** · 11th April 2015, 16:51

Originally Posted by Ilsan

I agree that nothing is set yet except I'd call O-P-P a conservative strategy. They can push harder on mediums but it's definitely less risky. It depends on which way you look at it, I guess.

Yeah, it all depend on where we are compared to Merc and how tyres behave.. If the softs behave good in first stint for us, we can do an extra stint on soft, if they aren't that good, we better go for medium and see what happens, or we split strategies

**ClaudiuCojo** · 11th April 2015, 16:56

I think compared to Mercedes we have the option of either for O-O-P, O-P-O or O-P-P.

Depending on our first stint on options we can stay flexible.

If we have good degradation and good performance we can try doing two stints on options.

Mercedes for sure can't go O-O-P so they don't have this option available.

What's the better strategy I don't know but I think if we wanna win we should take some risk so that would mean O-O-P or O-P-O becoz I don't think we can beat Mercedes if we mirror their strategy

**Hornet** · 11th April 2015, 16:57

Originally Posted by Black Adder

I don't understand the negativism about this race on this forum. Mark my words: we have a shot! Based on Rosberg's long stint during P2 on Medium, I am sure Mercedes can not run 20 laps at 1:43-1:44s. After 11 laps time the laptime went higher then 1:44, which indicates the tyres were in decline. Kimi did easily 16 laps before the checkered flag. I don't think we need to gamble with Softs, the key is in our long stints on Medium.

I don't see anyone being negative. Ferrari have said that this season will be a time of building up, and the aim was to achieve 2 wins. Of course it would be nice to achieve as many wins as we can, but lets not forget where we came from last season, and what the team set out to do this season. Different people have different opinion about how well our performance are at the moment, but not thinking we will win is hardly being negative, when considering those points I mentioned. We don't have to win to have a great result, a podium finish would be plenty to cheer about.

**Nero Horse** · 11th April 2015, 17:00

Can they do it again in China?

**Fireblade** · 11th April 2015, 17:19

I get the impression some people will be disappointed if it finishes HAM-ROS-VET tomorrow. For some perspective remember that we had only two podiums all of last year, while this "disappointing" result would be our third podium in three races this year.

If we finish higher than third, great, but the goal is to remain within shouting distance of Mercedes for now and to match them (and surpass them) as the season goes on.

**tifosi1993** · 11th April 2015, 17:45

So the icy one messed up his qualy again...can't say i am surprised.

Good job by Vettel, I was confident he would deliver on Saturday and he did.

If all goes well at the start, Vettel will again fight for victory.

**Giallo 550** · 11th April 2015, 17:46

The Mercedes burns tires and Hamilton's ass, so we'll be fine tomorrow. Watching Sebastian smirking during the press conference was the icing on the third pole. He knows the SF-15 will give them a run for their money because it has beastly race pace.

**tifosi1993** · 11th April 2015, 17:54

**tifosi1993** · 11th April 2015, 17:56

**Nero Horse** · 11th April 2015, 18:04

Seb sure seemed happy and very optimistic ahead of tomorrow's race, that bodes well.

**NickEice** · 11th April 2015, 18:26

They are saying the delta between Prime and Option is close to 2 seconds, which is massive.

Remember Vettel a few years back and his late charge with 5 laps on options?

I think barring the Mercs screwing up or a well timed SC, the only way to win is to pass them on track meaning we will need to have a substantial pace advantage at that point in the race to succeed.

I think we need to run a long middle stint on the Mediums, which we have shown is our tire of choice and best performing over the past two races.

Then put on the softs for the last 10 laps and hope that the pace delta is substantial enough that we will be able to secure a pass down into turn 14 with a lap or two to go. I think we are better on the brakes than the Mercs into 14 who have had their share of lockups this weekend.

I am expecting 3rd and 4th and hoping for 2nd and 3rd. Unfortunately if Lewis drives a mistake free race I think it is his, but Mercedes has often shafted Nico on strategy and he is really struggling with confidence.

**Tony** · 11th April 2015, 18:35

Originally Posted by NickEice

They are saying the delta between Prime and Option is close to 2 seconds, which is massive.

Remember Vettel a few years back and his late charge with 5 laps on options?

I think barring the Mercs screwing up or a well timed SC, the only way to win is to pass them on track meaning we will need to have a substantial pace advantage at that point in the race to succeed.

I think we need to run a long middle stint on the Mediums, which we have shown is our tire of choice and best performing over the past two races.

Then put on the softs for the last 10 laps and hope that the pace delta is substantial enough that we will be able to secure a pass down into turn 14 with a lap or two to go. I think we are better on the brakes than the Mercs into 14 who have had their share of lockups this weekend.

I am expecting 3rd and 4th and hoping for 2nd and 3rd. Unfortunately if Lewis drives a mistake free race I think it is his, but Mercedes has often shafted Nico on strategy and he is really struggling with confidence.

Yeah agree with you, second is the best we as tifosi can hope for tomorrow I would think...

**TonyRizza** · 11th April 2015, 19:48

kimi pls stop messing up your qually...you so fast this year

**PURE PASSION** · 11th April 2015, 20:03

Originally Posted by tifosi1993

http://i.imgur.com/yjZuiaw.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/L4sf0NM.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/8OoShzr.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/8C7a64R.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/SyrCdGt.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/VKYvBlD.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/9qcycDw.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/mJde2jX.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/ZfttaBp.jpg

I just can't have enough of this beauty!!!

**DelMar** · 11th April 2015, 20:04

The rumored engine update for Spain, I wonder whether it is still on. We could really use another 20 hp for three tenths or so.

**F1NAC** · 11th April 2015, 20:07

Originally Posted by DelMar

The rumored engine update for Spain, I wonder whether it is still on. We could really use another 20 hp for three tenths or so.

After Bahrain current PU will reach end of it's cycle so yes there will be upgrade to PU and aero.

**wacc** · 11th April 2015, 20:27

Spain is not exactly the type of circuit where you would want to use a new PU.
Bahrain, Canada, Austria, Italy, Mexico or Belgium are much more suitable for this matter.