United States GP - Free Practice Thread

[Tifoso84]

The fact that finger boy absolutely has to get the best time in any session with whatever the cost, is yet another proof of his immaturity and childishness. Even in FP he HAS to...HAS TO get the best time even if it means running only on fuel fumes. If he doesn't get the best time then he starts frowning and gets all grumpy and moody, exactly like some 7 year old kid. Absolutely pathetic! "Great driver"...pffffft

And that ridiculous charade that Red Cow put on in FP2 with their "major technical problems" was just too funny. They were all looking so serious and troubled that you almost believe it... yeah, almost. LOL

I mean seriously, who were they trying to fool with that little show?

They're nothing but a bunch of clowns.

[Jas]

we desperatly have to get an odd grud number tomorrow....eg P1, 3, 5 etc...webber is just one of many drivers who have said the left hand side of the grid is a major disadvantage " and will be a joke" at the start! Another advantage to vettel if he gets pole :(

[Jas]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/20373624 oonly 0.161 behind on long term pace

[Jas]

Pat Fry: “We got through almost all our planned programme, which is always a good way to start a race weekend. We had some aerodynamic components to try and the first signs seem positive, but we will have to evaluate the data carefully, before making choices for qualifying and the race. The track is technically all encompassing and demanding, both for the drivers and the cars. Obviously, with a brand new track, the grip level on this first day was very low and the low temperature certainly didn’t help in this respect. Tyre degradation seems pretty light, even if we have really little data to work with. One of the areas we will have to work on extensively seems to be that of how quickly we manage to get the tyres to the best operating temperature, which will be crucial, especially for qualifying.”
Its like last year all over again lol

[mark p]

Pat Fry: “We got through almost all our planned programme, which is always a good way to start a race weekend. We had some aerodynamic components to try and the first signs seem positive, but we will have to evaluate the data carefully, before making choices for qualifying and the race. The track is technically all encompassing and demanding, both for the drivers and the cars. Obviously, with a brand new track, the grip level on this first day was very low and the low temperature certainly didn’t help in this respect. Tyre degradation seems pretty light, even if we have really little data to work with. One of the areas we will have to work on extensively seems to be that of how quickly we manage to get the tyres to the best operating temperature, which will be crucial, especially for qualifying.”
Its like last year all over again lol

Everyone but Vettel had issues with tyre warm up. Mclaren seemed worse than Ferrari.

[FerrariFanBoii]

Everyone but Vettel had issues with tyre warm up. Mclaren seemed worse than Ferrari.

Yeah maybe tyre warming is something to do with being behind cars, like they don't heat up as quick when you're trailing a car, where as of course for Vettel he doesn't really have that problem due to pretty much always being in front!

[Rishu]

Vettel definitely was lighter on fuel, he missed crucial 50 minutes of running & anyway he does have data from Webber's car for long runs. They are trying to concentrate on his low fuel runs, want him to take Pole. I strongly believe Alonso can win the race if he Qualifies in front row, F2012's race pace is no issue whatsoever, it's just our single lap pace which is hurting us.

[khizerk]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/20373624 oonly 0.161 behind on long term pace

In the race, when you are running behind other cars while Vettel is in clean air, it becomes much larger.

[Brakefade]

Well let's just hope something happens to Vettel's car in turn one. I think that's our only hope, and could very well happen. Even if he doesn't qualify, he'll still finish on the podium.

[Rob]

Everyone but Vettel had issues with tyre warm up. Mclaren seemed worse than Ferrari.

For the past year or so, RBR been using warmers in the rim while the cars sitting on the jacks so when the wheel goes on the brake "biscuit tin" is warm and warms up the wheel hub and then tyre. Hence why they do not have trouble with tyre temps. Thats 1 reason people think SV had the tyre failure last year at Abu Dhabi.

[anialonso]

More bad news is that Mclaren is faster than Ferrari..:::

Sector 1:

1 2 Mark Webber 26.289
2 4 Lewis Hamilton 26.433
4 1 Sebastian Vettel 26.496
7 6 Felipe Massa 26.645
8 5 Fernando Alonso 26.647

Sector #2

Pos No Driver Time
1 1 Sebastian Vettel 38.647
2 5 Fernando Alonso 38.731
3 6 Felipe Massa 38.824
4 4 Lewis Hamilton 38.973
6 2 Mark Webber 39.075

Sector #3

Pos No Driver Time
1 1 Sebastian Vettel 32.575
2 2 Mark Webber 32.923
3 4 Lewis Hamilton 32.981
4 6 Felipe Massa 33.083
5 5 Fernando Alonso 33.105

Adding Best Sector Times

Sebastian Vettel 97.718
Mark Webber 98.287 +0.569
Lewis Hamilton 98.387 +0.669
Fernando Alonso 98.483 +0.765
Felipe Massa 98.552 +0.834

[Kingdom Hearts]

Let's hope the track is hotter today, and less slippery because in a track like this, RB superior downforce is helping them a lot. I'm confident for today, I think we can get P3 or P4.

[F2002]

Well let's just hope something happens to Vettel's car in turn one. I think that's our only hope, and could very well happen. Even if he doesn't qualify, he'll still finish on the podium.

Well, they say it has wings, and with an elevation like that, who knows, it might take off and disappear from the track.

[mirafiori]

I think it would be better to qualify in 3rd on the grid, rather than 2nd.

[PURE PASSION]

United States GP - Alonso third and Massa sixth this afternoon in Texas11.16.2012

Austin, 16 November – It was a Red Bull one-two come the end of the second free practice session for the United States Grand Prix, the penultimate round of the Formula 1 World Championship. On the brand new Circuit of the Americas track, on the outskirts of Austin, Sebastian Vettel was fastest in 1.37.718, ahead of Mark Webber (1.38.475.) Third was Fernando Alonso who took his F2012 round in 1.38.483, while, in the other Ferrari, Felipe Massa was sixth in 1.39.09. The Brazilian never got a clean lap on the Medium tyres this afternoon, in a session devoted to comparing the Hard and Medium tyres Pirelli has selected for the Texan track. At the end, both Ferrari men did some practice starts and pit stops. Alonso was the only one of the two to do a long run with a full fuel load.

More bad news is that Mclaren is faster than Ferrari..:::

Sector 1:

1 2 Mark Webber 26.289
2 4 Lewis Hamilton 26.433
4 1 Sebastian Vettel 26.496
7 6 Felipe Massa 26.645
8 5 Fernando Alonso 26.647

Sector #2

Pos No Driver Time
1 1 Sebastian Vettel 38.647
2 5 Fernando Alonso 38.731
3 6 Felipe Massa 38.824
4 4 Lewis Hamilton 38.973
6 2 Mark Webber 39.075

Sector #3

Pos No Driver Time
1 1 Sebastian Vettel 32.575
2 2 Mark Webber 32.923
3 4 Lewis Hamilton 32.981
4 6 Felipe Massa 33.083
5 5 Fernando Alonso 33.105

Adding Best Sector Times

Sebastian Vettel 97.718
Mark Webber 98.287 +0.569
Lewis Hamilton 98.387 +0.669
Fernando Alonso 98.483 +0.765
Felipe Massa 98.552 +0.834

It´s all about the right set up.
If we find it we are fighting with the bulls,if not...........!!!!!

[Rob]

Massa: "A fun track"11.16.2012

Felipe Massa: “Today was given over above all to getting to know this new track: we did a lot of laps, mainly with this in mind. In the morning, the track was dirty and very slippery: I can’t remember ever driving on a surface that offered so little grip! Then the situation improved and we began to get a bit more confidence and find the right lines. I like the track a lot: it’s fun driving here and I think we will see a great show over the weekend. The tyres? Definitely hard! It will be important to work out how to get them up to temperature, especially as far as qualifying is concerned.”

Alonso: "COTA Is a nice surprise"11.16.2012

Fernando Alonso: “It’s no surprise to see the two Red Bulls ahead of the field: in the last few races they have had the best package, therefore today’s result is logical. We know what are our strengths – team work and reliability – and we will make the most of them in the fight. The updates we have brought here seem to work, but we still need to look more closely at the data before having a definite answer. I am happy about this, but it’s also true that while we are making small steps forward with each passing race, so too are the others, so the distance between us remains unchanged. Would I be happy to be third again tomorrow afternoon? Sure, but this is only Friday and we have been in this position before and then on Saturday other cars have got ahead of us. The circuit? A nice surprise, even if we had an idea of what to expect from the simulator: it’s very demanding, especially the first sector which is very fast and where you can really feel the acceleration of a Formula 1 car. The track is very smooth and not at all porous: it reminds me a lot of Portimao in Portugal, so if it was to rain, it could be like driving on glass.”

[Jose Lorca]

More bad news is that Mclaren is faster than Ferrari..::

Adding Best Sector Times

Sebastian Vettel 97.718
Mark Webber 98.287 +0.569
Lewis Hamilton 98.387 +0.669
Fernando Alonso 98.483 +0.765
Felipe Massa 98.552 +0.834

Alonso wasn't happy on the option tyres which means there is more potential to extract from the car. Also Alonso lost time in the third sector behind a Marrusia.

I think 2nd or 3rd in qualifying is possible if we set the car up to Alonso's liking, if not I cant see us doing better than 4th or 5th.

[gjoko-mkd]

Alonso can`t fight against Vetel and Hamilton,his target are Weber and Buton (I hope)

[Kingdom Hearts]

I give you Vettel but Hamilton is yet to be seen.

[wisepie]

Well it's not looking too bad overall but I worry about quali and not gettting tyres up to temp, we don't need Mclarens, Lotus and Mercs or Wiiliams getting in our way from the start, then at least Fernando can have a go at Vettel and Webber, but it won't be straightforward if we get too many interlopers. I trust the team to do the best possible and would be happy with P3/5 for our boys.
Buona fortuna, ragazzi!

[yz2006]

FP3 wil be the true reflection of our speed in qualifying. dont expect to fight over red cows, but hope to stay ahead of two maccas and lotus...

[Tifoso84]

FP3...here we go.

[gjoko-mkd]

anybody else on the forum?

[stefa]

anybody else on the forum?

Here

[stefa]

From the TV picture it looks chilly in Texas

[Jas]

here sir!

[SilverSpeed]

Link anyone?

[stefa]

13 degrees

[Paulo Goncalves]

HI FANS. LETS GO FOR GOOD HOPES.

[Hornet]

Here we go
http://www.vipboxsports.eu/motorspor...am-online.html