Tonyware

All other things being equal, last year vs this year quali:

Hamilton 1:45.681 vs. 1.46.802(*)
Rosberg 1:45.825 vs. 1.47.223
Kimi 1:46.685(*) vs. 1.46.132

(*) I don't think Ferrari got faster, I think Mercedes got slower. Maybe humidity plays a role here, not sure.

Chief F1 Fan

Ferrari is still 5 tenths quicker over the same exact track configuration as last year no?

Tonyware

Yes. And Mercedes is 1.121 slower than last year. That is a lot. Ham is blaming the tires. Maybe in more hot weather the engineers lowered the engine's performance to manage engine heat, or even not to overheat the rear tires. Who knows. I bet you the marshals will be looking at tire pressure very closely before the race starts. Actually I think the race will be won by whoever manages his tires better. This is going to be a good race!

(I said all other things being equal, and excluded Vettel from this little amateurish statistical sample because he was with Red Bull last year.)

Chief F1 Fan

Why do you look at Ferrari vs. MBZ and come to the conclusion that since one is slower this year vs. last, it must make Ferrari quicker?? Why don't you just look at the Scuderia's time compared to itself? It makes less than no sense to argue the way you are, even if you do say "all things being equal" because they aren't. Ferrari/MBZ's power units are much better than last year. And yes, the FIA is going to be like white on rice with respect to the tire pressures as Pirelli have again lowered the optimum pressures their tires should be run tomorrow.

Tonyware

I guess one of us here is an engineer.

Chief F1 Fan

It's common sense, apples to apples.

EDIT: your words were: "I don't think Ferrari got faster, I think Mercedes got slower." All I am saying is that Ferrari obviously got faster and not because MBZ got slower. Obviously Ferrari got faster by 5/10th's over the course of a lap irrespective of what MBZ did.

kurtatx

Agreed with this. The simplest argument with the most evidence is usually the correct one, and all evidence points to Ferrari being significantly better than last year.

But this is the trouble with F1 comparisons: Unless you compare two drivers on the same team, it's really hard to make a lot of judgements between drivers. Getting an apples to apples comparison between two teams is nearly impossible, seeing as there are so many variables.

Tonyware

Speaking of evidence for same driver/track: Ferrari faster by 0.553, Mercedes slower by 1.121. Interpretation: Mercedes got slower. Reason: over-steering issues due to soft front suspension setting to prevent tire overheating. Watch the videos on SkySports F1 for the slo-mo around the apex and see for yourself Hamilton's horrible over-steering. Kimi's +0.553 compare to last year is because of Ferrari's perfect suspension setting... and a bunch of rats blowing hot air around turn #4

F-C

So, maybe deflategate is real and Mercedes should have been excluded at Monza....

Chief F1 Fan

Could be! Funny thing is, today the Buffalo Bills (home team) are playing the Patriots. The Bills' gift shop has "Ball Maintenance Kits" complete with a pump and air needle.

Go Bills!~

Tonyware

... or it may be attributed to the trains. Yep, trains.

F1: Singapore trains threaten hybrid F1 cars ? :: PaddockTalk :: F1, Formula 1, NASCAR, IndyCar, MotoGP, Le Mans, And More!

Tonyware

To watch the excellent SkySports F1 commentary F1 Grand Prix Singapore Live Streaming (pick one of the streams that allow you to go full screen BUT FIRST install adblocker on google's chrome browser, otherwise it blows up)

West6MT

You cannot be serious,...

F-C

I believe this. Sometimes I work on transit (lightrail/subway) projects. One of the issues with the rail design is that the alignment needs to avoid getting too close to hospitals or research facilities at universities because of concerns from the trains that could affect the sensitive equipment.

Tonyware

A simple Faraday Cage can resolve this issue. However, I think this application may be a lot more complex because of space limitations.

Legend2TL

Interesting, EMI/RFI is a very real thing.

, I've worked on a few things were interference was a issue. metal boxes, twisted shielded cables, grounded connector shells, BeCu edge mesh, ground stitch vias...

Agree, but surprisingly if proper electronic packaging design is done from the start then it's has minimal effect on weight. I've seen it done afterward and it's a mess most of the time.

Chief F1 Fan

It must not have been that much of a concern to the teams due to the lack of news on the subject. The Singapore GP is another one on my bucket list races to attend such as Spa, Suzuka, Silverstone, Singapore in descending order.

F-C

Who knows, maybe that is why Hamilton had to retire.

Yeah, the race and setting looks spectacular.

Chief F1 Fan

hose clamp failure is what did Hamilton in.

F-C

Button to retire from F1?

Not a big surprise. He's had a good run.

Tonyware

Question is who replaces him at McHonda? I am secretly hoping Mark Webber reconsiders his F1 position and re-joins.

PS. I think there will be more than 1 announcement about people-on-the-move at Suzuka, I don't want to say anything more because, as you know it, my logic makes no sense

Legend2TL

My guess is Vandoorne over Magnussen

F-C

I think you are right. Once again, a Magnussen gets the short changed by Ron.

00TL-P3.2

What was the outcome of refusing team orders from Verstappen? Anything come of it?

Chief F1 Fan

No repercussions when Franz Tost said Max was correct to refuse order.

CCColtsicehockey

I hope we finally get a statement on Lotus/Renault at Suzuka

00TL-P3.2

Hadn't seen anything post-race until earlier this afternoon.

Chief F1 Fan

Perez to Lotus, Maldonado stays.

And TonyWare: I want some of whatever it is you're

F-C

That's crazy talk.

Chief F1 Fan

All true homeboy. If you wanna be delusional ya gotta 420

CCColtsicehockey

There are some crazies over at Red Bull. I would be shocked if they get this request. Bye bye Red Bull.

Red Bull want engine parity with Ferrari - PlanetF1 : PlanetF1

00TL-P3.2

Local station was giving away a pair of weekend passes to the USGP, couldn't get through.

Chief F1 Fan

looking a bit unlikely in light of the emissions control fiasco. VW's CEO Martin Winterkorn just resigned.

CCColtsicehockey

I would have thought it always would have been Audi over VW if it ever happened anyways.

Chief F1 Fan

Apparently talks are between RBR and VW while Audi's Board has given the go-ahead to becoming involved in F1 in 2018. There would be a 2 year period of it being a VW team (Ferrari powered) while Audi designs/builds an F1 engine. I read Audi is dropping out of endurance racing to go do F1. Stay tuned . . .

F-C

Red Bull seems almost delusional at this point. I can't imagine VW or Audi buying into the team right now with the diesel scandal.

Chief F1 Fan

I'm thinking the same F-C, also it's too bad Ferrari didn't have the foresight to preempt any requests or thoughts of an engine deal with RBR. Now that team's future resides solely with the Scuderia and we all know if Mateschitz doesn't get what he wants, he will quit. I don't know what would happen to Toro Rosso but it's at least 1 less team on the already smallish grid.

Chief F1 Fan

the promoter said he had sold "100,000 seats and could've sold 50,000 more" but didn't citing caution on first race. I just got online and found all kinds of tickets at the FIA's website. what this guy is babbling about then . . .

Tonyware

More than likely, Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Porsche, Seat, Skoda and Volkswagen will break up into totally separated 4-5 smaller companies before the shit hits the fan to prevent a total disaster. They'll run VW to the ground and save the rest. I still think that its Bugatti's pedigree that can parallel Ferrari's moto: win races on Sunday, sell cars on Monday (or at least pre-order them with 6-12 months wait time LOL LOL).

Chief F1 Fan

VW, Porsche and Audi are already separate companies run by different boards of directors IIRC. Frankly, I don't understand what a company like VW stands to gain from F1.