[Official] United States Grand Prix 2018: Grand Prix Weekend Thread

[steve_r]

Originally Posted by Nikki Katz

What the flip was that bit when some kid started shouting neeeeowwwwww over the commentators? They didn’t explain that at all

I thought I was going mad

neeeooooowww

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by ascarracinguk

To be fair I think Hamilton gave him ample racing room given Max’s recent past and the fact Hamilton had a lot to lose by crashing. Still max is driver of the day for me and Vettel once again proves why he isn’t worthy of the championship this year

It was great fight but Max got the better of Lulu.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by steve_r

I thought I was going mad

neeeooooowww

I watched the race on C4 and heard it as well. Sounded like someone imitating the sound of the car.

[wnut]

Originally Posted by GT6

Well not the result anyone would have expected, best race so far this year IMHO, really pleased for Kimi

I'll second this, by far the best race this year, and as you say nice to see Kimi win.

[Taxi645]

Again Vettel fails to awknowledge it his responsibility to leave room on the track for the car on the outside.

[S griffin]

Wow, what a race.

Glad to see Kimi back on the top step, he deserves it. Max what a drive from 18th, kept out of trouble. Shame for Ricciardo, he does well to keep the smile, but then as he said he's used to it by now.

Vettel/Ricciardo, racing incident, but yet more points thrown away. Hamilton may not have won the title at Austin, but the inevitable has just been delayed.

Fred, yet more frustration. Maybe Ferrari should put him in the car for the final two races once Lewis has wrapped up the title. I know, I'm dreaming

Anyway, both Magnussen and Ocon have been DQed, so Hartley and Ericsson have been moved up into the points.

And yes, I too wondered what the sound was when Lewis was chasing Kimi

[Greem]

Thoroughly enjoyed the whole race, the last few laps were epic in a "will he, won't he" kind of way.

Im intrigued as to why Vettel's Ferrari spins when he bumps the front wheel against another car, though. It's almost as if it's a driven wheel, which it can't be... can it?

Can't help feeling that Mercedes have the same strategist that Ferrari have had all year at this one, though!

[steve_r]

Hamilton never had the gap over Kimi to enable him to pit a second time and come out into the lead. With the wonderful benefit of hindsight, Mercedes should have bought Hamilton in earlier, and at least he would have come out in front to Verstappen and only a few seconds behind Kimi.

I guess Mercedes were caught out because their tyre wear seemed worse than Red Bull and Ferrari.

Its nice to see Kimi win. I had a feeling that he might do something, as Ferrari seemed to have good pace during the dry practice session. Another great drive from Max. Also, Ricciardo would have been right in the mix too.

Another very sloppy weekend from Vettel. More points thrown away.

I love F1, but it is depressing seeing the gap between the top 3 teams and the rest. Renault were something like 1 minute or more behind? The midpack drivers have no cause to even put up a token resistance against any of the top 3 teams drivers who cut through the pack. Resistance is futile - which is sad to see. I hope this changes, and at least one or two of the midpack teams start to pressurise the top 3 next year.

[TrapezeArtist]

Originally Posted by Greem

Im intrigued as to why Vettel's Ferrari spins when he bumps the front wheel against another car, though. It's almost as if it's a driven wheel, which it can't be... can it?

I think it's because he would have spun anyway, regardless of whether they had that light little touch.

Originally Posted by Greem

help feeling that Mercedes have the same strategist that Ferrari have had all year at this one, though!

Actually Mercedes made a few flaky decisions early in the season, when Ferrari were looking quite good. In particular they were criticised for not making pitstops under VSC or SC, so now they've swung the other way. There's a fine line, and they fell off it again.

[greentrumpet]

would it be possible for (say) driver V to use the torque of his car to drift the rear into (say) driver R helping to nudge the latter off the track but for driver R to be aware of this, get out of the way leaving V to spin?

[jimclark]

Originally Posted by wnut

I not sure that Kimi has gained a place off the start this season, so no reason he shouldn't gain one against Lewis then!

In hindsight, of course.....Ooooppppsss....

[jimclark]

Originally Posted by Greem

Im intrigued as to why Vettel's Ferrari spins when he bumps the front wheel against another car, though. It's almost as if it's a driven wheel, which it can't be... can it?

In a sense it is "driven" as it's countering a force, much the same as a driven wheel is countering the mass of the car resisting acceleration. Whilst turning the car is generating lateral force and the sudden reduction of the front wheels having to support it transfers that energy to the rear tires which are then overloaded so...poof...spin city.

[Greem]

Originally Posted by jimclark

In a sense it is "driven" as it's countering a force, much the same as a driven wheel is countering the mass of the car resisting acceleration. Whilst turning the car is generating lateral force and the sudden reduction of the front wheels having to support it transfers that energy to the rear tires which are then overloaded so...poof...spin city.

Plausible

I'll clarify what I meant: when open-wheel cars have wheels interlock, when it's a front & rear we often see what appears to be a stupendous launch of a car as the driven wheel on car A imparts a load of extra energy to the non-driven wheel on car B. Sometimes this results in a car being literally launched into the air, sometimes a ludicrous spin for one or both cars (and not always the one with the non-driven wheel).

Twice this season, Vettel's bumped front (so non-driven) wheels and spun like a top. Maybe it's that the Ferrari is particularly sensitive to losing the front end, but the way it spins is rather reminiscent of the example I describe above - as though the front wheel on the Ferrari is actually being driven. But as I said, it can't be... can it?

[jimclark]

Am I mistaken, or did Vettel's contacts come sidewall to sidewall, not tread to tread? That's my recollection.....


edit: I like your signature and it would suit me except I would need to drop the "un"....

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by Greem

Plausible

I'll clarify what I meant: when open-wheel cars have wheels interlock, when it's a front & rear we often see what appears to be a stupendous launch of a car as the driven wheel on car A imparts a load of extra energy to the non-driven wheel on car B. Sometimes this results in a car being literally launched into the air, sometimes a ludicrous spin for one or both cars (and not always the one with the non-driven wheel).

Twice this season, Vettel's bumped front (so non-driven) wheels and spun like a top. Maybe it's that the Ferrari is particularly sensitive to losing the front end, but the way it spins is rather reminiscent of the example I describe above - as though the front wheel on the Ferrari is actually being driven. But as I said, it can't be... can it?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCOvpH8NSvU

He's on the brakes, so the rear wheels are already unloaded and light, and the cars already sideways and not recovered, so exerting any force on it was going to cause the spin. Also Riccardo can avoid spinning because he can just straighten the car and use the run off, whilst Vettel can't do that with a car on the outside.

Already being out of control, the rear wheels being unloaded, and not having any room caused the spin. Riccardo didn't spin because his car was already more planted and he could just drive off the road.

[jimclark]

Originally Posted by jimclark

Am I mistaken, or did Vettel's contacts come sidewall to sidewall, not tread to tread? That's my recollection.....


edit: I like your signature and it would suit me except I would need to drop the "un"....

'just answered my own question (at U.S. and Japan) by watching videos. It was laterall contact, not longitudinal. One minute in, U.S..... https://www.formula1.com/en/video/20...e_weekend.html

and Japan.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8N3SItwAvKU

[Lancsbreaker]

Originally Posted by steve_r

Hamilton never had the gap over Kimi to enable him to pit a second time and come out into the lead. With the wonderful benefit of hindsight, Mercedes should have bought Hamilton in earlier, and at least he would have come out in front to Verstappen and only a few seconds behind Kimi.

No hindsight needed - my mate and I were yelling at the TV for Hamilton to be brought in as soon as he started lapping over a second or so slower - at least 4 laps before they did!



Sure he'd have been behind Kimi, but plenty quick enough to catch him and probably pass - at least have a good go....

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Lancsbreaker

No hindsight needed - my mate and I were yelling at the TV for Hamilton to be brought in as soon as he started lapping over a second or so slower - at least 4 laps before they did!



Sure he'd have been behind Kimi, but plenty quick enough to catch him and probably pass - at least have a good go....

I've shouted at the TV and sometimes it works...

[E.B]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

I've shouted at the TV and sometimes it works...

Me too, but at least when it doesnt work that they did not listen to TV shouts you can sit back and say 'I told you so' after.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by E.B

Me too, but at least when it doesnt work that they did not listen to TV shouts you can sit back and say 'I told you so' after.

There is that.

[wnut]

Originally Posted by jimclark

In hindsight, of course.....Ooooppppsss....

It was worth the jinx!

[F1Guy]

Originally Posted by Skam85

Apparently, inside the paddock, other drivers are not happy that Vettel got this penalty.

20 drivers in total. 14 drivers on track at the time the red came out. Only 1 got a penalty. 2 said the penalty was harsh. 1 said the rule is 50/50. Then there's the 16 other drivers, who are ok with it and/or have not commented. Not even his team-mate spoke out. Yet we have one person trying to make it sound as if the majority of the "other drivers" have said the penalty for Vettel was harsh??? LOL... let me guess, it's only harsh because it's a red car, and the driver is a favourite??

[F1Guy]

Another brain fart from Vettel, on the first lap! Nothing more I will say because seems a touchy subject on here. Good to see KR take the win. Not a KR fan myself, but that was a aggressive drive by KR and strategy by Ferrari, that paid off in the end. Although, the Mercedes cars were hampered by an possible threat of a protest from Ferrari, and having to revert back to an older spec, even though their update was cleared by the FiA. Ferrari's latest updates haven't worked and by reverting back to a much older spec, they have gained most of their lost speed of the last few rounds.

Great drive from Verstappen. 18th to second. Can't help but think what could have been for Daniel Ricciardo. A possible win, or even P2 was taken away from him. DR set his fastest lap of the race, then seconds later... the power cuts out completely - on a low speed corner - for what seemed like no reason!?? He has had the worst, umm... "luck" since his announcement on August 3rd. Possibly that update to his car Red Bull had fitted to mid August is still in his car??

[Skam85]

Originally Posted by F1Guy

20 drivers in total. 14 drivers on track at the time the red came out. Only 1 got a penalty. 2 said the penalty was harsh. 1 said the rule is 50/50. Then there's the 16 other drivers, who are ok with it and/or have not commented. Not even his team-mate spoke out. Yet we have one person trying to make it sound as if the majority of the "other drivers" have said the penalty for Vettel was harsh??? LOL... let me guess, it's only harsh because it's a red car, and the driver is a favourite??

Cage successfully rattled.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Skam85

Seems like some other drivers also agree with Vettel
[...]
Apparently, inside the paddock, other drivers are not happy that Vettel got this penalty. .

Originally Posted by F1Guy

[...] 2 said the penalty was harsh. 1 said the rule is 50/50. [...] Yet we have one person trying to make it sound as if the majority of the "other drivers" have said the penalty for Vettel was harsh??? [...]

Where has someone tried to make it sound like a majority?
How many drivers does it take before it can be accepted as some other drivers in the paddock?

Just curious as to how much confidence we can have over reports from 'inside the paddock'? Would you be so kind as to confirm if any of the following 'paddock talk' is a majority?

Originally Posted by F1Guy

Some noise in and around the paddock on a full time drive for Kubica next year.

Originally Posted by F1Guy

A lot of rumours in the Spa paddock about announcements to come in the very near future.

Originally Posted by F1Guy

There are a couple of stories in the paddock on why Ferrari are covering the FOM camera.

Originally Posted by F1Guy

Lots of chatter in the paddock that the FiA did not/have not investigated it thoroughly.

Originally Posted by F1Guy

prolonging the cheating rumours in the paddock further into the season??

Originally Posted by F1Guy

Interesting rumour in the Mexico paddock regarding Ricciardo.

Originally Posted by F1Guy

There's a WILD story going around in the Japanese paddock.

And finally this one, which your own supporting article revealed that 2 drivers were named as raising complaints with the chicane???

Originally Posted by F1Guy

A boring race with hardly any (if any) overtaking I think. Most of the paddock saying the same. The drivers have requested the chicane be removed.