Formula One ( F1 )

Do the team's engineers have any access to the car's electronics etc during the race, or do the rules forbid it?

Could the drivers find their engine mapping being changed from the pit wall? That would make for all sorts of comedy, and possibly farce.

^ Nope. The engineers will have access to all telemetry to see what's going on but the only contact they can have with the car in an active sense is via radio. i.e. They can tell the drivers and the drivers then make changes to engine revs, fuel mix, brake bias etc.

This is hard to believe, even for me, but since when did Lewis become canny?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/21924821

In the BBC article, he says that Mercedes have the second fastest car, and he hopes that Mercedes can make it the fastest.

I can only take that to be clever gamesmanship, to rattle the other teams a bit, but also a psychological tool too boost the Mercedes engineers back at the factory. But it does seem an odd thing to say, even in slight jest.

At the moment, the quick teams are Lotus, Ferrari, The Vettel team, and Mercedes, and how does Lewis see the Mercedes as being the second fastest in that group? I believe that Ferrari have upgrades due, and have been fast anyway; same goes for Lotus, and The Vettel team. Is this wishful thinking, or do Mercedes have the capacity to improve so much, that they are second fastest now, and could be fastest.

I'm a big Lewis fan, but I don't believe this. Anyway, McLaren have made such a leap from one race to another, that if they keep this up, by halfway through the season, they'll be challenging for a podium.

People doubted Alonso just as much when he said that he was still in contention for the championship in 2010 at Silverstone despite being 50 points or so off Vettel with a crap car. He would've won that championship had it not been for some daft calls on the pit wall in the final race. I wouldn't be surprised if Hamilton is still in the hunt come the last race.

That's some pencil sharpener!

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/105080

Mercedes must be pretty confident to show their engine so early. I'd think the Japanese engines would be hard to beat, should Honda be coming back as has been said.

750 bhp from a 1.6

Magnets, surely.

Also, all the current engines sound amazing, having watched the race on Sunday wearing proper over ear headphones really brought out the low-end grumble.

The way I read that, it'll be about 620bhp as 133bhp is from the new ERS system. Still... Magnets.

[URL]Mercedes must be pretty confident to show their engine so early. I'd think the Japanese engines would be hard to beat, should Honda be coming back as has been said.

Those low renders aren't showing much, although that big box on top is obviously where they've put the magnets.

So I’ve been thinking a bit about this whole Vettel disobeying team orders malarkey and although my initial thoughts were ‘he’s such a cunt’, I now have a different view. I have always disliked team orders. I like cars/drivers to race! The number of times I’ve wished Barrichello disobeyed the team orders that benefitted Schumacher back in the Ferrari days were plenty! I wish Rosberg did a Vettel in Malaysia as well and overtook Hamilton. It would have been so much more interesting. So now, I think - fair play Seb, that’s what a winner and a champ should do. Fuck team orders. I did feel sorry for Webber though but I think ultimately he’s pissed off because he knows Vettel is better than him and he can’t do anything about it. He should man up a bit and just get his own back if he’s that riled by it all.

This season is certainly going to be very spicey from now on I reckon! Bring it.

Vettel apologises to every member of the Red Bull team.
Rosberg praised for team ethic.

Well it looks like Christian Horner has shown some teeth after all. There is some bite to go with the bark.

Or, was it directly related to Vettel's immediate comments after the race. He said that he "saw from the team's reaction that (he) had messed up". I just went back and watched the team's reaction to his win. It was all stoney faces and a distinct lack of high-fives and chest-bumps. Even Adrian Newey looked disgusted. Maybe thats when Vettel knew.

Those low renders aren't showing much, although that big box on top is obviously where they've put the magnets.

C'mon, what chance is there of Mercedes showing their secret developments for all to see? Hahahahahahahahahaha! Funny. Good one.

I think you made me pee myself. :-)

I'd love to see more details on the ers, the exhaust gas recovery system and how it all integrates with the turbo.

Also- pit lane under electric power only, is that still a condition?

^ I'm pretty sure they scrapped that rule on the grounds of safety because you won't hear the car coming down the pit lane on just electric power only.

I'm sure Vettel has apologied after all this backlash but I'm also pretty sure that inside he's secretly super happy that he got another win for his stats tally.

They could make each car play a cheerful tune when on leccy- like a high speed ice cream van.

Greensleeves at 200 mph...

• 60 kph speed limit in pit lane.
  

Still quite challenging to serve a 99 at 60kph

Depends how you define "serve", in the tennis sense I can see it being easy.

Ron Howard has released the first trailer for rush:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdkIFrMY_v0

Anyone think it'll be any good?

Practice tomorrow morning; who's looking good, and who's going backwards?

I think its interesting soap opera all round.

Massa is looking quicker than Alonso, Rosberg is faster than Lewis, and in the Vettel team....its all handbags there. Lotus looks unperturbed, but they seem to be good in some circumstances, and very ordinary in others. Jenson says Mclaren is stepping up their performances, but I'll need to see more before I can believe that.

Predictions for practice and qualies anybody?

practice tomorrow, eliminations sat, race sunday 7am our time right?

Practice 1 & 2 Friday, Practice 3 Saturday AM before Quali.

its China

First practice has begun.

Rosberg has the better of Lewis again. But they're one and two at the end of the practice.

Lol! Perez ends in the gravel trap. Epic fail.

I was thinking about the Webber situation; I can't see him staying another year with the Vettel team. Rumour has it that Kimi may be wanted by a top team, and Red Bull would take him with open arms, should Webber leave. And I think Lotus would be glad to have Webber. A straight swap almost.