Formula 1 - 2011

Can not remember reading this up till now but one of the new rules for 2011 is a 107% minimum qualifying time. Anyone else seen this or heard how it will work? Given that now qualifying is run as 3 sprints where the cars can all be different I am intrigued at what they will do. Mmmmm time to see if my googling is any good.

Found this:
107% qualifying rule
During the first phase of qualifying, any driver who fails to set a lap within 107 percent of the fastest Q1 time will not be allowed to start the race. However, in exceptional circumstances, which could include a driver setting a suitable time during practice, the stewards may permit the car to start.

Summarised F1 Rule Changes

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo its almost time for the start of the 2011 F1 season

Well practice one and two done. Red bull fastest in the first and McLaren in the second. Really surprised that Lewis and Jenson went that fast.

Not really sure what to read from it as they try lots of stuff with tyres and fuel loads. I guess we will see what they are all doing when we get to qualy tomorrow.

It looks like Virgin and HRT will not get the 107% rule so the race will be short 4 cars. HRT turned one lap in both sessions as they where still building the car, what a joke.

yeah HRT did this last year, really not happy about this. How can you let a team race with no practise before hand.

WOOT first qually for the year has started

Wow, just wow, how fast is Vettel in that RB7.

Disapointing for Webber to be 2nd for most of the session and then get third. Really looking forward to the race and to see what strategies there are and how Ferrari now play the race.

Guess we will lose the HRTs for the race but the Virigin's seems to have made it.

yeah you could see how annoyed webber was during the interviews. How good though was Petrov and Kobayashi, would have loved to have seen what kubica would have done in the renault

I guess that was nothing to how despondent he was when interviewed after the race. Like he and Vettel are driving for different teams!!

There was a bit more interest with the tyres and I think a few more cars finished this year, amazing that there was a 1 stop strategy and some 2 but mostly 3 stops. Nice drive from Petrov, great to see someone new on the podium.

Sure is going to be an interesting season. Not sure that the adjustable wing really much but maybe to early to tell and the wrong type of circuit.

Yeah im really happy for petrov and renault, wish robert was racing. Sauber did a good job this weekend. Its really good to see the mid field teams moving up

looks like sauber might be disqualified and lose its points.

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2011/3/11874.html

Well I missed most of the race because the photographer was at our house, and damn Foxtel stopped recording about halfway through the race for some reason. I did however see the Button incident that caused his drive through penalty, what did you think about it? I thought he had to take the side road as he was alongside Massa and had the passing done, but Massa ran him off the track. Do the rules say he has to actually be in front to have the corner?

I believe so BM.

I thought it was a bit steep to get a drive thru penalty.

As for the rest of the race i still think there was something not right between the Red Bull cars.

Mark had a serious problem right after P3.

And why the hell weren't they running KERS?

Sauber have decided not to appeal. While they are still saying it gave no advantage they admit they made a mistake and had not following the specs correctly.

With Button I had wondered what would happen if he had held his line and there was contact, would the stewards have blamed him for reckless driving? (I would hope not). Given he was in front and to avoid collision he took the escape and was harshly dealt with. Straight away McLaren asked for a ruling from the FIA who said hold on a second and we will get back to you. They never did (which Whitmarsh felt was a bit poor) and the next thing is they get the penalty.

In a column Mark writes for British newspaper he said they analysed the data and found a few things but he says they will not know till the strip the car right down.

They are supposed to have KERS for the next race. They where saying in Melbourne the benefit of using it is minimal compared to the extra weight, so rather than rush they did not put it in. I think I read that they are doing a different system to others and need more time to get it ready.

well the top 4 are in the same order as they were in melb. not sure if red bull are running kers for race and probably wont find out until the race starts. looking forward to it

That was a really exciting qually, when the top 4 started there final runs and they where all with in a papers width of each other and as each sector time came in it was the same.

Hope for a good race and the weather could still play a big factor.

Should be a great race between the top 4. Let's hope we get through a whole race thoughas they are predicting rain.

Nice hang time by Petrov Broke the steering column!!!

Excellent fight back by Webber.

yeah good come back for webber, red bull NEED to sort their crappy kers system. Petrov i was really beinging to think he might have skill right up until he goes and does that. FOOL. Glad for Heifeld to have a great result

couple of post race penalties

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2011/4/11919.html

Yeah it was a good come back for Mark but i am still no convinced things are all that hunky dorie with in Red Bull.

In practice he shines but when it comes time to really matter he drops off.

Last year you couldn't split them, everything was very even.

But know Vettel seems to have this huge amount of speed. (Maybe it is his time, i don't know)

Webber did get the fastest lap at Malaysia Willy. His speed was pretty much the same as Vettel's, it was just the KERS killing him off the start line that ruined his chances. I reckon it would have been a 1-2 Red Bull if their KERS was working correctly. I thought it was funny that the Red Bulls were still faster than the others even though they were still carrying the KERS extra weight but not able to use it. But I then read that Red Bull were carrying "start only Kers" (sorry if this has been mentioned previously), which is a lot lighter than the full KERS system.

I did read today that Mark's KERS did not work, but Vettels had an issue & told him to stopped using it half race distance.

It's obvious that Red Bull haven't spent any money looking at KERS as they are way behind the 8 ball on it.

Most teams have it working with maybe a few minor issues.

I agree about Webber, apart from the start drove a great race and loved him moving up the field. I think if there had been a couple more laps he may have even got by Heidfeld.

Webber's KERS broke on the warm up lap, I hope they can fix it for China on Sunday.

Rant start, there are a few things getting to me this season:
- every one in the media going on about the red bull front wings still being illegal (they have meet all the tests even when the FIA revised them to be stricter).
- keep hearing that Petrov was responsible for Alonso not winning last year by holding him up in the last race. Get over it, Petrov was just too good for Alonso that day.

Rant over.

Well practice 1 and 2 done in China.

- Vettel still setting the times, best in both sessions.
- Webber not far off in the first but had some issues in the second when it came to his quick runs. It appears that RBR are trying to run with KERS and will make a decision about it for the race tonight.
- HRT where not the worst times for the sessions.

Very very disappointing, but is has not been Webber's weekend at all.

All cars are through to the race. Not sure what is going to happen with Webber and what strategy they will run (he should have plenty of fresh rubber). Vettel seems to be unstoppable at the moment.

Will Petrov be able to start at 10 even though his car was broken and did not take part in Q3?