[E90SLAM]

Can anyone stop Hamilton?
Rosberg seems to be spectacular on Saturday, but during the course of the entire race weekend, Hamilton seems to have topped Rosberg in race pace, tire usage and fuel consumption.

If my memory serves me correctly, this season Nico has never beat/win Hamilton on wheel to wheel battle without collision (i.e. Spa). And Hamilton is always faster than Nico while using less fuel. Makes me wonder if there wasn't qualifying problems in Germany and Hungary. Hamilton might have a bigger lead than Rosberg.
(I basically nullify both their DNFs in Australia, Silverstone, Singapore, and Belgium)

In Interlagos, its a very unpredictable track with changing weather possible. This track brings miracle to the braves and worthy champions. This is one of the race I'm most looking forward to.

As no change of layout this season, the DRS locations are basically the same as last year. We should see lots of great overtakes at Turn 1.

Race Date: 09 Nov 2014
Circuit Name: Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace
First Grand Prix: 1973
Number of Laps: 71
Circuit Length: 4.309 km
Race Distance: 305.909 km
Lap Record: 1:11.473 - JP Montoya (2004)

Tire Compounds Provided:
Prime: Medium (White)
Option: Soft (Yellow)
Rain: Cinturato Intermediate (Green) / Cinturato Wet (Blue)

F1 TIMETABLE (Sao Paulo Local Time)
Fri 07 November 2014
Practice 1 10:00 - 11:30
Practice 2 14:00 - 15:30
Sat 08 November 2014
Practice 3 11:00 - 12:00
Qualifying 14:00
Sun 09 November 2014
Race 14:00

F1 TIMETABLE (Pacific Time)
Fri 07 November 2014
Practice 1 04:00 - 05:30
Practice 2 08:00 - 09:30
Sat 08 November 2014
Practice 3 05:00 - 06:00
Qualifying 08:00
Sun 09 November 2014
Race 08:00

F1 TIMETABLE (Eastern Time)
Fri 07 November 2014
Practice 1 07:00 - 08:30
Practice 2 11:00 - 12:30
Sat 08 November 2014
Practice 3 08:00 - 09:00
Qualifying 11:00
Sun 09 November 2014
Race 11:00

NOTE: According to TVGuide (not always correct). Both Qualifying and Race will be broadcast on CNBC.

[E90SLAM]

Nico Rosberg says he would feel no different about beating Lewis Hamilton to the world championship if it came as a result of the controversial double points finale.

Rosberg fell 24 points behind Hamilton at the United States Grand Prix as his Mercedes team-mate recorded his tenth win of the season. By contrast Rosberg has won four times in 2014 but knows he will have a shot at the title regardless in Abu Dhabi as double points are on offer for the top ten finishers.

That leaves open the possibility Hamilton could lead by more than 25 points going in to Abu Dhabi - the value of one ordinary race victory - but still lose the title if he hits trouble, but Rosberg is nonplussed by that potential outcome.

"It is what it is, I don't really care," Rosberg said. "As long as I have one point more at the chequered flag at Abu Dhabi I don't care why or how. It's the same for everybody ... It's a childhood dream, isn't it, to be F1 world champion? It would be very special."

Though Mercedes is likely to be the team to beat once again in 2015 Rosberg says he is not focusing on the fact he could have a second chance to win the title next year.

"Of course, there's a very, very good chance [of winning in 2015] because our car is awesome and the team is doing an awesome job. I'm not really thinking that far though. I'm just in the moment and want to make the most of it."

Rosberg has only converted two of his nine pole positions to victories this season and, when asked why this was the case after failing to win in Austin, Rosberg replied: "Today it was just driving better that was missing."


Read more at http://en.espnf1.com/mercedes/motors...FockzJcGu1P.99

[954Stealth]

Cool article:

More oil and gasoline than necessary



Sao Paulo, the engine specialists with a great challenge. The air for the engine is thin.

Brazil is the highlight of the Formula 1 calendar. At least when it comes to the true height. For Sao Paulo is located 795 meters above sea level. "We see the other 'high' race in Spa and Austria as tests, but at 800 meters above sea level is Inter Lages another step," says Remi Taffin, Head of Engine Renault.





Spa is situated about 600 meters above sea level, Spielberg once again by around 50 meters higher. Therefore, special tests were carried out on test benches under these conditions in the engine shop in Viry. "First, to ensure the reliability. And then also that to make the setup for the performance right," said Taffin.

The problem: In high altitudes the air is thinner, the oxygen content decreases from meter to meter. The curious thing: While in the old naturally aspirated performance decreased due to the lower oxygen content and also the load on the components, it is almost completely reversed when the turbo engines. Although the power does not increase but remains the same.

The turbocharger compensates for the lack of oxygen by more revolutions, the charge pressure remains constant. The speed of the turbocharger go but close to the limit. The turbo shaft itself may turn up to 125,000 times per minute by the regulations - which are more than 2000 revolutions per second.



This Sao Paulo is harmless compared to a venue that is waiting next year on the formula 1: Mexico City. The circuit is located at over 2000 meters! Even in Sao Paulo, the air contains over 10 percent less oxygen.

But the thin air is not the only problem in Sao Paulo. Same time, high temperatures have a great influence on the engines. This increases the density decreases again. In cooling Taffin expected no problems, but in performance. "In order to achieve the same performance, the motor must rotate much higher, which tasked the internal combustion engine," fears Taffin. But here is the test help: "On the Dyno we have looked at very carefully - we can test both phenomena simultaneously there."

[954Stealth]

Talks over a touted engine 'unfreeze' for the 2015 season appear to have taken a dramatic turn.

On Monday, media reports in Italy suggested Ferrari, Red Bull and Renault may have pulled off a political masterstroke over the US GP weekend by convincing F1's dominant force Mercedes to agree to the relaxing of the engine homologation rules.


That is despite Mercedes chiefs Toto Wolff and Niki Lauda respectively describing the proposals as "nonsense" and "irrational", as it drives up costs and unfairly attacks the German squad for performing best under the new rules.

But now Italy's La Repubblica is also reporting that Mercedes "has agreed to a compromise" over the engine freeze, which currently dictates that manufacturers may modify 48 per cent of the engine but have it re-frozen before the start of the 2015 season.

"Finally," read the report, "thanks to pressure from (Bernie) Ecclestone and the FIA, the Germans gave in."

La Repubblica cautioned that the compromise, while agreed by the Brackley team, will now have to be approved by Mercedes' paymasters in Stuttgart.

Ferrari boss Marco Mattiacci said: "At the meeting on Saturday, Mercedes said it was willing to compromise.

"But I do not feel like saying the matter is closed now, because Mercedes had already declared its willingness before and then changed its mind."

However, Mattiacci thanked Mercedes chairman Niki Lauda for at least "putting everyone around a table to discuss" the issue.

Other reports suggest the 'unfreeze' will now mean that manufacturers' 2015 designs will not be locked in until July next year.

Christian Horner, the boss of Renault's works team Red Bull, confirmed: "Mercedes have accepted that they need to provide a window of opportunity to the others to introduce competition.

"They participated in a discussion, so they haven't actually agreed to anything as yet, but there was a very constructive discussion which hopefully will see a solution in place in the very near future," he added.

(paddocktalk)

[NickyC]

Yawn, just get this loser of a season over with and hope for miracles in the future.

[KingOfJericho]

I agree. This season has been a snoozefest. I had a power outage and missed the USGP but I'm not even upset about it. First face I've missed since 2007 and I couldn't care less. The cars sound like shit, there's hardly any action, and the points leader is about as likeable as a common cold. Bahrain was the only race I actually enjoyed.

[solstice]

Unfortunately for Rosberg it seems that drivers hardly ever become faster. You come into F1 with a certain relative speed and seem to maintain it through your carrier or at least until you get impacted by old age and get slower.

That ROS will become faster than HAM is about as likely as it was that Prost would get faster than Senna, Barichello than Schumi, Massa than Alonso, Button than Lewis, Webber than Vettel, Vettel than Ricciardo and so on. It just doesn't seem to happen. F1 seem to be a sport mainly by talent and not by practice or hard work at this level.

[E90SLAM]

I don't really mind this season as long as it doesn't go back to 2011 Valencia type of extreme snoozefest.

[solstice]

Originally Posted by E90SLAM

I don't really mind this season as long as it doesn't go back to 2011 Valencia type of extreme snoozefest.

Agree, it hasn't been bad at all. First it was interesting to see what all the new tech would bring. It has also been interresting to see who is the fastest in the new team constellations. Then we had the Benz fight that went back and forth and included some heated moments. It's just now that things are becoming a bit boring with Lewis as the fastest driver in the fastest team in a significant lead and with multiple wins in a row. Not bad as a season even if the rest become a snoozer to HAM's WC title. I'm more concerned over 2015 should McLaren Honda not storm out of the gates.

[ashtaron14]

So is GUT or SUT getting kicked?

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/116581

Sauber has signed Caterham refugee Marcus Ericsson as its first driver for the 2015 Formula 1 season.

The 24-year-old Swede moved up to F1 with Caterham for 2014 after four seasons in GP2, but he has been left without a drive at present after his team went into administration.

Sauber team boss Monisha Kaltenborn said Ericsson had made a good impression despite being in a difficult situation at Caterham.

"We have got to know Marcus as a highly motivated driver," she said.

"He did not have an easy rookie season this year in Formula 1, however, he kept calm and improved continuously, mainly in the last races.

"We are convinced that signing Marcus can give the team a fresh impetus."

Ericsson described his 2015 Sauber deal as an incredible turnaround in fortune amid Caterham's problems.

"Fresh from a very turbulent week, I was suddenly given my best early Christmas present ever," he said.

"Sauber has put its trust in me for 2015, and it makes me proud, as Sauber is known to be one of the best teams in developing young drivers.

"It will be a great challenge. I will give my very best to develop both as a driver, and to be part of the challenge to put Sauber back closer to the front where it belongs."

Sauber currently has Adrian Sutil and Esteban Gutierrez as its race drivers, with Giedo van der Garde as reserve.

[DieGrüneHölle]

Originally Posted by NickyC

Yawn, just get this loser of a season over with and hope for miracles in the future.

Go Lewis!

[DieGrüneHölle]

Originally Posted by E90SLAM

I don't really mind this season as long as it doesn't go back to 2011 Valencia type of extreme snoozefest.

Only snoozefest for some of the Vettel and/or Red Bull fanboys on here. I have noticed a couple of the regular fanboys have not posted once in the F1 threads this year. Can you say "bandwagon" fans.

[954Stealth]

It looks like a wet track will add some elements of interest for those of you who are bored

[onatuesday]

Originally Posted by Blipit_

Only snoozefest for some of the Vettel and/or Red Bull fanboys on here. I have noticed a couple of the regular fanboys have not posted once in the F1 threads this year. Can you say "bandwagon" fans.

Agreed. Behind the 1-2 combo of the Mercedes there's actually a lot of parity and some new faces battling with the stalwarts. There's a reason a race includes a field of cars not just two. Seems like some fans are too fixated on only the top two positions when some of the best racing is happening behind that

[ptack]

Originally Posted by solstice

Unfortunately for Rosberg it seems that drivers hardly ever become faster. You come into F1 with a certain relative speed and seem to maintain it through your carrier or at least until you get impacted by old age and get slower.

That ROS will become faster than HAM is about as likely as it was that Prost would get faster than Senna, Barichello than Schumi, Massa than Alonso, Button than Lewis, Webber than Vettel, Vettel than Ricciardo and so on. It just doesn't seem to happen. F1 seem to be a sport mainly by talent and not by practice or hard work at this level.

Fortunately for Rosberg driver success is even more dependant on the car and how well it suits their style. Look no further than Vettel to see what a difference a chasis makes. Hamilton may win this year, but if the car doesn't suit him perfectly next year he won't repeat.

[onatuesday]

Originally Posted by ptack

Fortunately for Rosberg driver success is even more dependant on the car and how well it suits their style. Look no further than Vettel to see what a difference a chasis makes. Hamilton may win this year, but if the car doesn't suit him perfectly next year he won't repeat.

Vettel was so dominant last year because RedBull was cheating. Traction control via KERS FTL. Do you think Redbull set up their car this year to suit Ricciardo's style? No. Yet Ricciardo has been crushing Vettel all season. Probably because Vettel forgot how to drive without traction control. Yes I know it sounds slightly absurd but Vettel is the most overrated driver in the history of F1. And one of the biggest cry babies too

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by trinim3

Yes I know it sounds slightly absurd but Vettel is the most overrated driver in the history of F1. And one of the biggest cry babies too

While I don't have an opinion on Vettel being overrated, I do think the cry baby comment is funny when you have people like Hamilton in the paddock. If he's not complaining, he's not talking.

[onatuesday]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

While I don't have an opinion on Vettel being overrated, I do think the cry baby comment is funny when you have people like Hamilton in the paddock. If he's not complaining, he's not talking.

They're both equally cry babies. Though I think Hamilton has matured a lot this year. It's important to keep in mind that drivers are being exposed to fame and millions of dollars at a very early age and being cast into the spotlight before they're ready. Many of them have been home-schooled their entire lives and likely don't have the best social skills (if any at all). When I tried to go pro in my younger days, the maturity level of the kids I was competing against was cringe-worthy (I went to public schools). So I completely understand why drivers like Rosberg, Hamilton and Vettel act so immature. Contrast that to someone like Felipe or Mark Webber who has had time to mature. It comes with age.

However to be a great driver you unfortunately don't really need social maturity (it certainly makes it easier if you do have it though).

Anyways my point is that Rosberg has basically the same car as Hamilton so using the car as an excuse as to why Rosberg can't beat Hamilton doesn't really gel with me.

http://motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com...1-title-fight/

"Not once has Rosberg fought his way past Hamilton for a race win this season"

[mike the snake]

Red Bull had something going on in years past that made them dominant. Traction control, in whatever form is my guess.

This video shows a lot.

[mike the snake]

Crybabies or not, Hamilton is clearly the superior driver IMO.

I put Rosberg and Vettel in the same class. If Vettel were driving for Merc this year, we'd have what we have now with Rosberg I think.

Ricciardo is just a better driver than Vettel IMO. It will be interesting to see how Vettel does in the Ferrari.

Originally Posted by trinim3

They're both equally cry babies. Though I think Hamilton has matured a lot this year. It's important to keep in mind that drivers are being exposed to fame and millions of dollars at a very early age and being cast into the spotlight before they're ready. Many of them have been home-schooled their entire lives and likely don't have the best social skills (if any at all). When I tried to go pro in my younger days, the maturity level of the kids I was competing against was cringe-worthy (I went to public schools). So I completely understand why drivers like Rosberg, Hamilton and Vettel act so immature. Contrast that to someone like Felipe or Mark Webber who has had time to mature. It comes with age.

However to be a great driver you unfortunately don't really need social maturity (it certainly makes it easier if you do have it though).

Anyways my point is that Rosberg has basically the same car as Hamilton so using the car as an excuse as to why Rosberg can't beat Hamilton doesn't really gel with me.

http://motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com...1-title-fight/

"Not once has Rosberg fought his way past Hamilton for a race win this season"

[six_timer]

Originally Posted by trinim3

Anyways my point is that Rosberg has basically the same car as Hamilton so using the car as an excuse as to why Rosberg can't beat Hamilton doesn't really gel with me. "Not once has Rosberg fought his way past Hamilton for a race win this season"

So then how do you explain Rosberg's superiority in qualifying? Is it possible that there are many more factors in the "talent vs. results" formula that you failed to mention? Everybody seems to forget that Alonso (most often considered the best driver) didn't do well at McLaren, and I don't think it's because Hamilton's such a superior driver. Mark Webber proved himself with several teams, but consistently had bad luck/performance compared to Vettel. Look at Raikkonnen for god's sakes; always in the list of top drivers, and just recently he outperformed for Lotus. But now you can go an entire race without even remembering that he's on track.

Did it ever cross your mind that some drivers who seem to have bad luck with mechanical failures (brakes, trans, tires, engines) are perhaps driving in a way that's making the failures more likely? And it's also true that a driver has to adapt to a constantly changing car behavior as a race progresses, and some deal with that better than others. I think all the factors are many and complex.

[mike the snake]

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that tire management is such a big deal in F1 these days. Drivers aren't allowed to race at 100%, even in qualifying because tires fall off in a lap or 2. Maybe Rosberg can pop off a lap or 2 better than Hamilton in qualifying, but in races Hamilton has clearly shown to manage tires and fuel better than Rosberg consistently.