Enjoyed staying up late to watch the race. Lewis had more pace than I had given him credit for. Way to Go Petrov.

Regarding the engine mapping for the blown diffuser:

They way I understand it is that they still use throttle plates but they only account for about 10% flow change.

The idea is to constantly pump air through the engine, but simply not ignite it when off throttle.

I believe they are using valve overlap and highly retarted ignition when under braking. The effect is that the engine allows almost the same mass of intake charge though to the exhaust but it doesn't create any HP from it. Instead the pumping losses are used as engine braking and to recharge the KERS.

BTW, for sometime just taking your foot off the go pedal in F1 would create something like 2g of braking....the brake pedal force is high because the driver can put 2x body weight on his left foot just by lifting the right one off the gas pedal.

 

Agreed. Can a moderator identify this as a spoiler thread in the title for those who come in here unawares? I know better but others may not.

 

Not my section, sorry.

Who's going to use this throttle technology with an MS? Anyone? Sounds baffling.

ZX, if you look at the shot they showed of I believe Vettel's tire from practice (could've been qualifying) where he took a huge chunk out of the tire, you can almost see a second skin underneath. Like they're using the exact same barrel for all tires, then putting a different compounds over it.

It's such a shame about Kubica, he could have really dominated. Although I'm not sure the margin between the two would be the same as last year, if Kubica was racing now.

The technology is just blowing my mind. Last year I couldn't hear the weird exhaust tones they kept talking about, couldn't see the front wings moving, and in 2009 I couldn't tell any difference with cars on KERS. Now everything is just so pronounced and obvious, it's thrilling. All but KERS though, only noticeable in combination with the right driver and DRS.

Other thoughts? Red Bull's dominance without KERS, and HRT's absence.

 

Well yeah, but that's a Diesel. Thanks for the clarification man. That sort of thing is why I love this sport!

 

The way RedBull was being with their KERS (Interviewer: Are they using it? RedBull: Maybe... Maybe not.)

That answer makes me think maybe they were using KERS but the thing that tells everyone else if and when they were using it was disconnected.

 

I think that is a fairly standard construction technique. The tires are built up in layers including an inner bladder. They then get vulcanized together but there could still be relatively weak bonds between layers especially if the inner bladder layer has a separate set of cords.

I've seen tires chunk before and they do the same thing. The entire outer layer with the tread can separate and the inner bladder still holds air. However I am not sure if I ever saw that with the Bridgestones.

I wonder what the failure mode was with the Michelin tires in the F1 US GP debacle.

 

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/270320...bull-kers.html

It looks like Redbull is not running KERS...I HATE hybrids. lol

 

Can you say Ferrari 10x in a row with out stuttering, its a freaking tongue twister

 

Another good race today! Malaysian GP.

 

Anybody have a clue to what this big announcement about Austin will be on Tuesday?

 

No idea. I was going to ask the same question. I could guess but I'll wait. SpeedTV was hyping it a lot but it is in their interest to do so. Best guess, MotoGP is coming.

 

Hopefully AI running a support race. I know our new leader is talking to Tavo Hellmund about it.

 

Good race, albeit a little boring. Anyone who wises to challenge Vettel needs to do it in the first corner of the race. Go for the pass, even if it means taking him out. As soon as that 2-3 second lead is established, which is now by the end of the FIRST lap, it's done for without mistakes or breakdowns.

 

I find a good way to make f1 not boring is to pay attention to the mid pack cars. the BBC guys do this well with updates on lap times and pit stops. For example, this race was boring up front, but there was tons of action 2-10th.

 

How are you getting the BBC coverage?

 

teh torrentz!

 

Watching a different set of cars does not create more crashes.

jk.

not really.

I know the mid pack can be a little more exciting, but part of what I love about F1 is the announcers. Judging from my hobbies, I should absolutely love MotoGP. I've watched all of 5ish races in my life, it's just not interesting. The SPEED announcers make F1 really fun to watch, unfortunately they have their limits in making something boring interesting.

 

There is something to this. Since BBC is doing F1 in merry 'ol England again (ITV sucked!) Martin Brundle, an old driver, is one of the announcers along with David Coulthard. Listening to two ex-drivers call the race helps to make it more exciting.

 

**** ******* Vettel. I love rooting for the underdog, and I rooted for him last year, but he is no longer the underdog. Yet EVERYTHING went his way this weekend despite making the wrong choice on tire strategy. He should NOT have won. Utter BS, I wanted to see that fight come to fruition.

 

He got away so easy there. That crash could not have come at a more fortunate moment for him. So the plot thickens