[Race] 2014 Formula 1 UBS Chinese Grand Prix.

[wnut]

Originally Posted by JamesH

A second faster? Thank god its arrived - they need that extra second...

That's exactly what I was thinking!

[Bononi]

Originally Posted by 321Go

I agree.

Apologies.

I'll leave the race intro's up to frostie, or your good self.

Again, sorry people. The forum moderator has spoken.

Originally Posted by Lancsbreaker

I'm not entirely certain what you meant by this.....but it strikes me as singularly graceless and uncalled for.

I'm entitled to my opinion. And it's not a moderator speech, just a member's opinion. Like anyone else I'm criticizing the post not the poster, it's all by the rules.
If you can't accept that you can't discuss in a forum.

[Hendrix]

Maldonado is off track.

In other breaking news, water is wet.

[321Go]

FP3 complete. Ricciardo on top in tricky conditions.




FP3 review via formula1.com.
Looks like the umbrellas will be needed for qualifying.

[TheNo1F1Fan]

K-Mag out of Q2.

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

Grosjean in Q1!!!

[Tucky]

Can someone tell me what happened to Maldonado? I know he didn't set a time.

[Teretonga]

Originally Posted by Tucky

Can someone tell me what happened to Maldonado? I know he didn't set a time.

Car broke in FP3 so was in pieces in the garage during qualifying

[nobster]

Maldonado must really bring lots of money to a team he drives for, that's the only thing what keeps him in F1.

[garcon]

Originally Posted by Tucky

Can someone tell me what happened to Maldonado?

I think he may have been dropped on his head as a baby.

[Knowlesy]

Originally Posted by nobster

Maldonado must really bring lots of money to a team he drives for, that's the only thing what keeps him in F1.

He does bring lots of money.

He can certainly drive tbf. That win in Spain was one for the ages. But since then he has been... odd.

Anyways, Hamilton sets a new British record pole position. Ricciardo gives Vettel a big slap. And Alonso carries his team again, as he sets a record number of fifth position qualifications! Grosjean and Vergne as well popping up in the top ten.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Just caught the tail end of Q3. Lewis on pole again, with both RBs the meat in the Merc sandwich, with Ricciardo ahead of Vettel and Nico 4th. Not too sure what happened to the McLarens but neither's in the top 10. Alonso managed 5th.

Pos Driver Team/Car Time Gap
1. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1m53.860s
2. Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull-Renault 1m54.455s +0.595s
3. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1m54.960s +1.100s
4. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m55.143s +1.283s
5. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1m55.637s +1.777s
6. Felipe Massa Williams-Mercedes 1m56.147s +2.287s
7. Valtteri Bottas Williams-Mercedes 1m56.282s +2.422s
8. Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 1m56.366s +2.506s
9. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Renault 1m56.773s +2.913s
10. Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 1m57.079s +3.219s
Q3 cut-off time: 1m56.847s 1
1. Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 1m56.860s +2.831s*
12. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1m56.963s +2.934s*
13. Daniil Kvyat Toro Rosso-Renault 1m57.289s +3.260s*
14. Adrian Sutil Sauber-Ferrari 1m57.393s +3.364s*
15. Kevin Magnussen McLaren-Mercedes 1m57.675s +3.646s*
16. Sergio Perez Force India-Mercedes 1m58.264s +4.235s*
Q2 cut-off time: 1m58.411s
17. Esteban Gutierrez Sauber-Ferrari 1m58.988s +3.472s**
18. Kamui Kobayashi Caterham-Renault 1m59.260s +3.744s**
19. Jules Bianchi Marussia-Ferrari 1m59.326s +3.810s**
20. Marcus Ericsson Caterham-Renault 2m00.646s +5.130s**
21. Max Chilton Marussia-Ferrari 2m00.865s +5.349s**
22. Pastor Maldonado Lotus-Renault

107 per cent time: 2m03.602s

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Tucky

Can someone tell me what happened to Maldonado? I know he didn't set a time.

Apart from possibly being dropped on his head as a baby, Maldonado was classified 22nd as he wasn't able to participate due to an engine problem, which forced him to stop on the track in morning practice.

[321Go]

And Maldonado now doesn't have to serve his five place grid penalty. Good thinking Lotus, nicely done.

Maldonado almost kills another driver and gets a 5 place grid penalty, which he won't be serving now. Ricciardo drives off with a loose wheel nut, but stops as soon as he realised it, then cops a 10 second stop go, and a ten place grid drop for the next race.
Fair??

[Knowlesy]

Just because he has an engine swap doesn't mean his grid penalty should be served elsewhere. The penalty situation is quite bad enough as it is.

[F J Nedos]

The commentators were talking today about him needing to serve the penalty at the next race if he can't serve it here. A carry over.

[Knowlesy]

Oh god, they actually do that now? Dearie me.

[321Go]

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

Just because he has an engine swap doesn't mean his grid penalty should be served elsewhere.

I was referring to Maldonado's penalty for the T-bone and resulting car flip on Gutierrez in Bahrain.

Originally Posted by F J Nedos

The commentators were talking today about him needing to serve the penalty at the next race if he can't serve it here. A carry over.

Not a carry over unless it's a PU related penalty. The commentators were incorrect.

[Knowlesy]

Yes but I thought he was down the back because of an engine issue or something? That is why he isn't serving the penalty.

He is possibly worse off than he might have been.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

Yes but I thought he was down the back because of an engine issue or something? That is why he isn't serving the penalty.

He is possibly worse off than he might have been.

He had engine trouble in morning practice so he couldn't participate in Quali.

[321Go]

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

Yes but I thought he was down the back because of an engine issue or something? That is why he isn't serving the penalty.

Correct. But the five place grid drop should carry over as it would if the penalty was driveline related. Example, if the gearbox is changed you get 5 spots. If you qualify 20th you start 22 and you drop 3 spots the next race.

Maldonado starting from 22 should not mean he forfeits the penalty. A penalty is a penalty and must be served. Specially a penalty for taking out a driver in the manner Maldonado did. IMO, he should have been given a 10 spots, and a suspended race ban.

Maldonado has whinged to the press that the penalty point system will ruin the sport. I say - so will s**t driving.

[Knowlesy]

I do see Maldonado's point though. The penalties are ridiculous these days, and having them carry over events just makes them even worse.

Often a driver disadvantages nobody but himself with an error and still gets a drive through penalty.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by 321Go

Correct. But the five place grid drop should carry over as it would if the penalty was driveline related. Example, if the gearbox is changed you get 5 spots. If you qualify 20th you start 22 and you drop 3 spots the next race.

Maldonado starting from 22 should not mean he forfeits the penalty. A penalty is a penalty and must be served. Specially a penalty for taking out a driver in the manner Maldonado did. IMO, he should have been given a 10 spots, and a suspended race ban.

Maldonado has whinged to the press that the penalty point system will ruin the sport. I say - so will s**t driving.

I can't say I like this penalty business in F1 either as it's starting to detract from the sport but if you go round T-boneing people off the track, what do you expect?

[MarkG]

Classy pole by Lewis Hamilton today. The Red Bulls were the best cars for those qually conditions in my opinion, with their downforce and great chassis.
Ricciardo is confirming some stuff I've believed over the last 4 years, he is very impressive.

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

I do see Maldonado's point though. The penalties are ridiculous these days, and having them carry over events just makes them even worse.

Often a driver disadvantages nobody but himself with an error and still gets a drive through penalty.

But you can hardly say that about Maldonado here. I agree with the penalty being carried over.