multi21

Hamilton quickest in damp 1st practice.

Schumacher quickest in dry 2nd practice

consolidated

This could be Schumacher's weekend if they've figured out tire degradation.

Looks like RBR's exhaust change has helped, 3rd in Prac2.

ltc

Curious as to the details. I wonder if it was similar to this...

http://www.formula1.com/news/technical/2012/0/940.html

911 Crazy

Button man!

Ray S

He's not looking so hot in practice. Hope he picks it up for the race.

ltc

P2:
2012 FORMULA 1 UBS CHINESE GRAND PRIX
Pos No Driver Team Time/Retired Gap Laps
1 7 Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1:35.973 32
2 4 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:36.145 0.172 29
3 1 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing-Renault 1:36.160 0.187 27
4 2 Mark Webber Red Bull Racing-Renault 1:36.433 0.460 24
5 8 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1:36.617 0.644 31
6 3 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1:36.711 0.738 28
7 14 Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1:36.956 0.983 28
8 11 Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 1:36.966 0.993 31
9 12 Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 1:37.191 1.218 31
10 5 Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1:37.316 1.343 32
11 15 Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 1:37.417 1.444 22
12 16 Daniel Ricciardo STR-Ferrari 1:37.616 1.643 33
13 9 Kimi Räikkönen Lotus-Renault 1:37.836 1.863 30
14 17 Jean-Eric Vergne STR-Ferrari 1:37.930 1.957 32
15 10 Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 1:37.972 1.999 26
16 18 Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault 1:38.176 2.203 35
17 6 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:38.293 2.320 31
18 19 Bruno Senna Williams-Renault 1:38.783 2.810 37
19 20 Heikki Kovalainen Caterham-Renault 1:38.990 3.017 36
20 21 Vitaly Petrov Caterham-Renault 1:39.346 3.373 20
21 24 Timo Glock Marussia-Cosworth 1:39.651 3.678 15
22 22 Pedro de la Rosa HRT-Cosworth 1:40.343 4.370 25
23 25 Charles Pic Marussia-Cosworth 1:40.753 4.780 30
24 23 Narain Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth 1:41.125 5.152 26


Alonso, the WDC points leader, in 10th? Brilliant strategy...

Alonso sounded resigned on Thursday, when he admitted that, notwithstanding his opportunist victory in Malaysia, Ferrari are still a long way off the pace.

“Nothing has changed,” the down-to-earth Spaniard insisted. “I think it’s going to be a tough weekend for us again. I don’t expect any big surprises as we've been saying, the team and myself, all week. The car has some small improvements, nothing big for this race and I think it’s the same, more or less, for all the other teams around us in the paddock.

Let's hope the half Sauber, half Ferrari 2012 B spec car is approved by the FIA quickly, before the 2012 WDC slips away. That would be tragic.

morganabowen

Keep in mind that it is called "PRACTICE" for a reason. The real measure will be tomorrow when they run "QUALIFYING". That will be the indicator of the race to come The first two rows should be filled by RBR and McLaren, and maybe a Sauber Rows three and four will be shared by Mercedes, Ferrari and probably a Renault

BlueRiver86

Hamilton is due. My vote for poll and win.

My993C2

It will be harder for the Brit to win if McLaren changes his transmission taking a 5 grid spot penalty at the start like they said they might do. He may be able to grab pole but then he will slip back to start 6th. Time will tell, news at eleven.

74goldtarga

Just watched qualifying. Probably the craziest dry qualifying I've seen the last few years. Q2 was amazing with the top 10 times covered by 0.3 sec. Vettel's Q2 time would have put him 5th or 6th in Q3 but he's out at eleventh. Sauber and Lotus are ahead of RBR and Ferrari. Nico's first pole - by 0.5 sec! - amazing with a grid so close. I'm thinking RBR is really set up for the race rather than qualifying. Kobayashi and Kimi should be pretty fun to watch tomorrow. I also expect Williams to move up tomorrow as Mercedes moves down. Fascinating.

My993C2

That was a perfect Q3 lap from Nico. If the drivers from my preferred team can not win (neither is starting from the front of the grid), then I hope Nico can find some way to win his first F1 race.

Cory M

Damn, voted for Hamilton but the trans swap kills his odds, unless it rains and gets crazy.

I know the teams are required to use the same trans for 5 races but I assume they are free to change the gear ratios to suit the track. So what are they not allowed to change? Just the case? Shafts? Diff?

Flying Finn

Oh yea! Congrats to Nico, finally!!!

Nico is a Jekyll & Hyde, in a day like this, his Finnish side is showing, when he doesn't do so good, he's German side obviously is revealed...

Kimster drove exceptionally well, used only one set on Q2 (Gro used 3) which will be good for the race, MB boys also have the same advantage.
Will be interesting to see how he does once the car and tge steering is the way he wants it.

And now all teams developing the MB tube thingy... Surely will be in all top cars by the time the circus comes
to Europe.

BlueRiver86

This is gonna be a VERY interesting race.

ltc

Sato, cleverly disguised as Kobyashi, looks to have a good shot at a podium.