Well that was an exciting session in the end. We learnt nothing in terms of what tomorrow a pole might be, but it was fun, as often the case when a quick shower comes in.
* I started life with nothing, and still have most of it left
“Good drivers have dead flies on the side windows!” (Walter Röhrl)
* I married Miss Right. Just didn't know her first name was Always
OK thats it for today in terms of F1 action. Time to go to the supermarket and get cat food. Poor Rocky has been looking at an empty saucer all afternoon.... but turned his nose up at canned food. Fresh meat or nothing it seems.
* I started life with nothing, and still have most of it left
“Good drivers have dead flies on the side windows!” (Walter Röhrl)
* I married Miss Right. Just didn't know her first name was Always
Wow, that sounds exciting. I almost wish I'd seen it now. Not that I can, oh well. I nearly passed out when I saw Stroll heading the time after FP1, the world went slightly out of focus for a while there
I looked at the times after the sprint qualifying and I was then I realised they were wet times. Mind you the dry times don't give me a lot of confidence for my GTP time Oh well, it's only a game *she said through gritted teeth*.
Star wrote: ↑1 week ago
Wow, that sounds exciting. I almost wish I'd seen it now. Not that I can, oh well. I nearly passed out when I saw Stroll heading the time after FP1, the world went slightly out of focus for a while there
I looked at the times after the sprint qualifying and I was then I realised they were wet times. Mind you the dry times don't give me a lot of confidence for my GTP time Oh well, it's only a game *she said through gritted teeth*.
@StarYou can watch it if you wish.....There are highlights available. Ignore the unavailable and just click the "watch on youtube" button. Its 8 minutes only.
* I started life with nothing, and still have most of it left
“Good drivers have dead flies on the side windows!” (Walter Röhrl)
* I married Miss Right. Just didn't know her first name was Always
Edit: I tried to watch it but too much of it was from the drivers point of view, that is the worst thing for me. I appreciate the link though. I did see the grass fire, how odd. I've never seen anything like that before, you have to wonder what is causing it. I mean it's not as hot here are other races and they have grass there too. It makes no sense to me.
Star wrote: ↑1 week ago
I'll have a look at that and see how I get on ta
Edit: I tried to watch it but too much of it was from the drivers point of view, that is the worst thing for me. I appreciate the link though. I did see the grass fire, how odd. I've never seen anything like that before, you have to wonder what is causing it. I mean it's not as hot here are other races and they have grass there too. It makes no sense to me.
They showed that there is a bump at that point of the circuit that was causing the titanium planks on the car to spark.... and the wind was blowing in a direction that put the sparks landing on the grass. It was only a small fire but I was surprised myself it started given i has been wet in previous days. Plus the grass was very short.
We regularly have races interrupted here for grass fires in motor races, often caused when a car has an issue and rolls onto the grass. I think unusually they are using real grass there whereas most F1 circuits use synthetic grass which may be less prone to catching fire.
* I started life with nothing, and still have most of it left
“Good drivers have dead flies on the side windows!” (Walter Röhrl)
* I married Miss Right. Just didn't know her first name was Always
The grass fire mystery deepens. It seems the FIA were as confused as to why the grass caught fire, given the grass was short and also the heavy rainfall just two days prior.
An investigation has come up with two possible or likely reasons as to why we had not one but two fires at that point, (one in FP1 and then the one in qualy. There is no doubt as to the cause of the fire.... that being as we said before, that the cars were bottoming out and the sparks were carried by the wind to the grass.
The question is why did the grass catch fire so easily.?
Two suggestions have been raised.....One theory is that because the Shanghai track is built on a swamp, methane gas could be seeping up through the ground - which is then being ignited and causing the fires.
Another thought is that the grass has been chemically treated to enhance its looks, and it is this that is causing the problem.
They cant formally confirm either, but it seems that either it is methane causing the ignition, or the grass colour enhancer contains some flammable chemical that is acting as an accelerant to the sparks and thus causing the fires.
Either way there is no instant fix beyond I guess soaking the grass with water to makes the grass wet enough to minimise the risk of sparks igniting the grass. Also hopefully the wind is not so brisk, or has changed direction and will blow the sparks away from the grass.
* I started life with nothing, and still have most of it left
“Good drivers have dead flies on the side windows!” (Walter Röhrl)
* I married Miss Right. Just didn't know her first name was Always
We are now less than 20 minutes or so from the start of the Sprint race. The cars are the grid ready, the drivers doing their pre race routines..I guess there will be a National Anthem shortly andd then the drivvers will climb aboard ready for the start. It looks like the track is dry, certainly no standing water.
Max struggled in the race yesterday with mistakes on his laps losing him time. Expect him to be back to his dry form today. With Max back in 4th I expect him to swiftly move towards the front. I have to say I hope tht Lando has a good race and manages to at least notch up a sprint race win. Not a proper race win to go on his record but at least its something. I would also like to see Zhou do well. There is a huge crowd there today and I dare say most of them are there to cheer Zhou on.
I likely wont be watching the race as closely as I normally would. My attention will be divided. We have a V8 Supercars race in New Zealand this weekend and they have in their wisdom chosen to have a 200klm race start at the identical time to the Sprint race.
I will have one race showing on the TV, with the other on my computer so I will have my attention divided and race comments from me will be minimal
* I started life with nothing, and still have most of it left
“Good drivers have dead flies on the side windows!” (Walter Röhrl)
* I married Miss Right. Just didn't know her first name was Always
Lewis got the better of the start and Lando kept side by side through the opening turns. Then Lewis just ran Lando wide and so Lewis leads and Lando has dropped back to 7th.
So Lewis. from Nando Max Carlos Sergio and CLAP, Lando as said 7th then Oscar Joe and KMag the top 10.
* I started life with nothing, and still have most of it left
“Good drivers have dead flies on the side windows!” (Walter Röhrl)
* I married Miss Right. Just didn't know her first name was Always
Oh well, it's only a game *she said through gritted teeth*.
