Formula One: Preview GP China 2012

After a three week break, the third round will start in the 2012 season. The team had plenty of time to work on their cars, big surprises but it will probably not happen.

The last race in Malaysia was a real eye-catcher thanks to the mixed weather conditions. The surprise victory of Alonso, the magnificent journey of Sergio Perez and the stunning pale idea of ​​Red Bull will probably not repeat the race in Shanghai. Ferrari has himself admitted that they hang around eight tenths behind the McLaren, which is a small world at the moment. Although the Italians bring some new parts to China, but one hopes that this will only be a small step forward. It is clear that the F2012, the entire rear end is rebuilt to the GP in Spain. Obviously you want to tinker as a mixture of the RB8 and the Sauber C31. If it does not rain again, which is not excluded due to previous forecasts, Ferrari will certainly need to hire more behind. But not only the Italians have problems, it looks very bleak at Mercedes from.

While the W03 is not a flop, but the race pace is simply not enough. When you consider that Mercedes over the Ferrari really should be the faster car, especially the points haul more than disappointing. Just one point is in the standings, while McLaren have 55 points. On the target space 3, the ailing Ferrari team stands with 35 points. Sauber has 30 points and Lotus 16 As the field has moved into this more closely, it would already mean a huge effort if you want to advance in the course of direction or P4. The problem of W03 is the tire wear. It has either too much (Australia) or too little (Malaysia). In other words, you do not hit the "sweet spot" of the tire, the best performance window is also apparently been somewhat close this year. Ross Brawn has announced that they will try to sacrifice quality performance for more race speed, but this is also problematic. But obviously you can see at the moment no other possible answer, suggesting that it could be a fundamental problem with the suspension geometry. And the change is not so easy, without rebuilding the entire car new. Nevertheless, China should be the Mercedes, you may also be curious if Nico Rosberg drive finally get along better.

Measure of all things should be in China McLaren. The course was already the chrome arrow in the past pretty good, besides that, the car at the moment still makes the ausgewogesten impression. Somewhat surprising was the poor performance in the final stint of the race in Malaysia, worry not, however, makes the McLaren. Lewis Hamilton had his nose ahead of Jenson Button, but who also had bad luck in Malaysia. The Qualifying and Race duel between the two is likely to be something close again.

Red Bull has been heard in the last few weeks. Vettel expressed more optimistic about the RB8, which also Mark Webber is better. One feels that one has much potential, but especially the lack of quality speed ensures trouble. In the race it's running though usually better, but as rule of thumb seems to be missing on the RB8 McLaren around three tenths. Just Red Bull that do not always keep on budget rumored to voluntary guidelines can make up for this three-tenths quickly. The question is just, similar to Mercedes, whether the necessary rebuilding measures can be implemented quickly.

Clean is definitely the team of the moment. The car has a lot of potential, especially in the rear there is probably some things that other teams also would like. The whole package seems to agree, at least in the race. The quality of the team had been in two races problems, however, have something to do with the fact that in Q2 only once leaves the pilots on the route. The partly acting cautiously strategy seems the team here and there unnecessarily einzubremsen. However in race trim the clean goes phenomenally well and thanks to the very low tire wear is clean in a tight race again a podium contender.

This also applies to the Lotus. To the team and Lotus were again the week much speculation in terms of Group Lotus ( which here are taken together well). Lotus has a fast car, but suffers somewhat from the different performance of the two drivers. Grosjean is the quality like hell fast in the race but still makes a lot of mistakes because he is too aggressive on the road. Raikkonen, however, makes the quality even little trouble, for it determines the race pace, has as his fifth-place finish in Malaysia shown. Lotus will also bring new updates to China and should fit all times, they are also a podium contender.

In addition to Williams, Sauber is probably nennne as a surprise team. Although the FW34 by Mike Coughlin is not pretty, but faster that way. Content remains the problem with the drivers. Although Senna sixth place in Malaysia might have been the maximum, which can be reached by car, but no matter how you look at it, the question of what a top rider could do with the car, stop does remain. Williams previously consumed them that Mercedes and Ferrari are weak, that Grosjean had to park the car twice and the Force India has something unsorted. But if the midfield together moves, it will be difficult for Maldonado and Senna.

Toro Rosso and Force India at the moment to do something difficult. In the Italiern you could expect on the basis of the still inexperienced pilots, Force India, do not have to speed in the qualification. However, progress has been seen already in Malaysia, but the question remains whether the financially ailing somewhat Vijay Mallya at the moment much money can churn in his team.

One of the disappointments of the year we can confidently continue Caterham count. Renault engine and Red Bull KERS, but depends far behind the midfield and has to wrangle with Marussia again, the car makes a good impression so far. At Caterham have responded and started to rebuild the technical department. Mike Gascon is still responsible, but it has provided him with new people to the page. Tony Fernandes has done for this year, at least to come close to the points, which still seems like a utopia at the moment. Marussia makes, also thanks to the McLaren cooperation, not such a bad idea, while HRT is as usual the rear.

The price in China is known, nothing has changed. Shanghai is one of the better courses Tielke, not quite as spectacular as Malaysia, but quite demanding. The long straights should the Mercedes are good, the infield is Red Bull and McLaren country. As already mentioned, the weather should be mixed in China. Showers tend to be possible both on Friday and on Sunday.

Aerodynamic setup - Medium / High.
Top speed 322km / h (with DRS) - 310km / h (without).
Full throttle: 55%.
Braking Percentage: 14%
Braking load: Medium
Fuel load: 148 kilos.
Time loss per round at 10kg petrol: 0.34 sec (normal)
Loss of time during the pit stop: 21 sec
Tires: Soft / Medium
DRS zone: A, measurement before T12, activation center of the long back straight.

The strategy for the race, it is difficult to predict. The difference between the tire compounds is around 0.3 seconds / lap. This is less than last year and offers the opportunity to try it with a one-stop strategy. This is especially true if the temperatures should be low. The track itself is not a tire eater, so it is a little on how high the wear and tear of the individual teams. Mercedes will probably try it at least with a car with three stops, the rest of it could be two more stops.

The transfer times are for the last time until fall rather ugly. The quality is on Saturday at eight clock, the race starts Sunday at 9 clock. Previews are from 8 clock.

After a three week break, the third round will start in the 2012 season. The team had plenty of time to work on their cars, big surprises but it will probably not give ....