My station listing said the race was coming on NBC Sports at 1:00am so I set the DVR. This morning get up to watch and it is qualifying not the race. :(:mad:

It will be broadcast again shortly after lunch.

JR

And his teammate beats him by 24 seconds in the identical car.

It will be interesting to see how Red Bull develops their car. Will RB change it to suit Vettel at Ricciardo's expense or will they try to keep the updates balanced so neither gains an advantage over the other?

I think internal team politics is going to be the story of the year... Vettel/Ricciardo and Hamilton/Rosberg, I am not sure Kimi and Alonso and are going to be much to write about.

TL new F1 drivers mantra. :D

Vettel smeddle. Spoiled brat in daddy's fast car that isn't the fastest car in town anymore.

Kimi (and massa before him) has managed to prove to the world that alonso is the best driver out there, consistently out-performing a weak car.

Disclaimer: I am not a huge Alonso fan but the truth is the truth, he is faster than his car and his teammates and his competition.
Anyone can win in the fastest car. Give them a POS and see if the end up on the podium.
Give him the fastest car (like vettel had for years) and he'd lap the other podium wanna-bes.

First corner
 

Was amazed how Alonso and Massa's cars were undamaged by their first corner whacking.

Only saw the first 5 laps (was travelling) so maybe I didn't miss too much?

Overall was pleased with the outcome of this event. We'll
see what Spain brings.

I had a hard time warming up to Alonso. Race after race in a car that is very average he somehow manages to come out closer to the front than he should with an average car. He is the driver I root for now.

I really did laugh out loud when I heard the radio announcement for Vettle to let Ricciardo by because he was faster. And Vettle was BEAT by 24 seconds in an identical car. :cool:

I think it all comes down to individual driver style. Riccardo has been driving a sub-par car for the last few years and had to push it to get the results he achieved. Vettel has had a superior car for the last few years and was able to take advantage of that. These new rules have played havoc with Vettel's driving style. The back of the Red Bull is not planted and that doesn't fit the way he is used to driving. Thus his teamate is adapting better and is faster.

Fred has always pushed no matter which car he has been in. He is good at giving excellent feedback to the engineers to make the car better. I don't think Kimi is quite as good as Fred at giving feedback. Kimi also is uncomfortable with the Ferrari's brake by wire system. Raikkonen: brake-by-wire system at root of early Ferrari F1 issues - F1 news - AUTOSPORT.com

Vettel and Horner are a couple of insolent children with a crazy uncle (Marko).

Nothing makes me happier than seeing Vettel slowing become the number 2 driver...

Had Vettel been more gracious to his previous teammate I think many could be more gracious to him. He wasn't. Schadenfruede ensues. Not bad for a #2 driver Seb.

I think both Vettel and Raikonnen are having problems with the front end of threi cars. Each is getting handily outdriven by his team mate and it is odd to see than they can't change their driving style to adapt to the car. Ferrari is already changing front end parts on Kimi's car to adapt the car to his driving style.

I've always said that Vettel wasn't as good as his stats, because he was in a superior car and it suited his style. Great drivers take lesser cars and move them up the grid. Ayrton Senna showed this early in his career. In the wet, he was in a class by himself. Schumacher showed this at times, especially in the wet. Alonso has been driving well for the last several years, beyond what other drivers would do in the same car.

JR

Oh how quickly the doubters jump a a struggling hero.
We're going back to Europe where Vettel has historically shined.
He will shine again.

Not with that car and engine, he won't. You're dreaming.

I believe that to be a true F1 hero, a champion must be respected, work well as a teammate, and be able to overcome adversarial conditions to win. Vettel has shown none of those traits. He's only shown that he's an arrogant, spoiled little pr*ck who can only win in a superior car. I don't hate the guy... just calling him out :D

It's interesting to read this nonsense from people who only see a on air persona.
Everything I've ever read about Vettel from the people who work with him say the exact opposite. I wonder......oh never mind ... haters will hate.

Here's something I've often wondered, even though it may be silly:

Do some drivers in slower cars simply give up after the first 10 laps?

I've watched some drivers come from the back and pass cars and scrap and work their way up 12 or 15 places. Other drivers will fall back and just cruise to the end of the race, barely passing one or two other cars at most.

Maybe their cars really suck that bad, but it does seem that they say to heck with it and just concentrate on cruising and finishing the race without busting up the car.

Has anyone else wondered that, or should I put down the pipe?

That looks like two questions: yes some drivers give up but most F1 drivers don't.

And yes, you should put down the pipe.

Henry, you are reading a different type of news bias from people who depend on Vettel for their livelihood so please don't get sucked in by everything is sunshine and rainbows where Vettel's character is concerned.

Those same people he works for now that hold him in such high regard with gushing comments would swap him in a blink of an eye for a faster driver once his bright light starts to dim.

Your boy is ruthless, just like every other world champion out there, it is a good trait to have and what makes world champions. These guys didn't get to be the best by caring about how others feel or by worrying about what other people think of them or by not being too selfish. They are too busy trying to win at all costs and that includes walking over their team mate.

I watched the China race and I can see the signs loud and clear Vettel is not enjoying being beaten by his team mate.

The first person any driver wants to beat is his team mate as they are the only other driver on the grid driving the same car. From where I'm sitting looks like Riccardo is off to a good start (as well as Hamilton and Alonso).

One thing that can't be disputed is you only really find out how good a driver is when they are still winning in the 2nd or 3rd fastest car. Vettel may have some world championships under his belt but he has a lot to learn and show when it comes to digging deep when faced with a season long uphill battle. I think this year he will learn more about himself than from any of his previous championship winning seasons.