Spanish Grand Prix

[MadduckUK]

its that time again! doesn't it seem ages when they have a week off??

anyone else watching the bbc live text of practice?

[kalniel]

Yes.. want to watch the video too but don't think I'll get away with that!

[MadduckUK]

Yes.. want to watch the video too but don't think I'll get away with that!

no, me neither. i don't mind the text though, can be quite witty

[kalniel]

Problems with Massa's flanges? Can't be good.

[Grey M@a]

Can't beat a quiet day at work, Myself and the boss are kicking back and watching the practice on BBC iPlayer through the projector in the Media Lab

[MadduckUK]

iv been sneakily watching the vid when i can

just when you think the pack can match button for pace he just palms them off and laughs.. bla bla only practice not reliable i know but has a calming effect

[finlay666]

I'd be watching it...but my set top box at work is buggered

[kalniel]

I'd be watching it...but my set top box at work is buggered

Set top box? Don't you have an internet browser?

[kalniel]

Button pulled out a corker!

[staffsMike]

Yeah it was an awesome lap seemingly coming from no where

I had to laugh when I saw Kimi slip out the top 15, what a plonker. Could have learned from Massa's mistake lol

Shame about Hamiltons performance, doesn't seem like that car is working at all this weekend.

[finlay666]

Set top box? Don't you have an internet browser?

Proxy says I am from Ireland/Germany at work so can't use iPlayer

Seemed silly not to take advantage when I had a pile of working STB's next to me at work lol

[this_is_gav]

Button pulled out a corker!

He really didn't... the only car lighter than him is Alonso, once more trying to do something for his home fans (and failing quite badly for once).

The saving grace for Button will be if Massa's KERS gets him ahead of Rubens and Vettel. I hope for the sake of a half-decent GP that Massa overtakes Button into turn 1 too, or it'll be just another horribly boring Spanish GP.

[malfunction]

He really didn't... the only car lighter than him is Alonso, once more trying to do something for his home fans (and failing quite badly for once).

The saving grace for Button will be if Massa's KERS gets him ahead of Rubens and Vettel. I hope for the sake of a half-decent GP that Massa overtakes Button into turn 1 too, or it'll be just another horribly boring Spanish GP.

Curiously the BBC's fuel adjusted grid still has Button in P2:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/moto...ne/8041568.stm

I had a feeling he was running a little lighter - strategy wise it makes sense. Can't be as boring as Valencia (I hope).

[this_is_gav]

I had a feeling he was running a little lighter - strategy wise it makes sense.

It's always better to start on as heavy a fuel load as you can get away with, as Button proved in Melbourne, Sepang and Sakhir. In previous races he's started with a car of around 660kg, always one of the heavier cars at the front. For this one he's got 646kg - heavier than only Alonso.

Still, the ways it has worked out, he should have a damn easy win if he can stay ahead of Massa into turn 1. If he doesn't then it's going to be difficult, with everyone else on a better strategy.

Can't be as boring as Valencia (I hope)

Have you not seen any Spanish GPs in the last couple of decades? Only '91, '96 and '97 were worth watching that I can remember, other than the excellent move by an ailing Michael Schumacher on his brother in 2000 to let Barrichello past the 2 of them, and of course the last lap drama of 2001.

[kalniel]

It's the spanish grand prix, it'll be boring regardless. Massa did a great job for the weight, but Button still did well even fuel adjusted - it only takes one person a bit heavier than you in front and your win is recked.

[malfunction]

It's always better to start on as heavy a fuel load as you can get away with, as Button proved in Melbourne, Sepang and Sakhir. In previous races he's started with a car of around 660kg, always one of the heavier cars at the front. For this one he's got 646kg - heavier than only Alonso.

Still, the ways it has worked out, he should have a damn easy win if he can stay ahead of Massa into turn 1. If he doesn't then it's going to be difficult, with everyone else on a better strategy.

Yes it's better to be at the front with as much fuel as possible if you can get there that way (as long as you're not so heavy you end up being easily overtaken which doesn't make sense as you wouldn't make it onto pole if you were...) but it's still an advantage to be at the front in the first place. Button's only 2 laps down... Will depend on where they all come out in traffic more than anything I suspect (unless there's an incident of some sort that requires the safety car).

Have you not seen any Spanish GPs in the last couple of decades? Only '91, '96 and '97 were worth watching that I can remember, other than the excellent move by an ailing Michael Schumacher on his brother in 2000 to let Barrichello past the 2 of them, and of course the last lap drama of 2001.

I can barely remember what I did last week! And I was comparing it to Valencia which was the most boring race *I can remember* in recent times. Oh and the forecast is still for (light) rain at the moment:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/forecast/5001