Embarrassment for Raikkonen? The Reborn Grosjean...

[bigpat]

Kimi CAN drive, full stop.

In the WRC, what is not told is that in testing, when you drive a known road a number times, he matched, if not beat Sebastian Loeb...

When you have to do it with someone constantly in your ear ( not what he is used to) it was much harder, as you would expect.

Yes Kimi wasn't the same in 2009, as I think he lacked motivation. A few years away has shown him what he missed. I think he appreciates his opportunity a lot more now. Hi maturity has shown in the 2 races. He mightn't qualify well, but he brings the car home in the points. I think he's still feeling his way around.

As for Grosean, he must be good if Boullier has given him another chance. It is said the speed is there, if he relaxes and let's is happen. I think we saw a glimpse of that in Melbourne. Remember we can't see the telemetry from the cars. This is where the teams know if a driver is the real deal or not. He is fortunate he has a second chance, as there a numerous talatented drivers that have fallen through the cracks in F1 like Pizzonia, Pantano, James Courtney, Ryan Briscoe, Jorg Muller etc...

[Donuts]

Hmm... I really don't know what to think of Grosjean.

Eric Boullier will be most critical to Grosjean and he will be swiftly removed if performance is not improved.
The car (Lotus) is not slow at all. Just a fraction behind RB8 I think. In fact, even the Williams and Sauber look incredibly fast at race trim.
Anyway, Lotus better take advantage of this before the top teams got a handled of the tire behaviours.

What makes you say that? I think they are even with Vodafone McLaren , in fact I think as soon as Kimi Raikkonen has an error free* "flying lap" in qualifying, he'll take pole position.

I think Lotus F1 Team is a "top team", allready in 2010 this was evident. I am just sorry Kubica is not at the steering wheel.

*Looking at his qualifying lap in Malaysia, he pushed the car to hard, made two-three misstakes(what I could count). I belive him when he said he could have been on pole. He has'nt been perfect in qualifying, that's the truth.

[Maelstrom]

Grosjean qualified very well in Melbourne and not quite as well in Sepang. He is probably one of the drivers who is doing even worse than the two MGP drivers in terms of race finishes.

The two bad finishes must not have done any wonders for his confidence and now i'm thinking he might be in a sink or swim mindframe.

With Raikonnen scoring good points in the past two races and looking better in the car Grosjean better start performing or he might be relegated to the no. 2 driver.

[lebesset]

With Raikonnen scoring good points in the past two races and looking better in the car Grosjean better start performing or he might be relegated to the no. 2 driver.

his management company might have a little influence over that !
hang about , who is his management company ?

[raymondu999]

Gravity Motorsport I think. In other words, Boullier! in a way like how Briatore was Alonso's manager

[raymondu999]

I read an article saying that Kimi's power steering issue was that he wanted a lighter power steering rack because apparently a heavier rack means that more muscle power has to be used, and that somehow dampens the nuances of feel, and that is hurting his entry into corners.

Disclaimer: Peter Windsor's theory

[GrizzleBoy]

I can understand that.

Maybe he wants to know for sure that the wheel is resisting because the wheels are gripping the track as he turns, not because the wheel is heavy.

[raymondu999]

It can be argued both ways I think - almost bizzarely. Trulli I believe complained of steering that was too light because power steering did too much - dampening the magnitude of the sensation through the wheel. Then on the flipside there's your reasoning too

[GrizzleBoy]

It can be argued both ways I think - almost bizzarely. Trulli I believe complained of steering that was too light because power steering did too much - dampening the magnitude of the sensation through the wheel. Then on the flipside there's your reasoning too

I was thinking the exact same thing as I typed my post.

I think maybe, one guy like to be more aggressive with the wheel and therefore needs to have more aggressive feedback.

While the other is easier with his wheel and therefore requires the feedback through the wheel be lighter so that they can maintain their smooth style without having to make drastic movements to counter heavy feedback?

/speculation

[bhall]

I read an article saying that Kimi's power steering issue was that he wanted a lighter power steering rack because apparently a heavier rack means that more muscle power has to be used, and that somehow dampens the nuances of feel, and that is hurting his entry into corners.

Disclaimer: Peter Windsor's theory

No need for a disclaimer. The team has admitted Raikkonen is having power steering issues. He wants very precise and feather-light steering, and the team is working on a stronger system for him.

(I'm sure the article I read on the subject can still be found. I just can't be bothered to do it myself.)

EDIT: It was just too easy to find. http://www.f1technical.net/news/17169

[raymondu999]

That part is known - but the line of reasoning that says heavier steering = less feel is Peter Windsor's

[bhall]

Oops. Sorry.

I think Windsor's got a point, but I also think it's pointless. Steering characteristics in regard to "feel," "ease," whatever, are down to driver preference. What's perfect for one driver could be terrible for another.

[Ray]

Peter Windsor is full of hyperbole. He talks fondly and lovingly of whomever is the current "star" in Formula 1 and really gets gushy about them. I've learned to ignore Windsor because most of what he says is him blowing smoke and being overly ridiculous with his speech. Not to mention when Lewis came to F1 he was insufferable. Lewis literally could have set fire to everything Windsor owned, and he would have said what graceful movements Lewis made while striking the match. The man has no objectivity at all.

[raymondu999]

Hence my disclaimer!

Yup - and he'll shamelessly change a prediction. He might for example predict Alonso for a victory; then when Button wins he'll write how he always knew it would be Button.

[godlameroso]

It can be argued both ways I think - almost bizzarely. Trulli I believe complained of steering that was too light because power steering did too much - dampening the magnitude of the sensation through the wheel. Then on the flipside there's your reasoning too

It could be a factor as to why Trulli was fast over one lap but not over a race. He needed that strong feedback, but imparted more fatigue as the race wore on.