Grand Prix 2012 Australian Grand Prix Practice, Qualifying & Race Discussion

Gentleman, start your engines

Despite it feeling only a few weeks since the season ending Brazilian Grand Prix last November the Australian Grand Prix is coming very quickly into view to start of a season which hopefully promises to be a lot closer than the 2011 season where Sebastian Vettel ran away with the Championship and had it virtually won by mid season.

Looking at testing and it is virtually impossible to see who is in the best shape going into the season opener apart from that Mclaren and Red Bull are the two teams in the best shape which really isn't surprising but the big surprise is the continual lack of pace from Ferrari despite a radical new car (the issues I commented on on a previous thread).

As for the midfield it is anyone's guess as all the midfield have all been up and down the testing rankings throughout the winter and it'll only be qualifying where we see a true reflection of where the grid is in terms of reliability. Without a doubt Lotus have had the most work to do after they had to make a major chassis change involving suspension mounts which meant abandoning one of the test sessions but that doesn't seem to have had a major effect on the team and with Kimi Raikkonen at the wheel it is hoped that they can challenge Mercedes after a fairly disappointing 2011 after a strong start.

Once again HRT are the joke of the entire grid as they once again go into the first race of the season without having so much as turned the wheel before after crash test problems earlier this year and it will be a miracle if they actually qualify as they failed to do so in Melbourne in 2011, but they could be joined by Marussia who have also had problems with their new car and have had to test with a modified 2011 car recently and they will also be struggling to even qualify for Melbourne which isn't good news for the team unless they can pull a rabbit out of the hat with the new car.

This seasons cars (apart from Mclaren) are characterised by the distinctive stepped nose due to new regulations about front wing height and this is how the vast majority of teams have interpreted this rule and it seems that only Mclaren are running a 'smooth' nose and it remains to be seen whether this was a correct decision and one that can mean they can challenge for the title after an average 2011 (unless you're Button of course)

For the British viewers 2012 is going to be a completely different viewing experience as Formula One is going to be broadcast on satellite television for the first time. When it was announced that Sky would be broadcasting F1 with BBC showing only half of the races (live) it was met with uproar from all quarters but as more details have been announced, many fans (me included) are rather looking forward to the full F1 package that is being provided this season with the F1 channel being launched in a matter of days!

For Galahads brilliant circuit write up, see here http://cliptheapex.com/pages/melbourne-grand-prix-circuit-albert-park/

 

[Brogan]

Did he specifically make a radio call asking to pit for new tyres and did the team explicitly refuse?

If so, I missed that during the race.

 

[johnnoble1990]

I suspect Williams are quicker than Ferrari at the moment. The whole field is so close, that stating their positions relative to each other right now is pretty pointless. Maldonado had a very good drive, for someone who is generally seen as a paydriver. I think it says a lot of the field that even the paydrivers are putting in good performances.

 

[Galahad]

Which makes his overall performance in getting into that position up Alonso's gearbox all the more impressive. If he hadn't had that foray over the Astroturf earlier, he may well have ended up ahead of Fernando instead of behind him.

That's really my point - I strongly suspect the Williams is faster than the Ferrari, perhaps considerably so. It may be as good as, or better than, the Lotus as well. Yet I fear that the failure of Williams' drivers to access that speed consistently, or score the points that the car should, will obscure this. That's my feeling, and I hope in time I'm proved wrong.

To clarify: I see Maldonado being praised for a good drive, but we don't really have a benchmark for the speed we should be expecting from him; he's just quicker than he was last year. That's probably not him, though, rather the car. In terms of being less error-prone than last year, I didn't see anything to praise there either.

So I'm provisionally giving credit to Coughlan et al.

 

[ExtremeNinja]

Did he specifically make a radio call asking to pit for new tyres and did the team explicitly refuse?

If so, I missed that during the race.

I'm pretty sure he did.

As I remember it, he said: "The rear tyres are going"

The team came back at him with the usual "OK Lewis, we understand, we need a few more laps on these"

[note] This is my recollection, so don't hold me to it. It may have been before the first pitstop but I'm pretty sure it was before the second.

 

[Porceliamone]

Lewis Hamilton really does absolutely nothing to endear himself to his existing fans or the general viewing public. The fact he's already starting to come across as a stroppy little schoolboy and the head has already dropped doesn't bode well, one race into a new season! I'm a big fan of him as a racer, but his general demeanour just drives me up the wall these days.

He couldn't have looked more pissed off if he tried after the race on Sunday. It's clear his relationship with the other drivers is pretty non existent. He just turned his back and ignored everything going on around him while JB and SV had a little chat. He always looks uncomfortable and forced in interviews.

Chap, it could have been worse. Third is a great result. There's 19 more races to go. Pull your pants up, let the redness on your cheeks subside and go racing for ****s sake. It's getting very wearing.

 

[johnnoble1990]

If anyone is a candidate to be ahead of Lotus, it'd have to be Sauber right? I'm looking forward to what they can do if they give themselves a chance to make the Q3 shootout. They looked very quick saturday and sunday. Podium challenging quick.

 

[johnnoble1990]

Lewis Hamilton really does absolutely nothing to endear himself to his existing fans or the general viewing public. The fact he's already starting to come across as a stroppy little schoolboy and the head has already dropped doesn't bode well, one race into a new season! I'm a big fan of him as a racer, but his general demeanour just drives me up the wall these days.

He couldn't have looked more pissed off if he tried after the race on Sunday. It's clear his relationship with the other drivers is pretty non existent. He just turned his back and ignored everything going on around him while JB and SV had a little chat. He always looks uncomfortable and forced in interviews.

Chap, it could have been worse. Third is a great result. There's 19 more races to go. Pull your pants up, let the redness on your cheeks subside and go racing for ****s sake. It's getting very wearing.

I think a lot of what goes on with Lewis is due to him feeling he is failing to live up to people's and his own expectations. He's also clearly someone who is desperate to win. That is one thing I find "endearing" in him.

 

[Cookinflatsix]

I am sure at the next circuit and others, Hamiltons setup will be more effective for his style, and he and his engineers will have learnt a lot from what happened, the simple solution is qualify ahead and stay ahead

Should be a great season of racing ahead between the two and their respective philosophies on going about things, and the 2 Red Bulls are closer to each other and to McLaren than last year

Only 4 days till FP1, why can't we have more back to back races anyway, so what if some of the smaller teams can't drag themselves round the world in a week

 

[Bill Boddy]

Presumably the team wanted Hamilton to stay out longer to avoid him having to either make a third stop or have some very slow laps at the end. Hence the word "need".

 

[johnnoble1990]

I think a point that has been missed also is Jenson has won 3 out of the last 4 at Australia, so it isn't new for him to have pace there, although each was under its own circumstances.

 

[Mephistopheles]

Did he specifically make a radio call asking to pit for new tyres and did the team explicitly refuse?

If so, I missed that during the race.

No he didn't and no they didn't

 

[Mephistopheles]

I'm pretty sure he did.

As I remember it, he said: "The rear tyres are going"

The team came back at him with the usual "OK Lewis, we understand, we need a few more laps on these"

[note] This is my recollection, so don't hold me to it. It may have been before the first pitstop but I'm pretty sure it was before the second.

That conversation did take place but it was just to keep the team informed on the situation not a request just like when Jenson radioed in saying he was getting vibration from the tyres he was on the team responded in exactly the same way neither was asking for a pit stop.

These types of communications happen all the time between driver and chief engineer,

 

[Wombcat]

Presumably the team wanted Hamilton to stay out longer to avoid him having to either make a third stop or have some very slow laps at the end. Hence the word "need".

Yes.

As I remember it, he said: "The rear tyres are going"

The team came back at him with the usual "OK Lewis, we understand, we need a few more laps on these"

[note] This is my recollection, so don't hold me to it. It may have been before the first pitstop but I'm pretty sure it was before the second.

Your recollection is correct. My interpration of this conversation is that Hamilton told the pits what was happening, pits gave him advice/instructions to hang on a few more laps (because of what Bill Boddy is saying). If Hamilton doesn't accept the advice from the pits he needs to tell them that he really needs new tyres. Did he do that? I don't think so.

Edit: beaten by mephisopheles

 

[ExtremeNinja]

Maybe I should be clearer so people don't have to explain back to me what I was saying in the first place.

 

[tranquility2k9]

I'm pretty sure he did.

As I remember it, he said: "The rear tyres are going"

The team came back at him with the usual "OK Lewis, we understand, we need a few more laps on these"

[note] This is my recollection, so don't hold me to it. It may have been before the first pitstop but I'm pretty sure it was before the second.

That was during the 2nd stint, around about lap 32 from memory. Whereas I think people are asking if he radioed in to pit before the 1st pit stops when it is obvious he got pitted too late.

 

[tranquility2k9]

Lewis Hamilton really does absolutely nothing to endear himself to his existing fans or the general viewing public. The fact he's already starting to come across as a stroppy little schoolboy and the head has already dropped doesn't bode well, one race into a new season! I'm a big fan of him as a racer, but his general demeanour just drives me up the wall these days.

He couldn't have looked more pissed off if he tried after the race on Sunday. It's clear his relationship with the other drivers is pretty non existent. He just turned his back and ignored everything going on around him while JB and SV had a little chat. He always looks uncomfortable and forced in interviews.

Chap, it could have been worse. Third is a great result. There's 19 more races to go. Pull your pants up, let the redness on your cheeks subside and go racing for ****s sake. It's getting very wearing.

Honestly, I find people like you much more wearing than seeing a driver unhappy at losing to his team mate, when his team mate has taken victory (the ultimate blow). Lewis always openly shows his emotions and wears his heart on his sleeve a little. When he's happy he celebrates just as much as others, but when he's dissapointed in something or angry he'll generally let it show a bit more. I personally have no issue in this because it just shows he's human.

Let me name some other occasions when drivers have acted just as Lewis did, if not more so in similar circumstances. Vettel for one, has stood on the podium looking very angry and upset after losing some races and said after in the press conference that he was not happy as he thought he could have won. Webber has done the same. Even Button himself, going back to 2010 and early 2011 especially when he would sometimes get completely out-classed by Lewis, would outwardly show his emotions. Rosberg is another who has given many interviews where he was borderline rude to the person interviewing him because he was unhappy about something.

Yet whenever other drivers do this there isn't a big deal made about it, yet when it's Lewis, any tiny supposed fault is picked up on and magnified dis-proportionality. I don't think Lewis enjoys talking to the press quite as much as some other drivers, yet whenever he quiet and gives short answers, he gets criticised, yet Kimi for example, can do this and nothing gets said about it.

Lewis is incredibly competitive and has very high standards and it would be strange for him to look happy when he has just got beaten by his team mate. But I do not even think that he was so dissapointed by that - he was more dissapointed in his own performance. If you have listened to his interviews you would see that.

Did he actually say anything that was rude, surly or disrespectful to his team mate? No.

Did he go and congratulate his team mate immediately after getting out of the car and then go on to praise him on many other occasions, including saying he was simply dissapointed because his was not at the standard of the others (meaning Button and Vettel)? Yes

There's no point saying a driver should just be happy to be on the podium, it depends on the circumstances. Can you imagine Alonso, Vettel or Rosberg being happy if they'd been on pole and then had lost the race to their team mate and finished 3rd by just not having the pace. I think they'd also look a bit unhappy and mystified.

 

[Porceliamone]

Honestly, I find people like you much more wearing...

You obviously took my post rather personally. Was it necessary to direct an insult to me on an open forum?
Actually, don't bother responding. I have no intention in continuing any exchange with you on this.

 

[KekeTheKing]

There was no reason for Hamilton to be chipper after this race. Sure, it's early days, but it was a massive missed opportunity and a huge boost to his teammate and the twice-reigning WDC.

You rarely see top drivers enthralled with P3, especially after starting from Pole.

Watch some of the great champions of the past when they're on the podium after having not won the race. They look like someone just killed their dog.

 

[Cookinflatsix]

Spot on Tranq

I wish I could double like that post, the best I can do though is to like then unlike then like a few times

When Kimi can't even be bothered to give two word plus answers after a race when he is upset about something, well it's just the cool unemotional iceman and that's fine, that's impressive moody, but More emotional Lewis has to wear a fake smile for everyone or he is messing up again

 

[Jen]

It would be so nice if not every thread ended up arguing about bloody Hamilton - how about one in ten, as a benchmark?

Still gives him more air time than the other 23!