Grand Prix 2011 Australian Grand Prix Practice, Qualifying & Race Discussion

And so finally it's here.

After the recent events in Bahrain the delayed 2011 Formula One season is underway this weekend in Melbourne, Australia.

For the history of the event and the circuit information, click on the link below:

Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit (Albert Park) | Clip The Apex

As we stand on the brink of the new F1 season there are many un-answered questions. How will the new tyres effect each team? who will find the right package from the off? and many others.

Unusually for a pre-season testing period there was very little information that could be gained by F1 fans as to who would have the upper hand as the season get's underway. Mclaren appear to be struggling with their new car while Ferrari and Red Bull seem to be the early pace setters.

Williams have designed a radical new car for this season and it could mark the return to the front end of the grid for them while the jury is still out as to the performance of Mercedes and if they can make up for a lacklustre season last year. Both Rosberg and Schumacher have been positive in the press about their new car however the time sheets at the pre-season tests didn't exactly match their opinions. Renault have designed one of the more radical cars at the start of the season but without the talent of Robert Kubica the team may not get off to the start they had hoped for. Heidfeld is an experienced replacement but will he have the speed that his former team mate has?

Towards the rear of the grid, Torro Rosso look like they could be swallowed by at least two of the new teams from last season while Sauber will hope to have built on their improvment from 2010 and move towards the front end of the grid. Force India will also be hoping that a rough showing in pre-season testing will not translate in to a rough season.

Of last seasons new teams, both Lotus and Virgin have made strides forward with their 2011 challengers. The very least they will be looking for at the first race is to match the times of the cars at the tail end of Q1. HRT meanwhile, look to have produced a car that is a leap ahead on their 2010 effort but will once again suffer from a total lack of pre-season testing and from a tiny budget with which to develop the car further.

So, who is going to be quick out of the box and who is going to suffer a rude awakening with their cars? The first indication we will have will be in the small hours of Thursday night/Friday morning Uk time but we won't really know until qualification starts on Saturday.

Bring it on..................
 
This is completely the wrong thread, but at least it will be seen by everyone.

As you all know, KekeTheKing has been working hard on the 1982 overtaking data and I have finally updated the main overtaking page to include it: Formula One Overtaking Statistics & Analysis | Clip The Apex

A huge thanks to Keke and Galahad for their efforts.

And now, just to post something on topic, how is this weekend's race going to compare when it comes to the number of passes?
The average at Melbourne is just 15 but as we all know, last year was the first ever wet race which really pushed the average up.
 
and I'll be there trackside tomorrow care of a company paid stand seat :)

Sat/Sun I'll be slumming it in the General Admission, but tbh I prefer it amongst the mob

weather has been wet all week, will have some rain tomorrow but not too much, getting better Sat - then Sunday should be clear. I'll take some pics and post them up over the weekend, but be warned I don't have a fancy camera or a good eye for it ;)
 
A few trends (handy if you're of a gambling persuasion, though betting on the first race of the season carries a certain level of risk!)

Positives:
  • Melbourne is the only circuit where Jenson Button has won more than once.
  • Sébastien Buemi finished seventh at Melbourne on his F1 debut in 2009. He has yet to better that result.
  • Fernando Alonso has been a classified finisher at every Australian Grand Prix he has contested. This will be his tenth visit to Albert Park.
  • Renault have scored more points at Melbourne over the past ten years than at any other current circuit.
  • HRT got a car home in 14th position at Albert Park last year, a result that they failed to improve upon in the remainder of their debut season.
Negatives:
  • Sebastian Vettel has yet to score a point Down Under, despite starting his three Australian GPs from 9th, 3rd and 1st on the grid.
  • Timo Glock's best grid position in his three Australian Grands Prix is 18th. Last year he qualified 23rd.
  • Mark Webber's nine Melbourne races have yielded an average of less than a point each.
  • Jarno Trulli (8 from 14) and Felipe Massa (5 from 8) have both retired from more than half of their Albert Park starts.
  • Apart from Korea, Melbourne is the only current circuit where Red Bull have never managed a podium finish.
  • Despite their three wins, McLaren have only taken one pole position at Melbourne in the past 10 years.
  • Ferrari have a worse recent finishing record in Albert Park than any other current venue (13 finishes from 20 starts in the past decade).
  • Similarly, Force India (and in their previous team guises) have only managed 10 finishes from 20 starts there in the same period.
 
Wow! Interesting stat's G.
Especially concerning Red Bull and their current drivers.

I'm off to review my FF1 selections :D
 
The idea is that they say who's done good and who's done bad, not what'd be good from a McLaren perspective. We're open to fans of Red Cars and Extended Fingers here, you know!
 
The idea is that they say who's done good and who's done bad, not what'd be good from a McLaren perspective. We're open to fans of Red Cars and Extended Fingers here, you know!

Of course, tby, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
But as a Hammy fan, with the seeming debacle that has been Macca's winter testing, I'll clutch at any straw I can find!
 
I never sleep more than 4 or 5 hours and am sometimes asleep by 8.30pm - so anyone's guess and I will just go with my rather erratic body clock. Could be one or both practices or, maybe neither, if I'm still awake at midnight :(

Ho, hum
 
I'm not sure what my body clock will be wanting to do... I'm thinking of missing FP1 tonight and getting myself to bed earlier than normal so I can up at 6am for the next 3 mornings. I'm also out on Saturday night and as its a friends birthday its going to be quite a heavy night of drinking. One thing that is certain is that I will be logging onto Chat and hopefully the conversation with you guys will stop me from falling asleep!
 
This weekend will be the first real test of the new chat system too.
Although there were some occasions during pre-season testing when there quite a few members in there.

Hopefully the site won't crash :D
 
This weekend will be the first real test of the new chat system too.
Although there were some occasions during pre-season testing when there quite a few members in there.

Hopefully the site won't crash :D

It'll be fine - stress not
 
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