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/

 

[MCLS]

Vettel on Rosberg is my overtake of the race certainly, I did not expect that!

 

[Kewee]

I think McLaren got it wrong at the pit stops. Mostly at the 1st pit stops. It was the same old story of Lewis needing to pit first as Jenson had a comfortable gap and had tyres in better condition and by keeping Lewis out he lost a huge amount of time. I know they give their first driver preference, but I think they need to look at the bigger picture sometimes if they want to get more 1-2s.

I also think there was no need to double-pit both drivers. If he'd have pitted the same lap as Vettel then he'd of stayed ahead.

Hindsights a wonderful thing. They had no idea there was going to be a safety car when they pitted both cars.

 

[F1Yorkshire]

Pitting both cars probably saved them a little, if they had waited another lap to bring in Lewis then he may have got caught behind the train. Nothing wrong with McLarens call there.

 

[Kewee]

Very good race. Fernando Alonso was absolutely immense...just goes to show what a top driver can do in a difficult to drive, average car. Great win for Button, suprising to see him beat Lewis straight out for pace

Wheres he got this pace from

If your referring to Button, he's always had the pace, just not the team or car. When he won with Brawn the great British knocking machine went viral and said it was the car. Those who have followed his career and understood the difficulties he has been faced with in the past know he's always been top draw. I hope people start to realize that and give him the credit he deserves.

 

[KekeTheKing]

It was clear that Lewis needed to pit first on both stops, but McLaren usually defer to the lead car. It was his own fault he was P2 though.

 

[mjo]

Ok, I woke up halfway through the race due to me being stupid and forgetting to turn the volume up on the ipod! From what I did see, it was a fantastic drive from Jenson, and Lewis was really unlucky with the safety car and all that. Alonso, as usual, somehow managed to drag the Ferrari into fifth - although I did think Maldonado would take him. Unlucky for Vergne, a tenth of a second away from points, well done Perez, considering he had one stop.

My FF1 team was wildly flawed this weekend.

Bring on Malaysia!

 

[johnnoble1990]

Great race and a brilliant performance by Jenson. Vettel's overtake on Rosberg perhaps will answer some of our questions whether he can race. It was a good performance from Sebastian, though he was very lucky to get 2nd, as I think Mclaren had them beat for pace today. As for Lewis, I can't help sharing in his disappointment, but I think it is vital he remembers how long the season is and shows some optimism. I think it is at a point now between Jenson and Lewis where which ever driver is in front, you'd expect them to win; where this plays into Lewis hands is qualifying, where he has the slight edge. More importantly though, Lewis needs to focus on getting back to his best, because it is clear that he has lost some of his confidence.

 

[Kewee]

I think some of you are reading far too much into the situation Lewis found himself in. It has nothing to do with confidence. They're both great drivers. Button got a slightly better start, game over, providing their pit stops were clean, they were so Jenson won. Forget about one lap speed, that doesn't win GP's, these two are so closely matched over a race distance whichever one of them gets the best start will be the likely winner.

 

[johnnoble1990]

I think it is at a point now between Jenson and Lewis where which ever driver is in front, you'd expect them to win.

Pretty much as I said, yet I think Lewis Hamilton has been quicker than this in the past, particularly the first year he matched/bettered Fernando Alonso and 2008.

 

[F1ang-o]

Heard that the FIA stripped down the Mclaren front wing last night.... to check if it was legal?

Lewis has not had a face like that since Turkey 2010..... when he thought that Button & team had tried to pull a fast one.
He wasn't giving anything away at the winners press conference.

Well as some else said...I'll press the reply anyway...with trepidation.

 

[johnnoble1990]

This season is going to be amazing though, with the field this tight. Once we get to a more natural overtaking circuit I reckon we'll see some fireworks at the front.

 

[Kewee]

Pretty much as I said, yet I think Lewis Hamilton has been quicker than this in the past, particularly the first year he matched/bettered Fernando Alonso and 2008.

The situation between Hamilton and Alonso in 2007 was freakish to say the least. A brilliant rookie who could throw caution to the wind, and any errors, if there had been any, would have been excused as rookie mistakes, up against an equally brilliant two times World Champion who was expected to win and carried those pressures into every race. When you look at their results, including Hamiltons Championship year since then, I don't think anyone would suggest Hamiltons a better driver than Alonso. I don't believe any driver today could have put in a drive like we saw from Alonso in that very underdeveloped Ferrari.

 

[GeoffP]

2007 was a very different racing year. The fuel strategy decided the race strategy. Hamilton was, and is the king of wringing very drop out of tyres that had tread to spare.

With this advantage gone he is now competing with the tyre king, Jenson, in the same car.

How lucky are we to be watching to see which skill will gain the most in each race and season!

Just a damn shame the instructions to Pirelli hamstring some of Lewis' upside

 

[Kewee]

2007 was a very different racing year. The fuel strategy decided the race strategy. Hamilton was, and is the king of wringing very drop out of tyres that had tread to spare.

With this advantage gone he is now competing with the tyre king, Jenson, in the same car.

How lucky are we to be watching to see which skill will gain the most in each race and season!

Just a damn shame the instructions to Pirelli hamstring some of Lewis' upside

Not sure about that. It was Lewis shredding his tyres in 2007 that cost him the Title. Maybe the team could shoulder some of the blame but if Lewis had nursed his tyres just a little more in that penultimate race Kimi wouldn't have taken the Championship.

 

[GeoffP]

It was the team that kept him out - maybe the fact the tyres couln't take it proves the point

 

[Cookinflatsix]

Good race, lots of good drives and action. Button drove well

Like a few races last year though, it's another case of Lewis losing speed on race day when faster in qualifying, his car clearly did not have the pace of Jensons, towards the end Webber was on him whereas Seb couldn't catch Button

Lewis once again looked a little bewildered at his lack of pace, let's hope it doesn't happen every race

 

[LifeW12]

When we do the overtaking stats is it possible to list DRS assisted and non-DRS assisted passes?

 

[johnnoble1990]

Regardless, it simply came down to luck. Lewis only lost the car right at the end of the stint on the entry to the pit. It is a shame it happened, as Lewis achievements that season were incredible and the fact that the title slipped away so dramatically probably draw from just how incredible they were.

Yes, tyre management is important, but we have seen some outstanding performances from Lewis in these conditions. I think if we give him a chance, he will prove to us he is able to get the balance between tyre management and speed. In many ways, he showed us that in todays race. Other than the gap Jenson pulled out in the early laps, their time were pretty consistent after that.

 

[Kewee]

I'm not anti Lewis in any way. I've said on numerous occasions he's a brilliant driver, but I have one issue that disappoints. Lewis is no better now, entering his sixth year in the sport than he was in 2007. I'm not sure why but I suspect he allowed himself too many distractions that came with his star power. Hopefully his new management will handle his life off the track a little better than in the past, then we may see the improvement I feel is still waiting to be discovered.

 

[Brogan]

An enjoyable race with tension all the way to the end.

Red Bull clearly have better race pace than qualifying pace. Quite the opposite for Mercedes.

Hamilton was slightly unfortunate to come out in traffic after his first stop which compromised the rest of his race.

Great job by Alonso.

Excellent result for Sauber.

Maldonado won't be very popular at Williams right now after chucking away 6th place on the last lap.

Grosjean was very disappointing after his qualifying, although his retirement wasn't his fault.

Massa once again out for a game of Sunday dodgems.

As for this:

Like a few races last year though, it's another case of Lewis losing speed on race day when faster in qualifying, his car clearly did not have the pace of Jensons, towards the end Webber was on him whereas Seb couldn't catch Button

Don't you mean Hamilton didn't have the pace of Button?
Or are you suggesting that Hamilton's car is somehow slower in race trim?

There comes a point where your defence of Hamilton, with all evidence to the contrary, just looks silly.