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/

 

[The Artist.....]

I do wonder how many coded messages are in the radio transmissions and in the post race interviews to confuse the opposition. I do remember on Button's radio after the safety car hearing the comment saying he had plenty of fuel.

A real case of Bullshit Baffles Brains

Well, it could be a case of - he was tight on fuel until the safety car came out. After that point, he managed to save fuel through the safety car period, meaning he could open the taps for the rest of the race (As evidenced by him setting the fastest lap on the penultimate lap....)

 

[racecub]

I was pretty disapointed with the race for obvious reasons, which have partly been discussed. Apart from that.........

Sad for Grosjean getting punted off by Maldonado, Im of the mind 'let them race' and Maldonado actually got his karma on the last lap, but in view of the liberal penalties distrubuted last year for less, a tad inconsistent once again.
Impressed with Kimi
Disapointed with the race pace of Mercedes
Impressed with Alonso's drive
Impressed with Vettel's drive, particularly his overtake on Rosberg before DRS was activated

 

[racecub]

I'm getting tired of saying this, but NO MORE DISCUSSION OF ILLEGAL STREAMS.

This is in breach of the site rules and we don't allow it for good reason.

Im sorry, I didnt know that.

 

[Brogan]

Im sorry, I didnt know that.

Well you should as everyone has to explicitly close the notice explaining about the site rules, and as it states:

"This notice can be dismissed by clicking the X in the upper right corner. Doing so will signify that you have read the rules."

 

[KekeTheKing]

Strongly, strongly disagree with this. A guy most think is the inferior of Williams' pay drivers out qualifies his teammate by a big margin and gets Williams in the points on merit. Hassles the Ferrari driven by (in some people's view) the best driver on the grid lap after lap. He's inexperienced, and unless Bruno's totally incompetent (which I'm not ruling out) he was driving at a pace beyond what the car should be achieving. So he dropped it, but he dropped it from a fantastic position that nobody thought he could achieve, when in equal machinery Bruno was driving into everything in sight and not going quick when he wasn't. On the contrary I think he's one of the standout drivers of the weekend, and I'm really not a fan of the guy. He's scary.

P6 would have been monumental for Williams today. Binning it on the final lap was an egregious error. Think of the cost in parts and man-hours that lie ahead in a fly-away week now instead of good feelings throughout the team from a solid points haul they should have had.

Maldonado has royally cocked it up on both occasions where he was heading for a great finish. This one being worse than Monaco I'm afraid.

I know you never miss a chance to have a go at Senna, but to tout Pastor's effort today is a little much.

 

[The Artist.....]

P6 would have been monumental for Williams today. Binning it on the final lap was an egregious error. Think of the cost in parts and man-hours that lie ahead in a fly-away week now instead of good feelings throughout the team from a solid points haul they should have had.

Maldonado has royally cocked it up on both occasions where he was heading for a great finish. This one being worse than Monaco I'm afraid.

I know you never miss a chance to have a go at Senna, but to tout Pastor's effort today is a little much.

Senna had an atrocious qualifying.

However, he also was performing relatively well in the race, albeit being hit by anyone and everyone! His race was ruined on the first lap when the Torro Rosso clouted him! From that point on, he was never going to be in a position to challenge - yet managed to get close to a top 10 finish when Massa decided to start hitting cars again!

Maldonado is NOT a slow driver. Senna is NOT a slow driver. Get over it whippet! Both of them deserve places in F1 - ok so both may be prone to mistakes, but who isn't?!?

 

[ExtremeNinja]

Massa won't last the season if he's putting in performances like that one.

I wouldn't have him for even the next race.

 

[The Artist.....]

I wouldn't have him for even the next race.

Being fair, who would take his place for Malaysia?

Personally, I can't see Massa lasting the season - he's lost his mojo... - He's never been the same since Hungary '09 - and actually seems to be getting worse!

 

[Cookinflatsix]

Massa still has a role to play at Ferrari

As the perfect spoiler for Alonso, who will need all the help he can get till the car is redesigned. Ofcourse he will have to try keep his car on track long enough to actually aid Ferdy in some way

I don't see what's to be gained by replacing him yet

 

[tooncheese]

Someone was asking about Hamilton's Tyre degradation.

I'm currently typing up the Tyre Analysis, which will be ready in the next couple of days. Button and Haimilton have very similar levels of degradation. To the point where it is hard to distinguish their two lines.

 

[ExtremeNinja]

Being fair, who would take his place for Malaysia?!

My Mum

 

[Mephistopheles]

Someone was asking about Hamilton's Tyre degradation.

I'm currently typing up the Tyre Analysis, which will be ready in the next couple of days. Button and Haimilton have very similar levels of degradation. To the point where it is hard to distinguish their two lines.

Actually I've always thought they used up their tyres in pretty much the same way, there seems to be a lot bigger difference between the way Vettel and Webber use theirs and also Alonso and Massa.

I eagerly await your findings..

 

[KekeTheKing]

It seems to me that Hamilton ALWAYS loses ground to Button in the final 2-3 laps of their stints. He's often faster in the beginning so it usually evens out.

They should have pitted Lewis before Jenson at the first stops. Had to be fair though.

 

[Mephistopheles]

I must say that after the race watching Vettel congratulate Button before the podium ceremony he seemed overly chuffed for Button I maybe reading this wrong but I wonder if he would have been the same with Hamilton if he had won, given that Vettel probably knows that it irks Lewis that he is the one getting all the records.

I think it maybe a case of that all the praise and back slapping and smiles was more for Hamilton's sake than Button's also if he has to be beat then he would rather it be button than Lewis who beat him.

Just an observation don't hang me for it.

 

[Brogan]

They should have pitted Lewis before Jenson at the first stops. Had to be fair though.

Staying out for that extra lap certainly didn't help Lewis.
We saw the same thing last season when the McLarens were running line astern,

However, that's McLaren policy.

 

[Mephistopheles]

It seems to me that Hamilton ALWAYS loses ground to Button in the final 2-3 laps of their stints. He's often faster in the beginning so it usually evens out.

They should have pitted Lewis before Jenson at the first stops. Had to be fair though.

McLaren's policy is that the lead driver gets the choice of when to stop first (As it is with other teams with the exception of Ferrari I suspect.) they can't go changing this on the fly it wouldn't be fair.

 

[Galahad]

They brought them in on the same lap at the second stops, and that hurt Lewis too. Pretty unlucky.

 

[KekeTheKing]

I think it maybe a case of that all the praise and back slapping and smiles was more for Hamilton's sake than Button's also if he has to be beat then he would rather it be button than Lewis who beat him.

If it was, Lewis didn't see it. He was pissed at himself, had his back turned while fiddling with his Pirelli hat, and seemingly couldn't care less. He knows he's in danger of becoming clear #2 at McLaren if Jenson can leave him at the start like that. He was more concerned with his own lackluster race than anything else.

 

[KekeTheKing]

However, that's McLaren policy.

And as you've said in the past, the reason why it'll be hard for either driver to win a WDC while in the same team.

 

[Mephistopheles]

If it was, Lewis didn't see it. He was pissed at himself, had his back turned while fiddling with his Pirelli hat, and seemingly couldn't care less. He knows he's in danger of becoming clear #2 at McLaren if Jenson can leave him at the start like that. He was more concerned with his own lackluster race than anything else.

Yes that's correct he could barely bring himself to speak in the press conference and there was a severe lack of champers being sprayed in Button's direction from him.

Doesn't change my observation though.