Grand Prix 2013 Australian Grand Prix Practice, Qualifying & Race Discussion

Finally F1 is back! After three months without racing, waiting for car launches and testing, the first race of the 2013 Formula One season at Melbourne is just around the corner.

A quick look on what has changed compared to last year:

Teams:
HRT are not on the grid anymore.

Drivers:
- Lewis Hamilton replaces Michael Schumacher at Mercedes.
- Sergio Perez replaces Lewis Hamilton at McLaren.
- Sauber start this season with a completely new line-up as Nico Hülkenberg and Esteban Gutierrez replace Sergio Perez and Kamui Kobayashi.
- Adrian Sutil replaces Nico Hülkenberg at Force India.
- Valtteri Bottas is Williams’ new driver, replacing Bruno Senna.
- At Caterham Vitaly Petrov and Heikki Kovalainen are being replaced by Charles Pic and Giedo van der Garde.
- Marussia bring on Jules Bianchi and Max Chilton in favor of Timo Glock and Charles Pic.

For the complete line-ups please check this brilliant overview from teabagyokel http://cliptheapex.com/threads/2013-driver-by-driver-preview.6011/

Circuits:
- The German Grand Prix is being held at the Nürburgring instead of Hockenheim.
- There won't be a race in Valencia this year, as the Spanish Grand Prix will alternate between Barcelona and Valencia from now on, starting with Barcelona.

Pre-season testing suggests that (as almost always) it is almost impossible to predict which teams will be at the very front of the grid. Red Bull look as strong as ever. Ferrari look significantly better than at this stage last year. McLaren seem to be struggling a bit. Mercedes appear to have made some progress over the last weeks and might be able to surprise us all. Lotus look like they could be fighting at the top this year as well.

In the midfield battle it seems that Williams and Sauber could have the upper hand over Toro Rosso and Force India, who have waited a very very long time to announce their second driver, Adrian Sutil.

Caterham and Marussia will probably be at the back end of the grid again. It seems very unlikely that any of them is going to be able to fight for points consistently. What is interesting though is, since HRT aren’t on the grid anymore, there will now be six drivers eliminated in Q1, which means, that apart from the Caterham and Marussia guys, there will now be two drivers of other teams out of qualifying after the first part of it.

How will Lewis Hamilton do for Mercedes? Is Mercedes’ completely new structured team going to improve? Is Sebastian Vettel going to pave his way for a fourth consecutive championship? How will Sergio Perez settle in at McLaren? Is Jenson Button going to win for the fourth time in Melbourne? Will Ferrari be able to win races from the outset?

Many questions! At least some of them will be answered in two weeks’ time at the 2013 Australian Grand Prix at Melbourne!
Let’s get it on!!

 

[Vortex]

Once again… what a farce.

 

[Kewee]

At least we're going to see what these cars are like going head to head during qualifying on a hopefully dry track.

 

[Jos the Boss]

The teams will get their cars back from parc ferme at 0900, so they will have two hours to play with them

Adam Cooper

 

[Brogan]

All they can do is change brake cooling ducts and a few small other things due to the "changing climactic conditions".

 

[Kewee]

Jos the Boss.......which is what I suggested a few postings back when I suggested a compromise would be reached regarding the rules in the interest of fairness.

 

[landogeorgelewis1]

So glad I sky plused this now and not get up at silly o'clock to watch it. I heard from a relo down under that the prospects of it been cancelled were high. So glad common sense came into play and the silly mess was sorted out in the end. Will be staying up and getting up early tonight/tomorrow though .

However, thoroughly enjoyed the Mclaren boys play darts and pool with the sky people. Also am pleased to see Natale Pinkham getting used much more, you can tell she has a real passion for the sport .

 

[gethinceri]

Interesting that you Sky+ then watch all the "incidentals" HammydiRestarules, i recorded it and wound through everything that wasn't "live". If i want to watch people playing darts and pool in the pub I'll go to the pub.

 

[Boyle]

My understanding is that it wasn't so much the rain that brought an end to the session but bad light. For a track that isn't set up for night races (i.e. floodlights) and the time being 1850 the drivers probably couldn't see sufficiently (remember the cameras always make it appear brighter ). In the end a good decision but maybe I'd be more pissed off if I were there or had set my alarm this morning...

 

[Chad Stewarthill]

All the more reason to stop having the race at stupid o'clock, just for the benefit of us Europeans (who have never been consulted by FOM on the matter anyway). It's about time Bernie gave some respect to the wishes and benefits of the locals.

And while I'm at it, they should return to the format of allowing set-up changes on race day, to prevent anyone being unfairly penalised (or gain undue advantage) by the vagaries of the weather.

 

[teabagyokel]

Chad Stewarthill - I doubt many are enticed by moving it from 3am to 6am anyway.

 

[Brogan]

It's about time Bernie gave some respect to the wishes and benefits of the locals.

Stupid is as stupid does.

 

[Josephiah]

Mate.

I'm confused over whether

a) you're ordering us to reproduce, or​

b) we've been playing a game of chess without me noticing up until now...​

 

[Brogan]

Did anyone notice that Charles Pic's time was 107.009% of the fastest time in Q1.
No doubt he will be allowed to participate in the race but he will need the stewards' permission.

Here is the official FIA communication concerning the remainder of qualifying.

1. All Cars used during Q1 must be covered and ready for FIA seals to be applied at 21:20
2. Two Hours before the start of Q2 (09:00) seals and covers may be removed, but the cars will remain under Parc Fermé conditions until the start of the Race.
3. Q2 will commence at 11:00 for 15 minutes,
4. There will then be an interval of 8 minutes from the end of Q2 until the start of Q3.

 

[mnmracer]

He's short just 0.010 seconds
Though that's actually the 2nd closest in history. Damon Hill in the 1999 French Grand Prix set a time 107.002%, just 0.003 seconds short.

 

[RasputinLives]

I think they'll take into account that he would have been well inside if the daft bugger hadn't dropped it on his final run.

 

[mnmracer]

Yeah, it's a pitty both Caterhams made a mistake on their intermediate laps, considering they were faster on full-wets. Would have loved to see who was faster on inters.

 

[ExtremeNinja]

Does the 107% rule apply in changeable conditions? I was under the impression that it didn't.

 

[The Pits]

I dont see why the rule should depend on weather conditions. It does allow for the discretion of the stewards, who can call using more info.

 

[Brogan]

The rule always applies, at the discretion of the stewards.

As I posted above, I have no doubt he will be permitted to participate but he will need permission.

 

[teabagyokel]

The Pits - Its done to stop those incapable of achieving 107%, not those otherwise incapacitated in Q1.