Australian Grand Prix 2012, Albert Park Circuit - Race 1/20

Moses said:
It's a level playing field, which means we can see relative performance, no?
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The rain is a level playing field, but that doesn't show a car's reletive performance. Brundle himself, said that the tack is x seconds slower and not yielding any grip.

I kind of know what you mean, but with the track conditions and lack of practise combined, I think we'll only know for sure (sorry I had to get that in) in Malaysia if it's dry. I mean look how many people spun off - Rosberg, Massa, Alonso, Vettel, Schumacher. That's got nothing to do with no EBD they'll be used to that from the thousands of miles of testing they've just done.
 
Gonna be a good race tomorrow but looks like McLaren should be leading from the off, be interesting to see if Vettel gets gobbled up by the quicker cars in a straight line.

Kimi will be one to watch for looking at Grosjeans performance, his smile in the press conference was one of the best bits for me.

Be interesting to see how tyre degradation impacts with the lack of EBD after the amount of mistakes being made today.

Anyone got an updated weather forecast?
 
One thing that's not been mentioned a lot was the performance difference between Hulkenberg and Di Resta. I rated the Hulk very highly in 2010, especially after his pole in Brazil, and Di Resta seemed to be fading in the latter half of last year.

I feel this year may be Di Restas last if he doesn't get some pace back in the next few races. 0.7s behind your teammate in an 'equal' status driver team won't see you around for long.
 
Shimmy said:
You think they haven't already tried using any new experimental parts?
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Of course they have (during the Winter).
What generally happens is a team will bring new parts to every race (weekend). They test them out during the practise sessions, THEN if they like the new part, they decide to use it in the race.

What I am suggesting, is that in order to speed up development they can use the races as glorified test sessions. In otherwords, rather than wasting time fighting for 1pt, they can kit both cars out with different experimental parts and test them during the race. If need be (and if possible), mid race, they can switch these parts out with other experimental pieces. This way, when they leave the race, they shall have more data to work with and this "should" speed up development.

Bear in mind though, that if they decide to do this, they may be regularly finishing 1+ laps down on the rest of the field and there is also the reliability aspect - the experimental parts may break during the race.

My way of thinking is that Ferrari need to concentrate on developing their car - move it forward - and not worry about individual race results or points. Develop the car, so that next year, they have a great package to work from (as a starting point).

Ferrari must do something radical, if they are to go for the title in 2013, assuming that 2012 is a write-off.
 
Spunkey said:
One thing that's not been mentioned a lot was the performance difference between Hulkenberg and Di Resta. I rated the Hulk very highly in 2010, especially after his pole in Brazil, and Di Resta seemed to be fading in the latter half of last year.

I feel this year may be Di Restas last if he doesn't get some pace back in the next few races. 0.7s behind your teammate in an 'equal' status driver team won't see you around for long.
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I thought I heard something on SSN that said he had an issue during qualifying, but didn't hear all of it so cannot confirm. Last year he wasn't the greatest qualifier but had good race pace, so will be interesting to see what he can make up tomorrow.
 
McLaren to scamper off into the distance please. If they can take good points from it all before Europe I'd say they could be in good form for a constructors :cool: They have shown in the last few years they have very good in season development.

Bloody good going from Lotus and Grosjean, Nice to see him with a massive grin.
Schumacher right in there also, Possible podium?

RBR I've got a feeling they are a little shocked by the pace of that McLaren now everyone has "pulled their pants down" If someone had told you they would be .7/8 sec off the pace at the beginning of this year would you of laughed at them? How much was RB7 really designed around that EBD? They will make a come back I feel, I just hope it's too little too late.

Ferrari.......
 
englishpremier said:
The rain is a level playing field, but that doesn't show a car's reletive performance. Brundle himself, said that the tack is x seconds slower and not yielding any grip.

I kind of know what you mean, but with the track conditions and lack of practise combined, I think we'll only know for sure (sorry I had to get that in) in Malaysia if it's dry. I mean look how many people spun off - Rosberg, Massa, Alonso, Vettel, Schumacher. That's got nothing to do with no EBD they'll be used to that from the thousands of miles of testing they've just done.
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Brundle is wrong, a LOT and 95% of his basis for saying its the track is that last years cars and the previous few years cars all moving a certain way with ridiculous downforce at the back had EVERYONE on rails through corners, now everyone is sliding around both in corners and putting the power down.

People are getting used to driving cars that actually have significantly less speed and less downforce in corners again, I think the best drivers are showing what a MASSIVE difference driver skill is playing.

People are saying Rossberg couldn't put together a clean lap and was unlucky, but maybe its just much harder. Maybe the conditions are just suiting Schumi and he has a lot more confidence(and experience) with holding a car and adjusting through the corner.

I think Hamilton, Schumi and oddly Alonso were all actually doing incredibly well, with Alonso you have to take into account that the Ferrari is just utterly cash, yet he put in a not at all bad decent first lap before he went off, with a car that looks almost the least handleable car on the grid. The difference between the Ferrari and back of the grid crap, is engine/pace/driver Alonso was ridiculously close to going into walls and sliding off the track to put in such a lap but he man handled that car into a decent lap in worse conditions than anyone else on the grid.


Also people are getting into the "see Mclaren didn't make a mistake" with the nose fight a little to early. Suppose a car a couple years ago had f-duct but no blown diffuser, and the another car had the blown diffuser and no f-duct, the f-duct initially made a bigger difference, but people found it easier to stick an f-duct on the car with the diffuser and the f-duct car needed drastically more changes to sort out the diffuser, and after 3 races the entire field left them in their wake.

It's FAR to early to declare any car, or any specific design feature a "win". Mclaren might still be half a second faster with a different nose setup and double drs and find it much harder to introduce than other cars do, when other cars nick idea's off the Mclaren, they might be much easier to implement and they could find themselves struggling quickly.

Could also go the other way and everyone else(with the money) goes Mclaren stylie.
 
sunama said:
Of course they have (during the Winter).
What generally happens is a team will bring new parts to every race (weekend). They test them out during the practise sessions, THEN if they like the new part, they decide to use it in the race.

What I am suggesting, is that in order to speed up development they can use the races as glorified test sessions. In otherwords, rather than wasting time fighting for 1pt, they can kit both cars out with different experimental parts and test them during the race. If need be (and if possible), mid race, they can switch these parts out with other experimental pieces. This way, when they leave the race, they shall have more data to work with and this "should" speed up development.

Bear in mind though, that if they decide to do this, they may be regularly finishing 1+ laps down on the rest of the field and there is also the reliability aspect - the experimental parts may break during the race.

My way of thinking is that Ferrari need to concentrate on developing their car - move it forward - and not worry about individual race results or points. Develop the car, so that next year, they have a great package to work from (as a starting point).

Ferrari must do something radical, if they are to go for the title in 2013, assuming that 2012 is a write-off.
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The biggest problem Ferrari have is the Italian press and trying to save face. It's something that seems to be very important to them and I've got a feeling they will go the hard way about things because of it.
 
ZG002 said:
The biggest problem Ferrari have is the Italian press and trying to save face. It's something that seems to be very important to them and I've got a feeling they will go the hard way about things because of it.
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Oh yes, of course the Italian press will be a problematic. BUT, if they decide to actually "race" and try and score points, I can't see the reason for racing so hard, just to get 1 or 2 pts (and maybe not even succeeding at that).

IMO, they need to take a radical approach, even if it means that they finish in 5th or 6th in the constructors' title.
 
ZG002 said:
RBR I've got a feeling they are a little shocked by the pace of that McLaren now everyone has "pulled their pants down"
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That's basically what has happened. They are shell-shocked - no doubt about it.

Before the race they were claiming that they did not do a single low fuel run, at any stage so far (which, I do not believe). Horner was saying that he was comfortable where he was, so I think they felt that they had a competitive car which could compete at the front.

Like you said 6 tenths off the pace is massive.
 
After this im even more gutted i might not see the season!

A lotus in 3rd? I hope its not a flash in the pan, been waiting for a promising year since alonso won in the renault.

Damn the bbc and my parents soon stopping sky!

AS for the race, i hope RG ends up infront of the ferraris (lol btw) and a few others, would be nice to see lotus 4th overall or even 3rd at years end.

Just need kimi.to not f it up
 
sunama said:
That's basically what has happened. They are shell-shocked - no doubt about it.

Before the race they were claiming that they did not do a single low fuel run, at any stage so far (which, I do not believe). Horner was saying that he was comfortable where he was, so I think they felt that they had a competitive car which could compete at the front.

Like you said 6 tenths off the pace is massive.
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So much for the people who said mclaren's pace was too good to be true. It is early days and things can change quickly, but at this moment in time, mclaren are quickest. They were looking good in long runs too. I hope this is true and that red bull struggle - I want to see Vettel fighting for position more and horner put back in his place.
 
I did think Schumi was taking extra care to handle his front wing when he came off.

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Hopefully we will get to see how good Vettel really is this season.

Great to see the Schumacher at the sharp end.

Ferrari need to turn that ship around quickly or Alonso will start throwing all the toys overboard! It's insane to think that 6 seasons on he hasn't added to his 2 world titles.

Arrr who's master plan was to put the race on Paddies weekend- going to be a struggle to get up but it has to be done!
 
It's a great idea, or was Untill they decided to stick me in work and not tell me till Friday. Go drinking till at least 3am, get back grab some food and more drink, go to bed after race.
 
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