Australian Grand Prix 2010, Melbourne - Race 2/19
- Thread starter Duke
- Start date
Not necessarily. I think most people expected him to be rusty, given the fact that he was out for 3 years and is 40+ years of age. As the season progresses though, I think it would be fair to expect him to out perform his younger team-mate. If this doesnt happen, I can't see him remaining in F1 after this year.
I think he himself said that his aim was to try and win races by the end of the season and go for titles (if possible), in 2011/2. Even when he was in his prime, he was never able to move to a new team and immediately win races/titles. He needed time to adapt to the new team/car, after which he would work his magic.
Don't write him off just yet.
Associate
Am I late to the party of has nobody made any predictions yet? This is how I think it will finish tomorrow:
1) Vettel
2) Alonso
3) Webber
1) Vettel
2) Alonso
3) Webber
I was typing out a response along the lines of sunama.
In all honesty though, part me thinks the way sunama does, but another part says this:
He is a 7 times world champion. At his prime, he was paid so much money for doing the one specific thing that he EXCELS at.
Ok its not quite like forgetting to ride a bicycle, but the premise is the same as. I.e. you dont forget how to drive. And as such he should be expected to perform.
But as you say, hes been out of the game for 3 years and he is only human after all, so perhaps he needs a "warm up" period so to speak.
Personally, I will give him 5-7 races or so. If Rosberg conclusively beats him in every race, then its a no brainer in imho. But until then, I will reserve judgement.
In all honesty though, part me thinks the way sunama does, but another part says this:
He is a 7 times world champion. At his prime, he was paid so much money for doing the one specific thing that he EXCELS at.
Ok its not quite like forgetting to ride a bicycle, but the premise is the same as. I.e. you dont forget how to drive. And as such he should be expected to perform.
But as you say, hes been out of the game for 3 years and he is only human after all, so perhaps he needs a "warm up" period so to speak.
Personally, I will give him 5-7 races or so. If Rosberg conclusively beats him in every race, then its a no brainer in imho. But until then, I will reserve judgement.
Soldato
I just don't see him comprehensively beating Nico. It's one of those things that you either have it or don't have it. The Schumi of old is gone.
Happy to be wrong as it would be a shame if Merc had to embarrass him at the end of the year by not renewing the contract.
I'm still open on the schumacher thing, he's definately getting closer to rosberg in qually, and I really couldn't guess which of the two will come first of the merc's tomorrow.
It's hard to say though, I rate Rosberg fairly highly, but that's not based on any real results in a top car which is the only true test, if my rating of Rosberg is wrong than Schumacher is not doing great, however given my thoughts on Rosberg I think Schumacher is doing quite well for someone who's definately gonna be a bit 'rusty'.
Will he be the dominant force he was in the early 2000's? not a hope,
Will he be able to beat Rosberg and potentially challenge for wins and possibly even a title over the next 3 years? yes, I think he could frankly, obviously that depends on how good merc are at getting the car right...
EDIT:
Also, the ride height thing, the more rumours/speculation I hear, if Red Bull do have a system that either maintains a steady ride height dependant on fuel or 'automatically' alters the ride height based on the weight of the car then damn that's good engineering and fair play. But that's not all that's making them quick, obviously, so even ferrari have a bit of work to do, mclaren/merc have a long way to go.
Main thing though is I really hope that tomorrow's race isn't a snorefest like Bahrain...
It's hard to say though, I rate Rosberg fairly highly, but that's not based on any real results in a top car which is the only true test, if my rating of Rosberg is wrong than Schumacher is not doing great, however given my thoughts on Rosberg I think Schumacher is doing quite well for someone who's definately gonna be a bit 'rusty'.
Will he be the dominant force he was in the early 2000's? not a hope,
Will he be able to beat Rosberg and potentially challenge for wins and possibly even a title over the next 3 years? yes, I think he could frankly, obviously that depends on how good merc are at getting the car right...
EDIT:
Also, the ride height thing, the more rumours/speculation I hear, if Red Bull do have a system that either maintains a steady ride height dependant on fuel or 'automatically' alters the ride height based on the weight of the car then damn that's good engineering and fair play. But that's not all that's making them quick, obviously, so even ferrari have a bit of work to do, mclaren/merc have a long way to go.
Main thing though is I really hope that tomorrow's race isn't a snorefest like Bahrain...
Last edited:
![[TW]Taggart](/styles/overclockers/avatars/4.png){kind=avatar}
Associate
- Joined
- 29 May 2005
- Posts
- 1,006
I can see your points. Lets hope it doesnt get like the hamilton bashing that happened a few years back.
Don't forget that in 2005/6, he was already getting into a pattern of losing to Alonso. If he was at the peak of his powers, I think he would've won the title in 2006, but he wasnt at his peak and subsequently lost the title.
He returns 3 yrs later, having had very little practise, along with the 40+ age, having already lost the title, 2 years in a row - did you honestly think he was going to be better in the first 2 races in 2010, than he was in 2005/6?
Give him time - I'm still confident that he will outscore Rosberg, during the course of the 2010 season.
Soldato
Bearing in mind the car isn't exactly up with the pace I think he's not doing that badly. He's not going to be instantly as quick as he used to be - different team behind him, different car to drive and a 3 year absence. He's got 3 year contract remember, so he could get a title-winning chance in either of the next 2 if things don't pick up this year. Nico will probably beat him throughout the first half of this year, but he's very under-rated himself, imo. He may win a race or two this year, but nothing more. Even that might be a push.
His contract is 3 years long, I've always thought he wouldn't see it out.
Personally the one that should be worried is Rosberg. MS has him pegged after only 2 qually sessions and was right on him in the first race. That is no small feat for a driver who hasn't raced in 3 years, Has had limited testing and hasn't exactly driven many f1 cars that didn't have an electronic advantage over his rivals and team mate.
He will be battering Rosberg very soon. Rosberg couldn't drop MS in the last race and I doubt he will this race if MS is behind him. It would be more of a concern for me the lack of pace Rosberg has shown compared to a 40 year old whose not been near a race car or non gadget car in 3 years.
Soldato
Having a look at the weather forecast (from BBC, no idea on accuracy..) but heavy rain is predicted all day tomorrow. Makes things easier for Vettel that does, and probably Hamilton's only shot of a podium.
Hmm, http://www.weatherzone.com.au/vic/melbourne/melbourne/detailed-forecast says no chance of rain before 9pm but another Australian site says 90% chance of rain in the afternoon. Meh, we'll just have to wait
Hmm, http://www.weatherzone.com.au/vic/melbourne/melbourne/detailed-forecast says no chance of rain before 9pm but another Australian site says 90% chance of rain in the afternoon. Meh, we'll just have to wait
Last edited:
Considering Hamilton's genuine lack of pace, I honestly can't see how he can get on the podium barring a miracle.
Remember his qualifying position today wasnt artificial - he genuinely qualified in 11th position without being hindered by an external factor. He really was "that" slow.
Soldato
He's been fairly good in the wet in previous seasons, but it'd make for a more interesting race imo. We'll see though
Soldato
/me wonders how differently Sunama would be posting if it Button and Hamilton were the other way around. lol
/me wonders how differently Sunama would be posting if it Button and Hamilton were the other way around. lol
I would post this:
I'm a Hamlton fan, but I say it, how I see it. Hamilton's performance today was embarrassing.
Soldato
All I can say Sunama is.. I am shocked to see you not openly criticising Button for not having put it on pole, thus proving again that he's only an 'average' driver, as you so often like to point out.
It makes a refreshing change.. long may it continue.
It makes a refreshing change.. long may it continue.
Soldato
It wasnt embarassing at all. It was just one of those things. Hamilton didn't have his head in the game at all (still brooding about the po-po incident possibly), Button did. Which, incidentally, might be why he's the reigning Formula One World Champion.
Had Hamilton actually been up on the wheel today, and got himself into the final phase of qually, he might well have done what Button did. After all, he's at least as good as Button. But for whatever reason, he just wasn't altogether there. That's not embarassing, per se, it's as I say - just one of those things.
Christ, and some of you think I hate Hamilton.....*sigh*
A far cry from the man who claimed that he and his team mate get a 1-2 this weekend.
http://www.planet-f1.com/news/18227/6055952/Hamilton-targets-McLaren-1-2
http://www.planet-f1.com/news/18227/6055952/Hamilton-targets-McLaren-1-2