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Australian Grand Prix 2010, Melbourne - Race 2/19
- Thread starter Duke
- Start date
Caporegime
Great race! That's more like it.
Hamilton was imperious at times, but the same personality weaknesses shone through in the end. Just when he needed to keep his head and pass Alonso he was, instead, spitting venom at the team. I still think he would have taken 4th if it wasn't for Webber but...
As for the race strategy, we all know Hamilton is hard on tyres so there's no knowing whether he would have held his podium spot regardless. He was a bit more diplomatic in the post race interview than when he was frothing down the radio but, yeah, shouldn't act like that, Lewis.
Great race by Button, he absolutely pulled it out of the bag with a well timed tyre call after get embarassingly overtaken by his teammate. He drove well from there, but it's worth noting that he never matched the pace of Hamilton all race. So while he'll be pleased going away from this, for me Hamilton is still looking like having the upper hand in the battle of McLaren drivers.
But, by my money, neither the success of the McLaren drivers, nor Alonso's remarkable recovery from the back of the pack deserve driver of the day merit - that goes to Kubica who drove a fantastic race to take second in a car that was well off the pace of McLaren, RBR and Ferrari and probably not even a match for Mercedes. Well played, that man!
Hamilton was imperious at times, but the same personality weaknesses shone through in the end. Just when he needed to keep his head and pass Alonso he was, instead, spitting venom at the team. I still think he would have taken 4th if it wasn't for Webber but...
As for the race strategy, we all know Hamilton is hard on tyres so there's no knowing whether he would have held his podium spot regardless. He was a bit more diplomatic in the post race interview than when he was frothing down the radio but, yeah, shouldn't act like that, Lewis.
Great race by Button, he absolutely pulled it out of the bag with a well timed tyre call after get embarassingly overtaken by his teammate. He drove well from there, but it's worth noting that he never matched the pace of Hamilton all race. So while he'll be pleased going away from this, for me Hamilton is still looking like having the upper hand in the battle of McLaren drivers.
But, by my money, neither the success of the McLaren drivers, nor Alonso's remarkable recovery from the back of the pack deserve driver of the day merit - that goes to Kubica who drove a fantastic race to take second in a car that was well off the pace of McLaren, RBR and Ferrari and probably not even a match for Mercedes. Well played, that man!
Much better race today, obviously made by the fact it was wet at the start and Alonso decided to drive through button, great strat call by him, I felt that this race will be bad though as it showed that during dry running passes were almost impossible, and that 1 stop is going to be best as unless you have a car 3 seconds quicker you won't be able to pass when you catch up, the fact that the soft tyre lasted 50 laps is appaling and means there will be very little variation in strategy and thus very few passes in the dry races. Hopefully another good race in a wet malaysia next week 
Soldato
Indeed, though of course Button ran the bulk of the race on that one set of dry tyres just managing his pace at the front whereas Hamilton had an extra set bolted to his car to go on a charge.
***edit***
LOL Duke. That a "spot the missing feature" competition?
Associate
Excellent race.
Clearly shows that raw pace doesn't count for jack if you can't stay out of trouble or manage your tyres/strategy.
I can see Hamilton alienating his team if he carries on sniping at them in public - he continues to look more and more like a petulant child rather than maturing into a top racer. I know he's had a tough weekend, but it was all his own work - flying in from LA at the last minute due to watching his pussycatdoll on some tedious TV programme, then hooning it on the public roads. Honestly, he needs to wind his neck in a bit.
I did LOL at the feature when Jake and Jenson were touring the factory:
'Wow its cool on here' says Jake in the simulator room
'Yes, but there isnt usually bikini clad women in here though' replies Jenson.
Oh, did anyone else wag their finger when Vettle fell off the track?!
Clearly shows that raw pace doesn't count for jack if you can't stay out of trouble or manage your tyres/strategy.
I can see Hamilton alienating his team if he carries on sniping at them in public - he continues to look more and more like a petulant child rather than maturing into a top racer. I know he's had a tough weekend, but it was all his own work - flying in from LA at the last minute due to watching his pussycatdoll on some tedious TV programme, then hooning it on the public roads. Honestly, he needs to wind his neck in a bit.
I did LOL at the feature when Jake and Jenson were touring the factory:
'Wow its cool on here' says Jake in the simulator room
'Yes, but there isnt usually bikini clad women in here though' replies Jenson.
Oh, did anyone else wag their finger when Vettle fell off the track?!
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Soldato
one thing that it does make me curious about, and it seems to have shown up here today, Hamilton more often than not, does exactly what the team tell him to do, come in now lewis, go faster lewis, cluck like a chicken lewis.. Whereas Jenson is a more mature driver, can make his own decisions, and I think today that certainly shone through.
Hopefully as the season develops, hamilton will start to learn from jenson, how to grab the redbull by the horns, and be a bit more of an all-round driver.
Hopefully as the season develops, hamilton will start to learn from jenson, how to grab the redbull by the horns, and be a bit more of an all-round driver.
Associate
I'd like to think that would be true, but I honestly can't see it. Lewis just seems too arrogant to listen to anyone - he didn't want to embrace the experience of Alonso, so why would he listen to Jenson?
Associate
Jenson did exactly what he had to do today and drove a blinding race whilst preserving his tires, even after the early collision with Alonso cost him 3 or 4 places. Best strategic call of the day by far.
Hamilton was on a mission throughout the race, but you have to wonder if that pace came at the expense of the tyres, and personally I think he would have had to two stop regardless - still should have been 3rd or 4th though, and had he qualified better would have won the race even if Vettel hadn't retired.
Best drives of the day for me though were Alonso who drove through the whole field back up to fourth, and Kubica who managed second in an inferior car - for me this is the first time Kubica has lived up to all his hype.
Really great race.
Hamilton was on a mission throughout the race, but you have to wonder if that pace came at the expense of the tyres, and personally I think he would have had to two stop regardless - still should have been 3rd or 4th though, and had he qualified better would have won the race even if Vettel hadn't retired.
Best drives of the day for me though were Alonso who drove through the whole field back up to fourth, and Kubica who managed second in an inferior car - for me this is the first time Kubica has lived up to all his hype.
Really great race.
Soldato
Awesome race
Gutted for Hamilton, not so much the pit stop strategy but the collision with MW.
Massa needed a drive thru for that aggressive swerving.
MW needed some punishment too as he had two collisions with LH in a single race.
Gutted for Hamilton, not so much the pit stop strategy but the collision with MW.
Massa needed a drive thru for that aggressive swerving.
MW needed some punishment too as he had two collisions with LH in a single race.
Soldato
Just watched the race, and really enjoyed it. I was quite embarrassed for Jenson when he fell off the track after changing his tyres, but the boy did good in the end.
My highlights include...
Di Grassi taking on Schuey!
Herr Schuey battling with the clowns at the back, and not doing all that well.
Massa being told how to drive. I love it when he starts losing it and Rob has to come on the radio.
Perhaps the start of the Massa/Alonso feud I soooo want to see.
Webber's complete inability to control himself.
The only downer was Lewis. I'm not a fan of his, but I do find myself warming to him during the race, but then he shows that 'other' side and I start going off him again.
Go Jenson!
My highlights include...
Di Grassi taking on Schuey!
Herr Schuey battling with the clowns at the back, and not doing all that well.
Massa being told how to drive. I love it when he starts losing it and Rob has to come on the radio.
Perhaps the start of the Massa/Alonso feud I soooo want to see.
Webber's complete inability to control himself.
The only downer was Lewis. I'm not a fan of his, but I do find myself warming to him during the race, but then he shows that 'other' side and I start going off him again.
Go Jenson!
So dissapointed for hamilton that was easily drive of the race (awesome outside wall of death overtake), just needs to take the rough with the smooth a bit better, he keeps saying he's maturing well he needs to show it a bit better.
Between a poor decision and a twit in a glass cannon it was a lost mclaren 1-2, i wont hazard a guess as to which order.
Also LOL at vettel, thats what you get for beinng a irritating finger waver, just dont like the guy or team.
For dissapointing it has to be sauber, at least redbull made the car travel quickly while it falls apart.
Between a poor decision and a twit in a glass cannon it was a lost mclaren 1-2, i wont hazard a guess as to which order.
Also LOL at vettel, thats what you get for beinng a irritating finger waver, just dont like the guy or team.
For dissapointing it has to be sauber, at least redbull made the car travel quickly while it falls apart.
Soldato
Agree, it was probably one of his best races - up there with Silverstone 08.
Shame he let the McLaren strategy error cloud his judgement near the end of the race though. He should be happy still.. 11th to 6th with 2 collisions with MW in there is still a GREAT result.
Associate
For me I think Kubica was the racer of the day, certainly driving beyond the car, though from an entertainment perspective I have to say Massa, Webber and Hamilton certainly brought the spectacle back (still not convinced that this wasn't a one off and Borerain is going to be the norm). Oh and nice one Jens!
Soldato
Quote of the race goes to Alonso with "I don't want to know!!!"
In second place Jenson's "Wooaahhhh!! I feel so good!"
In second place Jenson's "Wooaahhhh!! I feel so good!"
Associate
Isn't there a very good chance of a wet race in Malaysia though?
I must admit I have severely gone off Vettel. He seemed quite reserved prior to this season, but two podiums and I think RB are developing a trailer for his head to rest in. A bit of waving and jumping is fine.. maybe its a German thing..
The other thing I have to comment about is Lewis complaining his tyres had gone off when he was sat in the dirty air of Alonso.. now I'm not a racing driver and I'm not sat in the car but if I had to hazard a guess I'd have said that wasn't the tyres.
The other thing I have to comment about is Lewis complaining his tyres had gone off when he was sat in the dirty air of Alonso.. now I'm not a racing driver and I'm not sat in the car but if I had to hazard a guess I'd have said that wasn't the tyres.
Soldato
An awesomely entertaining race.
JB was super smooth, but honestly, the call he made was risky, and sometimes the risk pays off, sometimes it doesn't, so an element of luck IMO, he only had to pass Kubica I think, and that was it, clear air, and gifted the win by Vettel. Still a very good drive, but it's largely down to a bit of risk and luck which paid off nicely for him.
LH was on fire, on like for like tyres and conditions at the start of the race, he managed several overtakes against top rivals that really should have been possible, clearly the conditions made the drivers the key factor, and aero was not the dominant thing.. Obviously the team took a risk on his behalf, and really that decision is something the driver can't for-see at all, so just a bad call, Clearly when he later caught up Alonso, he was caught in an aero train, it just shows how bad it is!.. I agree the 'tyres are off' comment wasn't quite true, but when in dirty air, you then quickly lose your tyres, perhaps after 2 laps of really dirty air his tyres had degraded, he initially challenged alonso a bit, but was then stuck in the train 2-3 laps later.
Kubica was very lucky, it all seemed to fall right, and he clearly is a good driver, he makes few mistakes, and he capitalised on the aero wake in creating a bit of a train, he was just good enough that the aero advantage of the leading car made him able to keep the position.
Masse - Not a bad drive, but not awesome, lots of little mistakes, and clearly was another that was able to use the aero advantage to keep Alonso behind.
Alonso - A pretty good drive, he worked his way back up the field very well, and obviously showing that like LH, he is a world class driver, but probably suffered the most from having to follow in the wake of FM and RK.
Vettel - Best car out there, and he's a very good driver, But plagued with reliability.. I sense that he is a bit 'hard' on the car and seems to suffer more then his fair share of issues, which tells me he may need to be more sympathetic with the car. Still gutted for him.
Webber - Argghhhh, he's just not quite in the top tier of drivers, but has the car to keep him mixing it with them. Shame his actions kept affecting other people, but what can you do..
So for me, todays race was in driver order
1. LH
2. VETTEL
3. JB/ALONSO equal
However the result was dictated by other things, a risky call by JB when he was given the choice paid off, the team made a bad decision for LH, aero caused a train of drivers not able to overtake each other, rain mixed it up a bit and some drivers causes some spectacular crashes..
What more can you ask for!!
JB was super smooth, but honestly, the call he made was risky, and sometimes the risk pays off, sometimes it doesn't, so an element of luck IMO, he only had to pass Kubica I think, and that was it, clear air, and gifted the win by Vettel. Still a very good drive, but it's largely down to a bit of risk and luck which paid off nicely for him.
LH was on fire, on like for like tyres and conditions at the start of the race, he managed several overtakes against top rivals that really should have been possible, clearly the conditions made the drivers the key factor, and aero was not the dominant thing.. Obviously the team took a risk on his behalf, and really that decision is something the driver can't for-see at all, so just a bad call, Clearly when he later caught up Alonso, he was caught in an aero train, it just shows how bad it is!.. I agree the 'tyres are off' comment wasn't quite true, but when in dirty air, you then quickly lose your tyres, perhaps after 2 laps of really dirty air his tyres had degraded, he initially challenged alonso a bit, but was then stuck in the train 2-3 laps later.
Kubica was very lucky, it all seemed to fall right, and he clearly is a good driver, he makes few mistakes, and he capitalised on the aero wake in creating a bit of a train, he was just good enough that the aero advantage of the leading car made him able to keep the position.
Masse - Not a bad drive, but not awesome, lots of little mistakes, and clearly was another that was able to use the aero advantage to keep Alonso behind.
Alonso - A pretty good drive, he worked his way back up the field very well, and obviously showing that like LH, he is a world class driver, but probably suffered the most from having to follow in the wake of FM and RK.
Vettel - Best car out there, and he's a very good driver, But plagued with reliability.. I sense that he is a bit 'hard' on the car and seems to suffer more then his fair share of issues, which tells me he may need to be more sympathetic with the car. Still gutted for him.
Webber - Argghhhh, he's just not quite in the top tier of drivers, but has the car to keep him mixing it with them. Shame his actions kept affecting other people, but what can you do..
So for me, todays race was in driver order
1. LH
2. VETTEL
3. JB/ALONSO equal
However the result was dictated by other things, a risky call by JB when he was given the choice paid off, the team made a bad decision for LH, aero caused a train of drivers not able to overtake each other, rain mixed it up a bit and some drivers causes some spectacular crashes..
What more can you ask for!!
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Soldato
Observation: Schumacher looks completely out of his depth now.
Anyone agree?
Anyone agree?