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

They can't seem to decide on SC rules. They did close the pitlane untill all the cars had caught up behind the SC a few years back, but then dropped that rule. They also had this 'lapped cars can pass' rule before and dropped it.

I don't know about banning pitting, but the slowing of everyone around the whole track instantly is a bit annoying.
 
I'm starting to think Massa never really recovered coming back from his crash. He's just not up to it. However much I hate Alonso he really did manage to do well though.

Fight for the points was interesting, Kimi and Perez both did well, even though I don't think Perez got points in the end.

Happy for Button, but feel it was a bit of a shame for Hamilton that the safety car was when it was, I feel he would have got second otherwise. Can't see Hamilton going elsewhere after this season though.

Think on the whole Redbull got a bit lucky, and Mercedes got ridiculously unlucky. I do think it was only a matter of time before Vettel passed Schumie anyway, but no idea what might have changed in the later race if he was still around. Webber I feel is starting to drift off the pace as well a bit, which is a real shame because I just want him to win xD

Also a bit of a shame about Grosjean, but I guess first race in F1, it isn't particularly unexpected. Not sure I liked the man, he was very quick to blame Maldonado, which even if it was his fault just seems a bit unsportsmanlike.

Love the fact that Williams are back in the mix as well :) Glad they got things sorted.

kd
 
Great race, and so happy that Redbull did pick up their pace in-race, it's pretty boring when someone just buggers off into the Distance..

And despite being a Lewis fan, I was very happy for Jenson winning, he drove a faultless race, superb start and more then deserved it!

Not sure what was wrong with Lewis, I'll give it a few weeks to see how he's panning out for this year, no use jumping to conclusions just yet (but I'm sure many will).. As long as both of them try and keep it in the top 3, then I don't mind if it's JB or LH, I just prefer LH when he's on form and I don't feel that's a bad thing..

It'll be good to see KR develop, if he can get teh Lotus through qualifying a bit better next week he might show how quick that Lotus is..
 
I think people are reading a bit to much into it. Anyone who got a great pole in qualifying only to then get a bad start and drop back to second and then get unlucky with the SC and drop another place is going to be unhappy. Its just that its Mr grumpy from last year that its happened too which mean people are making a big thing about it.

When he has a good race he should spring back, I hope.
 
He beats himself up too much though, then enters a bad mind set. He needs to take it race by race and just relax like Jenson.

All that will come with age though!
 
Thought we were going to be saying something about Maldonado proving he is not just in it because of the monies then he loses it into the wall on the last lap. Bet he was gutted.

Pleased to see JB win, i think with his form atm its quite ominous for LH and the rest of the grid. Looking forward to next week now at least it's on later :)#

Oh and also Massa hitting someone else again. At least it wasn't Hamilton this time (trololololol)
 
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Skeeter said:
They can't seem to decide on SC rules. They did close the pitlane untill all the cars had caught up behind the SC a few years back, but then dropped that rule. They also had this 'lapped cars can pass' rule before and dropped it.

I don't know about banning pitting, but the slowing of everyone around the whole track instantly is a bit annoying.
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Maybe they should make a rule where if you want to take advantage of pitting during SC period, then you have to rejoin in the position that you pitted from. Because that isn't racing/strategy when this happens, it's just luck. And then they would still have the advantage of having a free catch up to the person who was in front of them anyway, which I reckon is significant enough.
 
Skeeter said:
I think people are reading a bit to much into it. Anyone who got a great pole in qualifying only to then get a bad start and drop back to second and then get unlucky with the SC and drop another place is going to be unhappy. Its just that its Mr grumpy from last year that its happened too which mean people are making a big thing about it.

When he has a good race he should spring back, I hope.
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Fair point, I doubt Button would have looked much happier in reverse roles.

Goates said:
Thought we were going to be saying something about Maldonado proving he is not just in it because of the monies then he loses it into the wall on the last lap. Bet he was gutted.
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Yeah but you have to wonder what they could have done with a half decent driver in their ranks this year. Might be a good team to feed Kubica back in?

Doohickey said:
Maybe they should make a rule where if you want to take advantage of pitting during SC period, then you have to rejoin in the position that you pitted from. Because that isn't racing/strategy when this happens, it's just luck. And then they would still have the advantage of having a free catch up to the person who was in front of them anyway, which I reckon is significant enough.
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I agree, I'd like them to revert to the positions before the incident but I guess it would take too long, then again it seems to take them an age these days to get up and running again anyway. You already lose the gap you have built up, it's harsh when the luck falls against you as well.

What you need is a team mate to crash at the right moment....
 
Doohickey said:
Maybe they should make a rule where if you want to take advantage of pitting during SC period, then you have to rejoin in the position that you pitted from. Because that isn't racing/strategy when this happens, it's just luck. And then they would still have the advantage of having a free catch up to the person who was in front of them anyway, which I reckon is significant enough.
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it was more a Hamilton disadvantage than Vettell advantage, Vettell was second when the safety car came out.
it was just bad luck.
 
Heikki has been given a 5 place grid penalty for the next race.

Not sure what for yet though.

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Overtaking before the first safety car line when the safety car was coming in.

May as well not bother going out in Q1. Save all the tyres he can.
 
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I though Maldonado was going to get penalised for running Grosjean off the road but everyone seems to agree Grosjean was at fault for not pulling out of the corner...

It comes back to my question earlier in the week — who's responsibility/fault is it in those situations.
 
Panzerbjorn said:
I though Maldonado was going to get penalised for running Grosjean off the road but everyone seems to agree Grosjean was at fault for not pulling out of the corner...

It comes back to my question earlier in the week — who's responsibility/fault is it in those situations.
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Racing incident.

Maldonado made the pass, Grosjean thought Maldonado would leave some room for him on the exit. He didn't and Grosjean didn't pull out of it quick enough.
 
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