Australian Grand Prix 2013, Melbourne - Race 1/19

I think Red Bull & McLaren haven't had the amount of time they would have liked to get the 2013 cars ready as they were still working on the 2012 cars when Lotus and Ferrari gave up and put 100% their focus into the 2013 car (Alonso was still trying to win the drivers title with a dog of a car tho).

RBR seem to have the pace over 1 lap but seem to lack the outright race pace that have earned them their 3 titles today but that said the track temps where down on what we would normally see.

The biggest surprise was the Force India, I can see them getting a win at some point this year. The car in Sutil's hands looked quick, it seems to be quite easy on the tires and quick in a straight line, but lacking the downforce in low speed corners.
 
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Did anyone else notice the speed trap data? Ros and Ham were waaaaay down the list. From memory a good 15kph. Just a suprise as they seem to have lost a lot of the straight line speed last year :(

That said I'm happy that it wasn't a Red Bull romp. At least we have competition this year, with 3 or 4 teams up for the title providing Merc can sort out their strategy.

Got my Renault / Lotus / bad Lotus team shirt on out of respect for a great drive today :)

Edit: seems I'm talking **** lol http://www.formula1.com/results/season/2013/893/7190/speed_trap.html
 
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Remember that this was the first time that Pirelli had brought the Super Soft tyre to this GP. They were told to spice it up and did so. In retrospect perhaps it was a tyre too far but the winner only did two stops!
 
chriscatt said:
Hi, a good solid race for JB who did well to rescue a few points from what could have been a disaster. His lap time of 1:30.198 wasn't actually far off the ultimate lap set by KR. McLaren will have the car sorted out soon...
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Race pace vs qualy pace is zero contest. Qualifying vs race conditions were incomparable, Button's 30 seconds meant nothing. In the same conditions other drivers were going 3 seconds faster. Kimi did his time on nearly 20 lap old tyres, Button did his on 2-3 lap old tyres and less fuel, Button was trying for his fastest lap possible, Kimi was simply cruising around to a victory going naturally faster every lap as fuel came off, he wasn't on a qualifying run.

Fastest lap in the race last year, 1:29.2, fastest qualifying lap for pole, 1:24.9, that fastest lap in race was button's, the qualifying was Hamilton, Button was 2-3/10th's down in qualifying, so the Mclaren's did 1:24.9-1:25.2 in qualy, and 1:29+ in the race, 1:30 in qualifying is rubbish.
 
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I was ready to punch the TV after the last papal conclave Lotus WC BS.

Watcheed quali on BBC, not inpressed with suzi perry and no eddie ;(
 
Sky coverage certainly isn't cringeworthy, now they've settled in as a team and got themselves familiar in the pitlane and paddock, I think they are very polished. Even Simon Lazenby is more likeable and professional. It also helps that the teams recognise F1 is going heavily towards pay TV around the world, so they have to warm towards the likes of Sky.

I've certainly got no issues with it, and it beats the BBC IMO.
 
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