Australian Grand Prix 2016, Melbourne - Race 1/21

Manor were only 3.4 seconds off Hamilton who was pushing relatively hard though I don't think close to max, where as they were just over 7 seconds behind both at China(first dry qualifying they attended last year) and Abu Dhabi. So they've gained more than anyone which isn't even remotely surprising. The engine itself is worth the majority of that as 2014 Ferrari engine was a dog and they've switched to the 2016 car. But I wouldn't underplay the chassis improvement, not epic chassis or anything but you have to build a package that can actually put that much extra power down without just breaking, having the traction and downforce to apply the power and be that much faster. The still appear slowest but they appear close enough that they might not be a lap down after 15 laps, they might actually nab points in lucky races and they might actually compete a little with the slower teams, particularly if they get good starts. They actually had some pretty good starts last year much like Mclaren and were sometimes 5-6 places higher after the first corner but pretty much at the back 2 corners later. This year a good start and they might have enough power to hold their position and fight.

The field as a whole is dramatically closer.

Ferrari to Merc... impossible to say. LAst year at Australia they somehow were like 1.4 seconds behind Merc in qualifying but they were that much faster than Merc in Singapore iirc(close anyway). They were major outliers. I can't be bothered to work out the average but anything from 0.2-1 second behind, probably about 0.5 on average at a guess. I don't think the gap at Australia will be representative for the season as qualifying pace changed pretty dramatically track to track. Sometimes Ferrari 0.3 down and Williams nowhere, sometimes WIlliams 0.2 down and Ferrari nowhere.
 
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Haryanto has a 3 place grid penalty.... because Grosjean hit him in the pitlane. Very harsh though in reality, probably a zero place grid penalty. Personally think it looked like Grosjean had the ability to see Haryanto and avoid him while Haryanto wouldn't have likely seen him, unfortunate and unlucky timing but if you had to give out a penalty it looked more like a Grosjean fault to me.
 
haha, pressure, pressure = mistakes.

This is why I think 4-5 seconds faster is better if they manage it next year. The harder people push, the fast you go, the tighter the margins the more mistakes happen and the more effect they have.
 
There needs to be an on screen counter to when the next elimination happens.

This must be impossible to follow trackside!
 
What happened to having to staying out on track until you are eliminated? Guess I missed that tweak to the rules!
 
WTH? Jenson goes 3rd with ~6mins left, these super softs are defying the logic talked about before the season started!;)
 
haha, there is going to be some big mistakes, track seems to be getting way faster. I think it will be bad this week, more pushing next race.

Ericsson just went out and his lap would have put him top 10 but instead gets eliminated. Guys stayed out too long on the first set and didn't get out fast enough.

I kinda figured it would be a disaster as people didn't get their timing right for their laps. idiots.
 
Are the teams not allowed to tell the drivers they are out? Both Haas drivers have done flat out laps while already being eliminated.
 
LOL, where's the countdown timer FOM?

Nobody knows what's going on, this is an absolute shambles.
 
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