Poll: Australian Grand Prix 2018, Melbourne - Race 1/21

[Flibster]

What's bottas upto?

Stuck behind the Force India it looks like. Unfortunately, the Force Indias cars are pretty zippy in a straight line.

 

[Mr Jack]

They won't swap them. It's just that Kimi will have an *cough* issue *cough* that just happens to allow Vettel past and then miraculously cures itself.

They didn't usually bother with the charade last year, did they?

 

[MagicBoy]

Max!

 

[chrismscotland]

Verstappen trying far too hard

 

[Flibster]

Wahay! Verstappen drops it.

Wall well avoided though. Would normally expect something like that to end up smeared down the barrier.

 

[Mr Jack]

Unforced error from Max.

 

[Yaayuh!]

Verstappen lost is bad, looks like he’s been pushing the tyres too hard trying to gain position.

 

[MagicBoy]

It was on corner entry which is unusual, not like he took an acre of kerb as Bottas did yesterday...

I'm sure Horner will have a hilarious excuse.

 

[edGfaCTor]

This is a bore fest opening lap not even handful of over takes that is how you know it's bad.

The other thing that halo is awful makes it so hard to watch any of the close up or onboard stuff

 

[Flibster]

Alonso radio.
"Its very very difficult to follow. So think about strategy"
"So far Fernando there has only been one overtake. Bottas on Ocon."

 

[Mr Jack]

The Honda engine story continues

 

[MagicBoy]

Dead Honda?

 

[Flibster]

More Alonso.
"Tyres are ok. Front left maybe up a little bit, but all under control"

He actually sounds quite happy. I'm really not used to this. Happy Alonso... Just doesn't sound right.

 

[Yaayuh!]

Honda gone pop?

 

[MrKnifey]

Lol Honda?

 

[Flibster]

Something certainly went pop as Gasly went over the rumble strip.

 

[Yaayuh!]

The timing board is rubbish. Ericsson shows as still in pit and hasn’t updated for the toro rosso going pop.

 

[Flibster]

Raikkonen first to pit. Switches to new soft tyres.
Hamilton now coming in.

How long can Vettel go?

 

[Flibster]

Looks like the undercut isn't huge over a single lap, so you'd need to be right up the car aheads chuff for it to work.

Raikkonen now 4.3s behind Hamilton

 

[Yaayuh!]

Not sure Vettel has anything to challenge with this race.