2015 Rolex Australian Grand Prix

[niky]

Hamilton only had a rough time of it because of his retirements. Minus retirements, he was well clear of Nico, even though the latter put up more of a fight than we thought he would. In the end, when the retirements equalled out, Lewis came out on top.

-

Multi-championship winners don't get there by having strong in-team opposition. Alonso has famously always pushed for preferential treatment. The only true threat to him was perhaps Lewis Hamilton in their McLaren season... and that came out a draw.

Vettel, in his Formula One Career, has only had one really bad season. And that's last year. That's still not to discount the possibility that Ricciardo is a genius in a (good) Formula One car, but it was a learning season for Vettel, with the changes to the diffuser, wing and powerplant regulations.

Won't say anything about his performance this season till we see how he does against Kimi. I fully expect him to beat Kimi over the season, but he's got to do it as well as Fernando did it to show he's got the right stuff.

Of course, Ferrari could always get Ricciardo as a second...

 

[trustjab]

He didn't have to at all, they had an equal amount of DNFs/non points finishes, and Rosberg had one on the double points race.

Rosberg only had an equal dnf count AFTER the last race. And he didn't have two failures in qualifying, therefor starting from the last row or very last.

Rosberg isn't slow, but he's not exactly a top driver, and at the very least Hamilton didn't have a hard time beating him considering he beat him 9 times and only lost to him 4 times.

You also seem to be missing the fact that he had virtually zero competition from every other driver on the grid all season, as far as F1 championships go, that's pretty easy.

Rosberg is competition. The fact that Ricciardo had 3 wins means he had competition. Trying to downplay his feats is pointless imo. Lets not make it out as Hamilton having it easy. Rosberg was beat by only one of his teammate's, and he was a rookie. Lewis beat two world champions for teammates. On points he tied the defending double wdc as a rookie. Thats a fact.

Like him or not, dominant car or not, he's the guy to beat on the grid.

 

[Spurgy 777]

Rosberg only had an equal dnf count AFTER the last race. And he didn't have two failures in qualifying, therefor starting from the last row or very last.

What does it matter that one of his DNFs was on the last race? The fact is over the course of the season Rosberg was at a net loss in terms of DNFs, so to say Hamilton was at a disadvantage because if them is nonsense.

Rosberg is competition.

Ignoring how much of a challenge Rosberg poses, he is one driver, how often does an F1 driver only have one person as competition for an entire season and for every race? Oh yes that's right, very rarely.

The fact that Ricciardo had 3 wins means he had competition.

Yes, and for two of those wins the Mercedes were either out or had issues, I think Hungray is the only race where they didn't have issues, but I could be wrong about that one too.

Trying to downplay his feats is pointless imo. Lets not make it out as Hamilton having it easy. Rosberg was beat by only one of his teammate's, and he was a rookie. Lewis beat two world champions for teammates. On points he tied the defending double wdc as a rookie. Thats a fact.

Like him or not, dominant car or not, he's the guy to beat on the grid.

How good a driver Hamilton is is irrelevant, I'm not giving my opinion on that either way atm. The fact is whatever way you look at it, he had an easy title last season, if you want to imagine up that he had some terrible difficulties competing against one person, then that's your choice.

 

[jimipitbull]

Who said anything about championships (or even victories) taken away? Vettel is 4 times WDC, and all his championships and GP victories are perfectly valid victories, I have no problem with that.

History is mostly made of stats and many times it is said, about current events, that in the future it will all be meaningless because the numbers will all that will remain. However, Grand Prix racing has by now lived long enough for us to know that sometimes history recalls more than numbers. Some drivers have become legends even with litle success. Some - more successful - drivers are only remembered when people recall stats.

So, Vettel's similar number of victories puts him (rightfully) in all the stats pages next to Hamilton and Senna. But, and this is my opinion and if you agree or not is irrelevant, Hamilton's record can be compared to Senna's. Vettel's record can't.



EDIT - On Schumacher ... It's true I rate him lower than Prost and Senna, but then again I won't dispute he has won as many WDC as them both combined.

Hamilton's record is worth less than Ricciardo's mojo.

 

[Barra333]

...basically every Innovation Redbull has came up with and other Teams in the Aero department has been banned the following year, where as Engines haven't had the same treatment.

Not to mention Engines can't be properly developed during the season and the fact being on the backfoot is going to be near permanent.

As the Regulations stand right now if Mercedes don't maintain their Advantage over everyone until they are changed then they did an exceptionally poor job, as everything in the Engine regulations favors them keeping their advantage.

100% agree with all of this. Red Bulls advantages have generally come from outside of the box, edge of the rules thinking. The edges were then moved.
I said it last year, and I will say it again now. Mercedes made the right call on fundamental engine design, and have the benefit of the rules stopping anyone from catching up. The rules against development are what I don't like, not the Merc dominance.
Whereas when RB were doing things with aero, the other teams could copy or complain (or both) to narrow the gap again.

 

[ShiftingGears]

That Renault power unit is a total clunker. Great shame. I think there was a reasonable expectation that Renault would in some way reduce the deficit to Mercedes this year.

I suspect the reason the FIA isn't clamping down on engine equivalency is because engine development doesn't inhibit overtaking like aerodynamic development does. That said, having the regulations so focused on engine performance and then limiting development as much as they have does not make for good competition.

Also, sadly Alan Jones is a pretty poor commentator. His technical insights are basic as is his knowledge of anything that has happened in F1 after the 1980's.

 

[spyrrari]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/118081




Spy.

 

[Legro]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/118081

"These power units are the wrong solution for F1, and we would say this even if [Red Bull supplier] Renault were in the lead," he added.

I can't say, I believe him on this.

 

[GTPorsche]

Please... if Red Bull were still dominating, they wouldn't be complaining.

 

[Barra333]

It is not that Mercedes are dominating that is the problem, it is that the rules ensure that this will continue.

 

[Imari]

Ignoring how much of a challenge Rosberg poses, he is one driver, how often does an F1 driver only have one person as competition for an entire season and for every race? Oh yes that's right, very rarely.

It's not been that rare recently. A couple of the Red Bull years probably qualify, and the Schumacher years certainly do. There's probably half a dozen of the last 20 years of F1 that either qualify as having one or two drivers extremely dominant over the rest of the field, or damn close to it.

It's rare, but not as rare as you think. A quarter of the time is not terribly rare.

This is F1. Engineering the car is a big part of the sport. Sometimes teams just make dominant cars, and the result is what you see. It's not common, but neither is it extremely rare. It's why the great F1 designers are so prized.

 

[Soundtrack]

Mercedes did a better job than other competitors within the same set of regulations. With only one year and a week-end of application, concluding they now have an advantage nobody can cope with betrays the little faith they have in their own development capabilities. They'd betted get over it, stop complaining and get themselves at work.

 

[Pezzarinho17]

It is not that Mercedes are dominating that is the problem, it is that the rules ensure that this will continue.

They make it difficult, but under the same rules Mercedes have found more time over the winter than Red Bull and Renault. That is not a failing of the rules, especially when Renault had far more room to improve.

 

[GTPorsche]

And Mercedes have given a warning about being stronger in Malaysia.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/118084

 

[Barra333]

Of course Renault made a mess of it, and I don't want to deny Mercedes their current advantage. But the problem is that there is sod all Renault can do about it. Tweaking bits and pieces will not gain 2 seconds a lap, especially when Mercedes will also be tweaking things. Renault need fundamental changes, which isn't allowed, in the name of cost saving. I bet they spend more money trying to find 3 tenths with the current unit than they would if they could make big changes to gain twice that (assuming they work out exactly where they ****ed up this engine).

 

[Dennisch]

And Mercedes have given a warning about being stronger in Malaysia.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/118084

Mercedes should just open up the full potential and just completely destroy everything and everyone, forcing the FIA to open up the engine development.

I mean, if they lap everyone but themselves it pretty much has to be done, right?

 

[GTPorsche]

I would like to at least see the fuel flow restrictions lifted.

 

[psychoazubi]

Mercedes should just open up the full potential and just completely destroy everything and everyone, forcing the FIA to open up the engine development.

I mean, if they lap everyone but themselves it pretty much has to be done, right?

If that happens, they may introduce a new rule: Mercedes needs to do 1 lap more than the rest

 

[Pezzarinho17]

I would like to at least see the fuel flow restrictions lifted.

As long as the maximum fuel use for the entire race is maintained. The thinking behind the new rules was more fuel efficient engines, but it is all in balance if maximum maintained. It would make qualifying more interesting and potentially even make fuel use more of a tactical issue than it is currently. Currently although the on screen graphics show the fuel use fairly often, it never equates to much else than statistics.

 

[Soundtrack]

I would like to at least see the fuel flow restrictions lifted.

Ironicaly, this was one of Renault's primary reasons to push/support a more "marketable" new F1 engine format.

From Renault’s point of view it was essential that the new regulations should include very aggressive fuel consumption targets to reflect growing environmental concerns and also provide a test bed for innovative solutions.

 

[TenEightyOne]

Of course Renault made a mess of it, and I don't want to deny Mercedes their current advantage. But the problem is that there is sod all Renault can do about it. Tweaking bits and pieces will not gain 2 seconds a lap, especially when Mercedes will also be tweaking things. Renault need fundamental changes, which isn't allowed...

Yes it is, Renault have saved more dev tokens than any other supplier. They have the potential to make more steps with the engine this season than the other suppliers.

Horner's arguing for equalisation without offering to give up any of those tokens, personally I think he's trying to turn their disadvantage into a positive advantage. It sucks for Renault that they don't seem to have developed the power/torque as they would have hoped but that's how it is. Now they've got to find answers quick and spend tokens wisely.

 

[mustafur]

Yes it is, Renault have saved more dev tokens than any other supplier. They have the potential to make more steps with the engine this season than the other suppliers.

Horner's arguing for equalisation without offering to give up any of those tokens, personally I think he's trying to turn their disadvantage into a positive advantage. It sucks for Renault that they don't seem to have developed the power/torque as they would have hoped but that's how it is. Now they've got to find answers quick and spend tokens wisely.

but see Renault =/= Redbull.

Redbull are frustrated because they have basically zero control over being competitive, they choose any other Engine supplier and they will always be on the backfoot of the factory team who will design their PU for their own needs of their own car and chassis, a Big Package Advantage.

Aero regulations are soo tight now that everything is about refining the aero rather then Revolutionizing it with new concepts so the gains to be made there are now insignificant in the scheme of things.

 

[mister dog]

.

Mercedes should just open up the full potential and just completely destroy everything and everyone, forcing the FIA to open up the engine development.

I mean, if they lap everyone but themselves it pretty much has to be done, right?

The FIA doesn't like to admit they have their head up their arses. Next year maybe..

 

[Barra333]

Ferrari and Raikkonen escape unsafe release penalty

What a load of garbage. Ricciardo got dragged over the coals for an unsafe release last year - how is this different? Both teams realised there was something wrong straight away. Riccciardo didnt even get out of pit lane, Kimi even got out on track before he stopped!

 

[mustafur]

Ferrari and Raikkonen escape unsafe release penalty

What a load of garbage. Ricciardo got dragged over the coals for an unsafe release last year - how is this different? Both teams realised there was something wrong straight away. Riccciardo didnt even get out of pit lane, Kimi even got out on track before he stopped!

Yeah completey disgusting, FIA double standards are already rediculious but this is another low: http://www1.skysports.com/f1/news/24239/9240540

Also the Ferrari Mechanic clearly knew the issue when it happened as I saw him flailing his hands around in the replay of the pitstop.

 

[SVT Cobra GT]

Ferrari and Raikkonen escape unsafe release penalty

What a load of garbage. Ricciardo got dragged over the coals for an unsafe release last year - how is this different? Both teams realised there was something wrong straight away. Riccciardo didnt even get out of pit lane, Kimi even got out on track before he stopped!

Now that's unbelievable. I spotted that the wheel wasn't on the second Kimi drove away from the pits. The wheel gunman was waving his arms around and it was the exact same wheel that caused Kimi's delay in his first stop. Something must not be right with the guns or wheel nuts they're using as Sainz had a problem with the same wheel and IIRC one of the Saubers did?

As for the penalty I'm slightly not surprised that Ferrari got away with it.

 

[mikeerfol]

Now that's unbelievable. I spotted that the wheel wasn't on the second Kimi drove away from the pits. The wheel gunman was waving his arms around and it was the exact same wheel that caused Kimi's delay in his first stop. Something must not be right with the guns or wheel nuts they're using as Sainz had a problem with the same wheel and IIRC one of the Saubers did?

Maybe it had to do with the 1st lap contact?

 

[spacecowboy73]

Yes it is, Renault have saved more dev tokens than any other supplier. They have the potential to make more steps with the engine this season than the other suppliers.

Horner's arguing for equalisation without offering to give up any of those tokens, personally I think he's trying to turn their disadvantage into a positive advantage. It sucks for Renault that they don't seem to have developed the power/torque as they would have hoped but that's how it is. Now they've got to find answers quick and spend tokens wisely.

Where are you finding the info about how many tokens each manufacturer has used? Not questioning your info, I'd just like to see it so I can get a better understanding and see how it plays out over the year.

Now that I think about it, if Renault have used the least amount of tokens does this mean they did the least amount of work on their engine or do tokens only come in to play once the season starts? This is my favorite sport but I can't keep all these rules straight.

Also I agree with you about Horner he's definitely playing politics and I also think with his comments about banning wind tunnels I think he's practicing for when Bernie finally steps aside so there will still be someone to say crazy things.

 

[SVT Cobra GT]

Maybe it had to do with the 1st lap contact?

Sainz wasn't involved in that contact was he?

Was Kimi, Vettel, Nasr and Maldonado IIRC.

 

[mikeerfol]

Sainz wasn't involved in that contact was he?

Was Kimi, Vettel, Nasr and Maldonado IIRC.

I was only talking about Raikkonen, wasn't it his rear left that touched the Sauber?