- 15,532
- Cairo, Egypt
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What happened with Kimi though? he was terrible.
2017 Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand PrixFormula 1
- Thread starter SVT Cobra GT
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- Northern Ireland
Normally I would too but the problems with these cars were no secret - what happened today was pretty much what numerous figures in the sport had said would happen........so I'm not holding out much hope it'll get any better.
Not to be too flippant about it, but fast cars that can't follow each other....... decisive moves made in the pits........German in a Ferarri winning........I fear I'm being slowly transported back to 2004
(And for anyone who likes the sound of that, please may I buy a pair of those rose-tinted glasses you have, I'm gonna need them.
)
- 33,155
- Hammerhead Garage
I suspect he's still driving as if he's got 2016 tyres on. And I have to say that I agree with some of Sky's analysis - I think he's misjudged Bottas. It doesn't help his cause that the Mercedes does not work when following another car. They're so used to making a break for it at the start that they probably don't have any data on it.
Elsewhere, I'm reasonably impressed by Stroll. He made a few mistakes, but he exceeded expectations; that said, it should be noted that expectations weren't particularly high to begin with. He's no Palmer, which is probably about the best that can be said for him right now.
- 23,800
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Can't make any declaration yet, not after just one race. I feel that it was mostly a matter of Lewis... he was simply not in his comfort zone. Didn't hear much of anything from Bottas during the race.
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It's odd that Kimi is struggling with the tires... as that was his advantage over Vettel in 2016.
- 33,155
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No. As synonymous as Fosters is with Australia, it's not sold here, and I don't think it ever has been. The three big labels are Victoria Bitter, Tooheys and XXXX, but they're more commonly associated with sports like rugby league - they're the cheap and nasty mass-produced stuff. James Boag and Cascade are probably the local beers on the same level as Heineken.
- 6,290
- Washington State
- OutlawQuadrant
I have my doubts about that. If Hamilton in a superior car with fresher tires couldn't get around Verstappen in an inferior car with older tires, then how could Vettel pass Hamilton under that scenario when it appeared they're about equal in pace?
It had been said repeatedly that this rules package was going to make overtaking a lot harder and that appears to be the case. Clean air, clean air, clean air. Always has been a key component to get results but it may be too large a deciding factor this year. I hope I'm wrong but sometimes tells me otherwise.
- 23,800
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So the outdated, irrelevant V10 on grooved tires still holds the race lap record by 2.4 sec. Maybe they can add a Mr. Fusion to the cars next year to close that gap.
Unless they allow in-race refueling again, that was always going to be a long shot.
Lewis' qualifying lap is still the fastest lap ever run at the circuit.
It just wasn't in a race.
- 2,515
- London
- nowcontrol
Alonso: "Under normal conditions we should be last"
- 22,551
- Arizona
- HamiltonMP427
- 23,800
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Okay, I take it back.
Bottas:
"I was experiencing extreme wear on the Ultra-soft tires. It was better on the Soft."
("Sort of the reverse of Lewis?" asks the reporter... but Lewis experienced bad degradation on both!)
(On why he didn't push Lewis later in the race)
"We are free to race, but it is more difficult when you are within two seconds of the car in front."
So yeah, maybe the Merc isn't the sharpest tool in the shed for overtaking. But it's early times. We won't know if any of the Top Three teams can perform an on-track overtake on their rivals until we get a few more races in.
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It's also important to note that if Lewis had stayed out four or five laps more, Vettel might not have gotten that overcut. The fact that Max was there and struggling for pace in front of Lewis when he came out of the pits is what gifted Seb the race. Otherwise, the overcut would have been very, very, very close.
Bottas:
"I was experiencing extreme wear on the Ultra-soft tires. It was better on the Soft."
("Sort of the reverse of Lewis?" asks the reporter... but Lewis experienced bad degradation on both!)
(On why he didn't push Lewis later in the race)
"We are free to race, but it is more difficult when you are within two seconds of the car in front."
So yeah, maybe the Merc isn't the sharpest tool in the shed for overtaking. But it's early times. We won't know if any of the Top Three teams can perform an on-track overtake on their rivals until we get a few more races in.
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It's also important to note that if Lewis had stayed out four or five laps more, Vettel might not have gotten that overcut. The fact that Max was there and struggling for pace in front of Lewis when he came out of the pits is what gifted Seb the race. Otherwise, the overcut would have been very, very, very close.
- 1,407
- Gold Coast, Australia
- Paintguzzlinpete
- RepairedCarrot8
It's definitely sold here. Nearly every pub has it and it's about $45 for a carton at most bottle shops.
- 239
- Switzerland
Looks like a 2008ish F1 to me, which is not bad to be honest. Corner speed is increased, If I'm not wrong most of the 2007 - 2008's strategies were on two pit stops. Biggest problem of 2017 rules is still fuel limitation imo. Race pace is still not as fast as ten years ago but the cars are (finally) faster. So let's get rid of silly rules. I remember the times when Schumi and Montoya were fighiting each other with a qualifing pace, lap after lap! That was 2002 2003 or something, glorious V10 era.
Anyway congratulation to Seb and Ferrari, solid win.
Anyway congratulation to Seb and Ferrari, solid win.
- 6,146
- Germany
I don't think that McHonda or RBR really failed this weekend.
Sure, it's sad that RBR couldn't get Ricciardo's car properly fixed, but Max showed very good pace despite them saying they're far behind Mercedes and Ferrari.
And Vandoorne finished the race and Alonso's engine did not blow and was in the points for the majority of the race. Considering the disasterous testing Honda had to endure, I feel like that was one of the best possible scenarios that could've happened.
And yes, I agree, Giovinazzi did really well.
- 33,155
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- 10,835
- Belgium
- bramturismo
With Giovinazzi's performance, I'd be reluctant to put Wehrlein back in the car should I be Sauber's teamleader...
- 7,524
- Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
- BlackRose_Atomic
Do not bank on Kaltenborn to make any wise decisions ever.
- 239
- Switzerland
That's the problem, fuel limitations with wide tyres leads to one pit stop strategies and "boring" races. Wide tyres are great for mechanical grip but we now need to get rid of fuel limitation to allow competitive strategies with faster pace and more pitstops. That's what 2007 - 2008 was all about.
Tired Tyres
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Mixing up strategy by allowing refuelling is not a 'pitstop challenge'. There has to be a balance. It could be argued that needing an over 2 second a lap advantage to pass is not racing either.
- 239
- Switzerland
2007 and 2008 have been some of the best years of the sport in terms of "balance of performance" and it wasn't a fake DRS show like it have been in the last years. 10 years ago cars and drivers were pushing to the limit all the time. That pretty much sound like "racing". Now they are forced to go 5 seconds slower of qualifying times...
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