2017 Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand PrixFormula 1

[trustjab]

Since the cat is out of the bag, good for Vettel and Ferrari. I think Verstappen and that early pitstop for Hamilton changed the race. It's only one race though so I'm not sold on Ferrari being title favorites over Mercedes.

 

[coryclifford]

They probably figure most people know by now, but I understand the frustration for sure.

They should stop presuming that especially as it's only mid day Sunday.

 

[Northstar]

Weren't the mods cracking down on spoilers not long ago?

Edit: It's even in the rules in the sticky thread.

Do not post "spoilers" in the thread titles
Do not give away the race or qualifying results in the thread title. Keep in mind that not everyone gets to see the race live, and, given that this is a global forum, not everyone even gets to see the race on the same day. Of course, you can talk about the results inside the thread!

 

[TenEightyOne]

Nice spoiler title, gents.

Thanks for ruining the race.

Weren't the mods cracking down on spoilers not long ago?

@Jordan, @Famine, when did the rules change to not only allow race spoilers in thread titles but also on GTP's front page?

Also, I understand that this thread is generated automatically to host comments from the front-page spoiler but do we need it in addition to the existing 21 pages of discussion in the thread that already exists for this race?

Do not post "spoilers" in the thread titles

• Do not give away the race or qualifying results in the thread title. Keep in mind that not everyone gets to see the race live, and, given that this is a global forum, not everyone even gets to see the race on the same day. Of course, you can talk about the results inside the thread!

Do not post spoilers elsewhere on GTPlanet

• GTPlanet is typically inhabited by motoring and motorsports enthusiasts and they ought to be free to navigate the site and avoid seeing race results unless they are looking for them. This applies across the site, but be especially mindful about your own status updates.

Keep each season or race to a single discussion thread

• Regardless of the series in question, race weekends are the fastest-moving part of the calendar and so it may be beneficial for the more popular series to have an individual thread for each race alongside a general discussion thread for the series itself. Each season for each series should have its own standalone thread also. The staff may archive old races into larger single-season threads, or each season into single-formula threads after the season is finished.

EDIT: I see the threads have been merged now. My question about the front-page spoiler still stands...

 

[TenEightyOne]

Yeah, that was his last race at his best, afterwards he went downhill. The real decider was Spain last season, when he had no attempts at overtaking Verstappen.

I actually meant today, I was quite clear* about that!

* For "clear" read "unclear"

 

[GrumpyGrumps]

They probably figure most people know by now, but I understand the frustration for sure.

Oh I agree, which is why I basically have to stay off the internet entirely until I watch the race, as more than half the of the websites I regularly visit are motorsport-related.

 

[DG_Silva]

I think it's time to think about refueling though, the safety excuse is kind of irrelevent if nearly every other series can do it fine.

Refuelling is only unsafe when a team who is renown for cheating in every possible way, from the design of their car and engine maps, to operating them and driving them, modifies the equipment to make them inherently unsafe. Something they still couldn't stop after being taken over by one of the biggest car manufacturers in the world...

 

[GrumpyGrumps]

@Jordan, @Famine, when did the rules change to not only allow race spoilers in thread titles but also on GTP's front page?

Also, I understand that this thread is generated automatically to host comments from the front-page spoiler but do we need it in addition to the existing 21 pages of discussion in the thread that already exists for this race?

You'd think they'd just merge them.

 

[Jimlaad43]

I wouldn't say dropping back into the clutches of Verstappen counts as staying with Bottas

 

[mustafur]

No. Please. No. Do you not remember the Trulli/Honda trains? Inability to pass for lap after lap after lap after lap. No thanks.

Well there is DRS.

 

[chromatic9]

I don't think Lewis being held up mattered too much although I've only watched the highlights. Seems he lost 3 seconds until Max pitted and then lost a further 7 seconds in the race in clean air. Vettel was sticking close at the start and was just simply released when Lewis pitted. Pretty sure Vettel would've passed Lewis.

It's set up to be a good battle if we see circuit types and temperatures play a part and this swings back and forth like what's happened in the past like in 2008.

 

[SagarisGTB]

Pretty sure Vettel would've passed Lewis.

but the reason Lewis came in early is because Vettel was running him down and he had to do something or possibly get passed on track.

No way, definitely not. Lewis never came close to passing Verstappen on much fresher tires, Kvyat never came close to passing Perez on much fresher tires and having a huge pace advantage, and Ocon wasn't able to pass Alonso until the McLaren's handling fell apart, despite having both a huge pace advantage and large top speed advantage.

No way would Vettel overtake Hamilton on track at Albert Park unless Hamilton's tires completely fell apart (they didn't).

 

[GroupB]

No way, definitely not. Lewis never came close to passing Verstappen on much fresher tires, Kvyat never came close to passing Perez on much fresher tires and having a huge pace advantage, and Ocon wasn't able to pass Alonso until the McLaren's handling fell apart, despite having both a huge pace advantage and large top speed advantage.

No way would Vettel overtake Hamilton on track at Albert Park unless Hamilton's tires completely fell apart (they didn't).

 

[Dotini]

Lewis's problem was starting on the tires with 2-3 extra laps put on them in Q2. This led to him pitting first of the frontrunners, then getting stuck in traffic.

 

[SagarisGTB]

View attachment 636985

Hamilton is attempting to justify his choice to pit, but I don't buy it. He can say all he wants, everything I saw on Sunday suggests a Ferrari would have not have passed a Mercedes on track without a big mistake on the Merc driver's part.

 

[flip55]

You know where I had the race spoiled for me? ...The Formula 1 YouTube channel when they posted a highlights video of the race that popped up in my feed this morning. Guess what was in giant bold letters in the title. No one understands the concept of spoilers anymore.

As for the race:

Ferrari messed it up last year, so it was Mercedes's turn this year. I do have a feeling, though, that Merc thought teams were going to pit earlier than they did. I believe HAM also decided to run Q2 on used ultra softs, and therefore started the race on that set, and everyone else slapped on some new tires. If that is true, I don't quite understand why you'd do that (I guess someone in the braintrust thought scuffed tires would be better somehow...?) That, and I found it both surprising and disappointing that HAM couldn't get by VES when the time came. Not sure if that's a characteristic of Melbourne, or because the cars at the pointy end of the field really super can't pass each other.

I'm not convinced Ferrari have the upper hand yet, but maybe we'll have a proper title fight this year. Thankfully, we don't have to wait that long 'til the next round. Onward to China!

 

[GroupB]

Tire allocation:

 

[GrumpyGrumps]

Hamilton is attempting to justify his choice to pit, but I don't buy it. He can say all he wants, everything I saw on Sunday suggests a Ferrari would have not have passed a Mercedes on track without a big mistake on the Merc driver's part.

I completely agree. Drivers should understand by now that the majority of the audience don't take what they say for truth, especially if it's a driver who isn't short of words. (Now Kimi on the other hand...) On the bright side, we have 19 more races to find out how the cars and drivers react under all sorts of circumstances. I'm very excited!

Edit: PS. My favorite moment of the race was when Toto Wolff banged his fist on the table in the Merc garage. Not because he was upset, but because I love seeing actual raw emotion boil over in those intense moments from people who are normally so polished. Fantastic!

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Lewis had pole, had a great start, and still lost by 10 seconds. People say Verstappen was the difference, but the reason Lewis came in early is because Vettel was running him down and he had to do something or possibly get passed on track.
So if Mercedes couldn't make it work in Australia, what happens when Vettel has a flawless final lap in Q3 and starts from pole? It's not looking good for them if they can't hold him off from the front or catch him from behind.

He came in early cause he lost tire life not because of Vettel, many have stated had he backed off a bit when he had a a bit of a gap that he could have stayed out longer and never ended up behind Verstappen, and so not getting passed. Lewis and or Bottas could have easily done the same thing as Vettel. It's the first race and Australia hardly runs like the majority of races in the season.

You're assessment is far too grasping after one race where most of what you've said isn't indicated. Bottas for much of the race was the fastest car, even when Vettel was chasing down Lewis. And even Lewis put in purple laps while being chased. It's so hard to read into, that the safest bet for now is to say they're equal.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Lewis's problem was starting on the tires with 2-3 extra laps put on them in Q2. This led to him pitting first of the frontrunners, then getting stuck in traffic.

I'm pretty sure that was a mistake and he set his best Q2 time on a fresh set of ultras. Croft and Brundle were discussing it early in the race; something about the team scanning a barcode for a set of tyres to inform Pirelli and the FIA as to which set was being used and when.

 

[GroupB]

NBC also mentioned the Pirelli mistake regarding Hamilton's Q2 tires.

 

[vrossi]

Lewis complains about grip. Team brings him in early. Wolff is seen banging on desk as Ferrari checks out.

 

[trustjab]

I wonder if it was Lewis's call or if it was both him and the team? If it was solely his call, then he must not have realized that the tires are better on durability this year. All the front runners were on a one stop, it should have been obvious to stick with it and do his best to hold up Vettel. Mercedes are lacking in the strategy area, under estimated the tires or didn't have a setup to get the most out of their durability.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

I wonder if it was Lewis's call or if it was both him and the team? If it was solely his call, then he must not have realized that the tires are better on durability this year. All the front runners were on a one stop, it should have been obvious to stick with it and do his best to hold up Vettel. Mercedes are lacking in the strategy area, under estimated the tires or didn't have a setup to get the most out of their durability.

He said it was his call.

 

[ScottPuss20]

Relevant:

Thank goodness Vettel won yesterday. Ferrari deserved this one. It's great when Hamilton doesn't win in his Benz - they've been dominating this era and it's time another team to challenge them for the championship. Red Bull is total embarrassment, bloody hell. Ricciardo crashing in qualifying is bad enough, but to have problems with the gearbox on the warm up lap, start 2 laps down and have to retire? Come on, Red Bull are better than this! Absolutely disgraceful for his fans and his country.

 

[RX-7_FD3S]

For me once again Mercedes failed Lewis on strategy. It's not the first time that Mercedes isnt doing a good strategy. They dominate so easily the last few year that most mistake went unnoticed but honestly I'm not impressed by Mercedes strategic team.

Gotta praise Ferrari tho who did a good job capitalizing on Lewis/Mercedes stress.

Let's see in china with lots of fast corners what those new cars can do now.

 

[Tired Tyres]

Note to anyone who thinks Ferrari are back on top. They should have won this race last year as well. Look how well that turned out for the rest of the season...

 

[SVT Cobra GT]

As much as I don't like Vettel it was nice to see someone other than a Mercedes win. It does seem as though Ferrari have closed the gap to Mercedes and it looks like they'll be title challengers. However, like a few have already said, I can't see anyone other than Mercedes as title favourites. I do think strategy cost Mercedes a win or at least a better chance of closing in to win. China is a different circuit so that should be interesting.

I do also think it wasn't really worth getting up at 5.30am for either. Both Haas' retired when they were looking very strong, Alonso lost points after his car failed.

I know people on here think that the fans were idiotic for running onto the track but be honest. If you were there, wouldn't you have run onto it? I would have.

 

[Atwork]

Weren't the mods cracking down on spoilers not long ago?

Edit: It's even in the rules in the sticky thread.

Do not post "spoilers" in the thread titles
Do not give away the race or qualifying results in the thread title. Keep in mind that not everyone gets to see the race live, and, given that this is a global forum, not everyone even gets to see the race on the same day. Of course, you can talk about the results inside the thread!

I work 12 hour days on most races weekend and sometimes have to push races till the next day. I was able to catch this race almost live which was nice but I would have been disappointed to have it spoiled since I am a Vettel fan. That said I work a ton and have learned to deal with media blackouts for sports. I'll just have to skip gtplanet on sundays. I will live. Here in the US it is not hard avoiding f1 news. It is much harder to avoid news on my Kings (nba) and 49ers (nfl) till I get home and watch. My dvr gets a ton of use. My friends and the people I work with get a laugh out of the lengths I will go to keep my games/races unspoiled.

 

[Mulan]

The problem Mercedes had and need to fix is running behind a car.
It was obvious that in free air they are fast but behind a car where air is disturbed they loose downforce and overheat tires.
Ham couldnt pass Max because of this, even with greater enginepower and new tires. Vet though could match Ham and drive close and still handle the tires, this is the upperhand that Fer may have over Mer this time, having great racetrim and not just qualifying trim with only fresh air ahead.