Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix 2009

[Sureboss]

If they were more wind resistant they'd be slower...

Also, I'm not convinced by KERS, I expect it will die a quick death or be like when turbo's first arrived in F1, take a while to develop.

I'm not convinced that having an extra 80hp for 1/15th of the lap, with a 30kg penalty for the whole lap, is worth it.

 

[Metar]

It's not a 30kg penalty per se: it's 30kg less ballast available. Cars are underweight as it is, and with KERS, (most) cars still won't be overweight (though Webber, for example, would have just 5kg of ballast left).

The problem with KERS is how it was introduced: Just ahead of a major crisis, teams had to spend dozens of millions in order to get their systems functional and reliable. At the same time, the FIA introduced it in a bland, castrated form: With these severe restrictions, a fully-optimized system (and the current systems are far from optimized) is reckoned to be worth 3 tenths at best - and currently, the easier-to-setup and better-balanced KERS-less teams are better off staying like this. With the testing-ban in place, it'll be hard to make progress with the system, and most of the KERS-teams will focus on a double-decker diffuser.

The plan was for 2009 to be an introduction year, and then to slowly crank KERS power up in the coming years - for 2010, the plan was to make it obligatory, and increase power by 50%, as well as the time it is available. However, politics and cost-saving have gotten in the way, and some teams (Ferrari mainly) are currently lobbying for a spec-KERS system from 2010 onwards - effectively killing the whole idea of KERS as a competitive element, and leaving it a "green-cred" marketing tool only. I pray this doesn't happen, and I hope KERS gets more power next year (this year is lost - rule-changes will need unanimous agreement, and I want to see the guy who persuades Brawn, Toyota and Force India that other teams are entitled to get an advantage).

 

[Watevaman]

I can't wait for the race. I missed qualifying (was on at 1 in the morning here last night ), but the race is definitely going to be something special judging on the qualifying results. Either the drivers need to get used to these cars or the underdogs are making a comeback.

 

[Ardius]

Wow, if people still have doubts about Brawn GP they are officially now in the minority. Watching Q3 was like watching qualifying from years gone by, except with the domination of a non-manufacturer backed team!
In fact, the 3 teams making the most noise right now are all privateer teams!

Will be cheering on Jenson and Rubens tomorrow and I'm glad to see Vettel live up to expectations eventually. 👍
A little annoying and shocking to hear Toyota are being penalised but at least they do have a "legal" diffuser ready (or so I remember hearing?).

Very nice to see the big guns having to duke it out in the midfield too, definitely a time for Hamilton to show some moves in a bad car.

 

[Metar]

Will be cheering on Jenson and Rubens tomorrow and I'm glad to see Vettel live up to expectations eventually. 👍
A little annoying and shocking to hear Toyota are being penalised but at least they do have a "legal" diffuser ready (or so I remember hearing?).

They do indeed have a legal version ready just-in-case, but that's got nothing to do with the penalty: This one was for the rear wing, which apparently deflected more than allowed by the rules - a flexible wing.

 

[Ardius]

^Ah yeah, ok to be fair the BBC failed me on that part. Mr Humphrey told me it was their diffuser.

And how did my name change?

 

[Omnis]

Anyone think Brawn will pick up some sponsors now?

 

[Sureboss]

They have, Virgin and the money machine.

 

[Havok_]

To think that the BGP cars were the heaviest of all cars in Q3, wow! They look to be sand-bagging and still are dominating the field! The rest of the field have lots of work to do to catch up to Jenson and Rubens. I had some hope for Alonso but it looks like BGP put the work into the development of their car and very much deserve to reap the rewards. Good to see Jenson nad Rubens up front, it's been a long time since they got the recognition they deserve

 

[JohnBM01]

I'll just make this quick. I'll be interested to see how F1 looks this year with all the different body style changes and such. I'll try to catch the Australian Grand Prix on TV.

 

[Sharky.]

Go Brawn! About time Jenson had a competitive car

 

[mPWRD]

and what a surprise - that man kubica quietly shows up P4. guy's a star.

Agreed. In fact... i'm predicting Kubica to win the race. It's either him, Vettel or Rosberg. Hamilton is too far down to really mount a proper charge, and he has to be careful with the car. I think that Raikonnen and Massa have a chance, but vettel, kubica, and rosberg are too high up on the grid for them to catch. and i can't really count out brawn.

damn. this race is proving too hard to call.

 

[SagarisGTB]

Agreed. In fact... i'm predicting Kubica to win the race. It's either him, Vettel or Rosberg. Hamilton is too far down to really mount a proper charge, and he has to be careful with the car. I think that Raikonnen and Massa have a chance, but vettel, kubica, and rosberg are too high up on the grid for them to catch. and i can't really count out brawn.

damn. this race is proving too hard to call.

Too hard to call? Pick Jensen or Rubens and you have a 50% chance of being correct whichever way you go.

 

[L_Hamilton]

Go Fisichella! Anyone could win this. Depends on who's the leading car at the beginning and how fast of a pace he starts of with and for how long he can keep it up. If everyone is running the same pace, then anyone can with this. Pitting will be more crucial then ever.

I'm smelling an historic race?

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

I wonder who's going to run the softs in the 1st stint. It seems like that's what Kubica might be doing. I guess we'll see how that works out in the race.

 

[Ardius]

Just read the best quote ever:

(Formula 1.com interviewing Richard Branson):
Q: Obviously your dangerous days are over. Is Formula One your new adventure?
RB: I can assure you that I won’t be getting into one of those cars. The last time I got into a racing car I was so far last that I hoped that the crowd thought that I was first. But I will be a voyeur and watch the mighty Jenson and Rubens do their bit. Maybe I’ll pursue some of them to come into space with me. Bernie should come into space with me, as I came to his Formula One.

Yes please, Mr Branson, please do this Leave him on the moon or something.

 

[Alex.]

LOL! That would be quite a spectacle

 

[Roo]

I'm thinking the race itself will be rather dull - the Brawns will disappear into the distance and dominate - but it's still going to be so exciting to watch, because it's the Brawns doing the dominating. Not Ferrari, McLaren or Renault, but Brawn. I can't wait to get up at 6am tomorrow morning, and I don't say that very often.

 

[Ardius]

I'm thinking the race itself will be rather dull - the Brawns will disappear into the distance and dominate - but it's still going to be so exciting to watch, because it's the Brawns doing the dominating. Not Ferrari, McLaren or Renault, but Brawn. I can't wait to get up at 6am tomorrow morning, and I don't say that very often.

Indeed, the first privateer team to possibly take the championship from a dominant position since Williams in 1997. 12 years!

 

[mPWRD]

Too hard to call? Pick Jensen or Rubens and you have a 50% chance of being correct whichever way you go.

that's what everyone thinks but you can give a good reason for a whole bunch of drivers:
brawns - everyone else has got that covered
vettel - he's really fast. won a race last year, looked good in qualifying
rosberg - fastest in all 3 practices, proving he's the fastest driver on the track
kubica - mr. consistent
raikonnen and massa - it's ferrari.
hamilton - he won last year, he's the reigning champion, can't count him out.

 

[Sharky.]

hamilton - he won last year, he's the reigning champion, can't count him out.

Despite openly admitting the car is useless? On that basis, I should've backed Rubens to podium in his Honda at some point last season.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Despite openly admitting the car is useless?

Not to mention, starting effectively last. I can't see Hamilton providing much of a challege for either of the Toyotas. He might have KERS, but Trulli and Glock have obviousy been consistenly quick without it.

On that basis, I should've backed Rubens to podium in his Honda at some point last season.

He did. Barichello placed third at Silverstone last year, but I suspect you already knew that and were using it as an example to back your point.

 

[Sharky.]

Yes, I knew that, and I was totally using it to reinforce my point... *shifty eyes*

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Nice recovery.

 

[NapoleonMikey]

any predictions on hamilton ending the race in thrid to last place? (sorry but i still think force india will end up 1&2 for dead last)

 

[Sharky.]

Nah, I reckon he'll stick it in the wall long before lap 58

 

[Tired Tyres]

I'm up at normal Australian GP start time and race race isn't on for another 2 hours and 40 minutes.

I'm guessing at least 5 cars will pit at the end of the first lap for new noses.

I also think both Ferrari's and Hamilton's races will end due to driver errors.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Nah, I reckon he'll stick it in the wall long before lap 58

Maybe he'll be the cause of the traditional season opener: the first-corner accident.

 

[Obli]

Thank God my girlfriend reminded me that the clocks have gone forwards an hour! Reminder to all where it may apply (I'm in the UK)

 

[Pupik]

Anyone else find this ironic?

March 701 (raced by Jackie Stewart, entered by Ken Tyrrell)
→ Tyrrell 001 (Ken's first F1 car, team raced its oen cars until bought out by...)
→ British American Racing (raced from 1999-2004/5)
→ Honda F1 (took over operations until Honda axed the F1 programme)
→ Brawn GP (present).

The March was the last first-ever F1 race team to claim a pole (1970). The Brawn GP is the latest.

It it wins the race, it will be a Wolf in a Virgin's clothing.