Formula 1 2013 Season Opener Melbourne 17th March

[Barra333]

My guess is they postponed it mainly because it was getting so late in the evening, so they were probably worried about visibility with all the rain.

That, and it was still raining. It was starting to get dark at my house 600km away when they called it, and there were no clouds in the sky.
TV cameras enhance light a lot, so it is hard to tell how dark it actually is, but the flaring from the lights around the track was a giveaway.

And yes, the timeslot is primarily for European TV.

 

[Wardez]

Funny video of Mark and Seb trying to sticker up the RB9:



And a really interesting post on why McLaren was so fast in testing at points, but are now off the pace:
http://adamcooperf1.com/2013/03/16/...e-mclaren-unrealistically-fast-in-jerez-test/

 

[Barra333]

The most accurate part of that video was 'don't give up your day job' And did Mark snap off an aerial to place the striped sticker?

 

[MUSC4EVER]

Right..tv on, laptop open, ice cold bottle of Bulmers...im ready for Q2 and 3!

 

[GTPorsche]

Anyone know if they plan on showing it live still on NBCSP?

Delayed broadcast at 1230am.

 

[RX-7_FD3S]

rain is expected for the start of q2 ...

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Well this way we still get 40 minutes track action. Isn't that what we are all here for? To watch the drivers driving the cars really fast on track?

Put it this way - would you rather see 20 minutes or 1 hour of action? Because now we still get to see 1 hour, whereas if we decided it on the Q1 times or points we'd only have got 20 minutes.

Simple as that as far as I'm concerned.

...The race does the job of that just fine and more so. We will agree to disagree. Having to fall back on rules that dictate grid due to rain delay isn't so bad, it might make things more interesting.

 

[ZEROX]

All on intermediate tires.

 

[MUSC4EVER]

Vettel almost a second quicker than the rest!

 

[Grayfox]

Stupid idea to go to slicks, slipping an sliding into a wall hours before the race.

 

[ZEROX]

Stupid idea to go to slicks, slipping an sliding into a wall hours before the race.

Indeed, the tarmac is still wet and cold!
---
Perez on slick...again. Wat?

 

[CinnamonOD]

What was McLaren thinking at?

 

[Grayfox]

Tire choice was slightly wrong?

 

[ZEROX]

^
Or probably saving tyre for the race.

Perez won't make it to Q3 for sure.

 

[zzz_pt]

any decent live stream?

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Vettel almost a second quicker than the rest!

Too bad Rosberg smashed it, for vettel fans that is. Great job so far on the Merc GP boys, especially Rosberg.

 

[Akmuq]

White lines would mean I would want a very dry track to run slicks if I was a F1 driver, I'd say the real cut-off is 1:31ish.

 

[MUSC4EVER]

So thats Hulkenburg, Sutil, Perez, Bottas, Riccardo and...someone else!...not making it through to Q3...

 

[RX-7_FD3S]

Too bad Rosberg smashed it, for vettel fans that is. Great job so far on the Merc GP boys, especially Rosberg.

Yeah Rosberg was impressive. Pole is gonna be super close, everyone seems to be able to do it since the track is getting faster each seconds. Maybe a Di Resta pole ?

 

[Tom]

So thats Hulkenburg, Sutil, Perez, Bottas, Riccardo and...someone else!...not making it through to Q3...

Vergne is the "someone else" that you're referring too.

 

[dsgerbc]

any decent live stream?

the only one I found. 5 minutes left.

 

[ZEROX]

First and second sector are best for slicks, not so on the last sector for now.

 

[Wardez]

Holy crap RB really kicked it into hyperspeed in the last second. Vettel's lap was intense.

Di restsaaaaaaaa

Super happy for Massa too.

 

[zzz_pt]

the only one I found. 5 minutes left.

Thanks mate. 👍


Vettel is a beast...

 

[Tom]

Oh great, a Red Bull front-row lock-out, just what we want. (!)

 

[MUSC4EVER]

Another Redbull front row lockout

Hamilton, Massa and Di resta impressive...

 

[ZEROX]

Vettel is 2 sec. faster than Hammy!

EDIT: Make that 1.

 

[Wardez]

Yeah, that was crazy to see^ but then Hami hit that 28 flat.

Yep, Charles Pic is hundredth off of the 107% time, so he can't race, sucks.
It was 'cause of a crash, not lack of pace, so they'll let him race as I understand it now.

 

[Tom]

Really impressed with Hamilton for Mercedes, disappointed for Button though.

 

[cgr-10]

Well, if McLaren aren't gonna be able to threaten, um...anybody, I hope Lewis at least can take the fight to RBR. I bet he's pretty happy with his decision to jump ship to Mercedes right now.