Australian GP thread - Will Contain Race Spoilers

[Fernando]

First topic message reminder :

Spoiler:

Will Sebastian Vettel dominate again? Are McLaren in better shape this year? How bad are things at Ferrari? Will Kimi Raikkonen have a car capable of podiums? Can Michael Schumacher challenge for wins in 2012? By Sunday evening in Melbourne we should be one step closer to answering these questions … or there could be a whole bunch more to answer. Either way, the long wait will be over and the 2012 season will be underway.

On Form
After a disappointing 2011 season, Lewis Hamilton has vowed to refocus on Formula One this year and the early signs suggest he is approaching the season in a much better state of mind. It's almost impossible to read anything into the times he set in pre-season testing, but his general demeanour was much improved. He was more like the Lewis of old, and if he can transfer that confidence onto the track he should have a serious shot at the title.

Out of form
Much has been written about Ferrari's struggles in pre-season testing, but the true extent of the problems (or lack of problems) won't become clear until Sunday evening. Mixed messages have come out of Maranello, but the team appears to be targeting the Spanish Grand Prix to get back on track. It just has to hope that Red Bull and McLaren don't make significant improvements of their own over the next four races.

One to watch
The Force India looked quick in testing and Paul di Resta proved last year that he is a safe pair of hands. Melbourne is often a race of attrition, with the new cars taking a pounding on the bumpy surface, so if di Resta can keep it all together he will stand a good chance of scoring some decent points.

Talking points
Six world champions Never before have six world champions lined up on a Formula One grid, so assuming they all make it to Sunday's race, 2012 will kick off with a new record. Some of the champions stand less of a chance of adding to their title count than others, but they are all in top teams and even Michael Schumacher at Mercedes and Kimi Raikkonen at Lotus could have an outside shot at race wins this year.

Tyres Last year's on-track action was much more exciting than previous years and that was mainly thanks to Pirelli. This year the Italian tyre manufacturer has vowed to keep things interesting by reducing the performance gap between the compounds and making the whole range softer. Last year most drivers tried to limit their time on the harder compound during races, but this year the decision won't be so clear cut. Pit walls will have a hard time working out strategies as the races unfold and that should make for more overtaking as the drivers find themselves on different compounds in different states of wear. The softer rubber should also provide a boost to the midfield teams that often struggled to bring the hardest tyres up to working temperature last year due to their lack of downforce.

The Concorde Agreement While we are all hoping for a tense battle on the track, there will also be an intriguing scrap developing off it. In 2013 the current Concorde Agreement which binds the teams, the FIA and Formula One Management (FOM) together will expire and it is in interest of all the sport's stakeholders to replace it - especially if CVC Capital Partners, F1's current majority owners, is considering selling. The Concorde Agreement determines how the sports profits are distributed and naturally everybody wants a little bit more. Since 2006 the teams have been getting 50% of the pot, which is divided between them as prize money. Bernie Ecclestone and FOM are naturally opposed to giving them any more money and the first signs that they are ready to put up a fight came last week when Ecclestone suggested the teams should cut their spending instead. During the last negotiations in 2009 the teams were united under the Formula One Teams' Association, but since Ferrari and Red Bull left last year it appears as though Ecclestone is going to have an easier time playing his old game of divide and conquer. Either way, it should provide for some thrilling background stories if the racing fails to live up to expectations.

Melbourne's future There's not a single member of the F1 paddock who doesn't like going to Melbourne for the first race of the season. Yet the Australian Grand Prix could be under threat when the current contract runs out in 2015 as FOM wants more money and the local government says it is already stretched. Ecclestone has said turning event into a night race would help matters, but that in itself is an expensive undertaking.

Trivia
Albert Park staged two non-championship Formula Libre Australian Grands Prix in 1953 and 1956, although the cars ran around the circuit anti-clockwise
The 1953 event was made up entirely of Australian drivers but the 1956 race was timed to coincide with the Olympics and attracted big names such as Sir Stirling Moss and Jean Behra, who were both entered by Maserati in 250Fs. Moss won the race by over two minutes from Behra and by a lap over the rest of the field
In 1991 Adelaide hosted the shortest grand prix ever when the race was stopped after just 14 laps due to heavy rain. It was just 32.883 miles long and lasted less than 25 minutes. However, in terms of laps it was still longer than some of the old German Grands Prix at the 14-mile Nurburgring, which were often just 12 laps long
Three Frenchman will be on the grid this year after three years without one. Romain Grosjean returns and Jean-Eric Vergne and Charles Pic will make their debuts. The last Frenchman to score points at the Australian GP was Sébastien Bourdais, with seventh place and two points in 2008. The last Frenchman on the podium down under was Olivier Panis, who was second for Ligier in 1995

Fast facts
This will be the 28th Formula One Australian Grand Prix; the race was first staged in 1985 at Adelaide
There have been 48 retirements at the Australian Grand Prix from 132 starters in the last six years
Drives make 60 gearchanges per lap at Albert Park and spend 66% of the lap on full throttle
There have been nine safety-car periods during the past six races at Albert Park

Circuit
Built around a man-made lake and using public roads, Albert Park is the perfect place to kick off the new season. While overtaking is limited mainly to turns one and three, there should be more this year with two DRS zones occupying the preceding straights. An abundance of gravel traps rather than concrete run-off areas restrict the margin for error and any weaknesses in the cars will be exposed over the bumpy track surface.

FIA driver steward
Johnny Herbert returns to the stewards' panel at the Australian Grand Prix for the second year in a row. He last sat on the panel at the inaugural Indian Grand Prix last year.

Weather
Rain is expected on Friday afternoon, which could be frustrating for drivers still trying to find a set-up in their new cars. The rest of the weekend should be dry, although thunderstorms have been circulating in the local area this week and could threaten to turn the racing on its head. Sunday's main event starts at 17:00 local time so temperatures will start to dip, which could cause some head-scratching for the teams with Pirelli's new tyres.

Source: Espn

[Guest]

Bonjourno!

People are saying that it was his mistake that caused the car to spin. BUT with the tyres 6% wider, it was clear in the replay that the extra 6% on the grass was what sent him into a spin.

Mr Monza, I beg to differ.
It is the rear tires that are 6% wider not the front, but it was the front left that went on the grass. (From memory anyways)

[Alessandro Ciambella]

From the cockpit camera that appears to be the case, but from the external view you can see its the back tyres lighting up on the grass, thats where the problem was.

[Guest]

Ahh, I didn't see that angle.

But take that aside, the Ferrari's appear to have a lot of work in front of them. Massa was well off the pace.

[Critical_mass]

To be fair the rears would have had to be on the grass too to cause the rear to flick round like it did. But come on, ALonso is a veteran and should be able to judge the width of the tyres when riding the edge of the track. It was a bit of a amateur error as Brundle stated. But its just one of those things, he should be able to make places up from 12th and with, no doubt, starting on fresh tyres.

As for Massa, if he was in a rocket ship he'd struggle to have pace

[Alessandro Ciambella]

That Ferrari is woeful. Massa is down with the Caterhams and Doctor Diaz is jousting with Toro Rossos. Dominicalli could be collecting his Itallian equivallent of a P45 come Sunday evening.

[Critical_mass]

Yes at the end of the season Mr D could indeed be out - but thats premature to say.

[dangerous_mouse]

So excited after todays qualifying results.

Really hope Grosjeans pace is consistant through out the season and that Kimmi is on a similar if not faster pace.

Mercedes looked something special, Rosbergs car had a lovely sharp bite when changing direction.

Quick question as i may have missed this but where would 606ers like to see Kubica (if he wasnt in such a bad way)? personally in Massa's car for me, how exciting its going to be with 5 teams in the fight for podiums (provided ferrari sort out the issues asap).

so excited.

[Fernando]

Spoilers of race result win be below here

[mystiroakey]

wow . so red bulls are quick??

vettel,jenson and alonso all racing brilliantly- not sure what happened to hamilton in third but i only saw the last 10 or so laps

[Fader]

Interesting from Sky!

Sky Sports news announces Alonso retires from race! Yet I've just watched him as most have finish 5th in the race!

Great driving from Jensen and Vettel came through well, Raikkinon also done superbly to finish as high as he did.

But how lovely to see Hamilton unhappy, I really don't like his personality and way he is so cocky.

So C'mon Jensen take this wire to wire and what a start to a great season ahead I hope

[SteveG]

Wheel spin for Hami at the start but wasnt worried at the time coz fully expected him to stick with Button till DRS but didnt - why ?? That gave Button first call on tyres and same old story as last seson unfolded with Hamilton having to go an extra lap on shot tyres and losing even more time and getting stuck in traffic. And he looked totally stoney faced in the press conference ehich isnt surprising.

BTW was very impressed with Alonso - agressive from the start (like Hamilton used to be) and wrestled his car round the track with no messing about. Just look at the difference to Massa. A class act.

[harryspiv]

Hamilton can have few complaints about Button, over the course of the race Jenson was just better than him from the start, he was unlucky with the safety car though and it probably compromised a mclaren 1-2 finish

Redbulls do have strong race pace so as expected they'll be right up there

Maldonado was looking so strong behind alonso until the last lap

Even still Alonso did outperform that complete dog of a car which massa just could not drive things can only get better for them.

A frantic and exciting end to the grand prix saw Raikkonen steal 7th and Di Resta taking the final point on the line, I personslly didn't think Di Resta was going to get anything.

HRT are an embarrassment, failing to make the grid seems a big step backwards for the team, will this be a regular occurrence?

[Guest]

well to say that what a disappointment is a understatement from a hamilton point of view. Poor start, poor middle and poor end......basically a totally flat performance and seeing button win at a canter, cos thats really what it was is not only depressing but worrying. Full credit to jenson, grabbed the lead and in clean air........kicked butt! The only issue i have is Mclaren's strategy, why are they always reactive instead of being proactive. They thought they were totally dominant, switching to a two stop strategy and not realising that red bull were quick in clean air and in particular vettel. Button was favoured in terms of strategy calls thanks to track position, therefore Hamilton was always playing catch up. Button bought in first and leaves in clear air, Lewis comes in a lap later and what a suprise......traffic everywhere! Typical!

Red Bull, wow, impressive race pace compared to the dreadful Mercedes. Vettel's pass on rosberg was sensational i must admit and he drove superbly. Mercedes, well what a suprise, you remove the continual use of DRS in qualfying, add in heavy fuel and what do you get..........you get a 2011 mercedes performance........major disappointment and basically leaves a two team championship fight.

Ferrari.........dreadful on its tyres but Alonso's class told. Massa is an embarrassment and should be removed immediately. Raikkonen very impressive and deserved 7th. Maldonando totally outshone a poor Senna, however that crash wont go down well at Williams

In evaluation, an OK race, not great. In terms of the title it looks like it's between Button, Hamilton & Vettel. Without the safety car, webber was nowhere and poor in my opinion. Worrying times for Hamilton and i'm thoroughly depressed writing this but i will keep the faith and look forward to malaysia.

[SteveG]

John - I just don't understand why Hami was so far off Buttons pace. We seen this last season at a few races - Japan springs to mind. As I say the start was unfortunate but its what happened after that thats worrying - it was too easy for Button as Hamilton instead of being all over his gearbox just fell further back. Hamilton is the faster driver - proven in qualifying and before last season was always just as fast in races so whats changed ?. It has to be something to do with the Pirelli tyres as nothing else has changed but whatever it is needs sorting - quickly.

[Bentyf1]

Quite a good race, enjoyed the racing and some of the overtakes were class.

Flawless by Jenson, that man is in very good form carrying on from a strong 2011 and the only way he can go is up, it's really cool to see a guy who was in the wilderness for so many years and look where he is now and I'm pleased to see that hard work does pay off. Hamilton look shocked at the end of the GP, not the best of days but the fear is for me we have seen so many of these "not the best of days" before, but he should be in a better position than last year at minimum.

Vettel I think will be happy tonight, always thought they were up to something and will be a threat. Webber was not bad, just a poor start and contact with Hulkenburg and Ricciardo at the start effected his race.

Alonso, well what can you say? the silent assassin! Massa looks like a driver and is driving like a driver with all morale shot to pieces, he was appalling today. Looks like he has forgot to drive all of a sudden.

Mercedes, well typical really. Big expectations and then it goes to the dogs. Schumacher did suffer from some mechanical failure but keeping a podium position would have been unlikely. Rosberg keeps to his 2011 form of a quite Race with some sort of contact.

Props to Raikkonen, not much to cheer over the weekend with tough practices and qualifying but showed class on a decent strategy, tyres were used well and showed not much rust especially at the end of the race where he could have easily creamed into the back of a Sauber or Mercedes, Kimi will be fine.
harsh on Grosjean but sure he will be bouncing back in Malaysia.

Roll on Malaysia!

[SteveG]

It has to be something to do with the Pirelli tyres as nothing else has changed but whatever it is needs sorting - quickly.

Maybe Hami has a problem driving with heavier fuel where all your reference points have to be re-mapped. He is certainly fast on low fuel and its the only other change from pre-2010 - its probably not the reason but just a thought - I may start taking more notice of his long fuel run times during P2 just to see.

[Guest]

John - I just don't understand why Hami was so far off Buttons pace.

It was such a flat performance, opposite to the Hamilton we all know and a mile away from his qualifying performance the previous day. I've heard rumours and I need them confirming that there was an issue with fuel for Hamilton and that he had been told to conserve fuel - just like Silverstone last season. It wouldnt suprise me at all if true. He was so off pace it was truly remarkable and I really thought the issue of tyre management had been put to bed after his controlled performance at Abu Dhabi last year, plus this seasons tyres are considered more durable!

As for Red Bull....they must be celebrating inside really, to come 2nd/4th is a fantastic result coming off a poor qualifying. The race pace of that car looks sensational and in my opinion looks incredibly closer to McLaren than we might expect. Newey will be encouraged by today and the only way is up for Red Bull so I expect the development race will be in full swing.

[SteveG]

The race pace of that car looks sensational

Must admit I got lulled into a false security with Red Bull after quali and I thought it would be the Mercs who would give Mclaren more problems but not so.
Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water....

[The Special Juan]

I've not watched a single piece of action of the race so I have no idea what really happened during it, but all I will say is "Remember McLaren always get faster as the season goes on." If they've started with a reasonable car, it will only get better.

[Critical_mass]

Great, action packed race. Bad start by lewis, good start by Jenson. BUt again, where was Lewis' pace????

Lewis looked disappointed on the podium. Still its race 1 of 20.. plenty morbetter thate to come.

Congrats to Jenson, he controlled the race well and good pace, Vettel and Webber were doing well, Certainly better than quali. Mercedes went the other way!!! Williams - keep an eye on them.

[Guest]

where was Lewis' pace????

I'm still yet to understand the reasoning for this, truly baffling!! any confirmation regarding him having fuel issues of some kind? The pace differential was astonishing and cannot be solely down to tyre management as Hamilton for the majority of the race was in clean air apart from the end behind Vettel

[dyrewolfe]

where was Lewis' pace????

I'm still yet to understand the reasoning for this, truly baffling!! any confirmation regarding him having fuel issues of some kind? The pace differential was astonishing and cannot be solely down to tyre management as Hamilton for the majority of the race was in clean air apart from the end behind Vettel

Button was given orders to conserve fuel during the first stint, when he had opened up that 10 second gap. I don't believe Hamilton received any such orders, so I'm guessing Jenson was fuelled lighter than Lewis. When he was in conservation mode Lewis began to reel him in, but only got the gap down to about 7 seconds before Jenson turned up the wick again.

Still, that alone surely can't account for the difference in pace?

[Guest]

All this Button - Hamilton talk but what about Webber finishing two places behind Vettel? Is Weber ever going to challenge Vettel?

[Guest]

Lewis Hamilton, "I'm not sure what happened at the start, but I lost ground and then suffered from tyre degradation at the end of the first stint. Then, at the end of the race, I wasn't able to close the gap to Seb – he was very quick on the straights which meant that it was always going to be difficult to pass him – so I dropped back into some clear air, then Mark [Webber] put me under pressure.

In evaluation............not knowing why you were slow is extremely worrying. Experienced tyre degradation at the end of the first stint is suprising seeing as he had no pressure, I thought Lewis wasn't even pushing to close on Jenson and was playing the waiting game, obviously not! It's incredibly suprising that Jenson completely outpaced Lewis in the first stint and built up such a lead. The pit-stop strategy then completely destroyed Hamilton coming in a lap later 3 seconds behind and then coming out in traffic 10 seconds behind, then came the safet car to put complete the nightmare.

Webber was rescued by the safety car, yes he had issues at the start but he looked once again to be outperformed by Vettel who deserves alot of credit for his performance

[dyrewolfe]

Overall, a great curtain-raiser to the season.

I don't think Lewis' start was that bad, otherwise Grosjean and Schumacher would have been all over him. I think it was more that Button simply made a flawless start. Utterly dominant performance from Button, not even fazed by the Safety Car restart. Looks like he's picking up where he left off last season.

Decent performance from Hamilton, though as others have commented, his relative lack of pace was mystifying. Got the rough end of McLaren's decision to pit both drivers on the same lap, just before the Safety Car and ended up being passed by Vettel as a result.

Gutted for Grosjean. Maldonado looked an absolute liability in the early stages of the race. Great comeback drive from the Iceman to bag some points for Lotus. Think this pairing definitely shows promise.

Doubly annoyed with Maldonado for blowing a points finish on the final lap with an unforced error, denying Williams any points. Senna looked pretty anonymous.

Bad luck for Schuey, as he was looking pretty strong until his retirement. Rosberg had a very eventful race, but ultimately the Merc only looked marginally better than last season in race trim and he faded badly towards the end. Seems Merc have their work cut out for them.

Great drive from Alonso, proving the car isn't as bad as many had feared and is at least on a par with Mercedes and Lotus. Sadly Massa looks even worse than last season, anonymous for much of the race before his eventual retirement.

Great drives from Perez and Kobayashi, bagging top 10 finishes to get Sauber's season off to a great start. Maybe 1-stop strategies will come back into fashion?

Perhaps most interesting of all was the realisation that the Red Bulls are pretty much on a par with McLaren in terms of race pace. Vettel and Webber both had decent races, though Vettel only passed his team mate and Rosberg on track. Schumacher's retirement and Hamilton's poorly-timed pitstop giving him the other two places. Webber looked as combative as ever and probably 4th was about the best he could have done.

In summary, it must've been a good race as I hate early mornings with a passion, but managed to stay glued to the screen throughout. Lets hope for more of the same in Malaysia.

[dyrewolfe]

Lewis Hamilton, "I'm not sure what happened at the start, but I lost ground and then suffered from tyre degradation at the end of the first stint. Then, at the end of the race, I wasn't able to close the gap to Seb – he was very quick on the straights which meant that it was always going to be difficult to pass him – so I dropped back into some clear air, then Mark [Webber] put me under pressure.

In evaluation............not knowing why you were slow is extremely worrying. Experienced tyre degradation at the end of the first stint is suprising seeing as he had no pressure, I thought Lewis wasn't even pushing to close on Jenson and was playing the waiting game, obviously not! It's incredibly suprising that Jenson completely outpaced Lewis in the first stint and built up such a lead. The pit-stop strategy then completely destroyed Hamilton coming in a lap later 3 seconds behind and then coming out in traffic 10 seconds behind, then came the safet car to put complete the nightmare.

Webber was rescued by the safety car, yes he had issues at the start but he looked once again to be outperformed by Vettel who deserves alot of credit for his performance

I'm surprised about that. As you say, Hamilton looked to be driving conservatively during the first stint...even the commentators mentioned it and wondered if he might be trying to save his tyres.

Can't blame the pit-stop strategy. McLaren operate a "first dibs" policy, meaning whoever is leading gets to decide when they stop. Thats just the luck of the draw. The Safety Car during the second stop was a nightmare in the sense it allowed Vettel to pass him, but it did also bunch them all back up, meaning he had ample opportunity to get past Vettel and even challenge for the lead.

As you say Webber made the most of the opportunity and would not have finished 4th otherwise.

I'm surprised Hamilton wasn't able to get past Vettel given how evenly matched they were...maybe that was the problem. Last season the Mclaren would have had a significant straight-line speed advantage, which ought to have allowed him to get past. I think it was Brundle who speculated they might have been running with more wing, which would have negated that.

[Fernando]

Both cars from lap 8 were in severe fuel saving mode for after a misjudgment in how much fuel the cars were using according to whitmarsh

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