Formula 1 2016: Round 1 - Australian Grand Prix

Frank Bullitt

Looks like a decent season potentially on the horizon.

Closer all over really, Ferrari are only slightly back from Merc, and its tight enough in the midfield with Haas and McLaren in the mix up there.

My only concern is that Ferrari have used a lot of tokens for their PU compared to Merc, so that might be a factor.

That_Guy

Enjoyable enough race with some nice little battles along the way. I'm really delighted for Haas though. Ran an excellent race.

Max came across as a bit of a dick and the lads were correct on commentary saying, "if you want to get past him, do it on your own".

Felt sorry for Vettel when he hit the dirt on home straight just as he was edging closer to Hamilton but ultimately I think their strategy and misjudging of the tyres hindered them way before that.

That crash was insane. The way the car bounced and flew up into the air was frightening in real time. Very lucky to have walked away from it.

Cookie_Monster

Deleted User wrote: »

once again I'm gonna bang this drum: How ****ing pathetic are McLaren?

+1

Jenson even admitted on Sky, pre race or recorded interview, I can't remember, that they won't win a race this year...

Realistic but depressing

Myrddin

Think they mentioned on the world feed that Alonso no longer reckons he can ever get a third title. I wonder if both Jenson & Fernando will call it a day after this season...

Jordan 199

Myrddin wrote: »

Think they mentioned on the world feed that Alonso no longer reckons he can ever get a third title. I wonder if both Jenson & Fernando will call it a day after this season...

I think it depends on how the rest of the season goes for them. If they can't score points on a regular basis or even have a top three finish, well then I wouldn't be surprised if they both retired at the end of the season.

Myrddin

Jordan 191 wrote: »

I think it depends on how the rest of the season goes for them. If they can't score points on a regular basis or even have a top three finish, well then I wouldn't be surprised if they both retired at the end of the season.

Can't see them anywhere near a podium, outside of freak weather conditions mixing up the order etc. Personally I don't believe McLaren Honda will ever come to fruition, while they've sorted out reliability it seems, their race pace is still pretty hopeless. If 2017 doesn't work out a lot better, I predict the partnership will come to an end, & McLaren will go looking at Renault or something. I also reckon the two drivers might call it a day either at the end of this season, or possibly next season.

Harika

Myrddin wrote: »

Can't see them anywhere near a podium, outside of freak weather conditions mixing up the order etc. Personally I don't believe McLaren Honda will ever come to fruition, while they've sorted out reliability it seems, their race pace is still pretty hopeless. If 2017 doesn't work out a lot better, I predict the partnership will come to an end, & McLaren will go looking at Renault or something. I also reckon the two drivers might call it a day either at the end of this season, or possibly next season.

RedBull would be delighted to be back as works team. They have sponsors and a good chassis already. That McLaren cannot find big sponsors should be a big red flag.

Massively disappointed in Alonso and Button tbh. They both have the nous to have known they were going nowhere this year yet they stuck with McLaren. It's one thing uninvolved people drinking the koolaid but they should know better.

mickdw

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Massively disappointed in Alonso and Button tbh. They both have the nous to have known they were going nowhere this year yet they stuck with McLaren. It's one thing uninvolved people drinking the koolaid but they should know better.

Why do you guys all write off mclaren completely? Things are far ahead of where they were last year.
I'm expecting regular points this year and if lucky, good points.
Massive changes for next year so a big shuffle could take place.

Andrew76

Jimoslimos wrote: »

I imagine I'm in the minority here but I don't really like Verstappen. Comes across as an entitled petulant brat.

Just because of today's race or you thought the same at the end of last season? He certainly didn't make any new fans today alright, whatever injustice he felt (rightly or wrongly) he let the red mist take over which was silly. But he's 18 years old, still a kid with lots to learn and a fast team mate to overcome so I'll cut him some slack.

Myrddin wrote: »

I used to rate Crofty pretty highly as a commentator, I don't anymore, haven't in a while now. The whole Sky presentation is so forced and 'corporitised', that it's hard to take stock in anything any of them say. That said, I do quite like Brundle, & regard him as the best commentator of the lot. When it was Brundle & Coulthard at the Beeb it was excellent.

Yeah the Sky influence is turning me off him. And christ almighty I hope we don't have to put up with his rubbish Haas joke all season - 'I haas-ume so Martin...'. Ugh.

Brundle, Hill and Davidson are good although Brundle's grid walk has lost it's appeal these days.

Deleted User wrote: »

Massively disappointed in Alonso and Button tbh. They both have the nous to have known they were going nowhere this year yet they stuck with McLaren. It's one thing uninvolved people drinking the koolaid but they should know better.

Were there seats available to them elsewhere though? Nobody seems to want to put up with the hassle of Alonso and I get the impression Button is seen as a second tier driver among the teams.

AMKC

CFlat wrote: »

Just watched the race. Normal service has been resumed. 2 Mercs and a Ferrari on the podium. Mclaren still in disarray. I don't think anyone is overly surprised by Haas's first race performance. it's essentially a Ferrari, branded Haas car with a fairly competent driver in Grojean at the wheel. I think Verstappen is a massive accident waiting to happen and fair duce to the team when he said he's faster then Sainzs they said, 'then pass him'. The amount of adverts is disappointing but maybe they won't be as bad in the live races.

On the upside, Kimi was on fire....

I agree the adverts on CH4 are annoying and am really hoping that they do not have adverts during the live races. I can just about stand it for the highlights but not during the live races CH4 please no adverts.
Lol on your bit about Kimi he really was on fire well his car was.

mickdw

Andrew76 wrote: »

I get the impression Button is seen as a second tier driver among the teams.

Button has suffered that way his whole career yet is always competitive with his team mate regardless of who they have been.

mickdw

mickdw wrote: »

Why do you guys all write off mclaren completely? Things are far ahead of where they were last year.
I'm expecting regular points this year and if lucky, good points.
Massive changes for next year so a big shuffle could take place.

Are they? Last year Button got up to 11th, this year he managed to start 13th and end in 14th. Haas managed to get to 6th ffs.

Fernando is 35 at the start of next season, Jenson will be 37. I can't see many teams taking a chance on them.
How much of a shake-up is expected next year. They're taking about making the cars 4 seconds a lap quicker. No chance McLaren are gonna make up 2 seconds on top of that.

Joeseph Balls

AMKC wrote: »

I agree the adverts on CH4 are annoying and am really hoping that they do not have adverts during the live races. I can just about stand it for the highlights but not during the live races CH4 please no adverts.
Lol on your bit about Kimi he really was on fire well his car was.

The presenter said they'd have no ads during live races. I'd expect tv3 style ala rugby world cup before and afterwards

Harika

Deleted User wrote: »

How much of a shake-up is expected next year. They're taking about making the cars 4 seconds a lap quicker. No chance McLaren are gonna make up 2 seconds on top of that.

There are completely different cars, unlike this year where this is an evolution of the design, where it was not to be expected to suddenly have a jump from last to first row. Only if you took a really big risk and started from scratch what is simply too time consuming and can go both ways. Mercedes developed from a mid field car in 2010 to a race winning car in 2013 and with the new engines jumped to the front.

Harika

Harika wrote: »

There are completely different cars, unlike this year where this is an evolution of the design, where it was not to be expected to suddenly have a jump from last to first row. Only if you took a really big risk and started from scratch what is simply too time consuming and can go both ways. Mercedes developed from a mid field car in 2010 to a race winning car in 2013 and with the new engines jumped to the front.

The 09 shake-up was done with engine parity and both McLaren and Ferrari were able to develop quickly. No matter what the shake-up is for next year, McLaren need to come up with a chassis 2 secomds a lap quicker than anyone else can come up with. It ain't happening.

Harika

They don't need a chassis that is two seconds faster than anybody else, they need an engine and chassis that matches the top team. If they can deliver that, I doubt it, as it doesn't seem that they get the key personal needed to implement the changes asap and Ron Dennis is imo holding them back with a very old fashioned stubbornness. IMO we will see a Renault win earlier than a McLaren win and you can quote me on that. :cool: Basically because they start with a new fresh leadership and rebuild the team structure and factory, while at McLaren the same crew stays. Honda at least took the consequences and removed the previous lead that failed to develop an engine that is matching the 2015 Ferrari engines.

Harika

Harika wrote: »

They don't need a chassis that is two seconds faster than anybody else, they need an engine and chassis that matches the top team. If they can deliver that, I doubt it, as it doesn't seem that they get the key personal needed to implement the changes asap and Ron Dennis is imo holding them back with a very old fashioned stubbornness. IMO we will see a Renault win earlier than a McLaren win and you can quote me on that. :cool: Basically because they start with a new fresh leadership and rebuild the team structure and factory, while at McLaren the same crew stays. Honda at least took the consequences and removed the previous lead that failed to develop an engine that is matching the 2015 Ferrari engines.

Where's this engine coming from?

Agreed on Dennis though. Whitmarsh was the fall-guy when they were right up top and Hamilton and Button just fell short.

mickdw

Deleted User wrote: »

The 09 shake-up was done with engine parity and both McLaren and Ferrari were able to develop quickly. No matter what the shake-up is for next year, McLaren need to come up with a chassis 2 secomds a lap quicker than anyone else can come up with. It ain't happening.

Honda are improving. Given another year, I think the difference between engines will not be enough to dictate the order among the teams given a complete chassis rule change. I dont know what the story is for engines in 2017 but surely development will be opened up abit too. We could have a stand out chassis in the redbull and that could be enough to beat a more powerful mercedes.
Liekwise, who knows what mclaren can do?

Harika

Deleted User wrote: »

Where's this engine coming from?

This season is already lost, so Honda can now develop full time for next year, although it anyway makes no difference as there are no engine changes for 2017, they just get cheaper and that's the only thing. Their hope has to be that the new man pulls it around and inspires the team to build a highly competitive engine.

Harika

Harika wrote: »

This season is already lost, so Honda can now develop full time for next year, although it anyway makes no difference as there are no engine changes for 2017, they just get cheaper and that's the only thing. Their hope has to be that the new man pulls it around and inspires the team to build a highly competitive engine.

Weren't people saying similar last season? They can't fundamentally redesign the engine which is what's needed.

Harika

Deleted User wrote: »

Weren't people saying similar last season? They can't fundamentally redesign the engine which is what's needed.

They are getting closer, last years qualifying top speed was 329 this year it was 330. For McLaren it was a jump from 312 to 320, so they are getting there. :pac: Yes I know it is not 100% comparable but if you look at RedBull, they only gained 1 km/h.
Edit: So my guess is that they now match Renault.

johnmolly92

Harika wrote: »

This season is already lost, so Honda can now develop full time for next year, although it anyway makes no difference as there are no engine changes for 2017, they just get cheaper and that's the only thing. Their hope has to be that the new man pulls it around and inspires the team to build a highly competitive engine.

Its going to take a serious effort to outpace merc/ferrari in engine design. Honda must be wishing for a new engine formula at this stage

Harika

johnmolly92 wrote: »

Its going to take a serious effort to outpace merc/ferrari in engine design. Honda must be wishing for a new engine formula at this stage

If you cannot catch up with the best, why would you except to excel them with a new formula? For me that would mean that you hope for a lucky shot what doesn't show your skill in engineering.

johnmolly92

Harika wrote: »

If you cannot catch up with the best, why would you except to excel them with a new formula? For me that would mean that you hope for a lucky shot what doesn't show your skill in engineering.

Im sure Honda will catch up, but how many seasons will it take them? Im hoping its sooner rather than later, shame to see alonso in such a slow car.

lolie

Alonso himself tweeted this photo today, lucky boy indeed.

eviltimeban

I was disappointed by McLaren too, but I guess we didn't get a chance to see them racing. It was encouraging to see Button and Alonso actually challenging for, and winning, positions, but the crash but an end to Button getting anyway - they cocked up his strategy. Without that cock up he could've finished in the top 10.

At least it was faster. I was excited in the earlier qualifying sessions to see Alonso and Button put in some good times but that didn't translate to Q3 though. Thank heavens that quali format has been dropped now; hopefully we'll see McLaren grab some good starting positions.

Overall, I enjoyed the race. I'm cheering for Rosberg this year so glad to see him winning. If he gets a couple on the trot it'll really unsettle Hamilton.

flazio

I have new respect for Vettel, he seems to be enjoying his time at Ferrari much more. Take a look at what happened yesterday, Ferrari mucked up his pit strategy under safety car /Red flag, he ended up 3Rd when he was well on for a win, he still had his fun on the podium and came across well. Compare that to Monaco last year and Hamiltons stroppy attitude to the 3rd place after the team and himself messed the strategy under Virtual /Actual Safety Car. I did say I'd wait and see which drivers I'd be following this year well Vettel is now one of them.

I'm not trying to be funny but the Alonso crash wasn't that big. Crashes look worse it their aftermath now since the cars are designed to go to pieces.

HighLine

Deleted User wrote: »

I'm not trying to be funny but the Alonso crash wasn't that big. Crashes look worse it their aftermath now since the cars are designed to go to pieces.

Ah yeah - nothing a bit of polish and buffing won't sort out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19TCD-g2jsU

Mike Litoris

Deleted User wrote: »

I'm not trying to be funny but the Alonso crash wasn't that big. Crashes look worse it their aftermath now since the cars are designed to go to pieces.

Agree. It was the initial shot of the unrecognisable wreck laying against the armco the made it look really bad. The gravel did its job and imo it could have been a lot worse if it was a tarmac run off with nothing to kill the speed.

Frank Bullitt

Deleted User wrote: »

I'm not trying to be funny but the Alonso crash wasn't that big. Crashes look worse it their aftermath now since the cars are designed to go to pieces.

Ah now, I don't know if I would call this a "not big" crash. No matter the intentions of the car, if it looks like this after a crash, it was big.

flazio

Something like Heidfelds Formula E crash last year.

mickdw

There was no sudden stop. That was what saved Alonso.

ro_chez

I'm sure he has a few aches after a crash like that, but I'd say when he hit Gutierrez's left rear wheel he was sure he was going airborne into the catch fence on the left and thats why he looked so shaken getting out of the car.

The suspension, tethers and kitty litter did what they were supposed to do and the outcome was as good as you could hope for in a crash such as this.

All those bits that were destroyed on the car are meant to absorb all the energy and the tub looks in pretty good shape, which is the important thing.