The Official 2017 Australian Grand Prix Thread **Spoilers**
Discussion
Chaps, can we at least wait until qualifying tomorrow before we start worrying about another year of Merc domination. Ferrari have not gone after outright speed on any Friday for the last 5 seasons so let's see how they go in quali.
Also Bottas.... can we give him more than 3 hours into his Merc drive before we write him off? I am pretty sure he won't be Hamilton's equal, but I expect him to get closer by the middle of the season and to be ready to pounce when Lewis has the inevitable meltdown weekends.
Also Bottas.... can we give him more than 3 hours into his Merc drive before we write him off? I am pretty sure he won't be Hamilton's equal, but I expect him to get closer by the middle of the season and to be ready to pounce when Lewis has the inevitable meltdown weekends.
cb1965 said:
Chaps, can we at least wait until qualifying tomorrow before we start worrying about another year of Merc domination. Ferrari have not gone after outright speed on any Friday for the last 5 seasons so let's see how they go in quali.
Also Bottas.... can we give him more than 3 hours into his Merc drive before we write him off? I am pretty sure he won't be Hamilton's equal, but I expect him to get closer by the middle of the season and to be ready to pounce when Lewis has the inevitable meltdown weekends.
I don't agree with that. From my perspective in 2016 it seemed like it was usually Ferrari who looked fast in practice and then Mercedes that found pace when it mattered in qualifying... usually leaving Ferrari complaining about failing to get the tyres working or some other such nonsense... so I am not holding out a lot of hope that Ferrari are going to make relatively bigger improvements overnight. Also Bottas.... can we give him more than 3 hours into his Merc drive before we write him off? I am pretty sure he won't be Hamilton's equal, but I expect him to get closer by the middle of the season and to be ready to pounce when Lewis has the inevitable meltdown weekends.
I like the new graphic showing each sector split into many smaller ones and the Green / Grey / Purple indication as they are lapping in real time. It also shows the current position compared tot he fastest so no "Hmmm, he`s 1.3 up, that`s around 12th" as the car is lapping, you get that real time now. 
Lewis looked very quick and consistent on the long run on Ultras too. Ferrari next and RB a bit further back. Perhaps they are holding something back from 1 lap pace but the long runs stints are usually a better indicator of actual pace.
Cars are looking good but I`m still not convinced that will make good racing, we`ll find out on Sunday but I just can`t see them being able to follow close enough.
Lewis looked very quick and consistent on the long run on Ultras too. Ferrari next and RB a bit further back. Perhaps they are holding something back from 1 lap pace but the long runs stints are usually a better indicator of actual pace.
Cars are looking good but I`m still not convinced that will make good racing, we`ll find out on Sunday but I just can`t see them being able to follow close enough.
I think come Qual Bottas will be 2nd but clearly he's not on a par with Lewis in the same car, but it will prove that the Merc is the best car yet again and thus it's manged to thrust Bottas to the front ahead of guys who are clearly better than him on paper.
I said that people come 3 rd race in will be wishing Nico was still around in the 2nd Merc, but I think actually it'll come sooner.
There will be no race between the Mercs and this talk of Ferrari being the ones to watch has been constructed by Lewis and others to make out there is some challenge ahead.
If Bottas can get within 0.5 secs of Lewis first time out, the man many call the fastest ever, in the same machinery that's not a bad thing to tell your Grandkids is it?
I said that people come 3 rd race in will be wishing Nico was still around in the 2nd Merc, but I think actually it'll come sooner.
There will be no race between the Mercs and this talk of Ferrari being the ones to watch has been constructed by Lewis and others to make out there is some challenge ahead.
If Bottas can get within 0.5 secs of Lewis first time out, the man many call the fastest ever, in the same machinery that's not a bad thing to tell your Grandkids is it?
Blackpuddin said:
BBC reports McLaren making a 'grinding noise' as it goes through the gears. How can that be happening at this late stage?
I was there today...the McLaren sounded horrific on upshift - a big bang followed by a strange reverberation noise. The engine sounded pretty s
te too.The Torro Rosso looks bloody fantastic in the flesh.
MiniMan64 said:
So Merc 1-2 followed by Ferrari and then Red Bull?
Bit of a boring race? Or are we judging to soon?
WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY too soon. lets get through qualifying and the first race first before we can judge ultimate pace. looks like Ferrari and red bull mucked up a bit today so I expect them to close in. and Melbourne is always a weird one for judging competitiveness. we need to get a couple of races in before we can really judge where the teams are at Bit of a boring race? Or are we judging to soon?
Good to see F1 cars hurtling around on the screen again 
The Toro Rosso looks even better than it did in press release, the Hass too. On the other hand, the pink on that Force India looks awful, at least on TV. Really washed out and bland, like a sun faded Corsa from the 90's. Had it been more vibrant or glossy, it would look great.
The Toro Rosso looks even better than it did in press release, the Hass too. On the other hand, the pink on that Force India looks awful, at least on TV. Really washed out and bland, like a sun faded Corsa from the 90's. Had it been more vibrant or glossy, it would look great. 37chevy said:
MiniMan64 said:
So Merc 1-2 followed by Ferrari and then Red Bull?
Bit of a boring race? Or are we judging to soon?
WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY too soon. lets get through qualifying and the first race first before we can judge ultimate pace. looks like Ferrari and red bull mucked up a bit today so I expect them to close in. and Melbourne is always a weird one for judging competitiveness. we need to get a couple of races in before we can really judge where the teams are at Bit of a boring race? Or are we judging to soon?
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