The Official 2017 Australian Grand Prix Thread **Spoilers**
Discussion
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/monster-f1-cars...
These cars are apparently hitting 8G in the qualifying laps!
No wonder Stroll looked terrified!
These cars are apparently hitting 8G in the qualifying laps!
No wonder Stroll looked terrified!
Watching the onboard of Vettel on full speed, thought it looked spectacular. Found this excellent analysis on youtube comparing the Hamilton/Vettel laps:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Nu5PNrmiog
...Wow. He's really driving like his RB days.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Nu5PNrmiog
...Wow. He's really driving like his RB days.
moffspeed said:
I think an emerging theme is going to become how these new cars are seemingly unsalvageable once they begin to spin (Danny Ric today, JP and others previously) , consensus seems to be that the shark's fin is the major contributory factor to this. Seems ironic given the fact that they were introduced in the WEC to enhance stability and to prevent low level flight.
Aesthetics is one thing, driver safety another, what's the money on an FIA in-season ban ?? 1969 all over again..
Its not aero causing that issue.Aesthetics is one thing, driver safety another, what's the money on an FIA in-season ban ?? 1969 all over again..
Its the tyre slip angle working range. The new tyres appear to have a smaller operating window on slip angle, so once you go over the tyre slip angle limit you lose grip rapidly.
In the good old days of crossply tyres, the slip angle range was very large, so you could see lots of sideways driving. Radial tyres have a smaller working range due to the tyre construction, it looks like these new wider tyres have a much smaller range than the previous generation.
Pirelli may have to rethink the tyre construction or we may see a lot more of these crashes where a relatively small slide isn't catchable.
I have to travel up to see my folks for Mother's Day tomorrow, so am probably going to catch the race in the evening when I return.
Conceivably I could get up at OMGo'clock to watch the race live, but what with the early start and the clocks going forward, that's just not going to happen.
Conceivably I could get up at OMGo'clock to watch the race live, but what with the early start and the clocks going forward, that's just not going to happen.
well that was fun, a good quali as far as i'm concerned 
jesus these new cars really turn in hard ! and carry on gripping like nothing i've seen for a good few years the 2 90deg left right chicane is now just a mere anoyance, drop 1 gear and floor it, wow!!
TBH Bottos is where i expected him, a bit off lewis leaving enough gap for somone else to slip into, lets face it if Nico was in the other car it would be a Merc 1/2 but i think we all knew that would be the case (well most of us, tom will have to sell his arse to earn that tenna he owes) actually i expected both ferrari to be in that gap but once again Kimi slips back when it counts, top lap form Roman there! didn't expect that i must say
and a better than expected turn of speed (and reliability) from Fred, shame not to see him up the front with Seb and Lewis.
All in bodes well for tomorrow, one point i'd like to make is with all the wings in evey square inch of space a 1st corner prange will affect the cars pretty badly IMHO, i think after a few races drivers will be hesitant to get into a tussle for fear of loosing too much downforce for the rest of the race ?
jesus these new cars really turn in hard ! and carry on gripping like nothing i've seen for a good few years the 2 90deg left right chicane is now just a mere anoyance, drop 1 gear and floor it, wow!!TBH Bottos is where i expected him, a bit off lewis leaving enough gap for somone else to slip into, lets face it if Nico was in the other car it would be a Merc 1/2 but i think we all knew that would be the case (well most of us, tom will have to sell his arse to earn that tenna he owes) actually i expected both ferrari to be in that gap but once again Kimi slips back when it counts, top lap form Roman there! didn't expect that i must say
and a better than expected turn of speed (and reliability) from Fred, shame not to see him up the front with Seb and Lewis.All in bodes well for tomorrow, one point i'd like to make is with all the wings in evey square inch of space a 1st corner prange will affect the cars pretty badly IMHO, i think after a few races drivers will be hesitant to get into a tussle for fear of loosing too much downforce for the rest of the race ?
37chevy said:
Pickled said:
Despite Mercedes stating that there is no number 1 or 2 driver, I'm sure thats bs to keep the fans happy, I don't think Toto wants a repeat of the stress of having 2 drivers banging wheels again, I reckon Lewis would have walked if he didn't get the teams assurance that they would back him for his 4th title so a safe pair of hands were hired for the second seat.
Not sure what gives you that impression. Lewis has never asked for number 1 status. If they wanted a number 2 Mercedes would have gone for pascalI get the impression that Pascal isn't much of a team player, his refusal to turn the Manor engine off after being told several times, and his current behaviour at Sauber appear to back this up, looking from the outside Bottas would appear to be easier to handle from a management perspective.
Pickled said:
Lewis might say he doesn't want number 1 status, but I bet Toto did after the grief having Nico and Lewis on joint statuses caused, and he's the one who gets the final say.
I get the impression that Pascal isn't much of a team player, his refusal to turn the Manor engine off after being told several times, and his current behaviour at Sauber appear to back this up, looking from the outside Bottas would appear to be easier to handle from a management perspective.
To be honest if they are pulling up to 8G then it's understandable if you're not in 100% health there might be issues. The team will likely have doctors and equipment that will give a good idea on issues. I'd say it's not likely he just can't be bothered - I don't think you'd get where he was if he was just "meh" about driving. Although it does seem his attitude might not be the best - same as Palmer and his "the car wasn't put together right after my crash" comments. But it is (IMO) better to have that, rather than PR drones.I get the impression that Pascal isn't much of a team player, his refusal to turn the Manor engine off after being told several times, and his current behaviour at Sauber appear to back this up, looking from the outside Bottas would appear to be easier to handle from a management perspective.
NRS said:
To be honest if they are pulling up to 8G then it's understandable if you're not in 100% health there might be issues. The team will likely have doctors and equipment that will give a good idea on issues. I'd say it's not likely he just can't be bothered - I don't think you'd get where he was if he was just "meh" about driving. Although it does seem his attitude might not be the best - same as Palmer and his "the car wasn't put together right after my crash" comments. But it is (IMO) better to have that, rather than PR drones.
Thing is though, the doctors gave him the all clear to drive for the test and this weekend, its Pascal that decided he didn't want to. When you see bikers getting plonked on the bike because they can't throw a leg over, or John Force being lifted in to his car because he couldn't get in himself (due to crash injury).He's lucky to have a drive really, now in his third season he's been passed over by Merc and Force India. Renault didn't take any interest either. I don't believe he's lived up to the hype when he came in to the sport and apparently has a bit of an attitude problem. He's not going to impress anyone driving a Sauber - I can't see his career going anywhere right now.
Idle thought - McLaren aren't going to win this year, possibly a messy divorce from Honda is in the offing. Alonso allegedly is already sniffing about for a drive for next year. Massa retires, Bottas goes back to Williams in a Lowe engineered car, Alonso sits next to Lewis, Vettel still in a (on form) Ferrari.... that would be a very interesting season..
NRS said:
To be honest if they are pulling up to 8G then it's understandable if you're not in 100% health there might be issues. The team will likely have doctors and equipment that will give a good idea on issues. I'd say it's not likely he just can't be bothered - I don't think you'd get where he was if he was just "meh" about driving. Although it does seem his attitude might not be the best - same as Palmer and his "the car wasn't put together right after my crash" comments. But it is (IMO) better to have that, rather than PR drones.
Agree with a few other posters here that the Wehrlein issue seems unusual. So you are the latest wunderkid, a protege of Mercedes and bang in some stand-out performances in the Manor during your previous F1 season. OK the off-season driver shuffle doesn't quite work out the way you want, but the Sauber in race-trim seems less dog-ish than Barcelona testing had suggested. You had a soft tissue injury to your lower spine 9 weeks ago in that woeful American tricycle thing at the RoC - but at relatively low speed and with no reported bony injury, presumably you have had access to the best sports physios since. So a hungry young driver with a chance to shine in a "proper" F1 car. But no, comprehensively blown out of the water by team mate Ericsson in FP1 and FP2 and then you pull the plug on the race weekend...very odd.
OK history is littered with motor racing heroes who have overcome physical adversity/injury, Lauda with a blood-soaked balaclava at Monza, Johnny Herbert trying to convince Benetton that he still had serviceable ankle joints, JYS racing in a plaster cast, Graham Hill being lifted into Rob Walker's Lotus 49 in the season after his Watkins Glen accident and perhaps most poignantly Gunnar Nilsson not securing the crutch straps on his Lotus 78 because of his testicular cancer.
OK different eras but something just doesn't add up...
Dr Z said:
Watching the onboard of Vettel on full speed, thought it looked spectacular. Found this excellent analysis on youtube comparing the Hamilton/Vettel laps:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Nu5PNrmiog
...Wow. He's really driving like his RB days.
That's some great analysis there...but the scary thing is Lewis isn't pushing anywhere near as hard as Seb but still 3 tenths clear. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Nu5PNrmiog
...Wow. He's really driving like his RB days.
Really interesting to see the different styles though, Lewis preferring to slow things down earlier and get on the throttle earlier, whereas Seb goes in later and hotter but slower coming out.
Crafty_ said:
Idle thought - McLaren aren't going to win this year, possibly a messy divorce from Honda is in the offing. Alonso allegedly is already sniffing about for a drive for next year. Massa retires, Bottas goes back to Williams in a Lowe engineered car, Alonso sits next to Lewis, Vettel still in a (on form) Ferrari.... that would be a very interesting season..
It'd be a very brave team manager to put Alonso and Hamilton together again!moffspeed said:
NRS said:
To be honest if they are pulling up to 8G then it's understandable if you're not in 100% health there might be issues. The team will likely have doctors and equipment that will give a good idea on issues. I'd say it's not likely he just can't be bothered - I don't think you'd get where he was if he was just "meh" about driving. Although it does seem his attitude might not be the best - same as Palmer and his "the car wasn't put together right after my crash" comments. But it is (IMO) better to have that, rather than PR drones.
Agree with a few other posters here that the Wehrlein issue seems unusual. So you are the latest wunderkid, a protege of Mercedes and bang in some stand-out performances in the Manor during your previous F1 season. OK the off-season driver shuffle doesn't quite work out the way you want, but the Sauber in race-trim seems less dog-ish than Barcelona testing had suggested. You had a soft tissue injury to your lower spine 9 weeks ago in that woeful American tricycle thing at the RoC - but at relatively low speed and with no reported bony injury, presumably you have had access to the best sports physios since. So a hungry young driver with a chance to shine in a "proper" F1 car. But no, comprehensively blown out of the water by team mate Ericsson in FP1 and FP2 and then you pull the plug on the race weekend...very odd.
OK history is littered with motor racing heroes who have overcome physical adversity/injury, Lauda with a blood-soaked balaclava at Monza, Johnny Herbert trying to convince Benetton that he still had serviceable ankle joints, JYS racing in a plaster cast, Graham Hill being lifted into Rob Walker's Lotus 49 in the season after his Watkins Glen accident and perhaps most poignantly Gunnar Nilsson not securing the crutch straps on his Lotus 78 because of his testicular cancer.
OK different eras but something just doesn't add up...
London424 said:
That's some great analysis there...but the scary thing is Lewis isn't pushing anywhere near as hard as Seb but still 3 tenths clear.
That all sort of depends on what you mean by pushing? Do you mean trying, or stylistically?Because not trying in Q3 is stupid and arrogant (and despite what some say I don't think Hamilton is that).....so I think it's a case of driving style. Hamilton seems to have modified his style to one of carrying momentum rather than being more desperate dan about it.
PhillipM said:
If Giovanazzi can pull a lap like that - regardless of the slight mistake at the end - in a Sauber after sitting in and driving the circuit for the first time that morning...bye Wehrlein.
Gio is a promising driver. Way better than Ocon actually. But the fact remains that Mercedes have bought that seat for Wehrlein. From what I know, Ferrari haven't put any cash behind Gio, just as they never do for their young drivers, but at least he didn't have to pay to join the club! Zanorini is still connected there to make that happen for free. So expect to see Pascal back for China.I'm hoping that it was just a bad session from Raikkonen and not a sign that he is going back to 2014/15 style qualifying (after he did a decent job last year)... having two Ferraris capable of at least pushing the Mercs is vital for having a good season IMO. Could turn out to be 2 tier championship otherwise... Hamilton vs Vettel and Bottas vs Raikkonen, with the Red Bulls maybe getting in the way every now and then.
Dr Z said:
Watching the onboard of Vettel on full speed, thought it looked spectacular. Found this excellent analysis on youtube comparing the Hamilton/Vettel laps:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Nu5PNrmiog
...Wow. He's really driving like his RB days.
Thanks for posting that.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Nu5PNrmiog
...Wow. He's really driving like his RB days.
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