The Official 2017 Australian Grand Prix Thread **Spoilers**

[HTP99]

bks, thought the race proper started at 7:00; got up sauntered downstairs, kettle on, fire up Sky Go on my tablet and we are 22 laps in!

Looks interesting though.

[PompeyM3]

Go Seb !!!!!

[Crafty_]

Toto not happy. Seems Merc haven't solved the inability of the car to follow another car closely.

[The Vambo]

We might have just seen how many races will won and lost this season.

I kind of hoped it might be by passing on track

[DanielSan]

Mercedes don't seem to like racing another car rather than themselves do they

[MockingJay]

The Vambo said:

We might have just seen how many races will won and lost this season.

I kind of hoped it might be by passing on track

Other cars can pass, Mercedes proved last year it's something they can struggle with.

[PhillipM]

Crafty_ said:

Toto not happy. Seems Merc haven't solved the inability of the car to follow another car closely.

Or the inability to stop dropping their drivers into traffic, they made a few hiccups like that before but their pace let them get away with it.

[Z3MCJez]

DanielSan said:

Mercedes don't seem to like racing another car rather than themselves do they

They welcome competition. Just not with anyone else!

Long race, but Vettel's to lose, for sure. Long season, so Hamilton doesn't want to do anything silly. But the one thing we have learnt. The cars *STILL* don't like to follow each other.

Jez

[TheOversteerLever]

Surely Hamilton isn't going to be able to go quick enough to recover the 22 ish seconds that he'd lose in a second stop?

[Ebo100]

TheOversteerLever said:

Surely Hamilton isn't going to be able to go quick enough to recover the 22 ish seconds that he'd lose in a second stop?

My thoughts aswell

[RichB]

regardless of whether you're a Ferrari fan or not it's a pretty boring race. Should have recorded it and watched it at a more civilised hour.

[London424]

MockingJay said:

The Vambo said:

We might have just seen how many races will won and lost this season.

I kind of hoped it might be by passing on track

Other cars can pass, Mercedes proved last year it's something they can struggle with.

Not on this track...not sure I can remember a pass on track yet.

[Z3MCJez]

Ebo100 said:

TheOversteerLever said:

Surely Hamilton isn't going to be able to go quick enough to recover the 22 ish seconds that he'd lose in a second stop?

My thoughts aswell

They're suggesting a 2-stopper? I'm listening in Spanish while NBC is on ad break. So much for the new tyres coming back if they get outside the temp window. Wasn't that one of the new design criteria?

His pace isn't terrible. Surely you just try and hang on?

[RichB]

London424 said:

MockingJay said:

The Vambo said:

We might have just seen how many races will won and lost this season. I kind of hoped it might be by passing on track

Other cars can pass, Mercedes proved last year it's something they can struggle with.

Not on this track...not sure I can remember a pass on track yet.

The only overtake we've seen was Perez in the Force India.

[TheOversteerLever]

It has been suggested but the longer he stays out, the less likely it is I guess.

Meant to quote Jez...

[PhillipM]

Z3MCJez said:

So much for the new tyres coming back if they get outside the temp window. Wasn't that one of the new design criteria?

They do seem to be coming back but it's taking quite a few slow laps to do it.

[DanielSan]

Z3MCJez said:

They welcome competition. Just not with anyone else!

Long race, but Vettel's to lose, for sure. Long season, so Hamilton doesn't want to do anything silly. But the one thing we have learnt. The cars *STILL* don't like to follow each other.

Jez

I wonder if they'll welcome Bottas offering competition for second place...

[The Vambo]

MockingJay said:

Other cars can pass, Mercedes proved last year it's something they can struggle with.

I'm not so sure, the Mercs are especially bad at following a car but I havent seen many cars climbing on the gearbox of the car infront for half a lap today.

New silly aero regs innit?

[Otispunkmeyer]

Tea and toast time.

Then a bit of a snooze I think.

Won't be making the effort again. Highlights will do, which so far would be about 30 seconds long; the start, Hamilton-Vettel, Danny Ric.

[TheOversteerLever]

Bottas to take Hamilton? That'd put Lewis in an even better mood!