Australian Grand Prix

[tomtvr]

Right, well there needed to be a topic about it.

Fortunatley for me I have nothing better to do this weekend so shall be watching both the qualifying and the race live.

Anybody else? if so staying up late (like me) or getting up extra early?

Predictions: Schumacher seems consistant, Alonso in solid form as ever, Raikkonen i think has a point to prove and Button can surely smell that first win.

[Jungles]

I was just watching the final practice live.

1 16 Nick Heidfeld Sauber-BMW 1:35.335
2 17 Jacques Villeneuve Sauber-BMW 1:36.281
3 20 Vitantonio Liuzzi STR-Cosworth 1:36.373
4 2 Giancarlo Fisichella Renault 1:36.414
5 7 Ralf Schumacher Toyota 1:36.445
6 6 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:36.506
7 5 Michael Schumacher Ferrari 1:37.332
8 11 Rubens Barrichello Honda 1:37.481
9 8 Jarno Trulli Toyota 1:37.492
10 21 Scott Speed STR-Cosworth 1:37.852
11 15 Christian Klien RBR-Ferrari 1:37.947
12 9 Mark Webber Williams-Cosworth 1:38.036
13 12 Jenson Button Honda 1:38.505
14 14 David Coulthard RBR-Ferrari 1:38.683
15 10 Nico Rosberg Williams-Cosworth 1:39.401
16 18 Tiago Monteiro MF1-Toyota 1:39.515
17 1 Fernando Alonso Renault 1:39.654
18 23 Yuji Ide Super Aguri-Honda 1:40.261
19 22 Takuma Sato Super Aguri-Honda 1:41.448
20 4 Juan Pablo Montoya McLaren-Mercedes 1:44.350
21 3 Kimi Räikkönen McLaren-Mercedes 1:48.284
22 19 Christijan Albers MF1-Toyota

The track was extremely wet just an hour ago. Drivers were skidding left, right, and centre. Some very cool driving from Alonso, with lots of fish-tailing out of corners, etc. The lane markings on the street circuit are causing havoc with traction in the wet.

Murray Walker is still yapping.

>> Edited by Jungles on Saturday 1st April 02:31

[fozzi]

[redacted]

[john75]

JB is on poll maybe that first win might be on its way.

[tollytuff]

ditto what fozzi said. agree with all of that. i'll be getting up for the race. very excited already!

[gingerpaul]

fozzi said:

ps. sack Rubens and give the #2 car to Anthony Davison!!

I actually thought Rubens was going to be better than Button this year by trying to prove something about being able to beat Michael. How wrong I was! I know it's only 2.5 races in but he really should be further up than 17th. Anthony getting a proper opportunity to race would be great to see too.

[Andy Mac]

When do we think he will get his chance? Any rumours on this?

[HarryW]

The fact that Button got pole by nearly half a second really puts Rubens drive into perspective. Also the two Renaults are behind him is good too. Jenson really needs to turn the qualifying advantage into a race result this time if he is to taken seriously as a potential world champion IMHO.

[team underdog]

Look out for Alonso at the first few corners i reckon:
www.crash.net/news_view~cid~1~id~127600~pid~0.htm

He sounds pissed off! First lap will be a stonker...

Button's pole was good but then we dont know how much fuel he was / wasnt carrying. The Renaults are still the ones to beat and i reckon the McLarens have done the usual job of fuelling for the ideal strategy. So in summary, Button could either deliver that win (if his car is as quick as his pole suggests) or he will pick up after the blue and silver boys. I would like to see him do it, but with Alonso breathing down his neck the whole way - then we will know hes world champion material.

Oh, and i hear it could be raining! Bring it on...

[groomi]

Is it just me, or is Alonso's new-found stardom turning him into a right whinger?

[Andy Mac]

groomi said:

Is it just me, or is Alonso's new-found stardom turning him into a right whinger?

Nope, he probably just gets more coverage..

[scuffham]

I recon Button will pit early (like bugger all fuel)

Qestion is if maclaren have the measure of Renault

[JonRB]

tomtvr said:

Fortunatley for me I have nothing better to do this weekend so shall be watching both the qualifying and the race live.

Having followed F1 for 20-odd years I'm too old to be getting up at 4am to watch the live coverage, so I'm time-shifting it on Sky+ and will probably get up around 8am and watch it 'live' but time-shifted.

Unfortunately that means I'll be denied the excellent live timing data feed from www.formula1.com (I still can't believe how few people know about it and use it) but that's a price I'm willing to pay.

[Trackside]

JonRB said:

tomtvr said: Fortunatley for me I have nothing better to do this weekend so shall be watching both the qualifying and the race live. Having followed F1 for 20-odd years I'm too old to be getting up at 4am to watch the live coverage, so I'm time-shifting it on Sky+ and will probably get up around 8am and watch it 'live' but time-shifted. Unfortunately that means I'll be denied the excellent live timing data feed from www.formula1.com (I still can't believe how few people know about it and use it) but that's a price I'm willing to pay.

I'm tempted to do this too, mainly because I seem to have real trouble working out how to make my DVD recorder actually record stuff and I'm gonna be out during the day with fellow PHers on the Leighton Buzzard run so will miss the afternoon re-run. The live timing thing looks interesting so I'll give that a go too.

BTW, Go Jense, although the smart money has to be on Alonso really...

[killer2005]

I'll be staying up to watch it, as i can never get up that early. Hope button can get his first win not entirely sure that he will today though as alonso and the mclarens look pokey.

[fozzi]

so how are you killing time?.... Gorillaz on E4

[tomtvr]

Bit of Forza motorsport and some music. 20 minutes before the show now, might go get some food.

[skinnyboy]

well looking out of my window now, and the weather looks great, sunshine and a bit of cloud cover. Might nip down albert park tomorrow to drive the track if its open.

A few members from our club went down there a did a photoshoot there a couple of weeks ago.







>> Edited by skinnyboy on Sunday 2nd April 03:42

[killer2005]

Just been downloading a load of tunes onto my computer. Now swelled by Frank Sinatra, Nirvana, Jonny Nash, Queen and some funky house.

[Trackside]

'Morning people! Just got up after about 4 hours sleep. I must be mad; it'd better be a good race!