Early Predictions for Melbourne
Discussion
I know there's still some 3 weeks to go until the lights go out in Oz, but I thought we should have a thread for people to predict what will happen in the first race.
Personally I don't think it will be business as usual at the front, perhaps one of the backmarkers will give us a suprise, my money is on Williams doing well this season. Although I am a huge McLaren fan, looking at testing it isn't looking good for them, even Lewis can't pull out a big enough gap from the others, Vettel is matching him lately, perhaps he could get the job done down under?
What do you guys think?
Personally I don't think it will be business as usual at the front, perhaps one of the backmarkers will give us a suprise, my money is on Williams doing well this season. Although I am a huge McLaren fan, looking at testing it isn't looking good for them, even Lewis can't pull out a big enough gap from the others, Vettel is matching him lately, perhaps he could get the job done down under?
What do you guys think?
My predictions are that I'll be hung over and very tired (it's my birthday and if it wasn't early enough, the clocks go forward on the 29th!) but I'll be up watching it, waiting for Jenson to get into the points. I think Kimi will go for the win to put his stamp on the new season and draw a line under the last one. I also think Vettel might be on the podium.
The regular PH'ers that watch the races whilst chatting on line mentioned a few times last year that this season should be a location-themed menu for each GP so I'll have a can of fosters at the ready and throw a few snags on the barbie!!
I can't wait, Brazil & screaming at the TV seems like an age ago...
The regular PH'ers that watch the races whilst chatting on line mentioned a few times last year that this season should be a location-themed menu for each GP so I'll have a can of fosters at the ready and throw a few snags on the barbie!!
I can't wait, Brazil & screaming at the TV seems like an age ago...
Miss Pitstop said:
The regular PH'ers that watch the races whilst chatting on line mentioned a few times last year that this season should be a location-themed menu for each GP so I'll have a can of fosters at the ready and throw a few snags on the barbie!!
My neighbours might get pissed off with a bbq at that hour but the fosters sounds like a plan.My prediction is
1- Massa
2- webber
3- Heidfeld
I hope that buttplug or Barry's 'cello can get a point or two as well.
I'm going for the 'out there' scenario...
Button and Barrichello are heading the timesheets in qually 3, then at the last second get pipped by Massa. Hailton doesn't make it out of qually 2.
In the race, Massa's pitstop gremlins come back to haunt him (and end up ruining the rest of the season as he loses all confidence in his abilities thereafter). Brawn the master tactition gets Button in the right place at the right time for the win, with Barrichello picking up fourth behing Raikonnen and Hamilton who demonstrates the benefit of the new aero regs by seemingly passing cars at will. Rosberg and Glock both pick up points after strong starts, but poor pace later on.
Following the race, the Red Bulls and Torro Rosso's are disquaified for some technical irregularity, which barely matters as only Bourdais finished, but out of the points.
If all that happens, then I'll ask Bernie for a 'Mystic Meg' type slot in the TV schedules.
Button and Barrichello are heading the timesheets in qually 3, then at the last second get pipped by Massa. Hailton doesn't make it out of qually 2.
In the race, Massa's pitstop gremlins come back to haunt him (and end up ruining the rest of the season as he loses all confidence in his abilities thereafter). Brawn the master tactition gets Button in the right place at the right time for the win, with Barrichello picking up fourth behing Raikonnen and Hamilton who demonstrates the benefit of the new aero regs by seemingly passing cars at will. Rosberg and Glock both pick up points after strong starts, but poor pace later on.
Following the race, the Red Bulls and Torro Rosso's are disquaified for some technical irregularity, which barely matters as only Bourdais finished, but out of the points.
If all that happens, then I'll ask Bernie for a 'Mystic Meg' type slot in the TV schedules.
I'll take a crack...
Qually:
1 Raikkonen
2 Vettel
3 Hamilton
4 Kovalainen
5 Massa
6 Alonso
Race
1 Hamilton
2 Raikkonen
3 Kovalainen
4 Vettel
5 Alonso
6 Bourdais
Fastest Lap
Raikkonen
McLaren might be having some issues with raw speed, but they'll get it sorted. At the very least, their race strategy will be good. Ferrari seem to have the best raw pace, which will suit Raikkonen well. RBR is definitely a challenger. Renault is very good in Alonso's hands, but not quite so with in Piquet's. Toyota might have good qualifying performance but I think their race pace will be down. STR will be at a similar pace to the RBR but the drivers are of lesser quality. BMW appear to be lacking pace. Brawn, Force India, and Williams are big wildcards - all seem to have improved from last year's cars, but nothing particularly remarkable.
Teams with KERS will have rear-tyre temperature problems. They might be good in qualifying, but may have graining issues during races. Of the KERS teams, I think McLaren is really the only team who has a decent chance of running well with KERS.
Qually:
1 Raikkonen
2 Vettel
3 Hamilton
4 Kovalainen
5 Massa
6 Alonso
Race
1 Hamilton
2 Raikkonen
3 Kovalainen
4 Vettel
5 Alonso
6 Bourdais
Fastest Lap
Raikkonen
McLaren might be having some issues with raw speed, but they'll get it sorted. At the very least, their race strategy will be good. Ferrari seem to have the best raw pace, which will suit Raikkonen well. RBR is definitely a challenger. Renault is very good in Alonso's hands, but not quite so with in Piquet's. Toyota might have good qualifying performance but I think their race pace will be down. STR will be at a similar pace to the RBR but the drivers are of lesser quality. BMW appear to be lacking pace. Brawn, Force India, and Williams are big wildcards - all seem to have improved from last year's cars, but nothing particularly remarkable.
Teams with KERS will have rear-tyre temperature problems. They might be good in qualifying, but may have graining issues during races. Of the KERS teams, I think McLaren is really the only team who has a decent chance of running well with KERS.
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