Australian Grand Prix 2012 - Albert Park - Race 1

[burak karakutuk]

Why Mclaren is under investigation?I also heard Red Bull and Lotus asked Fia if Mercede's rear duct system is illegal?

[Hornet]

I guess Lotus won't protest after all since Grosjean is P3.

[Corey]

Grosjean P3

Heh, there's always a chance for a repeat of last year.

[burak karakutuk]

I guess Lotus won't protest after all since Grosjean is P3.

react according to the result then?

[theforce]

Thats why Ferrari have the most WDC & WCC.

Don't forget McLaren have the most wins per GP raced, better average or something.

[tpe]

Thats why Ferrari have the most WDC & WCC.

That's not the point. Ferrari is very slow in new innovations. Just look at the "carbon fiber" introduction. 2 years later than the others.
The only think that I do remember as innovative is the semi-automatic gearbox (frankly, I am not 100% sure that is was a Ferrari's idea, but anyway).
Ferrari can develop a good car, but a plain car, not an innovative one.

[Hornet]

So, Sauber, had different time frame I suppose? Because they had to switch to Pull Rod suspension too and they delivered an excellent car. I strongly believe that they have a very fine car (just look at the way their drivers turns...).

And Mercedes had all the time of the word to develop that F-Duct? Why Mercedes and not Ferrari?

Well, Ferrari had pull rod on both rear and front. Who knows, maybe that makes finding a right balance much harder. Not to mentioned our aggressive approach to the exhaust. Even Red Bull are still not done with the exhaust yet.

react according to the result then?

Yeah, maybe they will save it for the race result

[burak karakutuk]

being blessed by the cardinal does not seem to have helped.but i think we are not 1-1.5slower then the top teams it is just some mistakes with bad chance.Team says we are sure to get q3 but cant reach more than 4th row.We need to improve mechanical traction more then aerodynamical downforce.Or rear downforce + mechanical improvment at the same time

[Kyss4k]

Don't forget McLaren have the most wins per GP raced, better average or something.

We have a lot of records mainly because we are in the F1 for the longest time.

[scuderia_nano]

Please everyone. We were pretty close to the timings of the other cars until Fernando spun. As for Massa, we know he is a slow starter and also, he is rusty when the car is rusty. Our car is enough to challenge Merc as of now and slowly we will be at the front. No panic needed!

[scuderiafan]

Don't forget McLaren have the most wins per GP raced, better average or something.

That is a myth

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...la_One_records

Ferrari have 26%, McLaren 24%
Although if the team don't get their act together, then it could be true.

I still think Ferrari can and will recover very quickly. They knew this what the car was, so they will have new parts and improvements lined up. Yes other teams will as well, but Ferrari stand to gain the most.
McLaren improvement will give anthem a couple points more downforce.
Ferrari improvements can give them a couple points more downforce AND a lot better balance and maybe traction. That can give a lot of lap time.
Best thing is. Lotus and merc challenging rb and McLaren. It is a shame Ferrari are not in the fight yet, but they can be soon, and now it seems they will not lose as much points as last year when they finally get there.
Also this proves how pointless it is to stop development on a car, to concentrate for next year. No more of that please.

[Jose Lorca]

Fernando's Q2 lap was 1.5 seconds slower than Hamilton's pole lap, but that isn't a fair comparison. Here's what Pat Fry had to say:

It's true that with Fernando, we could have got into Q3 with relative ease, given the time he did on his only lap in Q2 with used softs, but I don't think we could have got higher than the fourth row.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/98116

That means we are 0.8 off the pace. Better than last year but still not good enough. But bear in mind that McLaren focused on single lap speed this year, so in race pace we could be closer to them.

Our radical car has so much potential - so at the very least, we can win a few races this year.

[roddick_andy]

That's not the point. Ferrari is very slow in new innovations. Just look at the "carbon fiber" introduction. 2 years later than the others.
The only think that I do remember as innovative is the semi-automatic gearbox (frankly, I am not 100% sure that is was a Ferrari's idea, but anyway).
Ferrari can develop a good car, but a plain car, not an innovative one.

Ferrari are like APPLE, Doesn't matter if you innovate or copy,we just expect the results to be positive..

[scuderiafan]

Fernando's Q2 lap was 1.5 seconds slower than Hamilton's pole lap, but that isn't a fair comparison. Here's what Pat Fry had to say:



That means we are 0.8 off the pace. Better than last year but still not good enough. But bear in mind that McLaren focused on single lap speed this year, so in race pace we could be closer to them.

Our radical car has so much potential - so at the very least, we can win a few races this year.

call me stupid, but the thing hwolding back the car right now is the handling, the aero seems okay. They sort the mechanical grip out, they can be there. This is a mechanical circuit, so our obvious weaknesses with regards to traction and balance will be even amplified here.

So maybe they are not as far back as it maybe looks. when you stop and look back. I know It is asking a little too much to actually see what is happening instead of sacksacksack, but when you do you see some positives.

[hogo]

HRT not allowed to
race in Australia

finally, that Indian driver made me so angry when he blocked Alonso in Q1 ;/

*edit* filter/

[Kyss4k]

Fernando's Q2 lap was 1.5 seconds slower than Hamilton's pole lap, but that isn't a fair comparison. Here's what Pat Fry had to say:



That means we are 0.8 off the pace. Better than last year but still not good enough. But bear in mind that McLaren focused on single lap speed this year, so in race pace we could be closer to them.

Our radical car has so much potential - so at the very least, we can win a few races this year.

We aimed for quali speed as well mate.

[Kyss4k]

Ferrari are like APPLE, Doesn't matter if you innovate or copy,we just expect the results to be positive..

Apple? Possitive?

[sheikomatic]

That means we are 0.8 off the pace. Better than last year but still not good enough. But bear in mind that McLaren focused on single lap speed this year, so in race pace we could be closer to them.

Our radical car has so much potential - so at the very least, we can win a few races this year.

If the gap is 0.8 second, it is still an 8th place. Last year it is 1.4 seconds and we are 5th. This years cars are very close together/jumbled after the EBD ban. IF the order is McLaren, Lotus, Mercedes, Red Bull then if lucky Ferrari slotting behind them, then it is already 9th. 0.8 second or 1.4 second it doesn't matter, it doesn't make sense, other cars improved. The important thing is the pecking order.

McLaren simply focused on what Red Bull is doing for the past two years, lead from the front and clear from DRS attack from Lap 3.

What I am worried is the car is too handful, and I'm afraid Massa or even Alonso bin the car or beach it in the gravel trap. Remember how Alonso struggle with cold tyres looking like driving on ice at Melbourne start last year. Understeer oversteer many times to overtake a Sauber, I didn't remember either KOB or PER.

[Alonsomaniac]

Strange reactions ......car does not work as wanted, sack everyone! And then we have a car that works? Nope.
So better let them analyse and fix the problem. They are Ferrari, they can do that. And then we have a car that works!
Besides that, one bad qualy is not equal to a bad season is it??
Let's race tomorrow and see what happens.

[Corey]

We obviously had better race pace than quali pace last year, safe to assume that it'll be the same this year (or for tomorrow at least)?

[scuderiafan]

We obviously had better race pace than quali pace last year, safe to assume that it'll be the same this year (or for tomorrow at least)?

Pat said this and I hope so! They are also workings on setup improvements, as today the car was worse than yesterday, in terms of balance.

[Curbs]

They are Ferrari, they can do that.

Based on what? When was the last time we developed a dog into a winner that actually won a championship?

[scuderiafan]

Based on what? When was the last time we developed a dog into a winner that actually won a championship?

well no-one has done that, but 1997, 2s off the pace, and went to fight for the title. you could say the F150 could have done even better if ot was given more development.

[Atrani]

Given the time and resources put into the new car, Ferrari should be on pole by half a second! Instead, look at the "casino" they are in! I'm ticked off because a team like Ferrari in this day and age should not struggle to make it to 3Q! This is going to be an ugly year!

[ManFromMilan]

Agree fully on your assessment!

[Aussie]

Why not to sack Alonso?
Well, maybe because he is one second faster than massa and without him Ferrari would have looked much worse than it actually is.

And your still a crybaby saying stuff like kiss the season good bye after one bloody race.

[Grillo]

I'm disappointed with the car but

HEY, THE RACE
IS TOMORROW

Let's see how many points Alonso and Massa can grab and remember it'll be damage limitation for 3 or 4 races.

[Aussie]

I agree, Flavio is a real leader.

And a good cheater

[Curbs]

Let's see how many points Alonso and Massa can grab and remember it'll be damage limitation for 3 or 4 races.

This is exactly what I don´t like. We have been told every year thats its damage limitation for the first 3 or 4 races. These lines gets repeted every year: - We will have a BIG UPGRADE that will get us up fighting for victory by Barcelona. Then we say by Canada. Then by Silverstone.
And then we can´t lie anymore, so then we focus on next year.

Then the wintertesting beginns. Then we have next standard line. We understand the problem. Next year we will be up to speed by the first race. It´s crusial if we want to fight for the championship.
The first race comes and then we start this all over. Damage limitation for 3-4 races. Just wait for Europe....

[hogo]

And a good cheater

exactly what we need in modern F1.