Australian GP 2017 - Practice and qualifying thread

**alfaromeo** · 25th March 2017, 09:51

**phsyklone** · 25th March 2017, 09:51

I don't remember seeing that blue/white smoke coming out of the Mercs today. Could it be that Merc weren't running the Engine at full beans or have they stopped that supposed fuel and oil mixture

**alfaromeo** · 25th March 2017, 10:06

Ferrari must improve traction.

**cisco82** · 25th March 2017, 10:09

Pretty cool how in Q2 vettel did a Q3 practise run and bagged it on the straight not to out pace his earlier time.. Ferrari obviously hadn't done a fully optimised qualifying run in the new car and just wanted to check the balance without compromising their race tire....

**Cemz85** · 25th March 2017, 10:21

You can see with the video above Hamilton is just ahead in sector 1. But Seb looks like quickly catches up and is dead even just before turn 9. The. Seb gets out of shape and looses out. Interesting.

**tpe** · 25th March 2017, 10:32

From the video it's very clear that T1,T2,T3 was all the difference!
Hmmm Slow corner traction?

**Kyss4k** · 25th March 2017, 10:39

Originally Posted by Cemz85

You can see with the video above Hamilton is just ahead in sector 1. But Seb looks like quickly catches up and is dead even just before turn 9. The. Seb gets out of shape and looses out. Interesting.

Exactly what I was about to write. Pole was possible. Mercedes looks like it's little bit easier to drive, but our car is fast, there's no doubt about that.

**nani_s23** · 25th March 2017, 11:08

“It was not very good. I made life complicated for myself right from the first session: I never managed to put all the sectors together and that cost me lap time. But the car feels strong and I just have to do better.” -KIMI

**dfunk257** · 25th March 2017, 11:21

We will def get the better start so i expect Seb to be in front by turn 1 and then hopefully he will drive away without problems. BUT, i fear another sc will happen and hopefully this time Ferrari handles our strategy alot better than last year.
Kimi i think is still struggling with the balance of the car but hopefully he will get a gopd start too and get in a nice groove and get a good result as well.
Most imprtant thing i think is that Seb is smiling again, that to me says alot. Its a very promising start to our season and hopefullu Ferrari dont stop developing and keep getting better and better instead of going backwards as they have done for many years now.
BRING IT ON!! FORZA FERRARI!!

**nani_s23** · 25th March 2017, 11:22

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C7wmxc6WkAA6Zra.jpg:large

Interesting Comparison from Q2 to Q3:

Ham gained: 1.1sec
Vet : 1sec
Bottas: .8sec
Kimi: .3sec

Kimi didn't do a perfect lap, he was struggling with the rear end of the car throughout the session.
Hope he gets into groove, so that he can attack mercs at every track.

**nani_s23** · 25th March 2017, 11:26

Anto Giovinazzi, great drive pretty much impressed. Hope this guy, have a good future ahead & break into Ferrari car one day.

**KimiBot** · 25th March 2017, 11:35

Originally Posted by f412

Guys... lewis is not that all mighty...given his experience...he could only outqualify bottas by less than 3 tenths.. but bottas was pushing hard and making mistakes...if he had a cool head...who knows what would hv been the outcome... and one more thing...if vet and ham drove the same car...say merc or Ferrari.. who do you think will be ahead...

Just watched Bottas lap, and he made lots of mistakes, now I understand why Vettel was ahead him...faster car but many mistakes
Ferrari is clear second best team and gap is not so much anymore...

**KimiBot** · 25th March 2017, 11:51

Originally Posted by mizf1

1 second slower but engines were turned down due to electrical issues and chasing set up.I would not read too much into the race sim times
race sim times

I hope you are right. Do you have some link to these electrical issues? We have had better race sim times in the past, and they have been usually correct.

**bondilad** · 25th March 2017, 11:57

Originally Posted by KimiBot

I hope you are right. Do you have some link to these electrical issues? We have had better race sim times in the past, and they have been usually correct.

Seb mentioned at the post qualifying press that the car would be much faster compared to yesterday so I reckon one of the reasons being the engine turned down.

**stefa** · 25th March 2017, 12:00

I am really surprised and pleased about how much Ferrari has progressed since last year! Well done!
Frustrating thing is that no matter what, that Mercedes always pull out something more!!!

**KimiBot** · 25th March 2017, 12:04

Originally Posted by bondilad

Seb mentioned at the post qualifying press that the car would be much faster compared to yesterday so I reckon one of the reasons being the engine turned down.

Yesterday he was 0.5 behind one lap and today 0.3 so car/he was faster today, but what are these talks about engine turned down because of electrical issues, I cant find anything, is that rumour or what

**KimiBot** · 25th March 2017, 12:11

Originally Posted by stefa

I am really surprised and pleased about how much Ferrari has progressed since last year! Well done!
Frustrating thing is that no matter what, that Mercedes always pull out something more!!!

Yes, we are closer now, but still behind. I am tired to that Mercs dominance. Like I said, even Bottas should have been ahead Seb, but he had pressure and overdriving today.
And that RB is so much behind us, it is just way it should be, so I really can not be so happy about that either.

**Ferrari_Fanatic** · 25th March 2017, 12:14

I think we'll be fine for the race i have a good feeling!

**bondilad** · 25th March 2017, 12:18

Originally Posted by KimiBot

Yesterday he was 0.5 behind one lap and today 0.3 so car/he was faster today, but what are these talks about engine turned down because of electrical issues, I cant find anything, is that rumour or what

Not sure about that. I thought it would be turned down because of only 4 engines per season.

**ALO** · 25th March 2017, 12:18

Originally Posted by stefa

I am really surprised and pleased about how much Ferrari has progressed since last year! Well done!
Frustrating thing is that no matter what, that Mercedes always pull out something more!!!

Yeah it's called a Lewis

**Paulo Goncalves** · 25th March 2017, 12:21

Handle mercs dominance for about less than 3s on 1st ten laps and we are on great way to win

Enviado do meu iPhone usando o Tapatalk

**mizf1** · 25th March 2017, 12:23

Originally Posted by KimiBot

Yesterday he was 0.5 behind one lap and today 0.3 so car/he was faster today, but what are these talks about engine turned down because of electrical issues, I cant find anything, is that rumour or what

Was mentioned on SKY programme by Ted

**killer** · 25th March 2017, 12:24

Mercs quick as expected, but their greatest achievement is still making us believe Rosberg and Bottas are good drivers.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**mizf1** · 25th March 2017, 12:42

Renault engine cars using 2016 MGU-K which is heavier (5kg) and less powerful for about 5 races, this will affect Red Bull

http://www.autosport.com/news/report...-for-australia

**KimiBot** · 25th March 2017, 12:45

Originally Posted by erinha

New clutches this season.. The start might catch some drivers out.

Then there is the strategy...

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/128541

and strategy, one stop race, so not so much strategy there

**wisepie** · 25th March 2017, 12:52

Great show from the drivers and team, it gives us hope and finally it seems possible that we can offer a real challenge to Merc, but the race strategy and any safety cars may make all the difference. Great to see Giovinazzi making his debut in such a positive way, too.

**Hornet** · 25th March 2017, 12:58

Looking forward to an exciting race tomorrow.

Hopefully our race pace is stronger.

**Bonecrasher** · 25th March 2017, 12:59

Is that where we are going now to disparage other drivers? Look at how far off Kimi is from the front runners in evenly matched cars. How would you respond if I said Ferrari is making Vettel look better than Ricciardo when we know that in the same car he was beaten convincingly. It's what you do with the equipment you are given that matters. Rosberg is now a champion and I'm sure you will agree it's only fair to give Bottas a chance to prove himself before cruelly dismissing his abilities.