Australian Grand Prix 2011 - Race Thread

[Sempre_Ferrari]

I'm having a deja vu here- Fernando stuck behind Petrov and racing Webber while Vettel vanishes into the distance.

lol..yea, major dejavu for me too.

[Greig]

Fourth and seventh places respectively for Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa: that was the outcome of the first race of the 2011 season, the Australian Grand Prix, for Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro.

Stefano Domenicali: “There is no point in denying that we leave Australia with a sense of disappointment. Again today, our performance level was not a match for that of the best, especially one of the Red Bulls. Nevertheless, we managed to pick up some valuable points, especially with Fernando, who drove a great race, recovering from what happened to him on the first lap. Having made a strong start, Felipe first defended himself with real determination against attacks from Button, but then in the second part of the race he suffered more than expected with overheating rear tyres. Now we will have to study everything carefully to work out what prevented us from being as competitive as we had expected this weekend. Then we will have to react immediately, starting with the next race in Malaysia. One of the main themes is the level of downforce at the front: we must find out why we did not get on track what was predicted by the data. One of the few bright points was reliability, especially on the engine side and with the KERS.”

Fernando Alonso: “If you just look at the classification, this is not such a bad result; yes we have lost ground to Vettel and Hamilton, although we have done better than Webber and Button. Here at Albert Park, it seems that I have a season ticket for fourth place, as it’s the third time in four years that I’ve finished the race in this position. Last year, we came here off the back of the win in Bahrain, which means that the same result then had a very different feel to it. Once again today, Vettel seemed to be on another planet, while the others were a bit closer, not to the extent they were on Friday, but at least not as far off as in qualifying yesterday. Finishing behind Petrov again like in Abu Dhabi? True, but it’s a coincidence and then, at this stage it is more satisfying to have managed to keep Webber behind me, who I reckon will be a more serious rival in the title fight than the Russian. KERS worked well as did the moveable rear wing, although it did not make the overtaking moves that easy. At the start there was a bit of confusion: I got away well, but then Button headed for me and I had to go wide to avoid a collision. The strategy was just right and it helped me to make up some places. Maybe if I hadn’t ended up immediately in traffic, I could have tried to go for two stops but given how things went, we made the best decision. We are in the right zone for us to be able to win a title, but definitely not if we keep finishing third or fourth. We have to improve, we know that, but it’s still too early to make any predictions.”

Felipe Massa: “At the start things got off on the right foot with a nice start and good defending from Button’s attacking moves. Then we tried to bring forward the use of the hard tyres, but that move did not pay off and we had to make the third stop towards the end, which lost me a few places. In the second part, I suffered a lot with degradation on the rear tyres and I could not keep up a good pace. New elements such as the rear wing worked as they should: we definitely saw more overtaking than last year. The duel with Button? It was very tight: when he passed me, cutting the chicane, I expected him to be penalised. I am a bit disappointed with the result and the overall performance this weekend. We have to get down to work to understand fully what happened, because I think we have not shown our true potential.”

Pat Fry: “We have a lot of work ahead of us, that’s for sure. This weekend, the 150° Italia was not as competitive as we would have liked and that’s a fact: both in the race and in qualifying, Red Bull and McLaren were quicker than us. In terms of how we managed our strategy, I think that with Fernando we made the right choices, given what happened on the opening lap, when he found himself back in ninth place. Thanks to the pit stops and some good passing moves, the Spaniard managed to move up the order to fourth and he was fighting for a podium finish right up to the final lap. However, with Felipe we probably made a mistake towards the end, which cost him maybe one place. Now we all have to roll our sleeves up, at the track and back home, to try and arrive in Malaysia in better shape.”

[sagi58]

I hate commercials...TSN in Canada.....always at the wrong times.

You aren't kidding!! I cringe every time the race screen reduces
and the stupid commercial screen pop-ups!!!

[Sianellen]

TedKravitz: Sauber's rear wing: FIA say it was effectively too flat, which would allow more air through the moveable rear wing gap, making car faster.

[tpe]

Kobayashi and Perez disqualified from results

27 March 2011 by Keith Collantine

Both Saubers have been disqualified from the Australian Grand Prix due to a technical infringement.

Sergio Perez and Kamui Kobayashi therefore lose their seventh and eighth place finished in the race.

Their upper rear wing element was found not to conform to the regulations.

The change promotes Felipe Massa to seventh and Sebastien Buemi to eighth.

It also means both Force India drivers have moved up into the points, with Adrian Sutil taking nine and Paul di Resta scoring the final point on his debut.

OK, one question: How on earth did the Saubers passed the scrutinizing process, in the 1st place? Sorry, I don't buy it... Something else goes on here...

[Hermann]

TedKravitz: Sauber's rear wing: FIA say it was effectively too flat, which would allow more air through the moveable rear wing gap, making car faster.

Too bad FIA obviously isn't interested in finding out what makes the RB so much faster. Chasing black cats in a dark cellar, huh?

[Sianellen]

Too bad FIA obviously isn't interested in finding out what makes the RB so much faster. Chasing black cats in a dark cellar, huh?

Does anyone know if either Sauber overtook anyone using the wing or got into the zone to use it?

[tpe]

My opinion, about the race:
Ferrari is SLOW. Not, Sauber or STR, or Mercedes slow, but compared to McLaren and RBR, we are slow. Remember: McLarens did 2 stops... And even if I could wait something like that from Button, I certainly did not from Hamilton. My estimation is about 1sec/lap slower. If we could be on the 4th/5th place at the start, then we could have a better understanding.
FA did a very good race today. I do not expect us to fight for wins before Europe...

[Greig]

Sauber have appealed the DQ

[Hermann]

Marc Gene said on spanish TV there will be no upgrades until Turkey

[Greig]

I find that hard to believe

[Greig]

actually yeah probably true as it's the first euro race

[Kyss4k]

I find that hard to believe

Oh no! They should do more than everything to close the gap. This is not the way to make the car quickier.

[sagi58]

I have to say, up until today's interview, I always thought that Button was a class act,
never looking for excuses, always ready with a "oh well, there's always next time"
kind of attitude. I guess being at McL has rubbed off on him, eh??

[scuderiafan]

Dont really mind. that was when i expected them to be. We will get upgrades every race, though. depends on what you mean, though. Like, there will be minor changes after all the races, like some more wing here, suspension change there...

But in Turkey, i expect we will get a massive Valencia 10 style package.
Fine by that. we shouldn't 'throw the kitchen sink'. Our race pace was good from where i was standing today.

Our problem isn't fundamental. IMO, its more of a 'bad day at the office' kind of thing. Fernando himself says this is not where this car is at. We are slower than Mc and RB, that is for sure, but that is only for now. it could change in Sepang.

We just need to use the tyres better, and get the front balance right. If we do that, i'm sure we will be competitive.

[aroutis]

It's also another to write off the season based on one result as you focus on one element of your team as supposedly the only perfect thing in it.

So exactly how many "Free pass" do we have to give to Felippe ?
No I am sorry, he needs to step up.

[burak karakutuk]

Charlie Whiting
"If the FIA mandate for KERS is environmental benefit, and the RB KERS doesn't recover energy, we have a problem."

[ferrari4life]

So exactly how many "Free pass" do we have to give to Felippe ?
No I am sorry, he needs to step up.

Dude you need to backoff man..Its the first race.. I think just as equal we can claim Alonso screwed up with his start..You can start blaming drivers later on in the season. With the current state of the Ferrari we have bigger problems to worry about

[Hornet]

Charlie Whiting
"If the FIA mandate for KERS is environmental benefit, and the RB KERS doesn't recover energy, we have a problem."

Finally one of RB's many sneaky tricks being caught?
Say it isn't so

[Ste]

Dont really mind. that was when i expected them to be. We will get upgrades every race, though. depends on what you mean, though. Like, there will be minor changes after all the races, like some more wing here, suspension change there...

But in Turkey, i expect we will get a massive Valencia 10 style package.
Fine by that. we shouldn't 'throw the kitchen sink'. Our race pace was good from where i was standing today.

Our problem isn't fundamental. IMO, its more of a 'bad day at the office' kind of thing. Fernando himself says this is not where this car is at. We are slower than Mc and RB, that is for sure, but that is only for now. it could change in Sepang.

We just need to use the tyres better, and get the front balance right. If we do that, i'm sure we will be competitive.

Yea agreed. Bad day at the office is how it seems to me. Trouble is, when you're chasing a quicker car you need to maximise these bad days - and we don't.

[burak karakutuk]

Finally one of RB's many sneaky tricks being caught?
Say it isn't so

maybe but i am not sure.newey is the smartest man but it sounds me illegal.i hope justice will become true

[Ste]

maybe but i am not sure.newey is the smartest man but it sounds me illegal.i hope justice will become true

Well I can't see how its illegal because it wasn't even on the car. There was no KERS, so nothing to be found illegal imo.

IF thy did have start KERS on and it's deemed illegal, surely they mist be disqualified from Aus?

[sagi58]

Charlie Whiting
"If the FIA mandate for KERS is environmental benefit, and the RB KERS doesn't recover energy, we have a problem."

Apparently, this comment was made by someone who calls himself the "Fake Charlie Whiting" on his twitter:

http://twitter.com/charlie_whiting/s...84388123811840

[sagi58]

IF thy did have start KERS on and it's deemed illegal, surely they mist be disqualified from Aus?

Much as I'd love for Alonso to have a podium... you know who, would get the win!!

[FFFerrari]

The RBR and McMowers were faster than us, just get over it. Wishing for other teams to be DQ'd is weak and fruitless. I'm sure they will pick up the pace in coming races, just try to focus on the positive instead of negative. 4th was a decent result from the race when it could have gone much worse.

And the joke of the day: "Petrov could change the text on his rear wing from Lotus to Hi Fernando!". Just don't tell that joke to Alonso.

[SanderV]

Just watched the replay of the race. Under the circumstances I'm happy with the result. Massa's defensive driving against Button was good. It hasn't always been like that so I was glad to see it. Alonso was great throughout the race. Was a bit disappointed with Massa in the second part of the race to be honest.

Our race pace is not so bad compared to RB. This time Vettel was in front, but next time it could be different. Also, good drive from Petrov, and, as much as I hate to say it, good job from McLaren after the winter tests.

[Hermann]

The RBR and McMowers were faster than us, just get over it. Wishing for other teams to be DQ'd is weak and fruitless. I'm sure they will pick up the pace in coming races, just try to focus on the positive instead of negative. 4th was a decent result from the race when it could have gone much worse.

And the joke of the day: "Petrov could change the text on his rear wing from Lotus to Hi Fernando!". Just don't tell that joke to Alonso.

I quite agree, and maybe Petrov should really do that. He obviously took over from Heidfeld being the main track obstacle for Fernando.

[sagi58]

I quite agree, and maybe Petrov should really do that. He obviously took over from Heidfeld being the main track obstacle for Fernando.

Everybody has to face a "pain-in-the-backside" type at work, why not Alonso?

[Hermann]

Everybody has to face a "pain-in-the-backside" type at work, why not Alonso?

yeah i know what you mean- well, its Fernando's task to find a solution. At least he has something like a challenge- if the car remains not good enough for a bigger one.

[Alessandra]

'Scuse me if I'm being very thick about this but what exactly happened to Fernando on the start line?
M Brundle said that he had 'wheel spin'. If this were so it would certainly have interfered with his plan which, to me , looked like he was going to jump Button down the middle. However he found himself instead alongside Petrov who had moved up as Fernando's wheels 'spun', so FA had to move back to his left and was finally left way off course to the first corner and everyone else, incliding Felipe who had an excellent start, streaming though after Petrov.

I've only been able only watch the start twice so I may well have got something wrong, but my question is, what was the cause of the wheel spin; driver error or a problem with the tyres? Not warm enough or what?

Thanks