Australian GP 2013 - Friday and Saturday free practice

[Katu]

Fair enough, but I thought it was funny both their drivers were in the gravel in the space of a minute. Their pace looks surprisingly good especially over 1 lap.

agree, funny it was

[redkid]

Both Mercs got issues...very busy evening/night it will be for their mechanics...possible brake issue for Hamilton.

I am hoping that Ferrari's reliability will be a key ingredient to this years Championship.

[superwonderboy]

We here in South Africa, uses Sky Sports link. They showed us very little images of our ferrari boys. This happens every year and the commentary is anti ferrari. Im gettin tired of this now.

[Rob]

After FP1..

Australian GP – An encouraging start

Melbourne, 15 March – Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso ended the first free practice session of the Australian Grand Prix and indeed of the season, in second and third places respectively in their Ferraris. As usual, during the first 90 minutes of track action, there was very little grip to be found on the semi-permanent Albert Park circuit. Sebastian Vettel was quickest for Red Bull in 1.27.211, with Massa doing 1.27.289 in his F138, while Alonso posted a 1.27.547. After concentrating on an evaluation of the new Medium Pirelli compound and testing different aero set-ups, the Scuderia ended the session with some pit stop practice.

Classification

Pos

Driver Team Time Gap Laps
1 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing 1:27.211 16
2 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:27.289 0.078 17
3 Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1:27.547 0.336 16
4 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:27.552 0.341 18
5 Mark Webber Red Bull Racing 1:27.668 0.457 18
6 Kimi Räikkönen Lotus-Renault 1:27.877 0.666 17
7 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1:28.013 0.802 17
8 Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1:28.426 1.215 19
9 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1:28.440 1.229 19
10 Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 1:28.520 1.309 15
11 Sergio Perez McLaren-Mercedes 1:28.597 1.386 19
12 Nico Hulkenberg Sauber-Ferrari 1:28.786 1.575 19
13 Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 1:28.910 1.699 18
14 Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault 1:29.443 2.232 20
15 Valtteri Bottas Williams-Renault 1:29.928 2.717 19
16 Esteban Gutierrez Sauber-Ferrari 1:30.203 2.992 17
17 Jean-Eric Vergne STR-Ferrari 1:30.729 3.518 17
18 Daniel Ricciardo STR-Ferrari 1:30.969 3.758 19
19 Jules Bianchi Marussia-Cosworth 1:31.263 4.052 24
20 Max Chilton Marussia-Cosworth 1:32.176 4.965 23
21 Charles Pic Caterham-Renault 1:32.274 5.063 21
22 Giedo van der Garde Caterham-Renault 1:32.388 5.177 18
Published on: 03/15/2013

[SinanOzerS]

We here in South Africa, uses Sky Sports link. They showed us very little images of our ferrari boys. This happens every year and the commentary is anti ferrari. Im gettin tired of this now.

You're absolutely right.It's all because of Bernie and his new Concorde...

[Alfa159]

WOW, its still the first FFP session of new season. Cars develope, get faster, get used to tyre deg. We in really good position compared to last year.

Same old story around here aswell, doom and gloom already.

You tell me up until this point what there is to be excited/optimistic about and I will!

[long2ma]

Well, looks like we are still trailing by quite a bit. Overall sector times are less than impressive. Another Red Bull dominance year is ahead.

[redkid]

Bianchi is doing good...he's fighting it out with the Toro Rossos and Williams in a technically inferior car.

[long2ma]

All in a sudden, I don't get excited about this new F1 season....

[redkid]

All in a sudden, I don't get excited about this new F1 season....

Too early to lose hope buddy...way too early. Let us have faith with Ferrari.

Forza Ferrari!

[albert]

There is still hope until qualifying at least. But if we are nowhere then no use hoping. If they cant make a quick car during the off season what hope during the rest of the season?

[anuragiyer8989]

All in a sudden, I don't get excited about this new F1 season....

Same feeling....but I'm optimistic about our race pace....so let's hope for a good drive by FM & FA!

[long2ma]

Too early to lose hope buddy...way too early. Let us have faith with Ferrari.

Forza Ferrari!

Year after one another? That is enough.
Just wonder how can a drink making company build a race car that is faster than that of a car maker.

[SinanOzerS]

Year after one another? That is enough.
Just wonder how can a drink making company build a race car that is faster than that of a car maker.

It sucks very much.

[albert]

Year after one another? That is enough.
Just wonder how can a drink making company build a race car that is faster than that of a car maker.

Newey. He dominated the 90s with Williams and is doing the same again. He is untouchable.

[anuragiyer8989]

Year after one another? That is enough.
Just wonder how can a drink making company build a race car that is faster than that of a car maker.

Its all about that one man.....Adrian newey! He can transform machines into beasts....damn!

[Rob]

You tell me up until this point what there is to be excited/optimistic about and I will!

Even Fernando and Felipe said we maybe little bit behind. We are, but to this time last year big improvement. Its a new season, new year ALOT can and WILL happen over 19 races. Why right off the season after FFP quali runs?

I follow and have Mclaren fans follow me on Twitter, and they never ever right off their team after bad session. Its sad, to see fellow Tifosi right the team off from day 1, race weekend 1. Not telling people how to support or act, but blimey come on guys/girls. If we loosing WDC WCC by Spa with big points gap then so be bit, but not now. Every reason to be optimistic/excited.

[varun]

WOW, its still the first FFP session of new season. Cars develope, get faster, get used to tyre deg. We in really good position compared to last year.

Same old story around here aswell, doom and gloom already.

This ain't gloom ...but we can easily see that the bulls are not even on the limit and still a fair bit ahead of everyone...
we cant stay away from the fact that we are still abt 4 tenths down (min) and the Cows are much ahead..
Neweyyyyyy...

[long2ma]

Even Fernando and Felipe said we maybe little bit behind. We are, but to this time last year big improvement. Its a new season, new year ALOT can and WILL happen over 19 races. Why right off the season after FFP quali runs?

I follow and have Mclaren fans follow me on Twitter, and they never ever right off their team after bad session. Its sad, to see fellow Tifosi right the team off from day 1, race weekend 1. Not telling people how to support or act, but blimey come on guys/girls. If we loosing WDC WCC by Spa with big points gap then so be bit, but not now. Every reason to be optimistic/excited.

I am not totally writing off the Ferrari chances. It is just that we are not quick enough or even on par with competition.
It is always hard to digest the feeling that the competition is far superior than you even after so many years. i don't like to see our team win purely because of luck.

[tifosi1993]

Emlyn Hughes ‏@radarguruf1

#F1 Saturday forecast: O'cast AM and cool. Showers arriving from midday onwards. Likely damp for P3 and wet for qualifying. Max temp 20c/68f

[Rob]

This ain't gloom ...but we can easily see that the bulls are not even on the limit and still a fair bit ahead of everyone...
we cant stay away from the fact that we are still abt 4 tenths down (min) and the Cows are much ahead..
Neweyyyyyy...

So, its not race day is it. Its only weekend 1 of 19. We have very good update coming for China, we have very good baseline now, we can fight for win Sunday.

It is gloom, people saying season over and Vettel go walk it already. They may have Newey, but we are Ferrari, we have Fernando.

[stefa]

Just saw results... It is only Friday, and it's first race of the season, but...
Somehow I have expected more...

[fronaldo]

can someone explain to me about monkey seat function?

[stefa]

So, its not race day is it. Its only weekend 1 of 19. We have very good update coming for China, we have very good baseline now, we can fight for win Sunday.

It is gloom, people saying season over and Vettel go walk it already. They may have Newey, but we are Ferrari, we have Fernando.

Yes we are Ferrari and we have best driver out there, Fernando, but we had him in previous 3 years and that didn't helped...

[Forzi]

Read a lot of things in the last hour and i have to say, i think we're up there with RBR and sandbagging a bit (i know i'll get flamed here for saying this, since it's been a while since we did a thing like that). The S3 FP2 time isn't better than the FP1. Adding that the track got a lot better since it's rarely used, lower fuel load and the super softs, it should have improved whatever way you look at it. That sector isn't more demanding than S1 and S2 and i don't beleave that we suddenly started being bad in fast corners. As i recall, most of the people said that we're really good at em. Something doesn't add up BADLY. You can't be as fast as Webber in the 2 first sectors and then loose 0,6 sec in the last sector. I wont consider this as a fact, gonna wait till quali, but so far, i'd say it's RBR>Ferrari>Lotus with us then best on race pace. Let's wait and see

Forza Ferrari

[Massimo181]

Even Fernando and Felipe said we maybe little bit behind. We are, but to this time last year big improvement. Its a new season, new year ALOT can and WILL happen over 19 races. Why right off the season after FFP quali runs?

I follow and have Mclaren fans follow me on Twitter, and they never ever right off their team after bad session. Its sad, to see fellow Tifosi right the team off from day 1, race weekend 1. Not telling people how to support or act, but blimey come on guys/girls. If we loosing WDC WCC by Spa with big points gap then so be bit, but not now. Every reason to be optimistic/excited.

Well said and there is still along way to the chequered Flag on Sunday!

[stefa]

Ferrari need to have better car. Fernando is not a miracle man, he can produce 0,2-0,3 of a second, but not more

[eilfff]

Does anybody know where are all lap times on fia.com? They have new site and I can't find this :(

[Forzi]

can someone explain to me about monkey seat function?

It adds rear stability and helps with the balance of the car, but it created quite a lot of drag at the rear. Since we dropped it, i'd say we're good in these areas, which is why i'd say it's another reason why we should be better then the times show.

[stefa]

Does anybody know where are all lap times on fia.com? They have new site and I can't find this :(

Same problem here. I was looking but could not find it.