Australian Grand Prix 2011 - Race Thread

[Ferrari312]

Just want to re-quote this

“Okay guys, keep your heads up – we will win the championship” -Fernando Alonso, after losing 47 points to Hamilton in 2010 British GP.

[eugene22n]

The drivers drive for Ferrari. I support Ferrari first. We need Massa to get the CC. Who here thinks that he will be around if he repeats this relative pace for the entire year?

[vagos]

i hope for better performance in malaysia.......... all in all nando did well!!! we are not that far from maccas for sure i dont know about the red bulls we have to wait and see!!!!FORZA FERRARI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Agron]

if only nando did a good start m8........ :( he could hav ebeen for sure 3rd!!!

Meh, he started 5th and was boxed by those in front and to the side, hard to make a better exit IMO.

[Greig]

The drivers drive for Ferrari. I support Ferrari first. We need Massa to get the CC. Who here thinks that he will be around if he repeats this relative pace for the entire year?

Let's see how we go in Malaysia before jumping the gun in 2008 Massa started with 2 terrible races yet went on to challenge the title.

[vagos]

I think this result was okay, considering the qualifying results. Fernando lost so much on the start but he recovered very well. 4th place maybe isn't anything worth celebrating, but McLaren and RedBull are so fast that leaving Button and Webber behind is a really good effort in my opinion. Felipe's race started very well and he fought hard, but for some reason he lost his speed in the end of the race. The car isn't the best possible, but it isn't rubbish either. Let's hope it will be better in Malaysia.

EXACTLY AS YOU SAID with a bit of improvement we are ok!!!

[gvsnraju85]

Petrov's Russin accent is pathetic.......i cant understand a word of what he says

[Hornet]

I don't think Alonso had a slow start unless my eye deceived me. He ran alongside a McLaren, Button I believe, before Button shut the door on him going into turn one. Alonso had to back off at that point which allows the pack of cars on the right to pass.

Well, all in all, I think P4 was an ok result for Ferrari. After what happened yesterday, I was expecting both RB and McLaren to run away ahead due to their car performance. But we actually finished P4, and beating Button and Webber, both representing that 2 teams, shows that they are not exactly slaying Ferrari in terms of car performance.

My only concern out of this race is both Vettel and Lewis being able to do a 2 stopper while we did 3. But again, Alonso was pretty much racing Webber so I wouldn't conclude that 3 stopper was absolutely necessary. Had we been at the front, maybe Ferrari could get away with 2 stops too.

So yeah I think there's still hope. Qualifying is important too as seen today, its easier being in Vettel and Lewis place running in clean air. If we can improve on that, we'll do much better, IMO.

On to Sepang GP. Cant wait

[vcs316]

Petrov's Russin accent is pathetic.......i cant understand a word of what he says

So was Kimi's accent. Give him credit for being on the podium rather than slating his accent..

[racingbradley]

So after millions of pounds spent, the DRS does bugger all to improve overtaking, and the car that won the race from pole didn't even have KERS installed all weekend!
Great job in cost cutting Formula 1!

Doesn't that say it all. Maybe F1 needs to adopt the belief "if it isn't broken don't fix it"

[eugene22n]

Indeed I am really hoping he can turn it around. We need him badly. We know he has the pace in him somewhere.

Hopefully Hami will be DQed. Scary to think what the Renault would have done at the hands of Kubica.

Go Massa! Go Alonso! Go Ferrari!

[Grillo]

I don't think Alonso had a slow start unless my eye deceived me. He ran alongside a McLaren, Button I believe, before Button shut the door on him going into turn one. Alonso had to back off at that point which allows the pack of cars on the right to pass.

It was Button who hit him last year, same race, same corner, same moment... I bet Alonso had that in his mind.

[epiclyaddicted]

well said all this kers and drs is not making any sense to me they can put robots for drivers as well

Horner said live on the BBC that Red Bull didn't have KERS installed at all this weekend. They tried in Friday practice and took it off apparently. Very annoying.

[vcs316]

Horner said live on the BBC that Red Bull didn't have KERS installed at all this weekend. They tried in Friday practice and took it off apparently. Very annoying.

That probably explains why Webber couldn't get past Alonso using only the DRS...

[epiclyaddicted]

Petrov's Russin accent is pathetic.......i cant understand a word of what he says

That sounds like a very nationalistic/racist comment.

[eugene22n]

We were all just hoping to be at least close to Red Bull. Everybody including us is nearly a second off.

Instead we are in a pack with McLaren, Renault, and Mercedes. This is just not what Ferrari expected.

I wonder what our development potential is compared to McLaren and Renault considering they are "less conservative". I would assume new solutions have more potential.

[ruud king]

I wass gutted to hear that RBR was NOT using KERS and still seb got first, furthermore an excelent drive from Nando, shame about the crappy start, next time better!
And then Massa......he had a good start but it seems that his car was losing speed al the way, except on fresh prime's.
He needs to clean up his act or next year his place in the team is up for grabs.
Great drive from perez just on his first race, 7th place in front of Kamu, and it looks like sauber have their strategy worked out, just one stop!
If we Ferrari fans look at the positive side, 5 Ferrari powerd cars in the top 10! and yes thats 50%

[eugene22n]

It was Perez not Kamui with the one stop, right?

[Kingdom Hearts]

Entertaining race. From my point of view Alonso's start was OK but it was the wrong place to be at that moment, after that impressive recovering skill (as always) and great race peace. There it's light in this car, we are not that far from Macca and RB. Felipe started very well, after that he went down hill, decent race but he was a little hopeless in some overtakes.

Overall, there is hope but we have to react quickly because Vettel could win the first 3 races easily.

[eugene22n]

Massa did have the fast lap! Though the commentators werent impressed saying it was just low fuel and new softs.

[Grillo]

If we Ferrari fans look at the positive side, 5 Ferrari powerd cars in the top 10! and yes thats 50%

Two Renault cars on the podium.

[Agron]

In this track it was RB, McLaren, Renault and Ferrari from faster to slower, I think, although Fernando and other members of the team seem to think they could be fighting it out with McLaren depending on the track, all hope is not lost.
Great race from the first 4, plus that new guy that ended 7th. Massa wasn't brilliant but he has problems with difficult to drive cars, once Ferrari fix those or the track suits them better he should be able to challenge the best teams.

That DRS (or whatever is called) + KERS + classic track resulted in a very exciting race, I hope it stays like this all season, it was awesome.

[eugene22n]

Terrible race for Mercedes and Williams! Glad we got two cars in the points from that perspective.

[Red is Best]

Am I the only one to think that Alonso had a GREAT race?
Granted he had a horrible start, but he got past Kobayashi, Rosberg and Massa quite easily, and then in the later stages of the race he pulled away from Webber who was on a fresh set of soft tyres. Basically he went from 9th to 4th. The guy made the race worth watching. And actually I don't blame him for the start, he had nowhere else to go.
I have to say I'm quite relieved about the car's performance. We're not as far off the pace as I thought.
The only real disappointment was Massa. Went from 4th in the first lap to 10th at the end. He really needs to improve or I'm afraid we might see Fisichella in the car pretty soon.
Oh, yeah, and Petrov... Probably his only crash-free race of the season

Bring on Malaysia

We don't have pace during the quali, we don't have pace during the race. This car is garbage, just like the one we had in 2009.

Yeah, right

[eugene22n]

Ferrari Twitter "Felipe had a very good start but then he was always on the defensive side."

[eugene22n]

Yes, Alonso had a very good race.

What's up with Webber parking the car like he did? Frustration?

[Atic Atac]

Gene said on TV that they expect a better result in Malaysia with the hotter temperatures.

Also, the launch system in the Ferrari seems to work much better than last year, which is a plus.

Strategy has worked better than last year IMO, and they have been able to adapt to changing situations like the error in webber´s outlap or button´s drive through.

Pirelli´s have improve racing a lot and the ending with FA chasing Petrov was a blast... just 3 more laps ;). Loads of different strategies.

[Hornet]

Sure am surprise to see Renault up there. Wonder if it has anything to do with their exhaust system. They suddenly leap to the front, and I think in the hands of Kubica, he could have even done better. Its crazy

[hogo]

I don't know what car you were watching, but not the Ferrari I saw today.

As I see many got used to the poor results of our car over the last 2-3 years. We have the 4th fastest car now (compared to the 2nd last year), RedBull, Macca and Renault are ahead of us. Yes, Alonso had a poor start, but ffs it's Petrov he lost to. If it was Kubica there, Alonso would stand no chance even with a good start!

I envy those who still manage to see some positive things after this awful weekend.

[eugene22n]

Ferrari press: "Felipe made a very good start and defended his position brilliantly in a battle with Button, but then, in the end, he made a stop that cost him at least two places. Both Ferrari men made three pit stops. "