Aus GP : Friday Free Practice discussion thread

Originally posted by Durant


He looked pretty inconsistent to me all practice. All over the place. The real test will come in the race not one hotlap.

Originally posted by Melbourne Park
Naka though I do not think has the use of a simulator, which Hamilton had the pleasure of using. IF that's true, then he would have to learn the track. And it was a bad day to do that, with a green track and also it was very windy. Plus if you bin the chassis, you are in real trouble, because you cannot bring a spare car now - the rules have changed in that area.

So, I think its pretty tough to can the guy already. Massa almost binned the F2007 - Naka didn't (I think) get close to that. Tomorrow he'll have a much better idea of the track, and what he's doing wrong. He finished the second session with consistent times - sure a little slow - but they were consistent. Maybe he even had some fuel in the car? He's shown he can be quick, and many think that his partner actually is very quick. Give Naka a break - he's a genuine rookie, and he's position is likely providing a lot of benefits to Williams. His only crime so far is being a bit slow - and that's not much of a crime on Friday, in your first GP weekend. He may even do better than Wurz did.

Originally posted by Fatgadget
I didn't watch the practice sessions. So what's the verdict on who is copping better without Traction Control and anti- stall gizmos thus far?

Originally posted by Galko877
Ah, I almost forgot about Fisichella. He was very, very impressive and based on the tests also, I think he is about to rebuild his reputation this year!

To me the guy is an enigma. He always looks like the real deal in smaller teams, weaker cars and when he is in a WCC car he underperforms. Kind of like Frentzen was. I don't know it it's because of the pressure of being in a top team or something else, but very strange.

Originally posted by HSJ



I wonder if we were watching the same practice sessions. LH was definitely having problems nailing braking into corners consistently and keeping it on the black stuff. He was one of the least impressive of all in this regard, the speed he had definitely comes from somewhere else, probably the car is great again and forgives mistakes, just like last year.

Originally posted by HSJ




What? If anything, LH made the most mistakes of the Ferrari and McLaren drivers. Braking in corner entry seemed to be the reason, but the mistakes weren't very big or costly time-wise, unlike Massa's spin. But then LH had trouble keeping it on the black stuff in Melbourne last year as well, so it may not be just because of lack of driver aids.

Alonso and DC(?) seemed to like those graveltrap excursions, they went off big time, but didn't spin. I was really surprised to see BMW and Williams have such technical problems, and BMW weren't that fast either. Red Bull may be surprisingly quick.

Definitely more mistakes were seen by all drivers (rather small mistakes mostly, but still) today than last year, and some drivers clearly made more mistakes than others. Hopefully it will stay this way and the lack of driver aids will make a real difference this year.

Edit:



I wonder if we were watching the same practice sessions. LH was definitely having problems nailing braking into corners consistently and keeping it on the black stuff. He was one of the least impressive of all in this regard, the speed he had definitely comes from somewhere else, probably the car is great again and forgives mistakes, just like last year.

Originally posted by Atreiu


I watched them and it's too early to lay a veridict. The track was too dirty and everyone had problems, sliding, losing time and even putting a wheel or two on the grass. Some pilots even spun. The only fair assumption is that McLaren and Ferrari will pick up where they left last season and continue to dominate the field.


The track also seemes slower in FP2, how hot was it?

Originally posted by HSJ
I wonder if we were watching the same practice sessions. LH was definitely having problems nailing braking into corners consistently and keeping it on the black stuff. He was one of the least impressive of all in this regard, the speed he had definitely comes from somewhere else, probably the car is great again and forgives mistakes, just like last year.

Originally posted by micra_k10

Reading your post I get the impression you are getting into denial?

Ok, Heikki and others drove more consistently, but Hamilton drives and tries the car much further at the moment. He is handling the car quite nicely considering what he is doing with it. He isnt just pushing it to limit traditionally, he is moving limits.

Originally posted by Anomnader
Would you say that the McLaren cars tyres again prefer hotter temperatures then the Ferraris?

Originally posted by Atreiu


Do they? Ferrari won Malaysia and Turkyey last year. Both were hot.


What will be the supporting race this weekend? I think only after they have rubbered the track in their practice we'll get a clear picture.

Originally posted by Atreiu
Sorry, I meant Bahrain.

Originally posted by wingwalker
As for Hamilton, he looked to be struggling a bit. In 2007 his style required a car with a touch of oversteer, he was taking it on a limit of sliding, which might be problematic this year - not in terms of singe lap performance, but tyre wear. But of course he knows that and far more so we will see.

Originally posted by micra_k10
I thought the feed was Hamiltonvision, because he was showed whenever on track.

Originally posted by angst


Just take a long listen to Falvio's slavering and preening comments for Alonso, Alonso's inability to accept equal treatment at McLaren and..... you might be able to put two and two together and figure out what went on at Renault. (likewise, watch as 'wonderkid' Piquet is allowed so much room to challenge his teammate.... )

Originally posted by abc
i have my concern about Kimis form. He didnt impressed me once since the modified F2008 was launched. Felipe managed super times in Barcelona and Kimi was nowhere near, in addition to this Felipe is full of confidence last days and it seems he knows he is quicker than Kimi at the moment.

Kimi was slower in FP1 as well excluding 2 laps in ideal track conditions and FP2 went horrible for Kimi.

Originally posted by as65p


Sure, that must be why Fisi suddenly blossomed at Renault and completely dominated his teammate, once Alonso was gone. It was all the evil spaniard holding poor Giancarlo back...

Originally posted by karlth
Hamilton's run was probably a qualifying simulation(Race fuel) based on quotes from McLaren.
Don't understand then what Heikki was doing as he went out on soft tyres as well.

Originally posted by abc
i have my concern about Kimis form. He didnt impressed me once since the modified F2008 was launched. Felipe managed super times in Barcelona and Kimi was nowhere near, in addition to this Felipe is full of confidence last days and it seems he knows he is quicker than Kimi at the moment.

Originally posted by rally man


I also found that Kimi's bodylanguage was much more lighter and joyfull with old specification. In Barcelona he looked serious.

But, it's interesting to see how it turns out tomorrow. In principle this should be Kimi's track.

Originally posted by micra_k10

Reading your post I get the impression you are getting into denial?

Ok, Heikki and others drove more consistently, but Hamilton drives and tries the car much further at the moment. He is handling the car quite nicely considering what he is doing with it. He isnt just pushing it to limit traditionally, he is moving limits.

Originally posted by angst


Well, let's see how Alonso "blossoms" at Renault this year. And maybe, just maybe, Heikki is better than you give him credit for. Here's the thing, Kovalainnen didn't exactly slaughter Fisichella (his second place drive in Japan - a very great drive - skewed their overall championhip positions). Equally Alonso was usually outpaced by his less experienced teammate. Strange how one can find the excuses to keep Alonso atop a pedestal, whereas a nother driver marginally beaten by a highly rated rookie is useless. It will be interesting to see how Kovalainen compares to Hamilton this year - that might put Fisi's relative performance into a better light. Not that I'd expect you to see that....., because you see only one thing. Sad, really.

Originally posted by denthierry


which quote from McLaren makes you think that?

Originally posted by as65p


Contrary to you I try not to make un-based assumptions, so I'm not ultimately judging Heikki nor Lewis after one season. With Alonso and Fisi it's quite a different matter, we've seen enough of both to come to conclusions. Only that yours doesn't seem to fit with reality - you know, that thing which tells us that Fisi is driving at Force India this year. I suppose in your world that's also part of the big Briatore-Alonso conspiracy against Fisi, eh?

Originally posted by karlth


Williams do have a simulator, although probably not as advanced as McLaren's.

Originally posted by Anomnader

That seems very similar to last year. Maybe Massa is a better car developer and gets it suited to himself better and then Kimi has to adjust.

But I think its very early to think like this, its free practice and I bet Kimi will finish in front of Massa at the end on sunday baring mechanics or crashes

Originally posted by angst


See? Blah blah blah. Alonso's great blah blah blah..... Fisichella (despite Flavio's clear messages) wasn't treated as a number two at renault (blah blah blah) it's just that Alonso is so great. And he wasn't cuddled enough at McLaren, so that evil Dr. Hamilton cheated him and nasty Ron as well and ... and ... it's not fair (stamp feet here)... blah blah blah.

Originally posted by Durant


Yes I saw him doing a number of big power slides, under steering, running wide ect. Out of all of that he finally managed to hook up a good lap right at the end on fumes. Well done.

Originally posted by Rinehart
Why do you hate Hamilton so much?

Originally posted by Atreiu


Nobody looked consistent and smooth.

Originally posted by karlth


McLaren press release. Either Ron or Norbert said they had tested Q setup in FP2.

Originally posted by Anomnader

Button should do very well as he is one of the smoothest drivers out there.

Originally posted by HP
Would you please tell us then about Alonso's offs then, they were not any better.

Originally posted by wingwalker
As for Hamilton, he looked to be struggling a bit. In 2007 his style required a car with a touch of oversteer, he was taking it on a limit of sliding, which might be problematic this year - not in terms of singe lap performance, but tyre wear. But of course he knows that and far more so we will see.

Originally posted by rodlamas


Given what's been seen today, for the moment Hamilton is the race favourite. But let's wait for FP3 and qual.

Originally posted by F1_conman
Hamilton looked good yesterday - and I agree he's the favourite