322 replies to this topic

[D.M.N.]

Separate the countdown thread, a general build-up thread for Melbourne.

Session Times (UK)
FP1 - 01:30 to 03:00
FP2 - 05:30 to 07:00
----
FP3 - 03:00 to 04:00
QU - 06:00 to 07:00
----
RAC - 06:00

Will be watching FP2, Qualifying and Race live, rest recorded. As a reminder, the action is live on Sky Sports F1, highlights on BBC One.

Win History
2012 - Jenson Button (McLaren)
2011 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2010 - Jenson Button (McLaren)
2009 - Jenson Button (Brawn)
2008 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2007 - Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari)
2006 - Fernando Alonso (Renault)
2005 - Giancarlo Fisichella (Renault)
2004 - Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)
2003 - David Coulthard (McLaren)
2002 - Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)
2001 - Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)
2000 - Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)
1999 - Eddie Irvine (Ferrari)
1998 - Mika Häkkinen (McLaren)
1997 - David Coulthard (McLaren)
1996 - Damon Hill (Williams)

Pole History
2012 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2011 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2010 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2009 - Jenson Button (Brawn)
2008 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2007 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
2006 - Jenson Button (Honda)
2005 - Giancarlo Fisichella (Renault)
2004 - Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)
2003 - Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)
2002 - Rubens Barrichello (Ferrari)
2001 - Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)
2000 - Mika Häkkinen (McLaren)
1999 - Mika Häkkinen (McLaren)
1998 - Mika Häkkinen (McLaren)
1997 - Jacques Villeneuve (Williams)
1996 - Jacques Villeneuve (Williams)

And some photos: https://twitter.com/markwa1ker



Looks a bit weird with the Rolex advertising, the green reminds me of 1996. Looking forward to see who exits turn 1 first. My money is on a Red Bull, but who knows. Let the games begin.

[gerry nassar]

The last few weeks have seen relentless heat. Cant remember this many days in a row over 30 degrees. The next week is over 30 every day with mid 30s early next week. So by race weekend it will either still be hot or due for storms and rain!!

[jrg19]

http://www.accuweath...h-weather/26216

Forecast predicting a drop to 20-23oC

[Francesc]

http://www.accuweath...h-weather/26216

Forecast predicting a drop to 20-23oC

So let the graining fest continue...

[Youichi]

A couple of pics from twitter this morning.

Main straight :-
https://twitter.com/...2747776/photo/1


Turn 3 :-
https://twitter.com/...1667970/photo/1

[300KPh]

[300KPh]

too early to predict any weather

[showtime]

Don't know if it's part of the build-up or not but this morning vampires went to work. Pérez, Alonso, Ricciardo...

[jameson11]

http://www.accuweath...h-weather/26216

Forecast predicting a drop to 20-23oC

Its only dropped below 30 degrees once in the last few weeks, looks like its set to continue

http://www.bom.gov.a...melbourne.shtml

[HuddersfieldTerrier1986]

Due to work it'll be FP1/FP2 on the Friday night before FP3/Quali/Race all live for me. Looking forward to the first race. Hoping it'll be close, and ideally with RBR not winning. Would like to see a Merc or Lotus win I think.

[Juggles]

Well that came round faster than expected. Having one less month of off-season makes a huge difference. I just hope the teams have had enough of a break.

Following in the footsteps of D.M.N. I think Vettel will start on pole but a Mercedes will enter the first corner first...(not sure which one).

Button has an amazing record in Australia but I don't think he'll win it this year, purely because four wins would be greedy and I think he's a fairly considerate chap. A podium is likely though.

I'd be interested to know what proportion of races here see contact at the first corner. Turn 1 is one of the more difficult ones to fit 22 cars through, it's the first race so the drivers' reflexes might not be quite so sharp and Bianchi joins his fellow agents of chaos, Grosjean and Maldonado, on the grid. There should probably be a name for those three as a collective force; 'the Hole in the Sidewall Gang?'

Hopefully we have hot conditions, I want to see if Mercedes can handle tyre deg in warmer temperatures as soon as possible so I don't get filled with false hope.

[HuddersfieldTerrier1986]

Glad I don't live there with those temps. Reminds me of my first trip to Le Mans in 2000 when it was 35-40 degrees at it's hottest and 20-25 in the middle of the night. Unbearable.

[OoxLox]

Hamilton's dog Roscoe gets in some training of his own for Melbourne:



(j/k)

Edited by OoxLox, 05 March 2013 - 12:08.

[eronrules]

Hamilton's dog Roscoe gets in some training of his own for Melbourne:

i wish he didn't post the pic, it's giving bone to PETA (mistreaing, animal cruelty, bullshit .... etc etc)

Edited by eronrules, 05 March 2013 - 12:02.

[krapmeister]

Glad I don't live there with those temps. Reminds me of my first trip to Le Mans in 2000 when it was 35-40 degrees at it's hottest and 20-25 in the middle of the night. Unbearable.

Well at least it's generally a dry rather than a humid heat. And yes it was a pretty consistently warm summer, although we didn't have many of those 40+ days as in some recent years and only one decent bit of rain since Christmas that I can remember. It was 08 when I went for the three days and they were all above 35 iirc, peaking at 39/40 and it was just too freaking hot.

But if there is one thing about Melbourne, it is that the weather can change very fast - could be 40+ one day and high teens the next - however it is far too early to put any real faith in the weather forecast yet.

Edited by krapmeister, 05 March 2013 - 12:06.

[UPRC]

That dog's going to end up as one of the highlights of the season, I'm calling it now.

[OoxLox]

i wish he didn't post the pic, it's giving bone to PETA (mistreaing, animal cruelty, bullshit .... etc etc)

Lol - it's a pic I found on the Web of a much older dog, not one LH posted of his own.

[amppatel]

i wish he didn't post the pic, it's giving bone to PETA (mistreaing, animal cruelty, bullshit .... etc etc)

lol, it's not like Hamilton is forcing the dog to do that... that dog is just crazy...

[eronrules]

Lol - it's a pic I found on the Web of a much older dog, not one LH posted of his own.

... no prob then, it's just, LH and australia seems to have some connection that always produces ... well ... trouble. and ATM lewis is the driver with the most media attention. he's a lightning rod for unnecessary attention. now Kimi on the other hand ....

[jrg19]

To clarify that is not Roscoe.

[oligc94]

To clarify that is not Roscoe.

I wondered how long it would take people to realise that...

[Coral]

Im really looking forward to Melbourne...I'm hoping for a good showing by Lewis although I think that Vettel will probably win...2011 and all that...but hopefully not! I reckon the tyres will play a major part, especially in the first few races.

Now that Lewis has left McLaren I can finally come out from behind the sofa to watch the races!

[Bruce]

I'd be interested to know what proportion of races here see contact at the first corner. Turn 1 is one of the more difficult ones to fit 22 cars through, it's the first race so the drivers' reflexes might not be quite so sharp and Bianchi joins his fellow agents of chaos, Grosjean and Maldonado, on the grid. There should probably be a name for those three as a collective force; 'the Hole in the Sidewall Gang?'

[BernieEc]

I'd be interested to know what proportion of races here see contact at the first corner. Turn 1 is one of the more difficult ones to fit 22 cars through, it's the first race so the drivers' reflexes might not be quite so sharp and Bianchi joins his fellow agents of chaos, Grosjean and Maldonado, on the grid. There should probably be a name for those three as a collective force;

The wrecking crew

[stanga]

Its only dropped below 30 degrees once in the last few weeks, looks like its set to continue

http://www.bom.gov.a...melbourne.shtml

I was there for 3 nights last week and it was below 20 deg for much of each day. It rained on two of the days.

I even had a walk around the track as they were setting it up.

[Zoetrope]

I'd be interested to know what proportion of races here see contact at the first corner. Turn 1 is one of the more difficult ones to fit 22 cars through, it's the first race so the drivers' reflexes might not be quite so sharp and Bianchi joins his fellow agents of chaos, Grosjean and Maldonado, on the grid. There should probably be a name for those three as a collective force; 'the Hole in the Sidewall Gang?'

Wacky Racers

[Kingshark]

Im really looking forward to Melbourne...I'm hoping for a good showing by Lewis although I think that Vettel will probably win...2011 and all that...but hopefully not! I reckon the tyres will play a major part, especially in the first few races.

Now that Lewis has left McLaren I can finally come out from behind the sofa to watch the races!

I don't think so.

Edited by Kingshark, 05 March 2013 - 14:56.

[joshb]

Is that bottom one the new 'Vettel Stand' they've put up!

[senna da silva]

If its dry I predict a Jenson Button pole of 1:24.0!

[Mc_Silver]

Excitement of the new is building more and more as the time passes!

[PNSD]

JB looking to equal Schumachers record I hope!

[RobertoLarcos]

Is that bottom one the new 'Vettel Stand' they've put up!

That's the Piquet stand on the outside of turn 3. That would be the best stand on the circuit if it was a bit further to the left, so you could see the cars approaching turn 3 instead of just the apex and the exit.

The inside of turn 3 is a great GA spot for spectating - you are very close to the cars and you quite often see cars locking up and running wide.

I don't believe there are any pictures of the new Vettel stand yet.

[redbarron]

The weather here in Australia especially the East Coast has been up and down, and pretty crazy. Extreme heat to lots of flooding. The weather could be anything!!

I so wish I could go. I haven't been for three years now.. its so expensive

[Ravenak]

The weather here in Australia especially the East Coast has been up and down, and pretty crazy. Extreme heat to lots of flooding. The weather could be anything!!

I so wish I could go. I haven't been for three years now.. its so expensive

General entry at $80 for students (they never ask for your student card...), you go and sit the whole weekend at corner 1-2 and you're set.

Edited by Ravenak, 06 March 2013 - 00:17.

[redbarron]

Except I live in Newcastle and have to travel and stay in Melbourne. I had a baby 5 months ago too, so money is tight! I would go every year if I lived in Melbourne.

[Ravenak]

Move to Melbz then

This way you get to live in the bestest city in Australia and can see F1 & the AO.

Edited by Ravenak, 06 March 2013 - 00:21.

[redbarron]

Lol I would happily live in Melbourne. The wife might need better convincing though

[mattferg]

Pole History
2012 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2011 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2010 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2009 - Jenson Button (Brawn)
2008 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2007 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
2006 - Jenson Button (Honda)
2005 - Giancarlo Fisichella (Renault)
2004 - Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)
2003 - Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)
2002 - Rubens Barrichello (Ferrari)
2001 - Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)
2000 - Mika Häkkinen (McLaren)
1999 - Mika Häkkinen (McLaren)
1998 - Mika Häkkinen (McLaren)
1997 - Jacques Villeneuve (Williams)
1996 - Jacques Villeneuve (Williams)

D.M.N please add to first post if willing/you want to :-)

Edited by mattferg, 06 March 2013 - 00:48.

[AJFIN]

Button was on pole in 2006, not MSC.

[mattferg]

Button was on pole in 2006, not MSC.

Cheers for that, was accidentally looking at Bahrain!

[gezmond]

Got my general admission tickets two weeks ago! Will be my first time at a foreign gp. Could only get Friday off work so will miss Thursday but thats no big deal. Can anyone recommend a place to watch from? I was thinking maybe turn 5? Are there screens at all?
Looking forward to seeing how lewis does with his new team.

[Melbourne Park]

I went past the pits this morning, and there were team containers there, so teams are moving in their gear already.

Pretty exciting and its free at the moment! I must take my camera and take some shots!!!

[redbarron]

Got my general admission tickets two weeks ago! Will be my first time at a foreign gp. Could only get Friday off work so will miss Thursday but thats no big deal. Can anyone recommend a place to watch from? I was thinking maybe turn 5? Are there screens at all?
Looking forward to seeing how lewis does with his new team.

Walk around the track on the Friday. There are some great corners you can watch from in GA. On the Sunday I would get there at the time of gates opening, and get your preferred position. The best spots fill up quickly, especially those couple with screens (which you will want!).

[gezmond]

Yeah that was my plan. Will take a chair, get myself nice and planted and then cook until the race starts if the weather is anything like it is now!

[Hairy]

The song 4 seasons in one day was written about Melbourne, and in one three week period over Xmas/New Year 2002/2003, we had 15 degrees and rain, and 46 degrees where if you walked in sunshine, you felt your skin being seared. It's a fickle place weather wise, and its way too early to be predicting weather there.

I just bought a 65" Samsung and Sky HD to appreciate it in all its glory. I genuinely cannot wait.

[redbarron]

True. Be prepared for rain, wind and blistering heat. It will happen in a space of 15 minutes lol

[krapmeister]

Hmmm... Melbourne looking at 36-36-37C for Mon Tues Wed next week. Possibly it's going to be a hot one, although I would be surprised if there wasn't a cool change come through before race weekend - as it stands it will be a new record for Melbourne for consecutive days over 30 if the current 7 day forecast is accurate, let alone if temps manage to stay that high until the GP...

[gerry nassar]

Krapmeister its going to be stinking hot next week (March 2008 levels) but surely we are due for a stormy change by the end of the week....

I drove by today and took some pics while driving (so they arent great shots or anything). Also took a video with my iphone which I'll try upload soon.

Driving towards Turn 2 from Turn 3



Pit straight



Names are up above the pits but looks like someone made a mistake....



Looking out to the final corner

[krapmeister]

Krapmeister its going to be stinking hot next week (March 2008 levels) but surely we are due for a stormy change by the end of the week....

Yeah Mon Tues Wed is going to be pretty uncomfortable especially at night, and it is supposed to be more humid than the usual dry Melbourne heat we are used to. Agree though that we should get a change before the weekend so shouldn't be quite as warm as the 08 race but you never know.

I should pop down and have a drive around the circuit before it gets closed off - any idea when they stop access?

[mlsnoopy]

Does f1test.info also track FP times.