135 replies to this topic

[Risil]

It's going to be a hell of a spectacle

[DutchQuicksilver]

I'm more worried about a boring race because teams are afraid to push and will cruise on raceday.

[Coral]

I think there could well be chaos in the Australian GP...with possibly only a few finishers and a "Foinavon"-style winner.

 

Oh, I can't wait!

[HoldenRT]

Melbourne is a good track for chaos.  If Mercedes break down, I will laugh (because of their strong form in the winter) and if RBR break down.. other people will laugh.  But it'll be exciting and unpredictable so that's something.  Even if they are cruising a lot, at first they won't know the right strategies.. and it'd only be after a few races where it starts to get boring.  There might be some driver errors too because the cars are a bit of a handful, and are still new and different to last year.

[Massa_f1]

Melbourne is a good track for chaos.  If Mercedes break down, I will laugh (because of their strong form in the winter) and if RBR break down.. other people will laugh.  But it'll be exciting and unpredictable so that's something.  Even if they are cruising a lot, at first they won't know the right strategies.. and it'd only be after a few races where it starts to get boring.  There might be some driver errors too because the cars are a bit of a handful, and are still new and different to last year.

 

Agree I think it is going to be chaos. Both Mercedes, Ferrari, and McLaren all had their own issues today which gets lost under the embarrassing reliability of both Red Bull and Lotus. No one is safe from a DNF in Australia. Not just the Renault teams.

[OSX]

Ecclestone may have jumped the gun when he labeled the first pre-season test a farce but based on the last test it's the word that will be on everyone's lips in about two weeks time...

[BullHead]

Whilst it's true nobody is immune to breakdown, only Lotus, Red Bull, and possibly McLaren look vulnerable to me. I say this going off the last test week of mileage put in vs number of stoppages / issues. That said, to still have 8 stops from a different car almost each time on the last day of testing is a little concerning.

I'm going to say no more than 6 cars 'fail'. Maybe another 4 to 6 in collisions / mistakes. (New driving approach, proximity, and Melbourne being what it is)

10 - 12 finishers is my bet.

[BullHead]

I'm more worried about a boring race because teams are afraid to push and will cruise on raceday.

This I do fear

[sopa]

What about the ERS then? I have read claims like if the ERS stops functioning, cars will lose like 1+ sec in laptime instead of 0.3s of the previous KERS. But is it possible to carry on with a malfunctioning ERS without DNF? Could be fun to see a few scenarios - some struggling top cars without ERS being caught by midfield cars at the end of a race.

[ch103]

Earlier in the week on twitter, Steve Matchett said that a dry race is exactly what the teams will not want as it puts a greater strain on the power supply systems.  A wet race will mitigate the current cooling issues some teams are facing.

[paulrobs]

Never mind how many are going to finish, how many are going to start?!?

 

That's a good point! Not everyone who qualified will start the race. I predict that not every car will make it to the start line, either by failing to start in the garage, failing to get to the start for the parade lap or failing on the parade lap or failing as they sit on the start line waiting for the back of the grid to form up for the start proper..

[paulrobs]

It's going to be a hell of a spectacle

 

Yes, agreed. Looking forward to this one I must admit

[paulrobs]

I do think there is a chance that no-one will finish the race, small chance but it's there it really is. Realistically, probably 5-6 will finish the race I think and we'll probably see some weird results. I might just put a few quid on Masa or Chilton to win. What Marussia appear to have achieved is pretty impressive I think. There was a lot of talk last season about how reliability would win this year's championship and yet a lot of teams have still appeared to push the boundaries of performance (aero) at the expense of reliability. I don't share a lot of people's optimisim about the number of finishers that's for sure.

[Lee Nicolle]

I do think there is a chance that no-one will finish the race, small chance but it's there it really is. Realistically, probably 5-6 will finish the race I think and we'll probably see some weird results. I might just put a few quid on Masa or Chilton to win. What Marussia appear to have achieved is pretty impressive I think. There was a lot of talk last season about how reliability would win this year's championship and yet a lot of teams have still appeared to push the boundaries of performance (aero) at the expense of reliability. I don't share a lot of people's optimisim about the number of finishers that's for sure.

The tortoise and hare scenario. If it happens I will give them a cheer.

[rghojai]

11 came to mind. It would be amazing if it gets down to three cars, two... one car lapping as fast as a Honda Civic... and then it stops. I do wonder if at least one team will dial it waaaaaaaay back, we'll have people getting points and finishing four laps down.

[FredrikB]

Ecclestone may have jumped the gun when he labeled the first pre-season test a farce but based on the last test it's the word that will be on everyone's lips in about two weeks time...

Probably.

 

Can i change my vote? I voted for 9-15. Don't believe that anymore.

It's absolutely unbelievable how bad reliability was at the last test. Melbourne may be a farce...

Edited by FredrikB, 03 March 2014 - 07:57.

[Gorma]

the engines itself are great.. but limiting them to 5 per year while they are way more stressed and are brand new... well it is at least ********.

 

I think that is offensive to ******** people. They can't help their situation. This is a just stupid decision by people who should know better.

[Bleu]

In the testing, the teams will likely stop running if there is a problem which makes running possible, but much slower. With reliability worries and finishing being important, wouldn't be surprising if some car breaks down in the mid-point of the race, making it five seconds slower. It should still not have troubles making 90% of race distance in time. 

[Clatter]

What about the ERS then? I have read claims like if the ERS stops functioning, cars will lose like 1+ sec in laptime instead of 0.3s of the previous KERS. But is it possible to carry on with a malfunctioning ERS without DNF? Could be fun to see a few scenarios - some struggling top cars without ERS being caught by midfield cars at the end of a race.

The broken ERS is an interesting one and something we (or at least I) really haven't seen much said about. Unless there are just a few laps remaining I think the ERS going will be race ending.

[dau]

Just for reference:

 

[ATM]

I'll be rooting for an 1988-style race, then. 

 

Come on guys, every once in a while it's nice to throw everything overboard and just go with the flow. At least a race, one little race. Imagine the drama and exhilaration the reliability flaws can produce. Ok, so maybe it won't be Monaco 1996 (hard to beat that one, and I was a Panis fan all the way). But nevertheless, we may still get nice shots,  one lap hero, the next lap zero. People coming from long-back just to have their dreams all gone in smoke (google "Luca Badoer GP Europe 1999"-poor lad abandoned while he was driving a in 4th place with a Minardi, on lap 53 out of 66... Yeah, maybe it sounds harsh, but this is what i remember the 1990s era was, way back when I started watching F1. Engines in smoke, the next lap was really an unknown element, adrenalin, suspense.  Hadn't had that in a loooooong while, I don't want to see more predictable races from the start, I just wish that every once a blue moon I get to see races like this - or like Brazil 2003, or Monaco 1982 or whatever. 

 

So, regardless of my favorite one (Button, that is) ends with the car in fumes or not, I still say: engine failures? bring them on!  torque, flat-spots? good! overheating? the more, the merrier! pilot errors? yes, please! and last but not least- fellow co-forumers which disagree to my crazy statement? well...everybody's entitled to an opinion. 

[Tommay]

I don't get this whole farce thing. There has been unreliability in the past ya know (coming from stone who has only watched since 2007)

[thegamer23]

I'll be rooting for an 1988-style race, then. 

 

Come on guys, every once in a while it's nice to throw everything overboard and just go with the flow. At least a race, one little race. Imagine the drama and exhilaration the reliability flaws can produce. Ok, so maybe it won't be Monaco 1996 (hard to beat that one, and I was a Panis fan all the way). But nevertheless, we may still get nice shots,  one lap hero, the next lap zero. People coming from long-back just to have their dreams all gone in smoke (google "Luca Badoer GP Europe 1999"-poor lad abandoned while he was driving a in 4th place with a Minardi, on lap 53 out of 66... Yeah, maybe it sounds harsh, but this is what i remember the 1990s era was, way back when I started watching F1. Engines in smoke, the next lap was really an unknown element, adrenalin, suspense.  Hadn't had that in a loooooong while, I don't want to see more predictable races from the start, I just wish that every once a blue moon I get to see races like this - or like Brazil 2003, or Monaco 1982 or whatever. 

 

So, regardless of my favorite one (Button, that is) ends with the car in fumes or not, I still say: engine failures? bring them on!  torque, flat-spots? good! overheating? the more, the merrier! pilot errors? yes, please! and last but not least- fellow co-forumers which disagree to my crazy statement? well...everybody's entitled to an opinion. 

Couldn't agree more! 
This first race will be a shocker for sure. 

Edited by thegamer23, 03 March 2014 - 22:16.

[Longtimefan]

Quick, someone go put £5 on Marussia to win

[dau]

Time to update that graphic.

 

[PayasYouRace]

Much more impressive reliability than we were led to expect.

[Kingshark]

The majority voted for the correct option in the poll.

[MrAerodynamicist]

Much more impressive reliability than we were led to expect.

Malaysia should be a lot hotter so there might be a few more issues.

[alfa1]

Should we discount RIC now that he's disqualified?

 

POS DRIVER NATIONALITY ENTRANT LAPS TIME/RETIRE

1. Nico Rosberg Germany Mercedes GP 57 1h32m58.710

DSQ Daniel Ricciardo Australia Red Bull-Renault 57 24.5, Illegal fuel flow

2. Kevin Magnussen Denmark McLaren-Mercedes 57 26.7

3. Jenson Button Britain McLaren-Mercedes 57 30.0

4. Fernando Alonso Spain Ferrari 57 35.2

5. Valtteri Bottas Finland Williams-Mercedes 57 47.6

6. Nico Hulkenberg Germany Force India-Mercedes 57 50.7

7. Kimi Raikkonen Finland Ferrari 57 57.6

8. Jean-Eric Vergne France Toro Rosso-Renault 57 1m00.4

9. Daniil Kvyat Russia Toro Rosso-Renault 57 1m03.5

10. Sergio Perez Mexico Force India-Mercedes 57 1m25.9

11. Adrian Sutil Germany Sauber-Ferrari 56 1 Lap

12. Esteban Gutierrez Mexico Sauber-Ferrari 56 1 Lap

13. Max Chilton Britain Marussia-Ferrari 55 2 Laps

 

So thats 13 legal runners at the end.

A few more than I thought.

Edited by alfa1, 16 March 2014 - 17:46.

[Anderis]

Should we discount RIC now that he's disqualified?

I don't think so. The question in the OP was how many cars will FINISH the GP, not how many will be classified and found legal.

 

14 is a bit more than I though. I was expecting something between 10 and 12. 14 is kinda impressive considering how many cars were causing red flags during testing with frequency of more than one red flag per 310km. (or it weren't that many of them? )

Edited by Anderis, 16 March 2014 - 20:38.

[Jamiednm]

I reckon 14 cars will finish, though I think at least one will be DSQ for some technical reason.

[g1n]

Look at people voting after the race has finished ages ago

[PayasYouRace]

I don't think so. The question in the OP was how many cars will FINISH the GP, not how many will be classified and found legal.

 

14 is a bit more than I though. I was expecting something between 10 and 12. 14 is kinda impressive considering how many cars were causing red flags during testing with frequency of more than one red flag per 310km. (or it weren't that many of them? )

 

I think a lot of red flags in testing were from teams erring on the side of caution.

[pdac]

I voted 16-22 - I didn't expect reliability to be as bad as some were suggesting, but I didn't account for Kobayashi taking out Massa.

[scheivlak]

I voted 16-22 - I didn't expect reliability to be as bad as some were suggesting, but I didn't account for Kobayashi taking out Massa.

First corner crashes are part of the script in Melbourne.

[Jimisgod]

Interestingly, since 1980, the first race saw cars DSQ in:

 

1983 (two cars), 84 (two cars), 87, 88, 89, 90, 00, 02 (two cars), 08, 09, 11 (two cars) and 14.

 

12 of 35 races, or a total of 16 cars.