859 replies to this topic

[RubalSher]

Less than 12 hours to go and I am betting it would be a cracker!! No guesses from me on who will win.

 

I see a couple of SCs out during the race for one reason or the other which will likely end up deciding who wins!

 

Weather forecasts seem to indicate there may be no rain during the race, which is good

Edited by RubalSher, 15 March 2014 - 18:50.

[jrwb6e]

I hope I'm dead wrong, but I have this feeling a bunch of cars will be taken out like bowling pins when someone's brake-by-wire system doesn't function properly in the first corner.

[Atreiu]

I wouldn't be surprised to see the SC come out because a car or two might simply break and stop on track before beong able to pull off to safety.

 

But I wonder if there will be enough SC laps to make a difference on fuel usage and tyre strategy.

[Andrew Hope]

Hard mode trivia question: when was the last time we had a car stall on the grid? I think we're going to see one tonight.

[RubalSher]

Hard mode trivia question: when was the last time we had a car stall on the grid? I think we're going to see one tonight.

 

MS in Hungary few years back methinks!

[John Player]

Hamilton will win it

[Atreiu]

2010, right?

[DaddyCool]

I gotta admit that reading these concerns about 'lift and coast', boost cutting out, engine, tyre and fuel preserving makes me a little worried 

 

I just hope that the race doesn't turn out to be a massive tiptoeing fest around Albert park. I adored how everyone was fighting their cars in Qualy.

[Zava]

2010, right?

no, that was the Barrichello squeeze  I think it was 2012.

 

I expect the renault teams to have problems with the start. either taking off slowly or stalling.

[RubalSher]

I wouldn't be surprised to see the SC come out because a car or two might simply break and stop on track before beong able to pull off to safety.

 

But I wonder if there will be enough SC laps to make a difference on fuel usage and tyre strategy.

 

Each SC period seems to be a minimum of 5 laps these days or more, so a couple of SCs should help everyone with fuel savings.

[PorcupineTroy]

Yeah I'm kind of hoping for a wet race, just so the cars will naturally burn less fuel, resulting less "life & coast" tactics.

 

Even in the dry during Q1, the cars looked trickier to drive than they have in a long, long while.

[Fastcake]

I'd be surprised if Lotus even start from the pitlane... Which brings me to the mandatory joke that at least no one will get taken out at the first corner

 

I'm prepared for pretty much anything to happen tomorrow, it is quite obviously the most unpredictable race we've seen for years.

[Disgrace]

Hard mode trivia question: when was the last time we had a car stall on the grid? I think we're going to see one tonight.

 

When was the last time someone race out of fuel before the finish? Zanardi Austria 1999? If it's going to happen this season, it should happen in this race.

[SpreadingSalmonella]

When was the last time someone race out of fuel before the finish? Zanardi Austria 1999? If it's going to happen this season, it should happen in this race.

Häkkinen Spain 2001 and last lap.. Still remember how he sad he was after that.

[Schumster]

Off to sleep in an hour, alarm set for 5am.

 

Got all sorts of weird looks when I said "I'm pretty tired, didn't go sleep all night because FP3 and Quali were on and tomorrow? It's starts all over." "FP3? Quali? Waking up at 5 on a Sunday to watch a car race? Is he on crack?"

[Brawn BGP 001]

When was the last time someone race out of fuel before the finish? Zanardi Austria 1999? If it's going to happen this season, it should happen in this race.

Heidfeld did sometime in 2009

Edited by Brawn BGP 001, 15 March 2014 - 20:46.

[Lotus53B]

I think it will be a lot less failure led than we think - I'm going for 16 finishers, 2 lost through "crashing" - but with barriers/walls not each other, the rest mechanicals, Hamilton for the win.

 

And I'm also terrible about predictions, so when I'm totally wrong, don't be surprised.

It's now coming on 9pm, I'm off to bed, so I can get up and wander round to a friend's house at 05:30 tomorrow...see you when the lights go out!

[2014wdc]

Alonso will win

[chadwick8505]

Should be a fun race. It will certainly be very unpredictable. Between fuel loads and the uncertainty regarding race distances on these power units I bet we're in for a number of mechanical failures. Also a few 'crash' type incidents due to the unstable cars. Can't wait!

[HoldenRT]

Similar to Canada, it should be unpredictable..

[midgrid]

Häkkinen Spain 2001 and last lap.. Still remember how he sad he was after that.

That was actually a clutch failure.

 

What I'm interested to see, and hasn't been mentioned too often, is how the new generation of cars will start.  Will there be a big variation between different drivers, teams and engines?  Will we have stallers?  Will there be more "phases" to the start as the ancillary systems kick in?  I've seen several drivers struggling to pull away from their pit boxes in practice and qualifying, so I think it could be important.

[sneaker91]

Reallly hope Dan can get Lewis on the start.

 

Crowd will go nuts!!!!

[D.M.N.]

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

 

"Partly cloudy. Isolated showers developing late this morning then becoming more extensive over eastern suburbs this afternoon before clearing early this evening. Winds westerly 20 to 30 km/h becoming west to northwesterly and light in the evening."

[Markn93]

So sounding unpredictable. 

[Heidenreich27]

I hope for a dry day, but anyway lets get an amazing race

[HuddersfieldTerrier1986]

Just want a safe exciting race. Don't mind who wins. Regarding SC periods, yeah, it pisses me off that we have to wait for lapped cars to be allowed to pass, and then to drive around for 2 laps catching up to the back of the pack, leading to at least 1-3 laps less actual racing than we should be getting.

[Doughnut King]

I think it will be a lot less failure led than we think - I'm going for 16 finishers, 2 lost through "crashing" - but with barriers/walls not each other, the rest mechanicals, Hamilton for the win.

 

And I'm also terrible about predictions, so when I'm totally wrong, don't be surprised.

It's now coming on 9pm, I'm off to bed, so I can get up and wander round to a friend's house at 05:30 tomorrow...see you when the lights go out!

 

I think that reliability will be good too.

[Imateria]

Will Hulk finally complete a racing lap of Melbourne? Didn't make the grid last year, and was caught up in accidents on lap 1 in 12 and 10.

[icecream_man]

Hoping Kimi & JB can make their way through the field and that Nico has a good race

[BullHead]

Prediction - both mercs on the podium with a Ferrari, probably Alonso.
Local pub opening up at 5:30.
Me sleep now.
Can't wait....

[balmybaldwin]

I forsee a red flag tomorrow most likely at or soon after the start. There are just too many factors in the mix that could cause one:

1. Many drivers out of position due to wet quali, so fast cars button, raikonen, vettel trying to push on.

2. Rookies towards the sharp end of the grid could be missing the experience needed.

3. Masses of torque and wandering rear ends. Particularly in close quaters racing in the first few corners, it will be easy for a driver to get overexcited and stick his rear end into someone elses car.

4. Brake by wire problems for many teams could cause all sorts of havoc if fp3 was anything to go by at the start that could be nasty.

5. A very real possibility of a stall/stationary car at lights out, and all the danger that entails.

6. Even at 160 too much right foot can light up the rears and send the car into a wall very easily.

7. Drivers for other teams could be distracted by the shear beauty of that martini williams

8. Melbourne weather is threatening and, as we've seen in fp3, it doesn't have to rain to make it interesting.

9. This lift and coast thing could lead to unexpected closing speeds.

10. Theres a very angry frenchman at the back of the grid, and his Columbian friend along side him isn't known to be soft of temper.


Looking forward to what will hopefully be the best race in years. Not a redbull fan, but would be good to see DR win his home gp. Realistically prob a Merc win, but anything can happen, and it probably will.

Quick sleep now before the race :-)

P.S. Why cant we have this level of change every year?

[jonpollak]

What time does the race start where I am?
Jp

[Lee Nicolle]

Quoting Mark Webber 'those things are very hard to get off the line' so I hope the red mist does not prevail too much. Then the obvious dramas with brake by wire, added with the way increased torque they have to get off the corner [on cool tyres] will mean cars going everywhere. Safety car to rescue the wrecks and dig them out of the gravel I feel is inevitable on the first lap or two.

I hate to say this but if it is raining maybe a rolling start would be safer.

[chumma]

Im at the track guys and i will confirm it is the coldest temps of the weekend by far. Under 20 degrees currently, showers around but at the moment the sun is out but the dark clouds are coming over as we speak, windy again but not to the tune of yesterday but very chilli, cars will feel much different in this temp!

[chumma]

Quoting Mark Webber 'those things are very hard to get off the line' so I hope the red mist does not prevail too much. Then the obvious dramas with brake by wire, added with the way increased torque they have to get off the corner [on cool tyres] will mean cars going everywhere. Safety car to rescue the wrecks and dig them out of the gravel I feel is inevitable on the first lap or two.
I hate to say this but if it is raining maybe a rolling start would be safer.

I dont think it will be a wet race but then again, it is Melbourne. I say no to the rolling start, takes away a massive part of the race for drivers that may make blinders

[Fastcake]

What time does the race start where I am?
Jp

 

It's already happened there. Shame you missed the 23 car pile-up

[Risil]

It's already happened there. Shame you missed the 23 car pile-up

Shame, after that incident I really thought Sutil would be able to land his first podium.

[Markn93]

Im at the track guys and i will confirm it is the coldest temps of the weekend by far. Under 20 degrees currently, showers around but at the moment the sun is out but the dark clouds are coming over as we speak, windy again but not to the tune of yesterday but very chilli, cars will feel much different in this temp!

Keep us updated Chumma, great stuff 

[nuripoko]

 

WILLIAMS RACING ‏@WilliamsRacing 

Eerily quiet pit lane as people make their way to the track this morning. 5&half hrs till lights out

[krapmeister]

Hate to say I told you but... I told you so
 

Don't worry - it will either be cold and windy mid teens or stinking hot high 30's...

[chumma]

Sun is out, the rain clouds have been blown aeay and in the distance its patchy with clouds but clear, unless the wknd changes 180degrees before this afternoon it looks like its gonna be dry all day, good for merc, bad for the rest of us.

[jonpollak]

Nah Chumma,for the rest of us
It's gonna be a festivus !!
Jp

[alfa1]

... it looks like its gonna be dry all day

 

Looking at the radar and the BOM "MetEye" thing, I think we'll get a few spots of light rain, but not enough to warrant switching over to inters.

[krapmeister]

Weather could easily change again - bom radar shows rain heading eastwards towards Melbourne the VIC/SA ...

[KingTiger]

I hope it's bone dry. I want to see how fast everyone is, hopefully with a Merc 1-2 at the end of it. McL and Williams to fill up the rest of the top 5. 

[turssi]

@balmybaldwin: who's the Colombian?

[chumma]

There has been a distinct shift in the way the clouds are moving, the clouds to the west of where i am sitting are now coming towards the circuit, earlier they were being blown past, doesnt really look like ran though, just dsrk clouds, i csn hear teams doing pitstop practice as i type this, currently a strongish headwind going down the straight, good for anyone in a slipstream! Wil keep updating as the weather changes, the temperature drops 10 degrees when the sun disappears, crazy.

[chumma]

Its starting to spit

[chumma]

Wind direction has changed again and is blowing straight into garages

[krapmeister]

Thanks for the trackside updates chumma - although I have to say you are going to be a busy boy if you keep posting updates on changes in the weather...