219 replies to this topic

[Alx09]

Looking at RBs pace today, I have to say my hopes for a close season with no superior team was out of the window. The RB looked 0.5s faster than the rest in one-lap pace, and very good on long runs. As on rails on the track as well.

For me, it feels a bit sad as I was hoping for a 5-way fight between RB, Ferrari, McLaren, Lotus and Mercedes.

Instead, it looks like:

1. RedBull
-
2. Mercedes, Ferrari, Lotus
-
3. McLaren (+ Sauber, Force India?)

Edited by Alx09, 15 March 2013 - 20:26.

[The Kanisteri]

I like Red Bull domination far more than Ferrari domination. Simply because Red Bull doesn't cheat like red team does.

[pit5bul]

looks like it... faster than anyone by a big margin.. McLaren are nowhere... Ferrari is a tad slower than RB.. Merc and Lotus.. just a tad slower than Ferrari

[Kingshark]

I like Red Bull domination far more than Ferrari domination. Simply because Red Bull doesn't cheat like red team does.

[rasul]

Don't you think it's a bit premature?

[karlth]

Hopefully we won't see that, although it reminds me of Friday practice in 2002 and 2004 when Ferrari, after an average looking winter test, blitzed everyone in Melbourne's first practice.

What will be annoying as hell is the forthcoming response from the press and I guess some forumers that will declare every single screw in the Red Bull factory and every single cell in every person working at Red Bull as superior to the rest.

[sheepgobba]

I like Red Bull domination far more than Ferrari domination. Simply because Red Bull doesn't cheat like red team does.

Nonsense.


But seriously another season of Red Bull winning is going to be weary and dreary :/

[SunnyENTP]

I think its good! It puts pressure and humiliates the big boys/brands.

[seahawk]

Vettel had to fight till the last race to beat Alonso, and last years Ferrari was really bad in the first races.

[Xeriks]

I like Red Bull domination far more than Ferrari domination. Simply because Red Bull doesn't cheat like red team does.

[JustinD]

Newey is destroying the sport, and basically undermining the value of competition. What value do world championships have when he just gives them out so easy? Vettel will just keep on winning them.

Edited by JustinD, 15 March 2013 - 08:05.

[Kingshark]

Red Bull does seem like a quicker car than the rest of the grid, although this doesn't guarantee the championship by no means. Last year, Alonso finished just 3 points behind Vettel, and we do remember where that Ferrari was in Melbourne.

[Kerch]

I think its good! It puts pressure and humiliates the big boys/brands.

This would be true if RB were spending less than all of them. Not sure that's true though.

[Mauseri]

Maybe this year Vettel does need to fight WDC with an inferior car?

[FPV GTHO]

The worrying news for Red Bulls rivals, if they were to dominate, wouldnt be the ontrack performance this year but potentially how soon or how much resources they can divert to the 2014 car and make a headstart there. On the flipside, if someone like McLaren can see theyve dropped 50+ points early and cant see it getting clawed back, they can make the decision to switch even earlier but possibly risk racing the Saubers later in the year.

Backing up a bit though, i'd prefer to see if any single team were to dominate, to at least see the wins shared around between both drivers.

[Maustinsj]

I like Red Bull domination far more than Ferrari domination. Simply because Red Bull doesn't cheat like red team does.

You may have to adjust that comment with an appropriate tool (make sure no-one's looking though).

[The Kanisteri]

To amuse you guys more, every time I see casual motorsport fans wearing Ferrari clothes I see them same like people who wear Che Guevara clothes. They proudly think to wear and support great and humane freedom fighter with right cause, but they forget behind that face was humanrights offender and mass murderer. Ferrari is not quilty on such horrors, but enormous cheating, biasm, politics and arrogance are comparable.

[Kingshark]

I think its good! It puts pressure and humiliates the big boys/brands.

http://www.yallaf1.c...f1-world-title/

http://www.autoblog....ps-690-million/

[undersquare]

I feel very negative about it.

I am impressed, but fed up with it now.

I'd be a bit less fed up if FIA hadn't banned McLaren's perfectly legal floor last year.

[FenderJaguar]

Red Bull is nowhere near as dominant as the Ferrari in 2002 and 2004. That was something totally different and I expect it will be even closer between the top teams this year than last year.

[KirilVarbanov]

I am impressed, but fed up with it now.

+1. Not that it wasn't expected. Still, too early to call. The general trends will emerge in the next few races - who has got raw speed and development potential.
Given the rule changes, I don't expect some ultra-clever devices, because most of the options are already banned.
Hope for a close fight.

[rasul]

Newey is destroying the sport, and basically undermining the value of competition.

Riight. I have a feeling you would be saying a different thing if it was your team winning. It isn't RBR's fault that others aren't as good.

Vettel will just keep on winning them.

Why not? Good for him. Talented driver.

Red Bull is nowhere near as dominant as the Ferrari in 2002 and 2004. That was something totally different.

This.

[aray]

I like Red Bull domination far more than Ferrari domination. Simply because Red Bull doesn't cheat like red team does.

they are bigger cheater and get away with it too...in that sense they are cleverer than Ferrari...

[mnmracer]

Ah good, the over-exaggerations start again. I was almost fearing we'd have a somewhat reasonable discussion this year.

2004, FP1: Barichello - fastest non-Ferrari > +1.664s
2004, FP2: Barichello - fastest non-Ferrari > +0.931s

2011, FP1: Webber - fastest non-RB > +0.918s

2012, FP1: Hamilton - fastest non-McL > +0.430s

2013, FP1: Webber - fastest non-RB > -0.379s
2013, FP2: Webber - fastest non-RB > +0.150s

Edited by mnmracer, 15 March 2013 - 08:20.

[BigCHrome]

I'm not going to be happy. Especially if the races are the same boring junk like in 2011 with useless tires and nobody pushing, I most definitely will not be waking up at 7 AM to watch.

Red Bull does seem like a quicker car than the rest of the grid, although this doesn't guarantee the championship by no means. Last year, Alonso finished just 3 points behind Vettel, and we do remember where that Ferrari was in Melbourne.

Alonso was only 10 points away from the WDC before they completely fixed their car. I don't understand why everyone completely forgets this.

[Kingshark]

Alonso was only 10 points away from the WDC before they completely fixed their car. I don't understand why everyone completely forgets this.

Only because of his miracle win in Malaysia.

In 2003, Ferrari dominated both practice and qualifying in Melbourne. The race, along with the rest of the season? Not so much.

Keep faith people!

[Ellios]

As long as the Red Bulls remain reliable they will dominate this season, young Vettel knows how to win, he knows when to pull balsy moves and he knows how to fight back from poor qualifying or penalties. The other teams will in my opinion, need to be at least as good as Red Bull if not better to beat them over the entire season, ALO came close last year in a poor Ferrari, but the second half of last year for ALO was about damage limitation not aggressive attacking of the Bulls. The bookmakers have Vettel odds on favourite and I think he can win WDC x 4 this year with races to spare

I'd prefer HAM to win, but realistically MERC has to at least catch up and the keep pace to the Newey development express train and we all know that's not easy or cheap!

[F.M.]

Andrew Benson @andrewbensonf1
Me: "Vettel looks on another planet - high or low fuel" Leading engineer from rival team: "I agree unfortunately"

[scheivlak]

http://www.autoblog....ps-690-million/

690 million for the whole period 2005-2009?

That's a lot less than what Ferrari and McLaren were spending in those years!

[OO7]

Andrew Benson @andrewbensonf1
Me: "Vettel looks on another planet - high or low fuel" Leading engineer from rival team: "I agree unfortunately"

Not a surprise at all. During the final Barcelona test there were a lot of comments about how close the grid will be at the top etc. Martin Brundle stated that the RBR cars were up-shifting where others were having confidence lifts. They also looked heavier. That's when I called Bull**** on the 'it's going to be very close at the top' talk.

[muramasa]

lol last year Macca looked to be dominant or at least going to produce WDC after Melbourne.

[Arion]

Not a surprise at all. During the final Barcelona test there were a lot of comments about how close the grid will be at the top etc. Martin Brundle stated that the RBR cars were up-shifting where others were having confidence lifts. They also looked heavier. That's when I called Bull**** on the 'it's going to be very close at the top' talk.

I don't think the "experts" are that dumb, they just didn't want to declare the season is over pre season and dampen people's interests, therefore all "close fight" talk, we hear the same **** every year.....

[tormave]

Melbourne on day 1 is different from every other race track this season, including how the same track will be like tomorrow. The fact that RB was a rocketship today only means they can find grip on a very green, even surface easier than the rest of the teams. Some of those car characteristics will help them everywhere, some won't.

[mnmracer]

Melbourne on day 1 is different from every other race track this season, including how the same track will be like tomorrow. The fact that RB was a rocketship today only means they can find grip on a very green, even surface easier than the rest of the teams. Some of those car characteristics will help them everywhere, some won't.

0.078 & 0.414 = rocketship?

[Bartonz20let]

I don't want to be too pessimistic but I do have a slight sinking feeling, I'm a LH fan but is rather one of the mclaren drivers got the WDC over Seb.

[Zoetrope]

First of all, nothing is settled yet. McLaren dominated Melbourne last year too, and it meant nothing in terms of season attractiveness.

Secondly, I am not that pessimistic about sporting aspect. As much as I also would like to see a shift at the top place of the podium, F1 is more than just the winner. Even if we were to face another 2011, there is going to be plenty of good battles anyway. I will keep watching every session

[chumma]

Jon noble just tweeted "a top wngineer from a rival team explained to me the advantage Vettel has" then put #gameover after it. Lights out im afraid

[F1AC]

Was always going to happen, don't know why people expected an even closer season.

[mnmracer]

Seriously?
We are all just going to keep pretending this is a valid argument?
No one willing to acknowledge the fact that it's very close?

[Cyanide]

It feels a lot like 2011 right now, but I have blind hope that things will turn around on Saturday. Even if Red Bull are faster than everybody else, I'm just praying the margin is not that big.

[JRizzle86]

Pretty meh.

[Dzeidzei]

Its early days, but this seems to be the name of the game:

RBR and Seb still the ones to beat.
McLaren is a real dog.
Nico faster than Lewis, but only by a few tenths. Could turn around.
Merc okay, but race pace still way off the top guys. When heavier Nico was around .5 sec slower than Fernando and Kimi, who looked very good during the heavier load.

I´d say RBR (read: Seb) and perhaps Merc in quali, but Ferrari and Lotus will be strong on Sunday,

[Jackmancer]

Too early to tell perhaps? Is RBR also so quick on long term or maybe their tyres wear pretty quick?

[Sakae]

lol last year Macca looked to be dominant or at least going to produce WDC after Melbourne.

With better reliability and drivers they would have achieve it. Their (functioning) car was one to have in 2012.

[Meanbeakin]

Who knows. Rain tomorrow could still mix things up, picture will only become clearer in Malaysia and China.

[Sakae]

I wonder how long before some rule changes will be announced catching RBR at a soft spot.

[Rinehart]

There is a worst case scenario in my mind that a Red Bull being even further in front than they were in 2011 is not impossible.

[mnmracer]

With better reliability and drivers they would have achieve it. Their (functioning) car was one to have in 2012.

Because if Red Bull has been shown one thing, it's how to build a reliable car...

[stanga]

With better reliability and drivers they would have achieve it. Their (functioning) car was one to have in 2012.

Better drivers? You must be joking.

The car was fast but unreliable, and they made several blunders operationally. Button went walkabout for much of the year, but Hamilton was massively consistent. You are trolling.

[HuddersfieldTerrier1986]

Who knows. Rain tomorrow could still mix things up, picture will only become clearer in Malaysia and China.

Yes, definite risk of rain for quali tomorrow, seemingly getting more and more likely as time goes on (which could be good for the race in that everyone will have free choice of what tyres to start on, and it won't be a situation where most of the top guys have already worn out their 3 sets of supersofts before the end of Q3). As for Malaysia and China, as we all know, both those races (and in Malaysia's cae, qualifying) have a recent history of rain affecting quali/the race on what seems like a reasonably regular basis, so may be Bahrain, where we're at least (surely) guaranteed a bone dry weekend.