1181 replies to this topic

[Marklar]

Here we are: The 67th F1 season is kicking off for the 19th time (21 overall) at the Albert Park in Melbourne. Who will make the best start into the season?
 
After the pathetic brave attempt by the strategy group to mix up the grid we are starting into the season with a....err.... Mercedes front row lockout and two Ferraris in the second row (Ah, it feels almost like 2015....)

 

Besides the qualifying changes (lets pretend it never happened!) the other changes this year (remember it is really all for the good of the sport) are including a strict F1 team radio clampdown, new tyre rules (don't even try to understand them!) and a new starting procedure.
 

 
Lewis Hamilton stopped his team mates streak of six consecutive poles, can he also stop his streak of three consecutive victories? Allegedy Ferrari is closer in terms of race pace than in terms of quali pace. Under certain circumstances a surprise might be possible. Behind them an exciting battle is predicted: Force India and McLaren are going into this race with promising pace and an tyre advantage against the likes of Toro Rosso, Williams and Red Bull. Everything is possible here. We are also looking forward to the debut of the Haas team.
 
The Grid

• Hamilton
• Rosberg
• Vettel
• Raikkonen
• Verstappen
• Massa
• Sainz
• Ricciardo
• Perez
• Hulkenberg
• Bottas
• Alonso
• Button
• Palmer
• Magnussen
• Ericsson
• Nasr
• Kvyat
• Grosjean
• Gutierrez
• Wehrlein
• Haryanto

Note that Haryanto dropped after an collision with Grosjean in FP3 from 21st to 22nd. Bottas starting position is also not confirmed.
 
The track

 
Race facts
Full throttle: 65 %
Braking zones: 8 (4 hard braking zones)
Braking: 13 %
Brake wear: medium/high
Tyre wear: medium/low
Fuel consumption: high
Overtaking: difficult
Pitstop window: 23 seconds
Safety car likehood: 52 %
Distance pole to turn 1: 265 m
Tyres: supersoft/soft/medium (two compound have to be used during the race, one of them must be either medium or soft)
Pole conversation: 45  %
Wins from: 1st (9), 2nd, 3rd (each 3), 4th (2), 6th, 7th, 11th (each 1)
Record winner: Schumacher (4)
Winners current drivers: Button (3), Raikkonen, Hamilton (each 2), Alonso, Vettel, Rosberg (each 1)
Winners current teams: Ferrari, McLaren (each 6), Renault, Mercedes (each 2), Williams, Red Bull (each 1)
Winners engine: Mercedes (9), Ferrari (6), Renault (5)
 
Top speeds

Also top speeds (S1, S2, S3) and sector times from qualifying

 

Weather (Ubimet)
On Sunday, the influence of the low pressure system will move completely out of the area and high pressure will return. Mostly sunny skies and calm winds will be in place for the race day. During the afternoon hours, some fair-weather convective clouds will form around Melbourne, but no precipitation is expected from these clouds. For the race, dry conditions will be in place over Melbourne, with temperatures ranging between 20 and 22 C.

 

Starting times

https://www.f1calendar.com/
 
Live timings
Live timing with sector times (authorization needed)
Official live timing without concrete sector times but with live commentary (full access with subscription)
 
IRC Live chat
https://kiwiirc.com/...rt.com/atlasf1/

 

Looking forward to an exciting race! Certainly it will be better than the qualifying, I promise!

 

Edited by Marklar, 19 March 2016 - 19:47.

[Heisenberg]

 

 

 
 

This sums up how I feel about F1 in the last few years... This qualifying format is just the last drop! 

Who decides these is things?!? Is it Ecclestone? I read somewhere that he doesn't like this Quali format either, can't be him... Then who is, Whiting? Todt/The FIA?! It's funny, but no one ever listens to the fans and when they change something, it's always for the WORST!!! From these ECOfail 1.6L engines to the fake overtakes with DRS and the way some teams just dominated the sport ever since 2009 (it seems that those changes onwards were the WORST to be made! Should I even mention the years dominated by Red Bull & Mercedes?  )! Variety, competition and excitement became a rare thing in F1 today. What worries me is that I might soon stop watching F1, because I find myself yawning more and more when watching the races and I used to love this sport with all my heart! But I just don't anymore. A

[smr]

Why don't they have a committee of ex f1 racers to decide and make new rules, if needed?

[cokata]

The race should be great everywhere else but the front. Can't wait.

[muramasa]

　

The Day Has Come

 

 

 

http://forums.autosp...4-31/?p=7403629

 

[Joseki]

 

My tune for the race. 

[STRFerrari4Ever]

Hoping for an exciting Oz GP race, the last 2 have been crap let's be fair.

 

Let's see how teams use their tires and how their cars behave on full tanks in a competitive setting.

[Okyo]

Let's keep the bad sport state talks out of here. It's the first race of the season   

Renault is back, Haas entered the game, interested to see what Honda shall show this season and i do have my hopes of Ferrari taking the fight to the Mercs every now and then. If not, one hell of a fight is boiling behind them.

A usually oddball of a race is going to start soon. Get your beer, snacks, sleep lacking eyes and hearts ready, as we're about to go racing in Melbourne. 

[pusko]

Can't wait to see McLaren's race pace...and of course Alonso's first lap magic. 

[LeClerc]

Whatever Renault does, it will be fine with me. Welcome back!

 

Golden diamonds!! They have golden diamonds!!!!!!

[thegamer23]

I can many points of interest to look forward to the race!

Marc Gene sounded extremely confident about tomorrow's Ferrari chance in Sky Sport F1 Italy. They know they have much better race pace than quali, and maybe a better tyre managing than Mercedes. 

Verstappen could do some wonder stuff, starting P5. 

McLaren could charge into the top ten. 

Haas starting much lower than the car is capable of. Meaning that Grosjean & Gutierrez will probably put a big fight to the Saubers & Renaults at least. 

Very limited radio comunication, for the first time in race.

And a 22 car race start, the first laps will be action packed. 

 

Edited by thegamer23, 19 March 2016 - 20:16.

[LeClerc]

I can many points of interest to look forward to the race!

Marc Gene sounded extremely confident about tomorrow's Ferrari chance in Sky Sport F1 Italy. They know they have much better race pace than quali, and maybe a better tyre managing than Mercedes. 

Verstappen could do some wonder stuff, starting P5. 

McLaren could charge into the top ten. 

Haas starting much lower than the car is capable of. Meaning that Grosjean & Gutierrez will probably put a big fight to the Saubers & Renaults at least. 

Very limited radio comunication, for the first time in race.

And a 22 car race start, the first laps will be action packed. 

 

 

Mclaren, SchMclaren, they are like a plastic bag full of sick.

Edited by LeClerc, 19 March 2016 - 20:31.

[Timantti]

This might be the least excited I have been about a season... ever? My boy Kimi is going to suck which is kind of a given at this point and Hamilton is going to win the title. Hopefully tomorrow gives us a glimmer of hope.

[STRFerrari4Ever]

I can see the Haas guys overtaking a few cars tomorrow, they had the speed to be in Q2 comfortably but they messed up with their timings in quali.

[charly0418]

Don't worry the drivers starting from 5th to 12th will give us real racing like always

[alframsey]

I'm hoping for a massive fight between the front four but I'm not expecti it, I guess we will get our racing kicks from the third row down.

[Richard T]

Never mind the poor qualifying. I think we are in for a very good race!!

[SophieB]

I don't see why it's not worth at least trying to be optimistic. That's the brilliant thing that's (still) at the heart of F1. Something utterly amazing could happen any second in even the most boring of races. And that's because despite it being the most mechanised, technologically driven sport there is,  with all its big data and the clever lads with headphones yelling things to guys with laptops, Formula one is chaos. And when you are watching it unfold live on TV, surprising you at the same time it surprises the people involved, that's amazing. Who would have thought there was anything left to happen in the Monaco GP with so few laps to go? Yet all of a sudden, Mercedes are having to persuade Lewis not to climb over the barrier and go home mid race...

 

Sure it blows when nothing actually happens, but that's the price you pay for the chance at seeing magic, and it's why I'll be watching tomorrow. 

[Marklar]

I don't see why it's not worth at least trying to be optimistic. That's the brilliant thing that's (still) at the heart of F1. Something utterly amazing could happen any second in even the most boring of races. And that's because despite it being the most mechanised, technologically driven sport there is,  with all its big data and the clever lads with headphones yelling things to guys with laptops, Formula one is chaos. And when you are watching it unfold live on TV, surprising you at the same time it surprises the people involved, that's amazing. Who would have thought there was anything left to happen in the Monaco GP with so few laps to go? Yet all of a sudden, Mercedes are having to persuade Lewis not to climb over the barrier and go home mid race...

 

Sure it blows when nothing actually happens, but that's the price you pay for the chance at seeing magic, and it's why I'll be watching tomorrow. 

Well said

[TheRacingElf]

Anybody any information about race pace? Were there even done some long runs in FP3?

[Marklar]

Anybody any information about race pace? Were there even done some long runs in FP3?

Long runs (note that fuel was very different from team to team)

Hulk 31.139 (5 laps)
Perez 31.443 (4 laps)
Rosberg 31.456 (11 laps)
Hamilton 31.473 (10 laps)
Raikkonen 31.696 (4 laps)
Sainz 32.127 (16 laps
Wehrlein 32.177 (7 laps)
Ricciardo 32.407 (11 laps)
Verstappen 32.477 (16 laps)
Bottas 32.492 (13 laps)
Ericsson 32.591 (12 laps)
Alonso 32.598 (8 laps)
Palmer 32.698 (13 laps)
Gutierrez 32.818 (9 laps)
Kvyat 32.827 (10 laps)
Haryanto 32.836 (10 laps)
Nasr 32.900 (13 laps)
Magnussen 32.926 (12 laps)
Massa 32.981 (14 laps)
Button 33.042 (8 laps)

The Ferraris run also relatively consistent run during their fastest lap
Raikkonen 27.790 (8 laps)
Vettel 28.399 (11 laps)

[JHSingo]

Not terribly inspired to tune in live, but may catch the highlights later if it turns out to be a decent race. Seriously hope Ferrari can at least give Mercedes something to worry about, otherwise it's going to be a very long and boring season.

[TheRacingElf]

 

Anybody any information about race pace? Were there even done some long runs in FP3?

Long runs (note that fuel was very different from team to team)

Hulk 31.139 (5 laps)
Perez 31.443 (4 laps)
Rosberg 31.456 (11 laps)
Hamilton 31.473 (10 laps)
Raikkonen 31.696 (4 laps)
Sainz 32.127 (16 laps
Wehrlein 32.177 (7 laps)
Ricciardo 32.407 (11 laps)
Verstappen 32.477 (16 laps)
Bottas 32.492 (13 laps)
Ericsson 32.591 (12 laps)
Alonso 32.598 (8 laps)
Palmer 32.698 (13 laps)
Gutierrez 32.818 (9 laps)
Kvyat 32.827 (10 laps)
Haryanto 32.836 (10 laps)
Nasr 32.900 (13 laps)
Magnussen 32.926 (12 laps)
Massa 32.981 (14 laps)
Button 33.042 (8 laps)

The Ferraris run also relatively consistent run during their fastest lap
Raikkonen 27.790 (8 laps)
Vettel 28.399 (11 laps)

 

Thnx, luckily we can always rely on you

[Lotus53B]

"Note that Haryanto dropped after an collision with Grosjean in FP3 from 21st to 22nd."

 

We were right...

[MikeV1987]

I took a holiday from work to watch the race, my body is ready.

[thegamer23]

[Seanspeed]

[ferkan]

Cant wait even though Merc is gonna crush the field with the force equivalent of Marchionnes rage tomorrow.

Interested to see battle between STR, RB and Williams. Reckon Williams will be behind in race pace, but should be cracking.

Also hoping for Mclaren to squezee into top 12, and Renault to color up the field.

Ferrari could find itself far away from FOM cameras since it will be long ahead the midfield, and quite a bit behind to Mercs.

Edited by ferkan, 19 March 2016 - 22:27.

[molson3530]

Really looking forward to what Ferrari and Hass can do tonight. I think that Hass will be solid midfield runners. I'm hoping that SV and KR will have something for the Mercs.

[anyeis]

Does Mercedes have any new supersofts?

 

Ferrari was quite far last year in quali but the pace wasnt that bad in race

Edited by anyeis, 19 March 2016 - 22:28.

[TomNokoe]

Does Mercedes have any new supersofts?

Ferrari was quite far last year in quali but the pace wasnt that bad in race

I believe Hamilton and Rosberg have one set each

[Disgrace]

It's been a disastrous weekend so far but it should actually create a good race. The grid is somewhat mixed up and nobody has had an ideal amount of running. If it proves to be the case and elimination qualifying is dropped, it could be an almighty save.

[noikeee]

It's been a disastrous weekend so far but it should actually create a good race. The grid is somewhat mixed up and nobody has had an ideal amount of running. If it proves to be the case and elimination qualifying is dropped, it could be an almighty save.

 

If you forget how dominant Merc looked in qualifying, this would look good. Seems really close between Toro Rosso and... everyone else really, but I'm not sure we'll get much of a race upfront with the top 2 teams clear of each other and everyone else. Hopefully race pace is considerably different to qualifying pace and Ferrari can give them much more of an headache.

[Disgrace]

I've never found Mercedes' domination off-putting to be quite honest. There is enough intrigue and competition between the team-mates to keep it interesting. And anyway, Australia can be perfectly entertaining even if the leader escapes unchallenged. Just think of 2006 and 2008.

[BuddyHolly]

As I'm staying up all night, I'm really hoping its a good and entertaining race.  I don't care who wins as long as its a good battle and the Mercs don't simply run and hide.

[Admire]

 

Return of Yellow! Vruuuum vrum

Edited by Admire, 19 March 2016 - 22:46.

[ferkan]

I've never found Mercedes' domination off-putting to be quite honest. There is enough intrigue and competition between the team-mates to keep it interesting. And anyway, Australia can be perfectly entertaining even if the leader escapes unchallenged. Just think of 2006 and 2008.

Lol mate it sucks. Hamilton is literally killing him 3 years straight.. .

[Xeriks]

I've never found Mercedes' domination off-putting to be quite honest. There is enough intrigue and competition between the team-mates to keep it interesting. And anyway, Australia can be perfectly entertaining even if the leader escapes unchallenged. Just think of 2006 and 2008.

How is the Hamilton v Rosberg still interesting at this point? I'm already bored of it and hope Mercedes look to replace Rosberg with someone else for next season.

[BuddyHolly]

How is the Hamilton v Rosberg still interesting at this point? I'm already bored of it and hope Mercedes look to replace Rosberg with someone else for next season.

tbh I agree, we need some new blood, someone who has the skill and balls to take the fight to Lewis, whether they beat him or not doesn't matter as long as we get to see a good battle not a happy 1-2 cruise with the 2nd driver happily settling for 2nd place.

Edited by BuddyHolly, 19 March 2016 - 22:56.

[Marklar]

The team battle sucks because of the way Mercedes is managing that. Maybe the team radio clampdown will change that.

Generally Rosberg is not that far away from Hamilton. If he is winning the start tomorrow the victory is pretty much sealed (and the panic will start here ) which shows that he is quite competitive. It is just that Hamilton manages in 90 % of the cases to be that tiny bit better.

 

But yeah, new blood would be very welcome.

[rodlamas]

Two stopper expected?

[Marklar]

Two stopper expected?

As Pirelli didn't published the strategy predictor yet, nothing is expected

 

But yeah, I guess that a 2 stopper is the most likely strategy.

[Marklar]

Ian Fergusson ‏@fergieweather

#F1 #BBCF1 #AUSGP SUNDAY: A dry & gradually sunnier race day in Melbourne as high pressure dominates. Lighter winds & warmer (low 20's C)

[ferkan]

Wow I have set my alarm at 8:00 CET, almost missed the race lol

Why did I think it was at 8 is a mystery...

Edited by ferkan, 19 March 2016 - 23:25.

[kvyatfan]

Wow I have set my alarm at 8:00 CET, almost missed the race lol

Why did I think it was at 8 is a mystery...

 

About 5 hours to race. Will be 2am for me.

 

Looking forward to see what everyone can do, especially Ferrari, RB, TR, Haas, and McLaren.

 

Verstappen says TR "best of the rest."

https://www.formula1...f-the-rest.html

Edited by kvyatfan, 19 March 2016 - 23:51.

[superdelphinus]

I think it might be a really good race outside the prawn sandwich end of the grid. One thing I only noticed from re-watching qualifying was just how fast haas seemed to be - they looked like they could have been pretty solidly in midfield, on one lap pace at least.

Edited by superdelphinus, 19 March 2016 - 23:55.

[tifosi]

This sums up how I feel about F1 in the last few years... This qualifying format is just the last drop! 

 

 

   Sadly, I feel much the same way.  I'm going to watch tonight just to see if ANYTHING has changed over the past 4 years and also to cheer on Haas.

   But, I have to say I have almost totally lost any interest in the "sport".  And it has nothing to do with Mercedes dominance.  I loved F1 during the late 80s despite the fact I hated Mclaren and Senna.  It's the total absence now of any car development or testing which is what made F1 so incredibly unique and special for decades.  Now it's just another racing series, and sadly a very unexciting one.

[superden]

I honestly don't care.

[dave34m]

I honestly don't care.

OK, thanks for taking the time to log on and keep us updated

[TomNokoe]

Higher temps and less windy