8094 replies to this topic

[CountDooku]

So after the headfake of winter testing it looks like business as usual (so far) in Melbourne. How are folks feeling about the season ahead? Will Bottas stage a comeback? Will the Champ clinch his sixth? Will Toto smash a table? Will Nikki be back again? Discuss!

[milestone 11]

If Lewis wraps it up by the summer break, I'll be able to get down the beach with a board.

Edited by milestone 11, 15 March 2019 - 07:13.

[GoldenColt]

It would be nice if Lewis could win the race in Melbourne for a change. 5 (potentially 6) poles in a row and only 1 win so far, pretty depressing record.

Edited by GoldenColt, 15 March 2019 - 07:45.

[Knowlesy]

It would be nice if Lewis could win the race in Melbourne for a change. 5 (potentially 6) poles in a row and only 1 win so far, pretty depressing record.

Weird innit?

In my head he is the master of Melbourne. The stats are harrowing.

[CountDooku]

Yeah he has absolutely shocking luck here. Every single year I get excited when he dominates Q and then some unexpected crap happens.

[Ellios]

I don't think we'll see Niki back possibly a small handful of European races this year.

[Huffer]

I don't think we'll see Niki back possibly a small handful of European races this year.

 

Of the same mind here - a lung transplant is no small thing, and given his age, constant long distance travel would be unwise. The man needs to rest up and enjoy his life, especially since he's also a father with a young child.

[GoldenColt]

Well, great laps by both drivers. Enormous pressure there for Lewis but he handled it like the 5 times World Drivers' Champion that he is.

[GoldenColt]

I wonder what will keep Lewis from winning tomorrow this time around. We've had

 

- botched start (2012)

- losing one cylinder before the start of the race (2014)

- botched start (2016)

- being stuck behind Verstappen (2017)

- VSC in the worst possible moment (2018)

[HermannH]

Great job by both drivers  

[Topsu]

Not going to pretend like Valtteri is going to get any closer than this all season. Lewis

[RECKLESS]

That was exciting. Great drives from both, Lewis put it together in the end.

Here's hoping for a season-long battle. Tomorrow we'll see if Valtteri can keep up.

[JonnyJ]

I think that's the closest any teammate has got to Lewis in AUS for some time. Really good lap by VB.

[GrumpyYoungMan]

They have played a blinder - already in Ferrari’s and Sebs head!

[CountDooku]

What’s the record for most consecutive poles in a venue? Lewis’ Melbourne qually record is a bit ridiculous now.

[anyeis]

Some evidence Bottas has fixed his tire management in testing and friday. Doubt its enough

Edited by anyeis, 16 March 2019 - 07:41.

[joegsmro]

I miss Nikki .

[lewislorenzo]

Bottas has always been a good qualifier it’s race pace/tire management where he struggles. Will be interesting to see whether he’s made improvements in this area

[TomNokoe]

Lewis continues to defy expectation. What a lap, what a moment.

Brundle was right, his precision at the end of the lap, the penultimate corner especially, was evident. You knew he had it.

[HermannH]

What’s the record for most consecutive poles in a venue? Lewis’ Melbourne qually record is a bit ridiculous now.

Senna took 7 in row in Imola. Lewis now has 6 in row in Melbourne.

[OO7]

What’s the record for most consecutive poles in a venue? Lewis’ Melbourne qually record is a bit ridiculous now.

8 (Edit: most Poles at a venue).  He's tied with Senna and Schumacher now, however Senna has 7 consecutive Imola Pole Positions from 1985 to 1991, Lewis now has 6 in Melbourne 2014 to 2019.

Edited by OO7, 16 March 2019 - 17:57.

[JonnyJ]

Lewis continues to defy expectation. What a lap, what a moment.

Brundle was right, his precision at the end of the lap, the penultimate corner especially, was evident. You knew he had it.

Aye, as soon as he went round it I knew he nailed it. Hooked it up beautifully.

There isn't a single driver on the grid I'd want more than Lewis when you're behind, the pressure is on and you have one shot. I imagine his gap to teammates and the field would increase if it was truly one shot quali.

[CL16]

So is this the vs thread that’s not the vs thread?

[GoldenColt]

So is this the vs thread that’s not the vs thread?

I think so.

[Synkro89]

Its Lewis's discipline and to deal with pressure like that which still impresses me. Coming back to the garage behind your team mate half a second down. Looking at the data. Driving a outlap and trying to block the negative feelings creeping into your mindset. You cross the start finish line and its all or nothing. The guy's operating level is immense in qualifying. I **** bricks when watching i cant imagine how Lewis feels in the cockpit. All it takes is one miscalculation of applying the brakes or throttle a little to much and pretty much goes to crap. Not with Lewis, must be quite surreal how he gets the job done form his own perspective. Don't really think he knows how he does it to be honest. Great job from Bottas aswell i sense he wants to rectify and erase any reminder of 2018 and come out the blocks running 

[SonGoku]

Another guy being 0.5 behind after the first Q3 lap would be done and dusted and ready to throw the towel and just do a lap to be ''closer''. I think people are so used to Hamilton being excellent, they can't see how special he still is. 

[lewislorenzo]

Anyone have a side by side video comparison of laps yet?

Edited by lewislorenzo, 16 March 2019 - 08:23.

[robefc]

I think Lewis is getting a bit too much credit for cocking up his first lap...

[GoldenColt]

I think Lewis is getting a bit too much credit for cocking up his first lap...

I don't think a single person is praising him for his first lap...

[MJB5990]

Well that's because he doesn't understand the concept of a banker lap.

[CountDooku]

Well that's because he doesn't understand the concept of a banker lap.

“You have reached your quota of likes for today” 😭

[geralt]

Good performance from both drivers. Hamilton was purple in sector 1 and 3, while Bottas got sector 2 right? If I'm not mistaken, that suggests Ham went for a bit more downforce

[TomNokoe]

“You have reached your quota of likes for today” 😭

I've deleted one of my quali-thread posts that you like, try again!!

[CountDooku]

I've deleted one of my quali-thread posts that you like, try again!!

No luck lol.

[jstrains]

What is Ocon waiting in the Merc garage for? Are they going to replace Bottas if he performs likes this?

Edited by jstrains, 16 March 2019 - 08:33.

[CountDooku]

What is Ocon waiting in the Merc garage for? Are they going to replace Bottas if he performs likes this?

He’s their reserve driver.

[MJB5990]

“You have reached your quota of likes for today” 😭

Come back tomorrow.

Russell was standing next to Toto for much of last year, seems to be part of the reserve driver role.

[Marklar]

“You have reached your quota of likes for today”

 

I've deleted one of my quali-thread posts that you like, try again!!

If you join the Paddock Club you get pretty much unlimited likes

I thought CD was in there actually

Some evidence Bottas has fixed his tire management in testing and friday. Doubt its enough

uh uh uh

Qualifying is Bottas strong point, he was not much off in 2017 in Melbourne, his first Merc qualifying, either (the closest a team mate has been in ages to Hamilton on this track), so today doesnt prove much, especially as Hamilton ended up recovering from a crappy first run. His weakness is over the race distance. We'll see how it will go, but I hope for him that he'll do better, doubtful that it's enough as you say though

[P123]

Good to see Bottas being so punchy.

And yes, Ocon is reserve which is why he is in the Merc garage. Russell was all over it last season too (great performance by him today).

Lewis- pole number something or other. Good second run after demonstrating his understanding of the concept of a banker lap.

[beachdrifter]

Well done, boys! 

 

With Lewis getting pole in AUS for the sixth time in a row, but having only converted 1 of those into a win (so far), this is going to be interesting! Here's hoping that they keep the same disciplined approach to the first corners they generally showed the previous 2 years, despite Bottas odd statements before the season (about not accepting team orders, being egoistic etc.)

[beachdrifter]

Bottas deserves a special shoutout for coming closest to Lewis compared to anyone else in the hybrid era in AUS (teammates or competitors)! 

 

While qualifying is his strength anyway, this was maybe closer than you'd expect it in Melbourne (although we didn't get a proper comparison last year ofc).

 

I hope he can keep it up, but most importantly, finally improve his race pace / race performances!

[beachdrifter]

I didn't keep track of this... are the tyres Lewis starts the race with actually in good shape this time? 

[ToniF1]

I didn't keep track of this... are the tyres Lewis starts the race with actually in good shape this time? 

 

Yes, he flat spotted the first set in q2 but then did another run with new set.

[beachdrifter]

[TomNokoe]

Will be expecting a dossier before Bahrain!

[SonGoku]

Fearing a Red Bull in the last stage of the race, that race pace of Lewis was disgraceful. Well done Bottas.

[GoldenColt]

The Melbourne-curse continues, I had flashbacks of 2012 today. Still, 18 points on the board and the car looks like it means business. Bottas was in a league of his own today, very well done and well deserved after quite a bit of bad luck last season. #beardedBeast

[FrontWing]

Great race from Bottas, absolutely faultless. No idea what happened to Lewis but he'll sort it out in the next races. Good news is the car seems quick.

[Sunnny]

Ocon to replace Lewis? 

[MJB5990]

Lewis did have pace on some laps but went missing far too often. I think he was the only other driver to get close to the 25’s. Lewis seems confident that he had Max covered.

Valtteri, what can we say. Dominant. Incredible pace and relentless with a different attitude. The biggest challenge for him is to keep it going for a whole season.