Oz Gp Race Thread.

[Jean Todt 4]

i couldnt agree more.that was DANGEROUS from Vettel. not only a fine, he needs a BAN for 2 races, are we serious ?

Nah, that too harsh!

[Jean Todt 4]

The &^%$#@#@$^ Germans! there were the menace, they ARE the menace! Katy, I'm blaming YOU and your Kraut boyfriend for this! Kubica was 2 sec. per lap faster than Vettel AND Button. He could have won the race! Damn! First Heidfeld, now Vettel. AHHHHHRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGHHHHHH!!!!

And Vettel apologized for the crash, so at least he sdmitted to causing it. Nicky-boy never had enough balls to do it. BUT, it must be a curse- Nakajima last year, Vettel this year. Except THIS yer Kubi was on the way to take the WIN! ahead of the annoited One (oh, wait, that 0bambi, not Hamilton). OK, let me rant at my family now....

Thankyou Vettel!

Just kidding Piotr......was sad to see Kubica walking away.

[Piotr 0]

I'm angry:

-I don't want to know the fuel loads before the race,and I don't want the drivers to know it either.This prevents them from fighting in some situations,and it's extremely tiring to be reminded every 5 mins about when each one is going to pit.

-I don't want an insulting domination from BGP.

-Vettel ****ed up his race and Kubica's and gifted Barrichello a very undeserved podium.

-Alonso,unspectacular.At least he managed to grab a few points..

-Raikkonen

-Piquet,prize for regularity.

-Kers doesn't make much of a difference.According to Alonso,it doesn't work as well as expected,it's not much of a difference.

Summing up: the only thing that was worth watching was Hamilton overtaking.Oh and congrats to Buemi for a good start of his career,a shame that he couldn't manage to conserve super-soft tyres,but that's something more experienced drivers couldn't do either so well done.And well done to Trulli too,from the pit lane to the podium.

Yet again, we agree...

[AleHop 0]

I don't, he could have waited. The tyres were indeed wrong though.

Ah yes, you can always wait but Vettel knew he was going nowhere. The best compound for Australia was the soft one, but they brought the super soft an medium compounds.

As for KERS and Raikkonen's comments versus Alonso's, both comments are probably true, i.e. maybe the Ferrari KERS works better than the Renault version.

It's probably true that Ferrari KERS, like the rest of the car, works much better but I wonder what would have got them on saturday without it. I think even for Ferrari KERS isn't worth it.

[raw 0]

Actually I like those new tyre-regulations. If it wasn't for that the race woldn't be as exciting and unpredictable as it was.

It's good for overtaking, more challenging setupwise, drivingwise and tyre strategies are now much more important than ever.

[Rainmaster 7]

The &^%$#@#@$^ Germans! there were the menace, they ARE the menace! Katy, I'm blaming YOU and your Kraut boyfriend for this! Kubica was 2 sec. per lap faster than Vettel AND Button. He could have won the race! Damn! First Heidfeld, now Vettel. AHHHHHRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGHHHHHH!!!!

And Vettel apologized for the crash, so at least he sdmitted to causing it. Nicky-boy never had enough balls to do it. BUT, it must be a curse- Nakajima last year, Vettel this year. Except THIS yer Kubi was on the way to take the WIN! ahead of the annoited One (oh, wait, that 0bambi, not Hamilton). OK, let me rant at my family now....

Vettel did admit to liability for it, he summed it up quite well 'a stupid racing incident'.

Ah yes, you can always wait but Vettel knew he was going nowhere. The best compound for Australia was the soft one, but they brought the super soft an medium compounds.

It's probably true that Ferrari KERS, like the rest of the car, works much better but I wonder what would have got them on saturday without it. I think even for Ferrari KERS isn't worth it.

Yep, I'm not convinced by KERS yet either.

[AleHop 0]

The reason why SC are a problem is because they mess with the racing order and produce random results. Cannot be any other way because they are deployed when there is danger on the track.

This race, the SC was bent on keeping the racing order despite carnage on the track. The first time is was delayed beyond reason while the second time it was deployed at the speed of light.

You explain it.

I don't want to speak too early, before I watch it again, but it seemed they were waiting for Button to pit. Another new and unpredictable thing we had never seen?

Some people are happy, they have watched a great race because it was unpredictable all the time. I think it was awful just because of that same unpredictability.

Who KERS!

[Max Mosley 2]

What a wonderful weekend of F1. Rags to riches for Jenson and BrawnGP, unpredictable results throughout the field all weekend and some nice overtaking on track. Behind the scenes you had F1 politics at its best and some genuine, and accessible, innovation to watch in action.

Next weekend will be equally fascinating because, as Kimi said, we really don't know how things will pan out on a more typical track. At Albert Park, the McLarens weren't really as poor as I'd feared, or at least the other top teams were all worse than I'd expected. BrawnGP will dominate for several races but I see them sinking into the midfield during the season and both championships are wide open. Jenson will build up a big points advantage in the first 4 races but he might score no points at all in the final 4, giving us a dramatic championship race. Who else will be in that race is anyone's guess. I (currently) think that in the end Massa, Hamilton and Kubica will be the ones to beat on points, with Kimi, Alonso, Vettel, and Button right behind. Damage limitation and consistency will be everything for the big names for a while, so Hamilton's race was one of his most pleasing.

Actually I like those new tyre-regulations. If it wasn't for that the race woldn't be as exciting and unpredictable as it was.

It's good for overtaking, more challenging setupwise, drivingwise and tyre strategies are now much more important than ever.

Yeah, that's my feeling exactly. The tyres were chosen to make the racing more interesting. It's the same for everyone so I don't see the problem at all. Vettel and Kubica were just stupid, luckily for me. All in all a great race. Let's hope Kuala Lumpur proves equally enjoyable, as I think it will.

Who KERS!

[AleHop 0]

Yeah, that's my feeling exactly. The tyres were chosen to make the racing more interesting. It's the same for everyone so I don't see the problem at all. Vettel and Kubica were just stupid, luckily for me. All in all a great race. Let's hope Kuala Lumpur proves equally enjoyable, as I think it will.

Let the drivers choose the compound that suits them better. It's the same for everyone so I don't see the problem at all. Why not take the pack of compounds, shuffle and take two of them randomly.

Vettel and Kubica were the only drivers that really impressed me today. Even more Kubica who got rid of Dr. Mario's cares KERS and he could have won the race when Button had problems with the supersofts in the last few laps of the race. Unfortunately i could not watch that part of the race.

[monza gorilla 1]

Ah, the new season on TF1. Same old nutters, fanboys and conspiracy theorists. Just like an old shoe.

What did I see? I saw a very encouraging debut for Buemi. Kudos to him. Bob and Seb refusing to surrender and paying the price (isn't that what Bernie wanted?). Heikki punting Rubens into Webbo. Seems the BGP doesn't need a completely intact diffuser after all. Rosberg showing what he can do. Nakajima and Nelsinho reminding us what they can do. JB missing his pit box and being in the wrong gear. The Hamster showing he won't give up, and having fun doing it. Kimi forgetting which bits you can drive on. Felipe attempting to make his front tyres square. Ickle Nick vanishing completely. Maybe he and Bourdais are camera shy.

Roll on Malaysia.

[Ikyrotz 0]

BrawnGP will dominate for several races but I see them sinking into the midfield during the season and both championships are wide open. Jenson will build up a big points advantage in the first 4 races but he might score no points at all in the final 4, giving us a dramatic championship race. Who else will be in that race is anyone's guess. I (currently) think that in the end Massa, Hamilton and Kubica will be the ones to beat on points, with Kimi, Alonso, Vettel, and Button right behind. Damage limitation and consistency will be everything for the big names for a while, so Hamilton's race was one of his most pleasing.

I don't think BrawnGP will drop to midfield. I expect big teams like Ferrari and McLaren to improve more than the others, but given that it's Ross Brawn who's heading the team, and lots more money coming from lots more sponsors soon (is there any doubt of this anymore?), I don't think BrawnGP will be dropping too much.

On who's fighting for the WDC, I think it's gonna be Button (outclassing RB), Kubi (much better than Nick this weekend) and Kimi (outpaced Felipe in the race, should just get rid off those brainfarts). Hamilton's and Alonso's (and can't forget Kova who outpaced Hamilton in practice and quali) chances depend on how soon their teams get the cars performing well enough, their odds of course get better if the front runners keep shooting themselves to the foot, like many did today. I don't see Toyota and Williams keeping up at the very top all through the season, though they certainly have the capability to take away important points from everyone. If RBR keeps up close to the top all through the season, Vettel might be the black horse!

[AleHop 0]

I don't want to speak too early, before I watch it again, but it seemed they were waiting for Button to pit. Another new and unpredictable thing we had never seen?

It was exactly like that. If you watch it again you'll see they didn't show the SC sign until Button is leaving the pit lane. Actually the guy at the pit wall with the SC sign seems to be waiting just for that.

It's not that I'm talking to myself.

[monza gorilla 1]

Yes. No. Fabian Society infiltrators intent on levelling the playing field in favour of their favourite son? Come to think of it, FIA begins with the letter F, and the Fabian Society begins with....... What fools we were not to see this before. Wake me up when someone starts talking sense again.

[AleHop 0]

Wake me up when someone starts talking sense again.

I was just pointing a fact out.

Back to sleep friend.

[monza gorilla 1]

Zzzzzzzz.

[5P33D3V1L 0]

Is this what F1 needed? To have these clowns fighting for the win?

Give me back the Ferrari-McLaren dominance, please.

So your calling Sebastian Vettel (a guy who completely thrashed his highly rated team mate today and kept with Button who had a faster car and out qualified his team mate by 7 places and possibly one of this years championship contenders) a clown?

And your calling Robert Kubica (a guy who also completely thrashed his team mate who had KERS and could of challenged Button for the win and probably one of this years strong championship contenders) a clown too?

Yes the incident was silly and both made stupid decisions, Kubica should of given Vettel more room and Vettel should of given up the place once Kubica out braked him but these are both 2 young future world champions fighting for podiums. I mean Hamilton and Massa did the exact same last year but got of the hook.

I mean did you see how Kimi drove today and hes a world champion? (spinning off like a "clown" like wise Piquet who may I add is in my opinion the worst driver to get in F1 since Yuji Ide).

Button drove an outstanding race and didnt put a foot wrong, I mean he drove a better race than Kimi, Felipe and Heikki so the Ferrari-Mclaren dominace would of had a similar outcome.

[Jean Todt 4]

Yes. No. Fabian Society infiltrators intent on levelling the playing field in favour of their favourite son? Come to think of it, FIA begins with the letter F, and the Fabian Society begins with....... What fools we were not to see this before. Wake me up when someone starts talking sense again.

I heard the world will end on 2012!

[Ikyrotz 0]

The Trulli penalty is okay...

Apparently Lewis has said that he let Trulli pass him (voluntarily) because the team told him to (they weren't sure of the rules?), which is why Toyota has complained against Trulli's penalty (Trulli thought Lewis had a problem because he slowed down so much, which is why he passed him)

(I don't have an English link about this, sorry)

[maure 1]

Well if "accident could be avoided" is the rule, then Rubens should've been given 10 grid penalty for next 5 races...

You are missing the point. Vettel should consider himself lucky he only got a 10 grid penalty and $50,000. He was matching times with Button the entire race without KERRRRRS! and driving a legal car.

[maure 1]

I was just pointing a fact out.

Back to sleep friend.

Monza gorilla has given up on F1 and, perhaps, we will all be better off if we did just like him.

FIA has been fixing races and championships since forever. Who is so brutally delusional to deny this? Of course, some seasons are worse than others. This one looks to be as bad as the worst in recent years, that is, 2007. So what to do when you see the SC is not working as a SC? Monza got it right. He cannot say that it is a lie that the SC helped Button and did so by failing to act as a SC. But Monza can make himself blind to it, pretend it away, go catatonic. It is not difficult to see why as the alternatives involve taking out the little fun left in F1.

So, yeah. Giving up on F1 appears to be the best option. Who cares if one team is allowed what others are forbidden? Who cares if some drivers get away with things that other drivers get penalized for? Better not pay attention to those things. Instead, let's just see cars go around the track following the script and be done with it, that is, let's enjoy what we are allowed to enjoy.

Shrug.

[mikathegreat2 2]

F**k me what a race! Fantastic result for BGP & Jenson Button, defo driver of the day! Just heard Trulli got penalised for overtaking Hamilton while race was under yellows so not the best weekend for Toyota & well done Lewis for starting from the back of the grid to 3rd, Trulli did good aswell but did'nt see him at all! Brilliant drive ny Nico, the best I've seen him, pity it did'nt go as planned!

As for the crash towards the end, Kubica, what an idiot!! He gave Vettel no room at all & did'nt need to as I'm sure he would've passed Vettel a little after that corner & supposedly, Vettel gets penalised for the next race ! Anywhay what a race a no ads breaks !!!

Delighted again for Button & can't stop thinking what Ben & jem feel like as I'm sure he'll be a WDC contender but we'll see cos it's only the 1st race!

[pabloh20 1]

I quite enjoyed that race. Made up to see Brawn get the 1-2, even if it was by good fortune, just to see the normal order of things broken up. It's about time there was a bit of a shake up in F1 to make the 'top' teams sit up and think.

[Grabthaw the Hammerslayer 4]

Good race. Good outcome.

The SC situation was odd, however I remember other races when it has taken an age to get the SC out. FIA do not help the conspiracy theorists by the timing <slaps head>.

Vettel and Kubica seemed equally culpable to me- both were bone-heads; shame for Vettel getting the brunt of the penalty. Piquet/Nakajima - hmm well no change.

Where was Kimi? (again)

Lewis recovered it quite well. Vettel's and Kubica's speed was astonishing.

I think Ferrari, Renault and Mclaren have a lot on their plate. This year feels like a Brawn, Williams, Toyota, Red Bull, BMW brawl and hard to predict who, out of that lot will win as I think we will get a real mix.

Complete idiots of the race: Toyota - when they had a fast car but threw it away with silly penalties.

[Oli 1]

I don't see what's so tough for people to understand about the safety car. Last year everybody was complaining that the safety car unfairly penalised drivers nearing the end of their pitstop window, since they couldn't enter the pits (or in this year's regulations, out of the pits). Nakajima crashed off the racing line so Charlie could afford to wait a couple of laps. All the teams knew the safety car would come out, so they all pitted. For the final safety car it didn't matter since everybody had pitted already.

Tedious xenophobic ranting and childish conspiracy theories aside, would it have been fairer if the safety car had come out immediately? Why should Button be penalised for Nakajima's mistake? He already lost the lead he'd built up. Safety cars are inevitably going to cause problems, particuarly at Albert Park. Charlie's just trying to make the best of a bad situation.

I really can't bear another season of self-satisfied prats and their mutual back-slapping about how clever they are to have realised that everything's fixed just because their favourite driver didn't win. Mine didn't either- get over it. If you don't like it go and watch a nice fair sport like greyhound racing.

[pabloh20 1]

I don't see what's so tough for people to understand about the safety car. Last year everybody was complaining that the safety car unfairly penalised drivers nearing the end of their pitstop window, since they couldn't enter the pits (or in this year's regulations, out of the pits). Nakajima crashed off the racing line so Charlie could afford to wait a couple of laps. All the teams knew the safety car would come out, so they all pitted. For the final safety car it didn't matter since everybody had pitted already.

Tedious xenophobic ranting and childish conspiracy theories aside, would it have been fairer if the safety car had come out immediately? Why should Button be penalised for Nakajima's mistake? He already lost the lead he'd built up. Safety cars are inevitably going to cause problems, particuarly at Albert Park. Charlie's just trying to make the best of a bad situation.

I really can't bear another season of self-satisfied prats and their mutual back-slapping about how clever they are to have realised that everything's fixed just because their favourite driver didn't win. Mine didn't either- get over it. If you don't like it go and watch a nice fair sport like greyhound racing.

It could also be that they now publish the weights of the cars, so Charlie knew what lap the cars were coming in. Presumably, prior to this year, the race directors would not have had that information, I'm guessing. Just a thought