F1 2012 thread - Page 5

nutyo · 03-18-2012, 13:46 | posts: 4,596 | Location: Brisbane, Australia

Quote:

Originally Posted by eclap

Not really, McLaren easily dominant.

Yeah, especially in qualy. In Button's hands the car can get up to speed faster than either Red Bull (start and restart) and drops less time at the end of stints. When Vettel closed down Button a little towards the end Button put in a lap 0.8s faster than anything Vettel had done so far. Button was definitely in control of that race the whole time. Not sure whether Hamilton was having problems with tyre degradation but he was simply not on Button's pace today.

swISS · 03-18-2012, 16:02 | posts: 370 | Location: N/A

If you want to go by how well Button was driving today, he could very much look like he's going to challenge anybody going for the World Championship.

Overall, McLarens cars looks amazing and they also drive like a ****ing monster. Unbelieveable.

Im happy for Sauber, really good work! I hope they keep it up. Shame about Maldonado, he was pressuring Alonso for so long and then one wrong move in the last lap, bai.

NoviceRei · *Last edited by NoviceRei; 03-19-2012 at 02:01.*

i just finished watching the race and have to say, JB definitely has control of the race after passing LH. Terrific race pace as he was 10s+ ahead of LH at the mid of the race. Even the SC didn't help SV to get close to JB, and was already 2s ahead of him just after half a lap!

Great results too for RBR, but that was to be expected.

Winners/Losers in Melbourne:

+ WINNERS +

fans; cars are bunched right 'til the end of the race. not just on the front, but on the mid field as well.
McLaren; Although LH lost his position to SV, it was still a very good result for McLaren. 1-3 is a good season opener.
Pastor Maldonado; PM has it 'til the last lap, just unfortunate he had the accident.
Mid fielders - STR, Sauber, and Williams; All of them seemed to have stepped up in the opening race, most notably PM and Kamui Kobayashi. KK showed great racing talent as always. KK battling Kimi, and PM against Alonso.

- LOSERS -

Ferrari; Props to FA for getting to 5th from 12th place, but I didn't expect they would be defending (and having a hard time doing that) against the mid fielders. FA needs a better car ASAP.
Lotus; Kimi raced well and hard, but ultimately placed low. Really unfortunate to both KR and RG. Starting with a bad quali for KR (which meant lots of traffic on sunday to get past to), and an accident for RG ending his race. I hope they'd do better in Sepang, same with Ferrari.
Mercedes; Gearbox problem for MS, and a poor 12th for NR.
Force India; it seems they're slowly slumping from their relatively better racing form in 2010 and 2011
HRT;

It's still early though, still lots of things to happen.

cowie · 03-19-2012, 02:22 | posts: 10,893 | Location: new jersey

Quote:

Originally Posted by swISS

If you want to go by how well Button was driving today, he could very much look like he's going to challenge anybody going for the World Championship.

Overall, McLarens cars looks amazing and they also drive like a ****ing monster. Unbelieveable.

Im happy for Sauber, really good work! I hope they keep it up. Shame about Maldonado, he was pressuring Alonso for so long and then one wrong move in the last lap, bai.

He did have a great run today,he does well at that track

What did happen to Maldonado was that the car or driving error?post race did not go into it in detail.
That had to hurt alittle

NoviceRei · 03-19-2012, 02:32 | posts: 2,119 | Location: Philippines

Quote:

Originally Posted by cowie

He did have a great run today,he does well at that track

What did happen to Maldonado was that the car or driving error?post race did not go into it in detail.
That had to hurt alittle

not clearly shown on the post race vids, but i think he stepped too soon on the gas while his rear left tires are still on the curbs.

Anarion · 03-19-2012, 13:42 | posts: 9,185 | Location: Finland

Quote:

Originally Posted by cowie

He did have a great run today,he does well at that track

What did happen to Maldonado was that the car or driving error?post race did not go into it in detail.
That had to hurt alittle

Driver error. IMO he got what he deserved, (knocked RG and destroyed his car).

nutyo · 03-19-2012, 15:40 | posts: 4,596 | Location: Brisbane, Australia

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anarion

Driver error. IMO he got what he deserved, (knocked RG and destroyed his car).

Yeah it was a harsh move on Grosjean. Still, Maldonado drove better than I've seen him do all last year except for that final lap. Such a pity that Senna is in the other car instead of Barrichello.

Anarion · 03-19-2012, 15:52 | posts: 9,185 | Location: Finland

Quote:

Originally Posted by nutyo

Yeah it was a harsh move on Grosjean. Still, Maldonado drove better than I've seen him do all last year except for that final lap. Such a pity that Senna is in the other car instead of Barrichello.

They should kick Senna out. I don't honestly know why he's in F1. They should let Bottas drive.

eclap · 03-19-2012, 15:53 | posts: 18,532 | Location: Hampshire UK

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoviceRei

i just finished watching the race and have to say, JB definitely has control of the race after passing LH. Terrific race pace as he was 10s+ ahead of LH at the mid of the race. Even the SC didn't help SV to get close to JB, and was already 2s ahead of him just after half a lap!

Great results too for RBR, but that was to be expected.

Winners/Losers in Melbourne:

+ WINNERS +

fans; cars are bunched right 'til the end of the race. not just on the front, but on the mid field as well.
McLaren; Although LH lost his position to SV, it was still a very good result for McLaren. 1-3 is a good season opener.
Pastor Maldonado; PM has it 'til the last lap, just unfortunate he had the accident.
Mid fielders - STR, Sauber, and Williams; All of them seemed to have stepped up in the opening race, most notably PM and Kamui Kobayashi. KK showed great racing talent as always. KK battling Kimi, and PM against Alonso.

- LOSERS -

Ferrari; Props to FA for getting to 5th from 12th place, but I didn't expect they would be defending (and having a hard time doing that) against the mid fielders. FA needs a better car ASAP.
Lotus; Kimi raced well and hard, but ultimately placed low. Really unfortunate to both KR and RG. Starting with a bad quali for KR (which meant lots of traffic on sunday to get past to), and an accident for RG ending his race. I hope they'd do better in Sepang, same with Ferrari.
Mercedes; Gearbox problem for MS, and a poor 12th for NR.
Force India; it seems they're slowly slumping from their relatively better racing form in 2010 and 2011
HRT;

It's still early though, still lots of things to happen.

to be fair, Kimi would not have finished any higher than 5th even if he did qualify in top 10. 2 mclarens and 2 redbulls are faster atm. Redbulls not by much though.

aircool · 03-19-2012, 17:44 | posts: 13,426 | Location: Devon, In A Little Town.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anarion

Driver error. IMO he got what he deserved, (knocked RG and destroyed his car).

Not really, Maldo had the line after the apex.

But I agree bottas > senna for now.

mR Yellow · 03-19-2012, 17:52 | posts: 495 | Location: South Africa

Quote:

Originally Posted by aircool

Not really, Maldo had the line after the apex.

But I agree bottas > senna for now.

Barichello is better than Senna

eclap · 03-19-2012, 17:57 | posts: 18,532 | Location: Hampshire UK

Quote:

Originally Posted by aircool

Not really, Maldo had the line after the apex.

But I agree bottas > senna for now.

He had the line yes, but rm left him enough space to avoid contract. He pretty much gave up on the position. Maldonado still insisted on driving like there was no one around. You just can't do that. It could easily have gone wrong for Maldonado, it was bad driving on his part.

Anarion · 03-19-2012, 18:10 | posts: 9,185 | Location: Finland

^^Yep.

Quote:

Originally Posted by eclap

to be fair, Kimi would not have finished any higher than 5th even if he did qualify in top 10. 2 mclarens and 2 redbulls are faster atm. Redbulls not by much though.

I would not be so sure about that. RG was third in Q after all.

eclap · 03-19-2012, 18:15 | posts: 18,532 | Location: Hampshire UK

Race pace wasn't quite there, i was on live timing and he was slightly off redbull pace. Not by much though.

aircool · 03-19-2012, 18:16 | posts: 13,426 | Location: Devon, In A Little Town.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mR Yellow

Barichello is better than Senna

True but the general consensus is that anyone older than 30 may as not race "because its someone elses turn". At least BAR isn't blabbing and gracefully doing something better hey.

Quote:

Originally Posted by eclap

He had the line yes, but rm left him enough space to avoid contract. He pretty much gave up on the position. Maldonado still insisted on driving like there was no one around. You just can't do that. It could easily have gone wrong for Maldonado, it was bad driving on his part.

Disagree, GRO didn't back out after being passed. Hence why we didn't hear much after the race as I suspect it was classed a racing incident.

MAL seems to have pace but with the rookie tendancies like the hulk lol.

eclap · 03-19-2012, 18:26 | posts: 18,532 | Location: Hampshire UK

You just can't drive the ideal line through a corner when you're wheel to wheel. It was a risk, it paid off but he could've ended up in gravel.

NoviceRei · 03-19-2012, 20:24 | posts: 2,119 | Location: Philippines

Quote:

Originally Posted by eclap

to be fair, Kimi would not have finished any higher than 5th even if he did qualify in top 10. 2 mclarens and 2 redbulls are faster atm. Redbulls not by much though.

yeah.. 1-4 is pretty much set for RB and McLaren, 5th onwards was a toss-up though. and if MS and RG didn't have troubles midway through the race, i think FA wouldn't have finished 5th. hehe. atm it's McLaren>RBR>Merc>Lotus/Ferrari/Sauber/Williams

eclap · 03-19-2012, 20:26 | posts: 18,532 | Location: Hampshire UK

Actually, i think lotus is ahead of Ferrari and Mercedes atm. For a few more races. Still great to see Kimi back! Can't wait to see him on podium at spa.

timSR3 · *Last edited by timSR3; 03-19-2012 at 21:25.*

Quote:

Originally Posted by mR Yellow

Barichello is better than Senna

100% agreed.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/17421722

This was one of the most exciting final laps of recent years.

eclap · 03-19-2012, 21:33 | posts: 18,532 | Location: Hampshire UK

Love that move of Riciardo's and fair play to Vergne, he caught that slide well but he also ended up being the biggest loser in the last few corners. Tim, you've always been a Barichello fanboy, I mean he obviously is better than Senna but such is life, for some reason Senna + Williams just sounded appealing to old Frank.

NoviceRei · 03-19-2012, 21:40 | posts: 2,119 | Location: Philippines

Quote:

Originally Posted by eclap

[...] Senna + Williams just sounded appealing to old Frank.

you bet!

WRT Lotus:

i was really looking forward to RG's race last sunday.. too bad he retired after just a few laps!

eclap · 03-19-2012, 22:06 | posts: 18,532 | Location: Hampshire UK

to be honest, I'm not expecting a lot from Grosjean this season. He was pretty rubbish when he got his first chance in F1. Since then he won GP2, so he's definitely a decent driver, but to be thrown into F1 next to Kimi is something different. Kimi is a beast!

timSR3 · 03-19-2012, 22:20 | posts: 191 | Location: Hampshire, UK

Quote:

Originally Posted by eclap

Tim, you've always been a Barichello fanboy, I mean he obviously is better than Senna but such is life, for some reason Senna + Williams just sounded appealing to old Frank.

Always have always will mate! Tbf I think Senna could have a big future ahead of him. I mean he is still young and new in his f1 career, and if he shows potential with Williams this year then it could be a turning point for him in that he could get himself a better drive next year. In some ways I hope he does, as I like him as a driver and as a character in formula one. Williams showed some good pace in Aus, mainly from Maldonado, but they definitely have turned a corner since last season.

timSR3 · 03-19-2012, 22:24 | posts: 191 | Location: Hampshire, UK

Quote:

Originally Posted by timSR3

but they definitely have turned a corner since last season.

No pun intended

eclap · 03-19-2012, 23:22 | posts: 18,532 | Location: Hampshire UK

lol, they had a shocking season last time around so obviously they could only go up this year. I don't even think Senna needs to get himself a better seat. What he needs to do this year is to show that he's better than Maldonado. Williams seem to have a weird driver setup this year, one is a guy who is sponsored by Mr. Chavez (tons of money) and the other one bears the name Senna. I'd rather have Barichello and say Kobayashi or Vergne as my 2nd driver, Barichello as the mr. experience and a young driver with a ton of skill (Kobayashi) or a young driver willing to do everything to prove a point (Vergne).

atm I think Williams have a potentionally great car, problem will be the drivers this season. If I was sinking a 100 million into an F1 season, I would get better drivers, that's for sure.