Friday Practice 0 first impressions

**truefan72** · 14th Mar 08, 06:34

Ferrari and McLaren are still in a different class

1. Lewis H looks solid
2. Kimi looks great and ready to defend his crown
3. Kovaleinen is impressive
4. Piquet Jr. is dissapointing
5. Alonso is hard to tell due to Renault, but did well in the morning all things considering
6. Red Bull surprisingly look good
7. Webber seems to like the no traction control
8. speaking of... it is throughly enjoying to see these guys perform without it. I am not one to limit innovation, but this change has brought about more driving abilty.
9. BMW look unimpressive
9b. Both drivers seem to struggle as well ( maybe the expectations)
10. Glock is making me eat my words, looks good so far
11. Force India are better than I thought, we'll see
12. Nico Rosberb is going to have a fight on his hands with Nakajima
13. STR's are about the same as last year.
14. Vettel is going to be good, Bourdais will probably have his number though by the end of the year.
16. Toyota and Honda are better than last year
17. Massa still makes a few too many error for my liking

It looks like its going to be extremely close in the midfield, with hardly anything inbetween, 8-20, Super Aguri seem to be the only team that's going to struggle. It's going to be extremely close between Ferrari and McLaren. And probably between LH and KR for the win. Massa and HK will fight for 3rd.

I honestly think that Alonso, Red Bull and Toyota will outperform BMW in this race as I see it....then again, it's only Friday Practice

**ShiftingGears** · 14th Mar 08, 06:41

A lot of people got sideways in practice - very good to watch. My favourite was Massa getting sideways in the sweeper.

Looking to be a better show this year without TC, although the circuit grip is also a factor.

**truefan72** · 14th Mar 08, 06:45

yep,

where you at the track?

I wonder how it must have been to see it live.
Watching it on TV you certainly hear the different shift and braking patterns as each driver tries to figure out how to drive on the limit with these machines without compromising too much. They say that the amount of manual braking by the drivers as pretty much doubled per lap with no TC.

It was as entertaining a Friday practice as I've seen in years.

**pino** · 14th Mar 08, 06:51

First practice times from Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park, Melbourne:

1. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari one minute 26.461 seconds
2. Lewis Hamilton (GB) McLaren-Mercedes 1:26.948
3. Felipe Massa (Brz) Ferrari 1:26.958
4. Heikki Kovalainen (Fin) McLaren-Mercedes 1:27.114
5. Mark Webber (Aus) Red Bull-Renault 1:28.263
6. Fernando Alonso (Spa) Renault 1:28.360
7. Robert Kubica (Pol) BMW Sauber 1:28.579
8. Timo Glock (Ger) Toyota 1:28.913
9. Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:28.957
10. Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota 1:29.014
11. Jenson Button (GB) Honda 1:29.124
12. Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Force India-Ferrari 1:29.230
13. David Coulthard (GB) Red Bull-Renault 1:29.301
14. Sebastien Bourdais (Fra) Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:29.363
15. Rubens Barrichello (Brz) Honda 1:29.533
16. Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber 1:29.561
17. Adrian Sutil (Ger) Force India-Ferrari 1:30.155
18. Nelson Piquet Jr (Brz) Renault 1:30.357
19. Takuma Sato (Jpn) Super Aguri-Honda 1:31.048
20. Anthony Davidson (GB) Super Aguri-Honda 1:31.771
21. Kazuki Nakajima (Jpn) Williams-Toyota 1:35.053
22. Nico Rosberg (Ger) Williams-Toyota no time

Second Session

1. Hamilton 1:26.559
2. Webber 1:27.473
3. Massa 1:27.640
4. Kovalainen 1:27.683
5. Coulthard 1:28.037
6. Raikkonen 1:28.208
7. Trulli 1:28.292
8. Rosberg 1:28.352
9. Fisichella 1:28.469
10. Glock 1:28.582
11. Button 1:28.632
12. Heidfeld 1:28.731
13. Alonso 1:28.779
14. Barrichello 1:28.849
15. Kubica 1:28.860
16. Nakajima 1:29.077
17. Sutil 1:29.161
18. Vettel 1:29.193
19. Piquet Jr 1:29.581
20. Bourdais 1:29.605
21. Sato 1:30.663
22. Davidson 1:31.527

Source : BBC Sport

**pino** · 14th Mar 08, 07:08

Both Toyota, Red Bull and Fisichella

looks strong at the moment, let's hope the will confirm it when the pole starts.

Go Jarno !

**leopard** · 14th Mar 08, 07:09

Originally Posted by truefan72

yep,

They say that the amount of manual braking by the drivers as pretty much doubled per lap with no TC.

On the other hand they need more energy twice to make manual breaking than driving with TC don't they? Make sure your driver have got their breakfast and lunch properly.

**ShiftingGears** · 14th Mar 08, 07:42

Originally Posted by truefan72

yep,

where you at the track?

I wonder how it must have been to see it live.
Watching it on TV you certainly hear the different shift and braking patterns as each driver tries to figure out how to drive on the limit with these machines without compromising too much. They say that the amount of manual braking by the drivers as pretty much doubled per lap with no TC.

It was as entertaining a Friday practice as I've seen in years.

Nah, although I was at the track last year. Last year it either looked really smooth or they were off the circuit (ala Heikki) but this year we're seeing more corrections. I have a good feeling about this.

Also, the V8 Supercar race was great.

**aryan** · 14th Mar 08, 08:34

Mostly agree with truefan.

BMW was unimpressive. Renault was hugely disappointing. The again, HK also had a very difficult debut last year here so I don't want to jump on Piquet Jr, but seriously, Jr better lift his game soon.

HK is going to give LH a run for his money, and Massa won't like it without TC, that's for sure.

Webber... well, where did that come from? Did the home crowd give him an extra 50 bhp or something?

Honda, and Torro Roso, same as last year.

Williams seems to have hugely improved.

Super Aguri is in deep trouble.

**Valve Bounce** · 14th Mar 08, 08:39

Well I am willing to stick my neck right out here seeing that historically, bunsen has outdone Mark Webber on all fronts. So I am offering to bet my sig on Mark Webber against the bunsen - any takers?

RS · 14th Mar 08, 08:58

It's always interesting to see the Friday times but Saturday morning practice before qualifying always gives us a much more accurate picture.

I am surprised how big the gap was bewteen the best time in both sessions and the rest of the field (bar McLaren and Ferrari)

**I am evil Homer** · 14th Mar 08, 09:25

Originally Posted by aryan

Mostly agree with truefan.

BMW was unimpressive. Renault was hugely disappointing. The again, HK also had a very difficult debut last year here so I don't want to jump on Piquet Jr, but seriously, Jr better lift his game soon.

HK is going to give LH a run for his money, and Massa won't like it without TC, that's for sure.

Webber... well, where did that come from? Did the home crowd give him an extra 50 bhp or something?

Honda, and Torro Roso, same as last year.

Williams seems to have hugely improved.

Super Aguri is in deep trouble.

Agree with this it's only first practice but Nelsinho's times are poor when you look at the driver's who are around him and what they're driving. The Renault may not be the force of two season's ago but it certainly nowhere near as bad as those times suggest.

**PSfan** · 14th Mar 08, 10:21

My impression from todays 2nd practice:

That white bridge screws up the overall look of the Williams... also to much white on its side pod spoils the look...

Super Aguri now has my favorite looking car (I'm canadian so the red/white livery appeals to me... looks good when Sato skipped it across the gravel)

Every driver seemed to have some no-tc moments (some worse then others... cough cough... massa... Trulli... cough cough...) Should make for an interesting first corner in the race...

And most importantly... no Anthony Hamilton!!!

(I wonder if he's ill...)

**Valve Bounce** · 14th Mar 08, 11:55

Originally Posted by I am evil Homer

Agree with this it's only first practice but Nelsinho's times are poor when you look at the driver's who are around him and what they're driving. The Renault may not be the force of two season's ago but it certainly nowhere near as bad as those times suggest.

Watched Junior on the telly at one stage and he looked rather erratic, which was reflected in his times. Other drivers were erratic earlier but then got smoother later. Lewis was so smooth that he looked slow; others were all over the place.

**Whyzars** · 14th Mar 08, 12:16

Hamilton pulled out a blinder when he needed it. I think he'll be the one to beat for pole tomorrow.

Webber and Coulthard were the surprise of the day for me.

**Valve Bounce** · 14th Mar 08, 12:23

When the driver looks slow but his times show otherwise, you know that he has the car sorted. Some guys were just snapping going into corners or going through corners, which means there's a helluva lot of work to day. Then some guys just barely came out and you know that they have a cross between last year's Honda and a rickshaw.

**SGWilko** · 14th Mar 08, 12:30

Originally Posted by Valve Bounce

When the driver looks slow but his times show otherwise, you know that he has the car sorted. Some guys were just snapping going into corners or going through corners, which means there's a helluva lot of work to day. Then some guys just barely came out and you know that they have a cross between last year's Honda and a rickshaw.

There was one shot of video, on the ITV highlights feed, of Lewis really hanging the tail of the McLaren out. That was a sight to see.

Shock horror, excitement returns to F1.....

I really feel that the single ECU move by the FIA deserves a big

in practice alone it has given us a taster of how little mistakes cost a lot.

Roll on Qually, and Roll on race day.

The gap between Fernando and Junior was a casm, and he [Jr] has a lot to do. But it was the same for Heikki last year wasn't it?

Massa seems to be quick, but erratic.

Can't wait!

**Robinho** · 14th Mar 08, 12:52

i honestly expect Jnr to struggle this year, i don't think he's all that special

**Mr Alca-Tazizzle** · 14th Mar 08, 13:55

Originally Posted by SGWilko

There was one shot of video, on the ITV highlights feed, of Lewis really hanging the tail of the McLaren out. That was a sight to see.

Shock horror, excitement returns to F1.....

I really feel that the single ECU move by the FIA deserves a big

in practice alone it has given us a taster of how little mistakes cost a lot.

Roll on Qually, and Roll on race day.

The gap between Fernando and Junior was a casm, and he [Jr] has a lot to do. But it was the same for Heikki last year wasn't it?

Massa seems to be quick, but erratic.

Can't wait!

Good observations!
A LOT of cars getting sideways. However these guys need to test the limits of the Albert Park tarmack.
I don't think it was that unusual if this was the result of lateral G's.
It was rather alarming that many drivers had prolems adjusting to the unassisted engine braking!
Resulting in spins and the rear-end stepping way out.

**keysersoze** · 14th Mar 08, 14:11

Williams have the best-looking livery.

I LOVED seeing the cars look twitchy under braking. It seems everyone had a moment or two.

Red Bull looks much stronger than I thought they would be.

BMW looks much weaker than I thought they would be. The cars, with all the winglets up front, are the ugliest thing I've seen on an F1 grid in quite some time.

For Vettel to be kicking Bourdais this soundly (he's beaten him in every pre-season test as well) speaks volumes about his future. He's the real thing.

All my boy Fisi needs to perform is a mid-field or backmarker team.

Piquet is in deep trouble, and rumours of an early sacking will begin very quickly.