2013 Australian Grand Prix Official Thread

[steveaki13]

Right then you lot. I am excited for the start of the new season.

So I reckon we are all ready to launch the first Race Thread of the season.

With less than a week until Friday Practice begins, I present the start of our Race discussion.


Australian GP 2013: Albert Park, Melbourne.

15th-17th March.

58 Laps

Previous Winners at Albert Park:

1996: Damon Hill - Williams
1997: David Coulthard - Mclaren
1998: Mika Hakkinen - Mclaren
1999: Eddie Irvine - Ferrari
2000: Michael Schumacher - Ferrari
2001: Michael Schumacher - Ferrari
2002: Michael Schumacher - Ferrari
2003: David Coulthard - Mclaren
2004: Michael Schumacher - Ferrari
2005: Giancarlo Fisichella - Renault
2006: Fernando Alonso - Mclaren
2007: Kimi Raikkonen - Ferrari
2008: Lewis Hamilton - Mclaren
2009: Jenson Button - Brawn
2010: Jenson Button - Mclaren
2011: Sebastian Vettel - Red Bull
2012: Jenson Button - Mclaren

Michael Schumacher 4 Wins
Jenson Button 3 Wins
David Coulthard 2 Wins
Damon Hill 1 Win
Mika Hakkinen 1 Win
Eddie Irvine 1 Win
Giancarlo Fisichella 1 Win
Fernando Alonso 1 Win
Kimi Raikkonen 1 Win
Lewis Hamilton 1 Win
Sebastian Vettel 1 Win

Ferrari 6 Wins
Mclaren 6 Wins
Renault 2 Wins
Brawn 1 Win
Red Bull 1 Win
Williams 1 Win


* So looking at these stats Jenson Button owns this place as no one else on the Grid has won it twice.

While its interesting that Ferrari & Mclaren each have 6 wins.

Also out of the 17 races at Albert Park, 11 of the winners went on to win the title, with 6 not doing so.

Driver Line Ups:

Red Bull: Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber
Ferrari: Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa
Mclaren: Jenson Button and Sergio Perez
Lotus: Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean
Mercedes: Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg
Sauber: Nico Hulkenberg and Esteban Gutierrez
Force India: Paul di Resta and Adrian Sutil
Williams: Pastor Maldonado and Valtterri Bottas
Toro Rosso: Daniel Ricciardo and Jean Eric Vergne
Caterham: Charles Pic and Eric Van der Garde
Marussia: Max Chilton and Jules Bianchi.

* 5 Rookies for 2013.


So hope you enjoyed this little intro.

Now its time to get discussing the issues for the start of F1 2013.

[steveaki13]

I have a slight fancy that Jenson might keep his currant domination of Albert Park going.

I think Mclaren might have a decent car to start the season with.

I hope to see the Caterham & Marussia make a good start to 2013 and show some progress.


What do the rest of you think?

[teamleader]

I think Lotus wil do good on this type of track, semi street circuit.
/bet all Kimi

[Coulthard Fan]

WOOOOOO this track has been dominated by the Brits!
II think it will be a German who wins this year I'm going for Vettel!
What's the chances of rain this year the Aussie weather is always unpredictable

[Duncan]

I'm rooting for Lewis but think it will more likely be Fernando.

Only a few more days to wait and we'll get an indication of how fast the 2013 cars really are...

[steveaki13]

Initial long term weather on the BBC, suggests a cloudy weekend with a few spots of rain.

So not a storm thus far, so hopefully we get a race so we can judge the new cars.

[rjbetty]

I have a slight fancy that Jenson might keep his currant domination of Albert Park going.

I think Mclaren might have a decent car to start the season with.

I hope to see the Caterham & Marussia make a good start to 2013 and show some progress.


What do the rest of you think?

You know what, I don't really have much idea! I'm not so sure Red Bull are going to run away with it, but they might just be playing a very clever game, lulling everyone into a false sense of security.

Sadly, I don't have much hope for Marussia or Caterham to score points. If even one of Kovalainen, Petrov or Glock had been retained there might have been a chance. If it's true that even 1 or both Toro Rosso drivers can average 1sec or less off the pace this year (Ric and Ver were +1.4 and +1.8sec average in 2012), then the bottom teams have a massive gap to make up - probably too big sadly...

In 2012, Caterham and Marussia averaged this in qualifying

Kovalainen +2.9sec
Petrov +3.2sec
Glock +4.1sec
Pic +4.5sec

I expect a 2nd season Pic would not get above 3.2 or 3.3sec if the 2013 Pic drove the 2012 Caterham. Van der Garde will probably be about 6 tenths or so off Pic this year.

As for Marussia, I guess Bianchi will perform at a similar level to Pic last year. Chilton may be slightly slower but I hear he's a pretty fast qualifier.

So Bianchi in 2012 would average about 4.5sec off as Pic did. This means Marussia need to make up AT LEAST 2sec to be able to have a chance of points. I hear KERS is worth 0.4sec, and the fully windtunnel developed car (with McLaren resources and Pat Symonds full time) should be worth a chunk. I'm not sure it will be enough this year though, especially with the low funds (no development).

I think all of them are going to have to average no slower than 2.5sec over the whole season to even have a chance of scoring points on pace (which looks unlikely)...


Great intro by the way.

[Knock-on]

I'm putting a fiver on Lewis each way

[steveaki13]

Great intro by the way.

Thanks

It was a bit early but I was ready

[edv]

We'll soon find out who's been sandbagging during the tests...Kimi? Pastor? Sebastian?