Formula 1 musical chair demotions?

[keysersoze]

After FP2

Charles Pic moves from Marussia to Caterham and ends up behind a Marussia.

Sergio Perez moves from Sauber to McLaren and ends up behind the man who replaced him at Sauber (Hulkenberg). But . . .

Nico Hulkenberg moves from Force India to Sauber and ends up behind the man who replaced him at Force India (Sutil).

The only guy who got it right was Lewis Hamilton, who moved to Mercedes and ended up ahead of both McLarens. No one here called that. :

Sometimes the plot is better if you just let it write itself!

[steveaki13]

I am now watching Free Practice as I couldn't live and the Marussia looks decent in Bianchi's hands, Chilton probably needs a bit of time, but by comparison the Caterham looks poor.

Chunky and Slow. Still a fine F1 car.

[truefan72]

I am now watching Free Practice as I couldn't live and the Marussia looks decent in Bianchi's hands, Chilton probably needs a bit of time, but by comparison the Caterham looks poor.

Chunky and Slow. Still a fine F1 car.

agreed
I think the marussia is an ugly looking car, but is a better performing machine than the caterham. This despite their financial disadvantage, so good for them.
Green is my fav color for an F1 car so I do think the Caterham is pretty.

[rjbetty]

Disappointed with how far Caterham are off the pace (5 sec?). I saw them going backwards this year, but not that much...

In fact, I'm disappointed with the performance gaps in general, which seem to have spread out since last year after all. At least it's not as bad as 2002, where on average the top 10 were separated by almost 2sec!

[zako85]

I am glad to see that Marussia found a good pace. I would like to root for Marussia this time around, since Caterham sold itself to rent-a-drivers this year, even after winning the financially valuable 10th spot in WCC for 3 years past years.

[truefan72]

I am glad to see that Marussia found a good pace. I would like to root for Marussia this time around, since Caterham sold itself to rent-a-drivers this year, even after winning the financially valuable 10th spot in WCC for 3 years past years.

I hear you, at least Petrov should have been retained. IMO
but to be fair, Marussia have 2 pay drivers themselves, and why they got rid of Glock.
Although I'm not high on Glock, given the marussia's pace this year, he could possibly had that car closer to the rest of the field

[keysersoze]

I hear you, at least Petrov should have been retained. IMO
but to be fair, Marussia have 2 pay drivers themselves, and why they got rid of Glock.
Although I'm not high on Glock, given the marussia's pace this year, he could possibly had that car closer to the rest of the field

But Marussia now have KERS, which IMO largely accounts for the tenths they have gained on Caterham.

[steveaki13]

Hard to tell about real gaps after a few practice sessions of the first race. And Quali was a write off. Lets wait and see.

On that I thought I would have a look and see the gaps at Albert Park over the years. In Quali (For fun) as I am sad and like to have a look at these sort of things.
Gaps from Pole time to 2nd, 3rd, 10th, 15th & last (of the cars to set proper times)

1996
1. Jacques Villeneuve - Williams---- 1:32:37
2. Damon Hill --------- Williams --- +0.00.14
3. Eddie Irvine ---------Ferrari ---- +0:00:52
10. Mika Salo ----------Tyrell ----- +0:02.46
15. Ukyo Katayama ---- Tyrell ----- +0:03.35
20. Pedro Diniz -------- Ligier ----- +0:03:93

*The two Fortis DNQ +06.83 & 9.72

1997
1. Jacques Villeneuve -- Williams ---- 1:29:37
2. H H Frentzen ------- Williams ---- +0:01.75
3. M. Schumacher ----- Ferrari ----- +0:02.10
10. Gerhard Berger ---- Benetton --- +0:03.50
15. Ukyo Katayama ---- Minardi ----- +0:04.43
22. Pedro Diniz --------- Arrows ---- +0:06.60

* The two Lola's DNQ +11.60 & 12.72

1998
1. Mika Hakkinen ------- Mclaren ---- 1:30.01
2. David Coulthard ----- Mclaren ---- +0:00.04
3. M. Schumacher ----- Ferrari ------ +0:00.76
10. Damon Hill ---------- Jordan ----- +0:02.39
15. Jarno Trulli ---------- Prost ------ +0:03.73
22. Shinji Nakano ------- Minardi ----- +0:05.29

1999
1. Mika Hakkinen -------- Mclaren ---- 1:30.46
2. David Coulthard ------ Mclaren ---- +0:00.49
3. M. Schumacher -------Ferrari ----- +0:01.32
10. Alex Wurz ---------- Benetton --- +0:02.33
15. Alex Zanardi --------- Williams --- +0:03.09
22. Marc Gene ---------- Minardi ----- +0:06.55

2000
1. Mika Hakkinen --------- Mclaren --- 1:30.55
2. David Coulthard ------- Mclaren --- +0:00.36
3. M, Schumacher -------- Ferrari ---- +0:00.53
10. Mika Salo ------------- Sauber --- +0:01.47
15. Nick Heidfeld ---------- Prost ---- +0:02.47
22. Gaston Mazzacane ---- Minardi --- +0:04.16

2001
1. Michael Schumacher ---- Ferrari ---- 1:26.89
2. Rubens Barrichello ------ Ferrari ---- +0:00.37
3. Mika Hakkinen ---------- Mclaren --- +0:00. 57
10. Nick Heidfeld ---------- Sauber ---- +0:01.73
15. Jos Verstappen -------- Arrows ---- +0:03.04
22. Tarso Marques -------- Minardi ---- +0:06.34

2002
1. Rubns Barrichello ------- Ferrari ---- 1:25.84
2. M. Schumacher -------- Ferrari ---- +0:00:01
3. Ralf Schumacher ------- Williams --- +0:00.44
10. Nick Heidfeld --------- Sauber ---- +0:02.39
15. HH Frentzen ---------- Arrows ---- +0:03.63
21. Alex Yoong ----------- Minardi ---- +0:05.66

* Sato qualified in wet

2003
1. M. Schumacher -------- Ferrari ---- 1:27.17
2. Rubens Barrichello ------ Ferrari ---- +0:00.25
3. Juan Montoya --------- Williams ---- +0:00.93
10. Fernando Alonso ------ Renault ---- +0:01.75
15. Kimi Raikkonen -------- Mclaren ---- +0:02.30
18. Antonio Pizzonia ------- Jaguar ---- +0:04.55

* 2 Minardis didnt set time

2004
1. Michael Schumacher --- Ferrari ----- 1:24.41
2. Rubens Barrichello ----- Ferrari ----- +0:00.07
3. Juan Montoya --------- Williams ---- +0:00.59
10. Kimi Raikkonen -------- Mclaren --- +0:01.89
15. Nick Heidfeld ---------- Jordan ---- +0:03.77
17. Zsolt Baumgartner ---- Minardi ---- +0:06.27

*3 Didnt set times

2005
*Sunday Qualifying Times.
1. Mark Webber ---------- Williams ---- 1:28.28
2. Giancarlo Fisichella ---- Renault ----- +0:00:01
3. David Coulthard ------- Red Bull ----- +0:00.61
10. Kimi Raikkonen ------- Mclaren ----- +0:02.28
15. Thiago Monteiro ------ Jordan ----- +0:05.20

* Rain hit

*It becomes harder now due to Q3 fuel loads and people not setting times.

2006
1. Jenson Button --------- Honda ----- 1:25.23
2. Giancarlo Fisichella ---- Renault ----- +0:00.41
3. Fernando Alonso ------ Renault ----- +0:00.55
10. Michael Schumacher -- Ferrari ----- +0:01.49
15. Felipe Massa --------- Ferrari ----- +0:03.64
22. Yuji Ide ------------- Super Aguri - +0:10.93

2007
1. Kimi Raikkonen -------- Ferrari ------ 1:26.07
2. Ferbando Alonso ------ Mclaren ----- +0:00.42
3. Nick Heidfeld ---------- BMW ------- +0:00.49
10. Takuma Sato ------ Super Aguri --- +0:02.80
15. Alex Wurz -----------Benetton ----- +0:01:31
21. Christijan Albers ----- Spyker ------- +0:05.86

2008
*Q1 times
1. Heikki Kovalanen ------ Mclaren ------ 1:25.66
2. Nick Heidfeld ---------- BWW -------+0:00.30
3. Felipe Massa ---------- Ferrari ------ +0:00.33
10. Sebastian Vettel ----- Toro Rosso -- +0:01.04
15.Timo Glock ------------- Toyota ---- +0:01:26
22. Anthony Davidson ---- Super Aguri - +0:03.40

2009
*Q1 times
1. Rubens Barrichello ------- Brawn ----- 1:25.01
2. Jenson Button ---------- Brawn ----- +0:00.20
3. Mark Webber ------------Red Bull ---- +0:00:42
10. Sebastian Vettel ------- Red Bull ---- +0:00.93
15. Lewis Hamilton --------- Mclaren ---- +0:01.44
20. Sebastian Bourdais --- Toro Rosso --- +0:01.95

2010
*Q1
1. Sebastian Vettel ------- Red Bull ----- 1:24.77
2. Nico Rosberg ---------- Mercedes ---- +0:00.02
3. Jenson Button --------- Mclaren ------ +0:00:13
10. Robert Kubica --------- Renault ------ +0:00.82
15. Jaime Alguersuari ----- Toro Rosso --- +0:01.33
24. Karun Chandhok ------ Hispania ------ +0:06.84

2011
*Q1
1. Sebastian Vettel ------- Red Bull ------ 1:25.30
2. Lewis Hamilton --------- Mclaren ------ +0:00.08
3. Vitaly Petrov ----------- Renault ------ +0:00.24
10. Michael Schumacer ---- Mercedes ---- +0:00.66
15. Pastor Maldonado ------ Williams ----- +0:01.00
22. Jerome d'Ambrosio ----- Virgin -------- +0:05.52

* HRTS didn't Qualify +7.68 & +8.99

2012
1. Lewis Hamilton --------- Mclaren ------- 1:24.92
2. Jenson Button --------- Mclaren ------- +0:00.15
3. Romain Grosjean ------- Lotus --------- +0:00.38
11. J E Vergne ---------- Toro Rosso ---- +0:01.51
15. Paul di Resta --------- Force India ---- +0:02.17
22. Charles Pic ------------ Marussia ----- +0:06.75

* HRTS didnt Qualify +8.58 & +8.72


So theres a decent compare of the gaps in F1 history here at Albert Park. In recent years the midfield has closed on the front runners. Take out the new teams and 2 seconds seperated the field generally.

That took a lot longer to do than I thought. Oh well fun to see

[keysersoze]

Um, that was impressive steve.

[steveaki13]

Um, that was impressive steve.

Thanks

It was very sad really , but I love looking stats and things in F1. mokin: