2012 Australian Grand Prix Thread - Official

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Originally Posted by ArrowsFA1

Lewis certainly was not slow, but he did look disgruntled and understandably so. McLaren appear to have a quick car which could be a championship winner and yet, like last season, Jenson appears (early days) to have the upper hand.

I was watching a documentary about Alain Prost at the weekend, and he was talking about how McLaren was his team before Senna arrived. I'm not comparing drivers but the generally accepted view is that this is Hamilton's team, or at least it was until Button came along. JB has, by his personality and performances, made himself very much a part of McLaren. That must have had an effect on Lewis, as well as being beaten by a team-mate, which he's not used to.

Interesting times at Woking :eek:

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After beating Mr. '6 tenths' in his rookie year he is constantly overshadowed by a guy who used to be a journey man, he sure didn't expect it. Heck I didn't expect it either.
But the biggest issue is that Lewis has troubles digesting this situation.

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Originally Posted by ioan

After beating Mr. '6 tenths' in his rookie year he is constantly overshadowed by a guy who used to be a journey man, he sure didn't expect it.

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Maybe he used to be a journeyman in your eyes, but not those of many others by whose views on such things I would set rather more store.

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Originally Posted by DexDexter

He wasn't, Heikki didn't have KERS, DRS started working only on lap six and he also had a steering issue all through the race which lead to his retirement in the end.

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Ah ok - glad to hear it! :)
I just KNEW when I typed it that I shouldn't have made assumptions!

Ok so that maybe means Heikki was about 0.7sec or LESS than the guys in front like di Resta - and Massa...

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Originally Posted by ioan

He's got to have some bad luck for what he and slime bag did in Singapore 2008.

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Hehe that's what I thought. What is happening these days with Alonso is like payback for Singapore, Hockenheim 2010 and for he and Flav screwing Trulli and Fisi, for which Flav is also now paying, and everything else!

Quote of the race:

"Is his nose damaged or does it just look like that?"
-Bob Varsha

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Originally Posted by ioan

After beating Mr. '6 tenths' in his rookie year he is constantly overshadowed by a guy who used to be a journey man, he sure didn't expect it. Heck I didn't expect it either.
But the biggest issue is that Lewis has troubles digesting this situation.

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Yes, it looks like he needs some Neuro-Linguistic Programming or something to give him a structure for mentaly dealing with setbacks. After making one mistake (the start) he was just unlucky with the safety car to lose a place to Seb but still looked a bit shellshocked at his third place.
He is quicker than Jenson in terms of raw pace over a single lap but his apparent inability to psychologically deal with a setback (ie,petted lip) still gives me concerns.
I guess the Singapore will be the real test of how he deals with this psychological blow to determine if he has the mental strength required for a WDC run.

A make or break season for Lewis?

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Originally Posted by keysersoze

More context for you: Heike started the race on softs, Vitaly on mediums. I'm not sure which tire either had after that. Vitaly was on Kova's gearbox for the first 15-odd laps (for a while they were both held up by Timo Glock), pitted later, got out in front, and eased away from the Finn from that point until his retirement.

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Yep. Petrov had Kers and DRS working the whole race. Heikki's problem (in addition to KERS and DRS) was apparently the steering column, he had to steer in the opposite direction to keep the car straight. That's what he said.

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Originally Posted by ioan

After beating Mr. '6 tenths' in his rookie year he is constantly overshadowed by a guy who used to be a journey man, he sure didn't expect it. Heck I didn't expect it either.
But the biggest issue is that Lewis has troubles digesting this situation.

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I don't really understand where you get this impression or come to the conclusion that he is being overshadowed. Just because Button managed to beat him last year and Lewis had issues in Oz doesn't by any means suggest that will continue to be the case. To me he seems to be dealing with the situation very well and I have found him to be very pragmatic, almost too much so if anything. For example, whenever Button beats Lewis, Lewis just holds his hands up and says it. When it's the other way around, Button always has some old excuse about the car not being set up correctly or some crap. I like Lewis because he's honest and is willing to admit when he has been beaten. I can't say the same about Button. Button beat Lewis fair and square on Sunday. I would be surprised if that continues.

Button is a prime example though of hard work paying off. He has worked for his place in McLaren and deserves it. He will never have the natural talent Hamilton has but is making up for it through hard work. I really can't wait to see how this season pans out. I think the Button challenge will make Hamilton a better driver in the coming years as he will learn from Button and if he applies himself in a likewise fashion then he'd be unstoppable in a decent car.

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Originally Posted by BDunnell

Maybe he used to be a journeyman in your eyes, but not those of many others by whose views on such things I would set rather more store.

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:laugh: Too right :up:

I have had many a discussion with ioan on this in the past but as per usual, he ignores all the evidence and sticks to his baseless opinion regardless.

I remember the old days where Fizz and I were trying to point out just how good Jenson was and he ignored it. I pointed out that the only reason JPM was bought into the Williams tem was that they signed the contract before realising just how good Jenson was and still he ignores it. Jenson wins the WDC in a car that although arguably the best on the grid for the first half of the season, still necessitated beating the highly rated Rubens who had demonstrated his mettle by fairly beating the great Schumacher on occasions (when allowed) and still he ignores it. He goes to McLaren and races against arguably the fastest driver on the grid and still comes out shining.

Yet he's a journeyman in ioans opinion :laugh:

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Originally Posted by ioan

But the biggest issue is that Lewis has troubles digesting this situation.

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I think you'll find that in previous races Button isn't particularly happy at finishing behind Hamilton.

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Originally Posted by Knock-on

:laugh: Too right :up:

I have had many a discussion with ioan on this in the past but as per usual, he ignores all the evidence and sticks to his baseless opinion regardless.

I remember the old days where Fizz and I were trying to point out just how good Jenson was and he ignored it. I pointed out that the only reason JPM was bought into the Williams tem was that they signed the contract before realising just how good Jenson was and still he ignores it. Jenson wins the WDC in a car that although arguably the best on the grid for the first half of the season, still necessitated beating the highly rated Rubens who had demonstrated his mettle by fairly beating the great Schumacher on occasions (when allowed) and still he ignores it. He goes to McLaren and races against arguably the fastest driver on the grid and still comes out shining.

Yet he's a journeyman in ioans opinion :laugh:

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Give Jenson a 'poor' car let alone dog of a car he leaves a lot to be desired.

In the second half of 2009 Rubens was the better driver in that situation of getting the best out of tyres when BGP lost their superiority, nor could he reach the 2010 season finale as McLaren were faltering.