Printable View
I could not wait any longer, it must be time to open up the first Race thread of the season and start discussing the season opener.
So who do you think will be fast at Albert Park?
Who will falter?
Which rookies will shock us? and which will dissapoint?
And how will the race go?
What do you think. I can't wait.
Crazy predicition....
We will see 9 finishers only.
With Carterham scoring their 1st point.
My crazy predictions..
Vettel bogs down at the start then wipes out Rosberg and Alonso at the first corner.. The Merc looks very quick, Schumacher leads for most of the race until he has a gearbox problem and falls back. Fellipe clashes with Lewis again and limps home last..
1. Button
2. Webber
3. Hamilton
4. Di Resta
5. Schumacher
6. Kimi
According to Formula1.com, there's a chance of rain on Friday and Sunday. What about waiting until Malaysia to find out the pecking order?
Anyway, from what I've seen on various sites, rain doesn't seem to be very likely. But I'd be great to have a wet race in Oz - something like the 2011 Canadian GP again.
I think Webber will cock it up at his home GP, as usual. :p : On the other hand, I think Kimi will pleasently surprise us all with a podium finish.
Apologies for sounding like a prude, but having followed the sport for over 20 years, I have never before felt such a lack of anticipation and enthusiasm for a season opener :dozey: .
Why is that?Quote:
Originally Posted by schmenke
How will the race go? Well, looking at the past we can have a relatively calm race without much happening (2004, 2007, 2011) or a more chaotic race, which can bring us even a slightly unexpected race order. Hard to predict, which one will it be this time.
Looking at some trends at Albert Park, I'm wondering whether Webber is finally able to actually beat his best result so far (5th), achieved in Minardi! :p : Last year he was just slow, on other occasions has had an accident (09, 10) or a car problem (06) preventing him from getting higher.
Hmm... let's say a Vettel-Hamilton front row. If qualifying is wet, Button may well end up on top of the timesheets too, which would make Sunday more exciting. From my recollection Rosberg has often been a factor at Albert Park, especially if there is attrition. Finished on the podium in 2008, was a contender in 2009 before tyres fell apart. So if Mercedes is good and there is some mess in the race, he is my tip for a lower podium spot.Quote:
Originally Posted by aki13
I remember, how last year Sauber achieved an impressive result (until DSQ!) with a good strategy. Perhaps particularly Pérez can get some points - even if he doesn't qualify into Top10, he would improve in race trim.
Melbourne could be one of the better chances for Caterham to open its point-score. On average Albert Park tends to offer more retirements and messier races than many other circuits. Also teams/drivers are still 'green' and more prone to mistakes after freshly starting a new season.
Webber is the safest bet! :p : Also I must add that Michael Schumacher has lost his front wing in Turn 1 for two years in a row. So this is something he must watch out for really carefully this time!Quote:
Who will falter?
Although not a complete rookie, Grosjean to get into Q3, especially if Lotus is as good as expected. It would be really impressive if he can qualify into Top6! Looking forward to it though. :) Still remembering, how Petrov qualified 6th last year and went on to do even better in the race, forcing F1 world take notice.Quote:
Which rookies will shock us? and which will dissapoint?
Hülkenberg can give a good comeback impression as well, also Q3 and points contention.
My enthusiasm for the sport has waned considerably in the last couple of years, mostly due to a variety of reasons:Quote:
Originally Posted by studiose
Primarily because of the direction that the technical regulations have taken, introducing gimmicks in an effort to enable a more exciting “show”. Introducing the flappy rear wing to ease overtaking was the last straw for me. A purist at heart, I prefer to see drivers showcase their skill and experience on track and not having to rely on artificial gimmicks to provide contrived superiority over other drivers.
Every season I used to crave the new technological advances conceived and implemented by teams. This is (was?) a very big attraction of F1 to me. However, over the years the suppression of technical innovation has led to an almost “spec” sport. Severe restraints on car design, components, engine homologation, etc. have all limited innovative designs. I cringe now ever time a team manages to introduce a new techno-tidbit other teams cry foul and the FIA quickly declare it illegal :s .
The elimination of tire wars has contributed to more stale racing. Previously, a variety of tire manufacturers, not to mention tire selection, allowed for diversity in race setups and strategies, increasing the overall racing excitement.
New venues with sterile circuits diminishes the attraction to me, especially the proliferation of street circuits which I find provide little visual stimulation.
Although I likely will maintain a minimal interest, I foresee this season the culmination of my tedium with the sport :mark:
Sigh... you asked studiose :p :
I did indeed. :) And I agree with most of your criticism. Nevertheless, I find myself more excited than in a good long while at the prospect of watching F1 again. :cool: Don't know why.Quote:
Originally Posted by schmenke
My boring predictions are:
1.Vettel
2. Webber
3. Hamilton
4. Button
5.Rosberg
6.Schumacher
7. Kimi
8 Di Resta
9.Hulkenberg
10. Kobayashi
DNF- Alonso, collides with Grosjean
DNF- Massa, spins out.
DNF- Petrov, collides with Maldonado
Lewis has been in Sydney today racing a Go-Cart with young kids.No one could get anywhere near him !
The Red Bull is the fastest car but Seb gets mugged by Lewey at the start. He tries to fight bck but fluffs under the pressure.
Britney hands the Shoe his ass on a plate yet again and Kimi puts in a solid performance but retires or crashes out.
How long can Lewis stay on track?
This is the question :p :
It will be Sebastian or Lewis. These are the two fastest drivers in the two fastest cars. Jenson will score 3rd IMO. The rest will be behind these three guys.
Technology has mostly taken the purity out of driving a thorough race car for what are supposedly some of the world's best drivers.Quote:
Originally Posted by schmenke
I'm all for competition but tyre wars have a tendency to distort the competition.
Quite frankly the consensus is that Pirelli's deliberately soft compound have created better racing and DRS exaggerating things.
Ultimately its about the drivers and the cream rises to the top. The arguably the right deck of cards have been handed out: 2010 was arguably one of the greatest seasons of all time and the driver line for 2012 is similar (Kubica MIA). How can one not be excited?
Quote:
Originally Posted by schmenke
Pretty much agree with all your post here. Now the FIA have informed us that the stupid DRS zone for this race is going to be on the pit straight and on the little straight on the run down to turn 3 as well. There will be one activation point at turn 14 so if a guy gets passed on the pit straight there is no hope for him to fight back. It's utterly retarded in my opinion. I wish they would throw DRS out.
With all due respect, you are missing the point of F1, as I fear, are many current fans.Quote:
Originally Posted by wedge
Technology is (at least was) integral to the sport. It’s what sets it apart from all other racing series.
F1 is more than just what the casual fan sees on track every fortnight. Unlike many other series F1 is, above all, a constructor’s series, the purpose of which is to solicit the most talented engineers and designers to leverage the best available technology to construct a race car to try to dominate the competition. This is the essence of the sport that is quickly being lost.
To some perhaps, but to me the excitement was largely artificially created.Quote:
Originally Posted by wedge
F1 is heading down the path of other series, e.g. Indy, NASCAR, where ballast, restrictor plates, and full-course yellows are used to create on-track excitement. No, F1 has none of these (well, perhaps with the exception of the latter), but the sport does have KERS and DRS both of which are cleverly disguised “push-to-pass” gimmicks.
Apologies for hijacking this thread for my personal rant... :erm: .
Well, the interest is getting lower with every year that goes by.Quote:
Originally Posted by schmenke
For me it's the gimmicky tires, DRS and KER rules who are ruining the racing.
Same here.Quote:
Originally Posted by schmenke
Who do you think that Bernie and the FIA are catering for, the motorsport purist or the ocassional Joe with little or no F1 knowledge. There's the reason.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Black Knight
I bet this year the endurance championship will again be a much better motorsport show to watch than F1.
Well, I class myself as a true enthusiast, and when I watch motor racing I want to see a race in the truest sense of the word. What is the point of sport if not to be enjoyable to those watching? However, I am left cold by knowing that DRS is an artifice.Quote:
Originally Posted by ioan
100% right.Quote:
Originally Posted by ioan
I have special hatred for DRS, it is the kind of stuff that if 10 year olds came up with it, I would question their intelligence.
And here.Quote:
Originally Posted by ioan
That question doesn't need answering.Quote:
Originally Posted by ioan
So you ... like DRS?Quote:
Originally Posted by BDunnell
Er... I suggest you read my post to the end.Quote:
Originally Posted by Garry Walker
I'm not a fan of DRS but I find it helps to remember that for too long it's been artificially DIFFICULT to overtake, and DRS evens things out a bit. But then again, I feel like I'm saying 2 wrongs make a right...
In an ideal world, there would be no place for it.
I really feel like I have no idea what's going to happen on Sunday, unlike years before.
Yup. That's my opinion. I just wish FIA could get the DRS zones right for once - there have been quite a lot of races where overtaking was way too easy - Istanbul anyone?Quote:
Originally Posted by rjbetty
Oh yeah, I didn't read carefully enough.Quote:
Originally Posted by BDunnell
There's one car on the track, shakedown maybe. Track is very greasy after a light shower, and can hear some wheelspin. I am at home.
Weather can be checked here: 128 km Melbourne Radar Loop
Its that time of the year again, mega mega excited for this opening race, and for once, you cant really predict with full confidence on what will happen
Yer its goodQuote:
Originally Posted by DazzlaF1
I remember starts of 2002 & 2004 and we all knew the Ferrari's would be round the other side of the track from the rest.
Its nice to not know anything
Perhaps I'm jumping to a conclusion here, but I'd put my money on the RBR being the fastest car yet again, by a similar margin to what they enjoyed during 2011. I hope I'm wrong, though. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by aki13
I have love hate thing with technology. I admire innovation yet technology has made driving an F1 car easier. Ultimately people care more about the drivers and how can one respect the driver's skill if it's masked by technology?Quote:
Originally Posted by schmenke
Senna disliked driver aids. 1993 European GP is often cited as Senna's greatest driver yet Senna admitted his first win in Portugal 1985 was better because he didn't have TC.
There's potential with KERS with less regulation and am personally disappointed by not going forward with full grounds effect - the arms war excuse was pathetic.
As I've been advocating for many years - ban all batteries and computers on F1 cars. That will solve all our problems, and sort the men from the boys.Quote:
Originally Posted by wedge
It is raining quite heavily right now, so the track should be quite clean tomorrow for quals.
Nice post. Cheers.Quote:
Originally Posted by Salist
I couldn't agree more.Quote:
Originally Posted by wedge
Honestly I don't understand why people hate the DRS. In my opinion the racing had become much better than before. For example I liked last season better than 2010. In 2010 the battle for the championship was huge, but in races the only tension came from the reliability issues with the Red Bull. In 2011 Seb obliterated the rest of the field, but the races were quite dramatic. Some say that this things are artificial. So be it. I prefer exciting racing, even if it is spiced - like the WTCC and the BTCC then boring, processional "pure" racing - like, say, the DTM.
Ah yes, I remember the “excitement” when Michael Schumacher was in contention for a podium position in the later stages of the 2011 Montreal GP, then a ridiculously long red flag session, followed by a ridiculously long period behind the safety car allowed a ridiculously easy pass by both Webber and Button with their DRS deployed.Quote:
Originally Posted by F1boat
Ah, yes, drivers’ skill played a pivotal role to decide the outcome of that race :up: :rolleyes: .