2007 Australian GP

[Dougboy]

Some times, especially before the season really kicks off (qualifying) teams don't always want to show quite how strong they are.

But wouldnt they suffer from insufficient data? If they dont push their cars, then how can they get a proper setup for quali and the race?

 

[daan]

But wouldnt they suffer from insufficient data? If they dont push their cars, then how can they get a proper setup for quali and the race?

They can push for a sequence of corners, or maybe even a sector. They'll do that for each of the sequences, so the whole lap will be covered, but they won't do them all flat-out on the same lap until qualifying.

 

[m7ammed]

I'm going to bed now to wake up early at 4 am and study for my then watch quali at 6 then head to uni around for my exam which starts at 8

missed practice this morning as I over slept

 

[Metar]

I still remember in 2004 that that Ferraris almost topped everything and smashed the opposition in the race.

Well... Seeing the current splits, they're not to keen on sandbagging. Teabagging, maybe...

29 hours to go. So I'll spend Sunday morning studying at school while you guys watch it...

 

[Omnis]

Well... Seeing the current splits, they're not to keen on sandbagging. Teabagging, maybe...

Good one.

As a last minute reminder to my fellow Americans, the race is on Speed at 10:30pm tomorrow.

 

[Dougboy]

Yes and quali starts in less than 20minutes. I cant wait

 

[CardcaptorYoshi]

(spoilers, I suppose. Q2 OVER: UPDATE FOLLOWS)





Both Aguri's in Q2 so far, while one Honda's out already. Other than that the bottom eliminations from Q1 look pretty normal (Speed, Coulthard, Liuzzi, Albers, and who's Sutil? )

I haven't been keeping up with off-season testing so I'm definitely surprised by Aguri's pace at Australia.







===

Quali 2:
No time for Massa (technical issue? I'm watching live timing, no footage here).

The eliminated: Davidson, Rosberg, Kovalainen, Button, Wurz, and Massa. Poor showing for Honda in quali, although Sato hangs on for his life in P10!! Aguri in Q1, how about it... (although, is that a good thing? Being 11th would allow you to set your fuel strat, I doubt Sato's going to break the top 7 even in Q1...)

Alonso and Hamilton on the proverbial podium with Heidfeld in the middle. Then comes Kimi, Kubica, Fisi, Webber, Trulli, Schumi (Ralf, duh.) and Sato.

 

[Casio]

Few this to note.

- That Ferrari sounds amazing as usual.
- Aguri! Wow! That's so very, very, impressive
- Honda, typically unimpressive. Being out performed by Aguri and Toyota now.
- Hamilton is looking the part too.

Why Oh Why did I have to work this weekend! 👎

 

[Jay]

===

Quali 2:
No time for Massa (technical issue? I'm watching live timing, no footage here).

Yep, he just overtook Button on his last lap chance in the second session then he just suddenly lost all pace and crawled to a stop in the grass shortly after, the engine was still running, suspecting gearbox problem.

 

[m7ammed]

BMW is doing well , lets hope they keep it that way

 

[Omnis]

Red and white ftw. Great jobs by Toyota and Super Aguri.

 

[Solid Lifters]

Looks like Toyota forgot to take off the rear jack. LOL!

 

[DQuaN]

Wahat a qauli!


Kimi on pole. Massa wouls have joined him if not for hte gearbox.


Hamilton on the second row is outstanding!












I'm going to bed now.

 

[Dougboy]

Yes Kimi on pole 👍

First person to obtain pole position in a Ferrari debut since Fangio

Too bad Massa's gearbox blew, or else it could have been a Ferrari front row

 

[MustangSVT]

My early impressions:

- BMW Sauber pace is incredible.. these guys have a chance of a win
- Ferrari and McLaren are the best so far
- Renault, Kovalainen needs to up the pace for sure..
- Super Aguri, Q3.. holy crap..
- Honda, what did you waste your money on??

 

[Kylehnat]

- Honda, what did you waste your money on??

To paraphrase Steve Matchett: if they wanted to go slower, why didn't they just strap a $20 lump of lead to last year's car, instead of spending millions?

Some interesting surprises, but as always, parity is greatest at the start of the season, before the big-budget teams develop the car and pull away from the pack.

 

[Metar]

- Honda, what did you waste your money on??

Looks-like-crap environmentally-"friendly" slogans and liveries. I betcha that livery is made from real earth and water...

 

[nosturbo]

I was seriously pleased that Sato got the Aguri into 10th, its a shame that it wasn't Davidson though, as during the morning practice he managed to get 4th.

I have a feeling that Massa won't be a factor tomorrow, apart from starting way way back, he was very unstable going threw turns 4 & 5 in the practice session & during qualifying he didn't have the speed of the others on the back straight.

The McLarens did great and really drove on the limit through the parts of the track we were at during Practice & Quali.

I'm a bit disappointed by Heikki, but yeah he's new so i'll let him slide for a while...

Felt quite disappointed for Honda, they basically got owned everywhere by nearly everyone.

Happy for Kimi, great to see him finally get pole here.

Thats about it, my top 8 prediction is as follows;
1.Hamilton
2.Raikkonen
3.Fisi
4.Alonso
5.Kubica
6.Webber
7.Davidson
8.Heidfeld (I think that he'll be with the leaders until his pitstop for some reason...)

 

[Metar]

1.Hamilton

Someone's being a bit fanboyish?

Although, I have to say, a new driver qualifying 4th is just great. I don't know Hamilton, but things are looking interesting this season. Lets hope his engine will last the race, since reliability seems to be McLarens only hope today...

On another note: Alonso is still loosing a bit on the third sector, although it's a little less. Also looses a bit on the first, so it may have been coincidence.

 

[nosturbo]

Haha, i'm not being fanboyish, i never even heard of him before the pre-season testing.(We don't see GP2) It's just my prediction.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Don't discount Honda just yet. If it's a wet race or a drying track (kind of hard for the latter since it's a 90-minute race), JB could very well surprise; after all, he was 5th in the first practice session and won in Hungary during the wet. A change in the weather could well bring him back into play, especially if there's a safety period. But if it remains dry, you at least have to give the man credit for admitting the team isn't where they want to be.

Maybe I should do a naked rain dance tonight or something. Everyone around college will just assume I'm drunk being St. Pat's Day and all.

 

[My_Sterious]

Wow. Kimi did a great work! Never in a billion years I thought he could take the pole in his Ferrari debut. Shame Massa's gearbox blew, it would've been an all-red day here if it hadn't Very impressed by Hamilton as well The dude is in his first ever F1 qualification and takes a place in the second row (with the help of a great car, though). Kovalainen was slow, but well, Renault isn't at it's best. And heck, it was his first F1 quali as well.
But all is good as long as a red car wins tomorrow and the other takes some points for the team.
Forza Ferrari! 👍

 

[XGT Taipan]

My top 8 prediction is:

1. Raikkonen
2. Alonso
3. Massa
4. Heidfeld
5. Hamilton
6. Fisichella
7. Kubica
8. Wurz

 

[m7ammed]

You guys do know why Honda sucked ?















Because they are carrying the weight of the world

 

[Bram Turismo]

BMW surprised me, nice to see them up there 👍 Also a stunning time by Hamilton 👍 I was quite surprised by Toyota's positions as well, 8th and 9th isn't that bad after they've driven such terrible times in the practice and test sessions with many problems as well.

 

[Omnis]

You guys do know why Honda sucked ?















Because they are carrying the weight of the world

Hahahaha. So right.

Here are my predictions:

1. Kimi Raikkonen
2. Nick Heidfeld
3. Fernando Alonso
4. Lewis Hamilton
5. Robert Kubica
6. Felipe Massa
7. Ralph Schumacher
8. Mark Webber (if he doesn't wreck; I think he might)

 

[Blake]

I hope those Ferrari’s hold together tomorrow. Great time by Kimi, and the lap times in Q2 were really impressive.

It will be interesting to see how the soft tyres do tomorrow. They were suffering a lot from graining yesterday (like, useless after 3 laps). It was apparently better today on a track with more rubber, but it will still be interesting.

Mark Webber was pretty impressive in a car that needs work. I hope he can grab some points tomorrow.

Lewis Hamilton was awesome. I expected a lot from him this season, but I expected nothing from him this weekend. Really awesome job.

Honda is a joke. Button was struggling so much with balance, it seemed really strange to see him working the steering square (go Murray Walker!) so hard. Normally he’s really really smooth. Today he was ragged.

Toyota and Super Aguri were really impressive today. To be honest, though, I’m more surprised by Toyota than I am by Super Aguri, that’s how low my expectations of Toyota were.

Can’t wait for the race. Predictions:
1. Kimi Räikkönen
2. Fernando Alonso
3. Lewis Hamilton
4. Nick Heidfeld
5. Felipe Massa
6. Giancarlo Fisichella
7. Mark Webber
8. Ralf Schumacher

 

[Bram Turismo]

Blake, do you have any idea at what time the race is? GMT time that is...

 

[Sharkey]

The race starts at 05.00 Finnish time, which means it starts at 03.00 GMT, I think.

 

[Solid Lifters]

Go Spyker! Whoooo!