2008 Australian Grand Prix

[Metar]

​

The season starts in mere days, so I thought we could start our predictions - with Ferrari and McLaren dominating winter-testing, their success is virtually guaranteed - but a whopping four teams were shortly behind, and could make it a rather interesting battle for the lower points.

Will Raikkonen start the season as impressively as he started it last year, and gain an early lead to defend his title? Who will end up triumphant on Australian soil, where the water flows the wrong way around?

 

[peterjford]

If Raikkonen does well in qualifying and the first start without traction control/launch control doesn't turn into a giant clusterf$%*, I think he'll win this one. Massa and Hamilton fighting for the other podium places. Kovalainen will be fighting with Alonso, the BMWs, Williams, and Red Bull for the rest of the points.

 

[MagpieRacer]

Certainly a tough call between the McMercs and Fezzas. Remember, Hammy is a lot more experianced now than last years Oz GP so may not be so easy for Kimi.

 

[Lee]

Meh lets put it this way, I'll be usprised if the winner isn't a red car with a number one on it.

And I'm not talking about Toyota, Super Aguri or Force India..

 

[Sureboss]

Can't wait. Will be up for this one on Sunday morning. 4:30AM isn't too bad.

 

[mustang245]

Tough call. Turn one could be real showdown. McLaren & Ferrari seem close as far as cars go, but the odds have to point at Massa and Ice man. Either of these two miss a beat BMW/Renault will pounce all over them, Rossberg too.

 

[Appie]

Finally F1 starts soon. Anyone here will watch the race live?

 

[Z]

Definitely watching everything live (Practice, Qualy, Race). Everything starts at either 10PM or 11PM for my time zone, so I won't exactly be staying up late. I'll be more than awake with a frosty beverage, enjoying the roar of the engines and the SpeedTV crew. Can't come soon enough. 👍

Tipping Kimi for the win, but who knows. Perhaps Hamilton and Massa will round out the podium, but it's all a crap-shoot for the rest of 'em, IMO.

 

[Casio]

Finally F1 starts soon. Anyone here will watch the race live?

Probably.

I don't know how much it will be a factor. But the weather for the race will be

Friday: 37C (99F)
Saturday: 33C (92F)
Sunday: 35C (95F)

So it'll be a good test for the cooling systems!

 

[boci]

Im for McLaren so i hope those red cars get some kind of reliability problems

 

[waynz]

I'll be following everything red. Holden and Ferrari ...

Anyone going to the season opener?.. I'll be there Saturday, more than likely on the hill just before Turn 9, waiting for the accidents.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

I'm looking forward to see what Team Willy will do; I'm seriously considering abandoning Honda as a lost cause. Maybe JB can salvage 18th place or something.

Finally F1 starts soon. Anyone here will watch the race live?

Yeah, I've got our college's Senior Common Room marked out for the Grand Prix. It helps that there will be an all-day function the day before so everyone will be too hungover to do much before about 3pm ...

Also, with the exit of Ralf Schumacher, who's the odds-on favourite to cause the traditional first corner accident?

 

[Z]

Also, with the exit of Ralf Schumacher, who's the odds-on favourite to cause the traditional first corner accident?

I'll tip Fisichella for this one. I've no reason why.. just a hunch. Also predicting that Heikki will have a similar performance from last years AUS GP (IIRC he went off 2-3 times), no matter that he's in a better car.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

But Kovalainen has improved signifcantly since then.

The traditional season opener - the first corner accident - is usually caused by a midfielder, and I don't think the Fifi is good enough for Fisi to even make Q2. It's usually someone who's over-eager and/or heavy-handed; my bet for this year's accdent-waiting-to-happen is either Kazuki Nakajima or Sebastien Bourdais.

 

[Z]

But Kovalainen has improved signifcantly since then.

The traditional season opener - the first corner accident - is usually caused by a midfielder, and I don't think the Fifi is good enough for Fisi to even make Q2. It's usually someone who's over-eager and/or heavy-handed; my bet for this year's accdent-waiting-to-happen is either Kazuki Nakajima or Sebastien Bourdais.

I'd say those are also good bets, though I recall a few years back (Imola '06?) where Yuji Ide got a little optimistic and ended up rolling the car of Albers. This was at the very back of the pack, so it's not entirely possible, albeit a bit unlikely. I think Nakajima will make it through, but now that you mention Seabass.. I'll throw him on my list.

Yes, Kovi has improved since then, but it is a different car and it's not a practice session. Australia being a 'green' circuit could catch a few drivers out. When SpeedTV's airing of FP2 goes live, we'll get to see a few highlights of the incidents from FP1. Might make for an easier decision after that. This is F1 and of course anything can and usually will happen.

 

[CAMikaze]

I'll be following everything red. Holden and Ferrari ...

Anyone going to the season opener?.. I'll be there Saturday, more than likely on the hill just before Turn 9, waiting for the accidents.

You going to pull for Super Aguri as well waynz? They have red in their team colors as well.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

I'd say those are also good bets, though I recall a few years back (Imola '06?) where Yuji Ide got a little optimistic and ended up rolling the car of Albers. This was at the very back of the pack, so it's not entirely possible, albeit a bit unlikely. I think Nakajima will make it through, but now that you mention Seabass.. I'll throw him on my list.

Yes, Kovi has improved since then, but it is a different car and it's not a practice session. Australia being a 'green' circuit could catch a few drivers out. When SpeedTV's airing of FP2 goes live, we'll get to see a few highlights of the incidents from FP1. Might make for an easier decision after that. This is F1 and of course anything can and usually will happen.

Yeah, but the first corner of Albert Park is a hell of a lot different to the enrty of Villenueve at Imola. Everyone - especially the new kids - are a little bit jittery with the start of a new season and the feeling of racing once more means some drivers tend to see gaps where they don't exist. Or someone in the mid field just gets squeezed the wrong way or was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Look at the likes of Martin Brundle and Ralf Schumacher ...

That said, there wasn't an opening-lap accident last year of the kind we've come to expect, so who knows ... maybe everyone will be sensible about it (though given some of Alonso's first-corner antics - in Spain and again in Canada - last year, I'm not holding my breath).

 

[mustang245]

Odds-on first corner crashers? I've given it thought and I believe it "might" occur closer to the front for 3rd thru 6th position. Maybe a multi car. These guys have practised w/o TC but haven't been side to side. I have no desire to see anyone crash, but I expect to see some mugging. I expect the on track rivalry for a couple guys to pick up where it left off. Hamilton expects 4 team rivalry this year, turn 1 hasn't got any wider.

 

[Z]

Yeah, but the first corner of Albert Park is a hell of a lot different to the enrty of Villenueve at Imola. Everyone - especially the new kids - are a little bit jittery with the start of a new season and the feeling of racing once more means some drivers tend to see gaps where they don't exist. Or someone in the mid field just gets squeezed the wrong way or was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Look at the likes of Martin Brundle and Ralf Schumacher ...

That said, there wasn't an opening-lap accident last year of the kind we've come to expect, so who knows ... maybe everyone will be sensible about it (though given some of Alonso's first-corner antics - in Spain and again in Canada - last year, I'm not holding my breath).

Speaking of Alonso.. don't forget that little 'oops' (heh) at Spa where he nearly shoved Lewis off the circuit. I've got my own opinion of his antics, but I'll leave that for another topic.

As for Melbourne, I can certainly see a few people getting shoved into the grass or run-offs during the early laps. But if it goes like last year, there shouldn't be a big problem. If it goes like '06 and we have four safety periods, well.. I dunno. Might as well be a coin-flip.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

I'm going to add Alonso to my list of people who might cause it. I think he's very hot-headed when he isn't in control, and there's no way the Renault R28 is in the same league as the Ferraris, McLarens and maybe even BMW and Williams ...

 

[Z]

I'm going to add Alonso to my list of people who might cause it. I think he's very hot-headed when he isn't in control, and there's no way the Renault R28 is in the same league as the Ferraris, McLarens and maybe even BMW and Williams ...

Too true. The man has beaten 'the man' so to speak and is used to winning races. Although he's being paid well, I don't think he'll be too happy to be going backwards in his career.

 

[mustang245]

I smell bait...

 

[prisonermonkeys]

I smell bait...

While I know you're an Alonso fan, I'm not trying to bait you. I'm simply coming to a logical conclusion: on at least four occasions in 2007 - Spain, Canada, Belgium and Japan - Fernando Alonso proved to be a somewhat reckless driver when he was not in control of the race. For 2008 he is racing in a car that is not likely to put him in a position where he can control the race as there are two teams that are clearly better than Renault and at least three that threaten their 2007 finishing position. Consequently, Alonso will not be in control of the race (expect possibly when everyone else pits) and is therefore more likely to demonstrate his hot-headedness behind the wheel.

Given the performance of the R28 in winter testing, it is likely Alonso and Piquet Jnr. will be in a position where they are in the first half of the mid-field teams - between sixth and tenth on the grid - this weekend, which places them in the most likely position to be involved in the traditional first corner accident. Alonso's history of reckless driving when not running at the front makes him a prime candidate for troublemaker (as opposed to innocent bystander) in the event of an accident at turn one on Sunday. The odds of this are likely to increase if he is running alongside a driver he considers inexperienced (Piquet Jnr., Nakajima, Glock and Bourdais being the primary candidates); as he proved alongside Lewis Hamilton, he often under-estimates such drivers and thus may be more willing to take a gamble at the first corner and either try and force his way through or try for a gap that does not exist.

Hence, using this logic, I believe Fernando Alonso is the driver most likely to either be a part of or a direct cause of an accident if not at the first corner, then on the first lap of the Australian Grand Prix.

 

[mustang245]

Agreed...

 

[m7ammed]

We all know who the number 1 & 2 teams are , but you seem to forget that McMerc will be in the last garage in the pitlane , which I'm sure it would have an affect when pitstop time comes . BMW from what I read havn't done any light fuel runs in the last couple of tests and they were running heavy so they might actually have been sandbaging all winter (at least I hope they were) so I'm I think they might be 3rd team with Williams and Renault just behind them.

There is a new problem though , no TC so maybe a new driver to much pressure screws up the start lots of smoke ...BAAAAAAAM cars hit from behind , or first corner eager to make a move on turn in , to much acceleration then a spin that would at least side swap a couple of cars .

Drivers have said that TC not being there hasn't made a difference , I wonder if its going to be different in racing conditions where there is pressure and a lot of temptation to sqweez that pedal just a little bit more , or just catch a little bit of more of that kerb....

Just can't wait its been a long one

 

[Z]

We all know who the number 1 & 2 teams are , but you seem to forget that McMerc will be in the last garage in the pitlane , which I'm sure it would have an affect when pitstop time comes .

Unfortunately, Bernie and co. have ensured that McLaren won't be as far back as they should be, as you can see in this photo:

BMW from what I read havn't done any light fuel runs in the last couple of tests and they were running heavy so they might actually have been sandbaging all winter (at least I hope they were) so I'm I think they might be 3rd team with Williams and Renault just behind them.

I'm still on the fence with this. At first, we were hearing all about the improvents on the Williams. Lately.. nothing big. The last I heard of BMW, Heidfeld was pleased with the improvements while Kubica felt the car had some balance issues to be sorted out. I think Renault will either be in this sandwich, or the bottom bun. I'm just not sure where Alonso and co. have taken the team.

There is a new problem though , no TC so maybe a new driver to much pressure screws up the start lots of smoke ...BAAAAAAAM cars hit from behind , or first corner eager to make a move on turn in , to much acceleration then a spin that would at least side swap a couple of cars .

Drivers have said that TC not being there hasn't made a difference , I wonder if its going to be different in racing conditions where there is pressure and a lot of temptation to sqweez that pedal just a little bit more , or just catch a little bit of more of that kerb....

I think the dry conditions won't pose many problems. Probably the usual offs we see, but maybe with a bit more variety. When the rain comes, that's when it'll get interesting. On that note, I really hope Massa has made some improvements.

Just can't wait its been a long one

With you on that one.

 

[Blake]

I’m heading down on the Friday morning to see this. I’m considering making a banner for Saturday insulting Ecclestone for making us get up at midnight to watch our own GP. If anyone has any funny or clever suggestions I’d like to hear them, see if I can’t get a photo of it taken for GPUpdate.

Meanwhile I’ll be in my Ferrari gear and waving my Ferrari flag on the Sunday, so you can guess who I want to win this race.

I’m also planning on meeting an F1 journalist for drinks one night, which should be cool.

Photos should be up sometime next week.

 

[Metar]

Meh lets put it this way, I'll be usprised if the winner isn't a red car with a number one on it.

And I'm not talking about Toyota, Super Aguri or Force India..

They are no longer red

That said, there wasn't an opening-lap accident last year of the kind we've come to expect, so who knows...

Yes, but a numpty in orange just ignored that corner in the first place..

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Bernie: New time frame won't save Australian Grand Prix
12 March 2008

The organizers of the Australian Grand Prix proposed to move the start of the race to 5pm next year in order to reach a bigger audience in Europe. Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone though insisted the race will run at night to reach a bigger audience in Europe. "The race start at 5.00pm doesn't help a lot," Ecclestone said.

"It needs to be a night race," Ecclestone told Australian newspaper The Age. The start of the Australian Grand Prix will be moved from 03.30pm to 05.00pm but according to Ecclestone that won't change a lot. "It doesn't help a lot," Ecclestone said. "That's not really what we're looking for. It would be nice if the race was on at midday or 2pm for European audiences, but I guess that would mean it starting in the middle of the night in Australia."

I guess he's willing to concede the notion that a midday broadcast for Europe is out of the question; a 7pm or 8pm start wouldn't be too back. Daylight Savings Time is both friend and foe as a late sunset means the cars could still have a daylight race, but on the other hand, starting too late would mean night would fall during the race.

I also seriously doubt Albert Park is an appropriate location for a night race because of the large run-off areas. Singapore works because it's a concrete canyon and the lights are hard up against the barriers, but in Melbourne the barriers are very frequently a long distance from the circuit proper. You could still light it, but you'd need a hell of a lot of lights and they'd wreak havoc with shadows even with Formula One cars being as low as they are. Perhaps a move to a street circuit in Sydney or a 'proper' one in Melbourne is not a bad move ...

 

[Lee]

If anyone has any funny or clever suggestions I’d like to hear them, see if I can’t get a photo of it taken for GPUpdate.

"Bernie, I thought your bedtime was 10pm?" Lame but a start.