2012 Australian Grand Prix

[FCB-Rizla-TML]

Holy ****, Kobayashi!

EDIT: I know I shouldn't look in to the times too much, but it's great to see Mercedes on top.

That was a heart stopper. I would be pissed if I were the engineers and he crashed !

 

[RTSolvalou]

Awesome work by Kobi!
Loved seeing Schumacher really ring it up for first in overtime. Almost felt like watching qualifying between him and Hulkenberg there hehe.

 

[niky]

People need to save judgement for FP3 if they were smart. If they were really smart they'd wait till Q3 and open their yaps.

Niky you're fighting a good fight, but those people who are using FP1 to make a point are people that you as a rational person will never make sense to.

Hey, I'm the one who wrote his first F1 article of the year with the headline of Kimi topping the timesheets on the first day of practice... (though that's basically news simply because it shows that Kimi still knows which end of the car is supposed to go into the corner first... ).

That said, I do have high hopes for Mercedes this year... it would be nice to see the competition mixed up a little.

 

[Endless-Wilso]

Everybody's lookn pretty good mostly Force India (great job from Nico H) and Mercedes
Anyone see what slicks Williams was on?
And how about thoughs "air inlets" under the front of the Red Bull anyone catch that?

 

[joetruckv8]

Less that 17 hours until Practise one!

One day after, and the bull:censored: stops...

Go Hammy! 👍

 

[ECGadget]

Come on Schumacher!

I know it's practise and all, but Mecedes AMG have underlying pace... Fancy him for Pole tmrw? Why not? A race win? Will be hard, but again, why not?

McLaren are looking strong, and Ferrari aren't as bad as expected. We'll have to see RBR tmrw morning...

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Lots of people harping on RBR's low trap speeds... but really... errh... really? We don't even know if the drivers are pinning the throttle down the straights, if they're running a fuel-conserving mode or if they're saving the engines for the race.

Sure, practice times don't really mean much, but a picture begins to form after three hours of running, and so far, I don't think the RB8 likes variable conditions that much. There's speed there, but I think the car is over-sensitive to changes in the circuit.

 

[PAWEL17]

I reckon Mclaren look the strongest at the moment. But i expect Vettel to come out on pole....mainly because i'm too used to seeing it so much.

 

[niky]

All right... important stuff! Car pictures! This is the time we'll be seeing cars in near-final form!

Sure, practice times don't really mean much, but a picture begins to form after three hours of running, and so far, I don't think the RB8 likes variable conditions that much. There's speed there, but I think the car is over-sensitive to changes in the circuit.

Hard to say... they're not the only ones who've had "offs" today. But it is possible if their exhaust and diffuser solution aren't giving them the effects they want...

 

[DaxCobra]

Sure, practice times don't really mean much, but a picture begins to form after three hours of running, and so far, I don't think the RB8 likes variable conditions that much. There's speed there, but I think the car is over-sensitive to changes in the circuit.

I hope you're right about the RedBull

 

[Prince.M5]

One mistake by Kobayashi, that could have ended like Schumacher in 2006.

 

[astrosdude91]

Source?

I dunno. Something Bob Varsha said on air. You'll have to ask him.

 

[joetruckv8]

See here we go, every time a see a track I wish I had that 1 on GT5

 

[Imari]

Kobayashi is my hero. That was the most exciting moment of FP2 by far. The whole grandstand on the start straight stood up as he went sideways, and applauded as he saved it. Awesome stuff.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Kobayashi's save was good, but he's clearly not as comfortable in the car as Perez. The C31 seems to be a hair trigger, and when Kobayashi hits the limit, to my eye, he's over-reacting and compounding the problem, like the car knows he's uneasy. Perez is a lot like Alonso - he's just pushing through whatever protest the car offers up because he knows he will hit the limit of the car before the reaches the point of no return. He's visibly quicker in a couple of corners.

 

[jcm]

I dunno. Something Bob Varsha said on air. You'll have to ask him.

Yeah it was Bon Varsha. He also said that Vettel maid around 35 million last year, and that he seems like a pretty cool guy 👍

Still don't want him to get the pole though

Also, I might be wrong, but wasn't the Red Bull always slow in speed traps last year too. It always had one of the lowest top speeds, and I think this was partially due to the downforce creating drag and partially due to a closer gear ratios.

 

[Prince.M5]

I have a feeling that the HRT may not make the 107% cut. I know this is just a practise session but Narain was 14 seconds slower than Schumacher while Pedro has only done 1 installation lap. It's looking ugly for them

 

[DaxCobra]

I have a feeling that the HRT may not make the 107% cut. I know this is just a practise session but Narain was 14 seconds slower than Schumacher while Pedro has only done 1 installation lap. It's looking ugly for them

Again I ask the question... What are they doing in the sport?

They just seem to be going backwards, in a sport all about development.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Back to the whole Vettel has no sponsors to please...I woulder if Renault/Infiniti also follows under that. Since Renault have made RBR the main factory support team due to their success, wouldn't they have something for him like last year.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Again I ask the question... What are they doing in the sport?

They just seem to be going backwards, in a sport all about development.

Once again? Uh what proof and or evidence do you have that they're not trying? Or that they're not moving forward...

 

[Prince.M5]

Again I ask the question... What are they doing in the sport?

They just seem to be going backwards, in a sport all about development.

You know, during the off-season and even last year I have always thought that HRT would be the one that has the advantage over Marussia but this is a different story now. It's Marussia that's going owkey now.

I understand them being struggling for money and all but for them not being ready after 2 practise sessions is ridiculous. Pedro has only got 1 installation lap!

I know it's still early, but we'll see tomorrow. Just my feeling saying so.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Luiz Perez-Sala said that he fully expected the team to go backwards to begin with while they settled into their new facilities. They might be sliding down the order right now, but they're going in the right direction off the track - they've unravelled the tangled skein of ownership, they've centralised their facilities, and they have a driver in Karthikeyan who can grease the wheels while Pedro de la Rosa can develop the car.

 

[Tom]

Well after reading the running commentary from Dax and co, I can't wait to watch practice, are there any re-runs on this evening?

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

I wouldn't say Marussia are doing an amazing job

 

[DaxCobra]

Once again? Uh what proof and or evidence do you have that they're not trying? Or that they're not moving forward...

I never said they weren't trying, but they seem to be in a worse position than the last 2 seasons that they were in.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

I wouldn't say Marussia are doing an amazing job

I wouldn't say they are doing a horrendous job, either. They're certainly better than HRT, and possibly better than Williams (whatever potential the FW34 has, I feel it is being squandered on an uninspiring driver line-up).

 

[Prince.M5]

I wouldn't say Marussia are doing an amazing job

As far as I know, nobody here said that Marussia are doing an amazing job. I only said that they're doing owkey, just much more prepared and on pace than HRT.

 

[DaxCobra]

I wouldn't say they are doing a horrendous job, either. They're certainly better than HRT, and possibly better than Williams (whatever potential the FW34 has, I feel it is being squandered on an uninspiring driver line-up).

Senna isn't that bad...

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Senna isn't that bad...

I'm sorry, but in what world is finishing behind a lowly-rated team-mate a good thing? He did it all throughout 2011, and it looks like he'll be making a habit of it in 2012.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

I never said they weren't trying, but they seem to be in a worse position than the last 2 seasons that they were in.

How so? That makes no sense seeing as the virtually look the same as they did last year. Actually to be honest they look better than last year, since they were able to take part in FP1 and not have the parts on hold in customs like 2011. This is the first day of the actual racing season and you come to a conclusion already, or at least the way you word it makes you sound that way. As if Marussia has won it. If anyone has gone slightly backwards it is Marussia.

Also all three teams have used the help of other established teams to get them some where in area of development.

As far as I know, nobody here said that Marussia are doing an amazing job. I only said that they're doing owkey, just much more prepared and on pace than HRT.

Did I quote anyone saying that? Can I not state my opinion openingly or does it always have to be addressed to someone? I wasn't debating you on your opinion of Marussia and if I was then I would have quoted you okay