2012 Australian Grand Prix

[F1 fan]

Which then means every other driver on the grid see's you as a push over and will treat you accordingly.

So you purposely crash, cause an avoidable accident and earn the reputation of being a reckless crasher? Remind me to never race against you online. I've had my fill of reckless crasher's online.

 

[Tired Tyres]

Is your name Massa by any chance?

Thank you for calling me a reckless crasher. Offence taken.

Remind me to boot you from any online room I find you in...

 

[GOTMAXPOWER]

Just a thought but was Perez and Rosberg's damage from running all over the carnage left by Maldonado, they did make contact later but it was minimal and didn't look enough to give a puncture on Rosbergs car.

 

[Akmuq]

What a brilliant race! The cars are looking so close this season and it won't be all McLaren/Red Bull/Ferrari, brilliant drives from Maldonado before he binned it, Kimi and Kobayashi.

It seemed that every car was on the pace, you would constantly hear which drivers were flying and it seemed like 10 or 11 drivers were fastest lap for a couple of minutes at least. The only team which looked a bit off the pace was Force India, which really surprised me from the end of last season.

Anyway, brilliant race, can't wait for Sepang.:tup:

 

[Chqr]

This season looks to be a cracking season.

Mercedes, Red Bull and Mclaren lead the way with Williams and Lotus snapping at their heels. Sauber, Force India and Toro Rosso are forming the midfield scrap.

 

[Alex p.]

Can't believe nobody mentioned bad luck of Rosberg, this man NEEDS to win finally. All in all HUGE shame for Mercedes, I feel so bad for them. *sigh* (Oh ok 3 posts above me-fail.)

Vettel: Proved he is a great racing driver.

Button: Amazing drive, perfect job.

Webber: Better than usual.

Alonso: Don't really like him all that much but BOY can he drive! Driver of the day, probably best driver in grid.

Massa: ...

 

[hornet_burnout]

Finally... Saw the whole race, which gives you a much better perspective of things than highlights and replays.

1st note for 1st place. Button has shown once more that he is discreetly brilliant. He can make the best of a car, in the long run, as well a be as fast as possible and needed, when needed. The importance of his win, is only diminished by it's effective discretion.

Vettel... Great race. The way he took Shum on the outside was brilliant. Hope this year he shows some people his real talent, and not just how to drive the fastest car faster than Webber.

Hamilton could do better and he knows it, that's why he's not happy.

The Ferraris. "They were not that bad" I heard and read. Wrong. They sucked. Alonzo was brilliant and his position at the end was much harder to come by than the win for Button.

Kobayashi was great. Heck, almost everyone was brilliant if you ask me! Great race. Lots of side by side action between 2 or even 3 drivers, some contacts as expected, but good stuff!

Except "you know who" pushing "what's his name" to make a stand and crashing in the last lap when he should be cherishing those precious points.

(call it a pet hate if you like, but that guy's speed can't excuse everything he does on track)

 

[Liquid]

Man, I totally forgot about the time when racing drivers making mistakes was part and parcel of life (!)

An unfortunate error. But Williams took a major step forward this weekend. Let's hope they can keep it up over the next few races.

 

[hornet_burnout]

When "what's his name" ran over a marshal in Monaco a few years back in Formula Renault (I think) and was banned for 9 races (if I recall correctly) I thought the same. But the years went by and he kept beeing as idiotic in GP2 as he is fast. I would think that in F1, and after a very hard year, he'd gained some brains...

 

[Earth]

Watching the racing and the passes, I can't help but see it all as disingenuous. Really, it's worse then the "rubber banding" that plagued GT5P, as that gave you an advantage only in cornering and braking, but the DRS gives you an advantage on the straights, up to 20 kph according to the telemetry.

Is a race assisted by DRS and quickly degrading tires appropriate for F1?

Formula 1 needs to make up it's mind. Either be a technological showcase that doesnt apologize, or go all out for equality and cost saving like NASCAR. You try and do both and you look stupid, as it does now.

 

[hornet_burnout]

Watching the racing and the passes, I can't help but see it all as disingenuous. Really, it's worse then the "rubber banding" that plagued GT5P, as that gave you an advantage only in cornering and braking, but the DRS gives you an advantage on the straights, up to 20 kph according to the telemetry.

Is a race assisted by DRS and quickly degrading tires appropriate for F1?

Formula 1 needs to make up it's mind. Either be a technological showcase that doesnt apologize, or go all out for equality and cost saving like NASCAR. You try and do both and you look stupid, as it does now.

Problem is, if they go all tech, it will be impossible to "race". It'll be time trial strategy games no one will watch. I think they are going he right way now.

Love your avatar btw 👍

 

[Liquid]

Is a race assisted by DRS and quickly degrading tires appropriate for F1?

Formula 1 needs to make up it's mind. Either be a technological showcase that doesnt apologize, or go all out for equality and cost saving like NASCAR. You try and do both and you look stupid, as it does now.

I agree. Problem is, aerodynamics killed overtaking. The more advanced and aerodynamic the cars become, the harder it is to overtake.

A paraphrase from Enzo Ferrari, "Aerodynamics are for people who can't built good engines"

But anyway, the cars look vile and things such as DRS, purposefully degrative tyres, two compounds per race, 3 tiered qualifying.. to me it's all so gimmicky. The racing is still good to watch, but in my opinion it's becoming cheaper year on year.

 

[F1 fan]

Is your name Massa by any chance?

Thank you for calling me a reckless crasher. Offence taken.

Remind me to boot you from any online room I find you in...

Really? Offence taken for that? So you think it's a good idea to have an avoidable crash to avoid being labelled a pushover? Personally, I'd rather finish the race.

And I didn't call you a reckless crasher, but I have to question it when someone thinks it's a better idea to crash than it is to lose a position.

 

[OK8]

Problem is, if they go all tech, it will be impossible to "race". It'll be time trial strategy games no one will watch. I think they are going he right way now.

I agree with you. I like how the cars seem to have a lot less grip than last year but it's still possible to pull brave outside-line moves and race in general. A good balance is near I think.

But anyway, the cars look vile and things such as DRS, purposefully degrative tyres, two compounds per race, 3 tiered qualifying.. to me it's all so gimmicky. The racing is still good to watch, but in my opinion it's becoming cheaper year on year.

What's wrong with 3 tiered qualifying? I really like the system.

Wasn't DRS originally designed to help overtaking when it was impossible in the turbulent air created by a car running in front. The DRS isn't a "push to pass" system because the straights aren't long enough to just breeze by everyone. Sure on some tracks it creates artificial overtakes which repeat on every lap, but it's better than to have a car stuck behind someone clearly slower just because he can't overtake because of aerodynamics.

Besides, even "artificial overtakes" improve the quality of racing as cars running close to each other and swapping places every lap automatically affects the way the drivers can drive and creates situations and openings. It won't be just a hotlap competition.

 

[Liquid]

What's wrong with 3 tiered qualifying? I really like the system

Look at Saturday's qualifying. 3 cars in the top 10 didn't bother setting times simple because they had the assurance of being inside the top 10. No! Get them on the track working for their final times.

I just much preferred the old system of 12 laps and that's it. Whoever sets the fastest time gets pole. No lock-outs, no phases, just the fastest times in chronological order. It's a simpler system. No need for overcomplication.

 

[F1 fan]

It doesn't happen often Mazdaprice, but I have to disagree with you. The new 3 tier system is very entertaining and ensures a good hour with lots of cars on track. The old system was quite boring at times.

 

[TyrrellRacing]

I agree. Problem is, aerodynamics killed overtaking. The more advanced and aerodynamic the cars become, the harder it is to overtake.

A paraphrase from Enzo Ferrari, "Aerodynamics are for people who can't built good engines"

But anyway, the cars look vile and things such as DRS, purposefully degrative tyres, two compounds per race, 3 tiered qualifying.. to me it's all so gimmicky. The racing is still good to watch, but in my opinion it's becoming cheaper year on year.

I agree about DRS, but disagree with tyres and qualifying. DRS is a fairly good concept but it's too easy and gimmicky. Allowing it to pass lapped cars is especially stupid.

I love the three tiered qualifying. The only change I would make is give each team a set of softs/supersofts depending on the track for each stage so as to prevent teams not bothering once they get into the top 10. Apart from that the 3 tiers are great.

Tyres are fine as they are. I don't see the problem at all. Maybe they last a bit too short but apart from that they punish lock ups and reward cautious driving.

Cars looking vile - maybe. The McLaren and the Marussia look fine though and it's only the ugly noses that make the cars ugly. Everything else is fine to be honest.

The one thing that really annoys me is the tracks but that's been done to death I assume.

 

[Prince.M5]

Look at Saturday's qualifying. 3 cars in the top 10 didn't bother setting times simple because they had the assurance of being inside the top 10. No! Get them on the track working for their final times.

They're just saving tyres. The has to be a rule that all the top 10 cars must qualify with softer compound tyres so that none of them can cheat by staying in the garage for the whole 10 minutes and skip the session for the sake of saving the softer compound tyres for the race.

 

[astrosdude91]

Remind me to boot you from any online room I find you in...

Sorry, had to.



Ok, top drive of the race: Sebastian Vettel. Well, kinda obvious on that one.

But most of the grid had a good race. Despite the fact that he crashed out on his own in typical newbmanship, Maldanaldo really impressed me. He was hoarding Alonso the entire race. Which was quite fun to watch!

 

[tribolik]

Not really conclusive but from the other camera (I will try to post a video later if I can find it) you can clearly see Maldonado changing direction and going left (closing the door on Grosjean) after he finished the curve and had plenty space to go in a straight line and give Grosjean some space (instead of going left like he did)

Though if you look carefully you can see in this video him going left (0.04s) instead of keeping his line.

And you can also clearly see that it was the Williams that broke the Lotus front suspension and not the fact that it went off course.

Edit: just found another video. and you can clearly see that he closed the door on purpose and didnt old his line like some say here he changed it in the end of the corner.



I dont know if he is an idiot or not but he was an idiot in this case. He can cause some serious injuries if he keeps up this attitude.

 

[TheBook]

They're just saving tyres. The has to be a rule that all the top 10 cars must qualify with softer compound tyres so that none of them can cheat by staying in the garage for the whole 10 minutes and skip the session for the sake of saving the softer compound tyres for the race.

The problem with this is that you'll get teams who go out and do a lap at, oh, about 250% of the pole position time so that the tires aren't really used any. Maybe instituting another percentage, say 103%, in Q3 would be better. Miss the percentage or don't set a lap? 5 place grid penalty for you.

 

[PeterJB]

That was amazing! Vettel is showing he really can race when he needs to, and Button seems to be taking after him! Great midfield battles too. I've never been a big fan of Maldonado but that was terribly unfair, kinda expecting it though. Massa should just quit now, his time is up.

 

[GOTMAXPOWER]

I've never been a big fan of Maldonado but that was terribly unfair, kinda expecting it though. Massa should just quit now, his time is up.

Massa hit Senna, Maldonado was alone when he lost it on the kurbs.

 

[PAWEL17]

@Tribolik That's what Grosjean was saying, that he had no where to go. And that video clearly shows that, and yes Maldonado could have given him some room, but in the heat of the moment, i'm guessing Maldonado thought he had made the overtake and fully passed Grosjean, but didn't clear him enough. A terrible racing incident, unfortunate for Grosjean to end the race, and not show his full potential, a 5th place maybe?

 

[PeterJB]

Massa hit Senna, Maldonado was alone when he lost it on the kurbs.

Your point being?

 

[joetoml1n]

The problem with this is that you'll get teams who go out and do a lap at, oh, about 250% of the pole position time so that the tires aren't really used any. Maybe instituting another percentage, say 103%, in Q3 would be better. Miss the percentage or don't set a lap? 5 place grid penalty for you.

That would be a stupid rule. Why penalise a top ten driver, if they're happy with their tenth place?
They have to earn the right to make it through to Q3 with quick time, if they dont think they can beat that and still be in a good shape to race why should they then start 15th or wherever, even though they we're fast than P11/12/13/14 etc..

Qualifying tyres would be part of the answer, and I really hope they bring them back.

 

[astrosdude91]

It didn't seem like Button ever put out a huge gap. I mean he was ahead by a good amount of time. But it was never a Vettel like gap.

Also, to me it seems like the KERS weren't as strong as they were last year.

 

[GTPorsche]

I'm surprised no one tried to join dots between Petrov leaving his car on the main straight, causing the safety car, and the benefit gained by Red Bull, also powered by Renault ( *sunglasses* The French Connection).

Just adding fuel to an unlit stack of wood

Grasping at straws considering his steering broke after he came out of the final corner on that lap.

 

[Toyinster]

It didn't seem like Button ever put out a huge gap. I mean he was ahead by a good amount of time. But it was never a Vettel like gap.

Also, to me it seems like the KERS weren't as strong as they were last year.

There were concerns about fuel consumption - they were thankful for the safety car!

 

[Prince.M5]

The problem with this is that you'll get teams who go out and do a lap at, oh, about 250% of the pole position time so that the tires aren't really used any. Maybe instituting another percentage, say 103%, in Q3 would be better. Miss the percentage or don't set a lap? 5 place grid penalty for you.

I'd say it's a good idea but then it sounded stupid as like joetoml1n said. Currently that's the problem but until I get a better idea, it's better for the drivers to drive out and actually use that set of tyres and use it for the start for the race.

I just don't want to see drivers sitting in the garage doing nothing and start with a fresh set of tyres. There are many other drivers that didn't make into Q3 that wanted to put a proper lap and challenge something in Q3.

Also, to me it seems like the KERS weren't as strong as they were last year.

Yeah, I can see that but also the DRS didn't look like it's working at all. Maybe it's the short straights but maybe in Sepang there's a difference. Just this year it didn't look as easy as last year.