Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix 2009

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Hmmmm, not much in the way of action. Buemi's the only one who has set a time, though Raikkonen is out on the circuit.
 
Good 4-5 cars out now.
 
Brawn car looks impressive. Very stable. Actually Button's lap looked fairly effortless.

Vettel has stopped on the track.

Sorry just realised i double posted.

Edit: Mclaren fastest by about half a second

Edit2: barichello fastest
 
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so was McLaren sandbagging during testing on purpose or where they just lucky to pull it out at the last minute?
 
NapoleonMikey
so was McLaren sandbagging during testing on purpose or where they just lucky to pull it out at the last minute?
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They got lucky. Judging by some of the photos over at Formula1.com, they've armed themselves with a new diffuser that is more Brawn-esque than its predecessor.
 
So what is going to happen now if all the teams take on a Brawnesque diffuser? If Mclaren now does well just by changing this you can be sure the other teams are going to be getting one for themselves quick smart.

Raikkonen fastest by a second (on softs)

Glock is fourth

Button 2nd (+.7 on hards)
 
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It depends. Brawn probably aren't going to be in the business of opening themselves up for every team to come and have a look to see how ther diffuser works; nor are they going to be posting technical drawings of their car on the internet for anyone who wants to see them. The other teams are probably going to have to develop their own models based on what they can get their hands on, most of which will probably be what they can see on the BGP-001. But a lack of in-season testing means that creating their own version could be a real trial-and-error process and end up hindering them far more than it helps. For now, they'll try and get the parts banned, most likely throug launching an appeal with the highest echelons of the Powers That Be. If the parts are banned, those teams will be happy; if not, they'll be forced to come up with their own versions. But because an appeal probably won't happen until after Sepang and Button and Barichello are currently third and fourth in the practice session (0.7 and 0.9 seconds off Raikkonen, 0.2 and 0.4 behind Rosberg but we have no idea what fuel levels they're all running; Raikkonen seems very in-and-out in terms of how often he visits Pit Lane), they're looking pretty strong. So strong, in fact, that if the other teams are forced to make their own diffusers similar to Brawn, the Brackley-based outfit may have a substantil lead come Bahrain.
 
I just noticed. Raikkonen now has the yellow top instead of Massa. I thought they were only switching numbers?

Have Williams been sandbagging? Rosberg just got fastest on hard tyres.

Barrichello is only half a second off Raikkonens time now on hards.

Even Nakajima was quick.

I think we'll be seing some Brawnesque diffusers next race.
 
J-PaP
I just noticed. Raikkonen now has the yellow top instead of Massa. I thought they were only switching numbers?
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If you switch numbers, you switch coloured tops as well.

J-PaP
Have Williams been sandbagging? Rosberg just got fastest on hard tyres.
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Difficult to say. It could just be that they were running very light fuel loads.

J-PaP
I think we'll be seing some Brawnesque diffusers next race.
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That depends. Red Bull, Renault and Ferrari are all protesting them, so they can't exacly build their own one until such time as the inevitable appeal is resolved. Hell, McLaren built one and while Kovalainen had a last-minute starring role, Hamilton was the most disappointing driver (yes, it's hard to say that without glee) down in fifteenth. Hell, Buemi and both of the Force Indias set faster times that he did; he was nearly two and a half seconds behind Rosberg at the end.
 
J-PaP
I just noticed. Raikkonen now has the yellow top instead of Massa. I thought they were only switching numbers?

Have Williams been sandbagging? Rosberg just got fastest on hard tyres.

Barrichello is only half a second off Raikkonens time now on hards.

Even Nakajima was quick.

I think we'll be seing some Brawnesque diffusers next race.
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switching numbers means switching the t camera as well. according to the rules the car with the lower number (should be) for the number 1 driver. and the red T-Camera is for the Number 1 driver and yellow is for the Number 2. by changing raikonen to the higher number hes now considered the number 2 driver.
 
I'm quite impressed on Williams, Brawn and Force India. 👍

Red Bull not good. :scared:

And why Renault insisted on Piquet Jr, instead of Lucas DiGrassi?! :grumpy:
 
So I think the McLaren may have it in it after all. Is it fuel loads?

Again, only after qualifying will all those questions be answered.
 
Thanks for clearing that up. I just could have sworn I read somewhere that they were only switching numbers but not tops.

I'm not sure about Renault or Red bull but Ferrari at least while protesting I am sure would be developing/have developed another diffuser incase they can't get the ban imposed.

Mclaren while adopting the diffuser seem to have other more serious problems. I was very much suprised by Hamiltons performance.

Again Buemi suprised me already outpacing Bourdais.

50793950.jpg
 
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What else can be said about Rubens and Jenson? It's great to see those hard working fellas on great form!

Good job by Williams, still. Kovalainen is showing better pace, hopefully it reflects on the whole season. Sutil was a big surprise too, 9th :eek:

Buemi outpacing Bourdais? Hmm, not looking good for the latter...and Hamilton, he usually starts practice slow, but I hope he can get the pace in time for qualis.
 
SUPER NUMBBER
and Hamilton, he usually starts practice slow
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I wouldn't go using that excuse too often. He may start out slow, but the fact that he's running in P16 after an unproductive off-season that saw him visit the landscape twice suggests otherwise.
 
All I see is the same patterns he followed last year and the year before. Why should I think this one is different when the results are the same?
 
BMW is having problems, Kubica says the car is sliding around too much and unusual to its past.
 
I'm so lost with what to make of all of this!
 
SUPER NUMBBER
All I see is the same patterns he followed last year and the year before. Why should I think this one is different when the results are the same?
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Because he's supposed to be the best driver in the world, and sandbagging during practice sessions does nothing for you. It's true that Hamilton may simply be taking it slowly, but that's kind of anathema to what he's supposed to be doing. By now he should be comfortable in the car to be able to drive it as quickly as he can, yet he's being stood up by people who are usually down the tail end.
 
Who else thinks the new F1 cars are ugly?
 
Do you race?
Because he's supposed to be the best driver in the world, and sandbagging during practice sessions does nothing for you. It's true that Hamilton may simply be taking it slowly, but that's kind of anathema to what he's supposed to be doing. By now he should be comfortable in the car to be able to drive it as quickly as he can, yet he's being stood up by people who are usually down the tail end.
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Who says he's sandbagging? I just said that he's pacing the practice session the same way he did last year, and he won the championship when he did just that. Hamilton seems to be one who waits till the last minute to show his best work, so I'm sure we haven't seen his best yet, not until qualifying time. Will he top the timesheets then? Who knows. Look at where Raikkonen is after P1...

So cool down there Nostradamus - wait to pass judgement until the starting grid is settled.
 
SUPER NUMBBER
Who says he's sandbagging? I just said that he's pacing the practice session the same way he did last year, and he won the championship when he did just that. Hamilton seems to be one who waits till the last minute to show his best work, so I'm sure we haven't seen his best yet, not until qualifying time.

So cool down there Nostradamus - wait to pass judgement until the starting grid is settled.
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Pardon me for assuing that the driver with the number one on his car is the best driver on the grid. He's currently 1.7 seconds off the pace, ahead of only Piquet (only just) and Buemi.
 
As it looks now, this will be an awesome racing weekend. It's pretty close between all teams. My BMW vs BrawnGP vs Toyota FTW! pick has now changed to a Williams vs Toyota vs BrawnGP FTW!

Awesomeness!
 
nyeboy
Who else thinks the new F1 cars are ugly?
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On the contrary, I LOVE the new look! :cool: IMO, F1 cars have never looked better. :)
 
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