2013 FORMULA 1 ROLEX AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX: RACE *** SPOILERS ***

After today I dont think anyone has any reason to knock Massa...... He's right back on form and will keep Alonso honest this year I think.

 

18th consecutive race in the points.

Solid!

 

Kimi Kimi Go Go Pop! Good for him and good showing for LaFadaddi!

 

Is the pope a new guy?

A bit disingenuous by Rob Smedley: "Let's see what you can do."
(Meanwhile, we're leaving you out there while Alonso, on fresher tires, is reeling you in.)
Pretty obvious way to swap drivers at the front.

But they also had Massa out there, in case they needed to slow the front, to let Alonso catch up.

Method to the madness. Massa in after only 13 laps?

But Vettel was right on Alonso. So, does Seb pit early and try to reel in Alonso?
Not likely: when Vettel pits, Alo can come in the next lap.
So, hang out there and try to use DRS when Fred's tires start to give up?

... Oops, he can't, because now he has Massa on fresh rubber, reeling him in.

They're still using Massa to support Alonso's race, but they've finally figured out how to do it without *completely* tanking Massa's race.
(E.g., they managed to convince Fred not to punt Massa off, and leave him where he can be of use to the team.)

A textbook example of how to use two drivers to double-team a faster competitor. (Even if he turned out not to be any faster.)
(...Yet. --- Don't count out Adrian Newey. Q3 showed the RBs quick ... until they have to conserve tires. Add aero, and ...)

Pity Kimi spoiled it with that two-stop stunt.

We may see more of this, given Massa's ability to get good starts.
If Webber keeps making his signature lousy starts, the Ferrari teamwork may get exercised a lot.
(Somebody has been reviewing the tapes from the Ross Brawn / Jean Todt years.)

So Massa is back in the role he had under Schumi: support driver.
But at least the team isn't costing him 15 spots on every stop.

*Now* they have a shot at the WCC.

 

Was interesting to see Masa in the garage during quali vs. Alonso. Alonso active and in deep discussion with the team, whereas Massa sitting back in a chair as if he's being bothered. Great to see Ferrari at the top of the constructors points!

How about that Sutil?!

 

The rest of the field should take note of this quote.....

" I could save the tyres and I could go fast when I wanted. It was one of the easiest races to win”

Kimi Raikkonen

 

Great prediction for the Kimi win Bas! They pulled an amazing race out didn't they.

 

As predicted, Kimi for the win!

Great start to the season. Ferrari looking good in race trim but it's early and Australia is always a bit quirky. Again it is early but lotus appears to have hit the sweet spot re tires. It is a marathon, not a sprint, so over the season car development will be huge.

 

Yes I am actually quite indifferent at Ferrari over this really, and this is one of the reasons I am not really a Ferrari fan. The front running driver should always be given priority even if it is Felipe Massa. Felipe was holding of Alonso just fine during the first stint, I believe Fernando certainly could have passed him during the race but that's Fernando's job to pass him, not Ferrari's job as a team to decide Massa just shouldn't be in front......

 

I believe the gamble I mentioned earlier in RB9 running what is essentially a Spa spec wing as what did their tires and race pace in. At Malaysia I am certain they will run a full rear downforce arrangement and we will see a more clear picture of their race pace, which I still don't believe will be quicker than Lotus or Ferrari but I do believe their tires will work better as RB9 won't be sliding around as much with a proper rear wing. Those two teams really need to get their qualifying straight, I'm sure they will as it's only be one race.

Exciting season.

 

I'm hearing it was an alternator failure on Nico's car. Gearbox was fine. Bad luck how they have so many trouble free miles during testing and then this happens when it counts. That's racing.



Has anyone ever seen Kimi smile so much? wow lol. Good for him right. Happy for him

 

Well said. We will be addressed by those all in favor of team orders etc. Its early days for this type of management. Massa is in the press addressing this strategy. He does not sound like it was all team orders etc. Ted from SKY believes it was though/

Australian GP: Massa says strategy gamble helped Alonso - F1 news - AUTOSPORT.com

The last 3 or 4 races Massa has been faster than FA.

 

Boullier said Kimi had been smiling all weekend. He knew they were in good shape. His quote about the race being easy was interesting.

 

Felipe has always been a team player.

And yet Felipe came in again after only 13 laps, when Alonso had been out longer on his third set.
... And thereby forced Vettel to blink before Alonso.

Ferrari isn't giving the drivers equal standing, but they're working as a team, rather than as the Fred Show.

 

+1

I didn't think they'd be slow but didn't expect this. I pipped Kimi for 3rd in my pool. Mercedes are about where I thought they'd be, perhaps a bit quicker than I expected (mostly qualy, their race pace is bad) Red bull worse than expected race pace.

I think he knows the pace of his car and that it's real .

 

Fantastic result. Nice mix at the top...McLaren looks real good.....lol

 

Picked it up while in Geneva for the recent Auto-Salon/Show!
Nice play on the Ferrari stallion
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I think the decision to stop was from Alonso, not a team strategy to screw Massa.
Today Fred WAs lucky but i´m pretty sure that if Felipe keeps up like this he wil soon get back to winning races and he will batle Alonso trough the season..I hope we are not getting to carries away but Ferrari realy seems to have a good car.....Mac should get last years car and trow this one into the junkyard!! (then again, they are also pretty good at developing and i´m sure they will be competitive sooner or later...rather later
LOtus are very good and of course, Kimi on his day with a decent car is still to me the best driver out there. Webbo is seriously looking at taking the place of "worst starter in f.1 history" from barrichelo!!! Keep up the good work mate!!!
The cans still look pretty good and they will be there, so if this keeps up next race it wiill be FRed/Massa vs Vettel vs Kimi....oh, and the Mercs don´t look too shabby either.

 

Not to rain on your parade, but I got that shirt years ago at the Zurich airport.

I wore it for the GPs in honor of Buemi (Swiss) in the Toro Rosso (Ferrari power).

Now of course you can wear it just for the Sauber (Swiss) team (Ferrari power).

 

Great shirt. Couldnt resist. Thanks for the story on this. I had never seen it before!

 

Couldn't agree more. Very well said.

 

Good opening race. Massive congrats to Kimi, he drove a perfect race. Completely flawless.

Ferrari had a good day, not a great day. Fernando drove well and did exactly what he had to do. Well done. I think Massa's second stop shot his race. He spent too long on those tires before coming in and then getting stuck in traffic destroyed any chance he had of being on the podium. You have to give both Ferrari drivers credit for a great start too. I'm already jonesing for Malaysia.


Mark

 

I definitely have no problem with Merc's race pace today. Their tire degradation was very good, I do however believe their tire strategy hams granted their lvera performance asepsis was nursing the tires in the interest of having fewer pit stops whichever he wast it pushing for performance. Ii believ 4th would have been possible had they simply followed the other top te tire strategies as Lewis' pace was much greater than Massa's during the final stint.


I actually half expected this result from Red Hull. They geared the car low and ran a Spa wing. Thy should have geared higher and run a regular wing IMO. They gambled and ended with a decent result though so I guess they cannot complain.

 

By the end of last season Lotus was hardly a se one tier team. AND he has had a sub-par borderline psychotic teammate. I give credit where it's due but he didn't/doesn't have a Nico Rosberg for a teammate.