2014 Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix - Practice 1/2/3 ***SPOILERS***

You just wanted to get in ahead of Speedy, huh!?....

Will Williams keep up the good work?

Will the Cans manage more than an installation lap?

Will Merc dominate as some expect?

Where is Ferrari in the pecking order?

Almost time to begin finding out.....

Cheers,
Ian
PS - we do have a few ladies here too BTW,

 

It's related to qualy rather than FP, but figured it didn't really warrant it's own thread;

Seems a remarkably sensible move for these guys!....... I like it.

Cheers,
Ian

 

Im going to lose sleep tonight lol! Common sense prevailing in F1....how dare they

 

Day 1 of proceedings here. Weather was perfect. Here's the track schedule.

2014 Formula 1® Rolex Australian Grand Prix ? Track Schedule | 2014 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix

Tomorrow we're taking our Ferraris for laps and display, as well as breakfast in the Ferrari box and a pit walk.

 

It's a long season

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XIEnkRIewc]F1 2014 Australian GP: Drivers Press Conference (Thursday) - YouTube[/ame]

 

Thanks for the invite

 

Stewards won't enforce 107% rule | Planet F1 | Formula One | News, Standings, Results, Features, Video

 

Would love to see photo's of your events there. Sounds fantastic! Enjoy it.

 

" All drivers that make it through to Q3 will now start the races on the set of tyres they used to set their best time in Q2. Previously, every driver that made it to Q3 had to start the race on the tyres they used in that session."

Doesn't it seem logical that those with a good car will set a time in Q-2 on the harder/slower tires just good enough to get into Q3. And then try to set a Q-3 time good enough for pole, or at least a front row start, on the softer/faster tire.

That would result in starting in front on the longer lasting tire and, with some luck and/or dirty driving, the pole sitter could keep the pack behind him yet still run a nice long first stint, saving the softer tire for later when his car is lighter.

In other words, it appears that a good driver with a good car can have the best of both worlds; i.e. start in the front but on the tire better suited to a good strategic first stint if that means using the slower but longer lasting version.

 

Rewarding the good performers, what a novel idea...

 

Thank you, Ian.

Should be an interesting season providing Christian is wrong regarding his assessment of MB dominance. I'd love to see a Williams resurgence with Flip and I'll be watching Babalu's progress with his new team, Toro Rosso...
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A handy guide:

2014 FORMULA 1 GUIDE « Sniff Petrol

 

Sounds like a good idea.



I wonder how they'll screw it up.

 

OMG

THAT's the way to celebrate a GP. Awesome!

 

+1 very nice Aircon. have fun


F1 is in the air...

 

Finally! It's here! Finally! It feels like the off season was years.


Mark

 

The new MB nose cones is delayed as I have heard it still hasn't passed crash tests, but they did bring an updated front wing with different cascades and endplates, the first send and third elements extend all the way to the front wing reference area now as well whilst the 4th and 5th elements remain the only part of the wing that are unaltered. Aldo Costa describes this FW as very aggressive and together with a tighter, optimized engine cover it should bring about a 2 tenths per lap upgrade.

The batwing under the car will be copied quickly.


ferrari have both the new and old front wings there, will probably test both. The cascades appear to have some downforce dialed back as some have been removed.

RB10 engine cover is one big complicated part! Neat


Mclaren have their radiators mounted in a very interesting manner. They sit more on a vertical plane and canted outwards from the car, very interesting.
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But who will be the first driver to take that chance with a less than stellar car? AKA, if at top speed you are the 5th fastest, but if 6-15 are on the options, how many of them will out qualify you in Q2. This will help the best qualifying team, or two, but I am going to guess all other teams will need to try this at risk of not making Q3.

 

Whiting says FIA will stop the race if all cars retire? | Adam Cooper's F1 Blog

''Race will be stopped if everyone retires''.

I don't really see another option there, Charlie...

 

Must be something in the water there lol.

I believe at least one car from every team will probably retire.

 

Then we can have a Talledaga Nights type finish.

 

It's concerning that he would even need to state this. Hopefully it won't be that bad this weekend.