How fast will Alonso be in Austraila?

I do hope he will be up there, he was very impressive towards the end of the season last year.. It will be great to have a 4 or 5 horse championship race this year instead of the usual suspects.

 

It's a real hard one to answer that, so many unknowns, it is not unrealistic to think he could, I have a sneaky feeling the car is good, but Mclaren have got up to speed by all account's, BrawnGP is another seemingly fast car, Ferrari I'am sure will have a driver on the podium, and there could well be some other big surpises..I don't think so but it really feels like a lottery this year.

However there is by the sound of it more trouble ahead ...

From ITV..

FIA president Max Mosley expects a furore over diffuser legality to hit the start of the 2009 season.

Brawn, Toyota and Williams have interpreted the technical regulations differently to their rivals and their diffuser designs are set to be protested in Melbourne.

Mosley admitted that the controversial diffusers fell within a grey area in the rules, and expects a row to erupt in Australia next weekend.

"It's a very clever device and you can make a very good case for saying that it's legal and a very good case for saying that it's illegal," Mosley told the Daily Telegraph.

"It's going to be difficult.

"What's actually happened is that teams are saying 'We think it's illegal for this and this reason.'"

He said there was no longer time to resolve the issue before the first race.

"If there had been more time before the detailed objections to the system were sent in, I would probably have sent it to the FIA Court of Appeal before Australia, and actually I have given thought to that this week," Mosley said.

"But there isn't time. It wouldn't be fair.

"I think the thing will probably come to some sort of a head in Australia.

"One possibility is that all the teams agree that it is illegal, and therefore all the teams shouldn't have it from Barcelona.

"But then those teams who say it is legal will say 'Why should we do that?' And those that say it's illegal will say 'Why should we lose an advantage for four races?'

"And so probably what will happen is it will end up going to the stewards, who will make a decision.

"That will almost certainly be appealed by whichever side is disadvantaged, and then that will go to our Court of Appeal and be hammered out."

Mosley said he had no inkling whether the diffusers would ultimately be declared legal or not.

"It's not straightforward," he said.

"I have an open mind on it at the moment - I can see it going either way. I really can.

"But somebody has to make their mind up and fortunately it's not my job."...

 

I bet he gets to crazy with the Kerrs and wont finish..

 

The question is what will happen if some of the other teams are front runners (such as Brawn GP). It would be really irritating if one of those teams does really well (even win), and only then would they rule whether the diffusers were not legal. I hate it when the FIA deal with things this way. They have been hurting the sport for years with all these stupid unclear rules. I don't understand why they can't make things absolutely clear from the get go. If somehow the teams find a loophole and do what they can to make the best out of those rules, then so be it. F1 is about advancement of technology. The team with the best engineers and drivers should win. Plain and simple. Just when I was so excited for the start of the season, and the possibility of even closer racing between teams, something like the diffuser issue has to arise. They should leave it be. I won't even get started on the budget caps.....

 

Here is an interesting article about KERS:

http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/090321122634.shtml


I would bet that Ferrari, McLaren, Renault, Brawn GP, Williams, BMW will all be using KERS in the first race. They can't afford not to. At the same time, reliability should be interesting to see. As well as how safe the systems are for the mechanics throughout the season. When the systems go "live" they can hurt the unsuspecting mechanic (from what I have read).

 

What F1 is now, and what it should be are two different things. Also, you can argue that people have different views on what it should be.

 

Exactly. Thats why I wish it would be as it was in the 80's. Turbos, NA, 8's, 12's etc... all racing against each other.

 

Alonso at Melbourne: Midpack at best

 

Alonso was pretty consistent during the last phase of pre season tests. I won't rule out a podium challenge for him....oh wait...i just remembered that his front wing might get knocked off the 1st corner

 

Yes.

 

Actually Ferrari haven't finished on the podium in Australia for the last two seasons. So you really never know, I think Alonso with get 4th or 5th probably know higher than that.

 

Good point, "I know nothing"...(said in a Hispanic tone)

 

Come on we all know that isn't true.

 

You're wrong. Kimi won the Australian GP in 2007.

 

IMO, no...but I believe he'll have a few podium's this season.

 

I think he'll have a few wins this season.

 

I could see alonso pulling out a win, certainly a podium spot. He always brings his A game come sundays.

 

Possibly even more than a few. The dude is magic.