Formula 1 - 2013

[BenM]

It's almost that time of the year again... less than a week to go until the season opener race in Melbourne.

All eyes on Lewis Hamilton and what he'll do in the Mercedes this year - will it be a more competitive car than last year, or will he be a talented driver getting more and more frustrated in the mid field? How will Sergio go in Lewis's old seat at MacLaren?

As usual I'll be cheering for Webber (and to a lesser extent Ricciardo) but deep down I think his chance at a WDC is gone. Hope I'm wrong.

Is anyone going next weekend? We are heading over for the race, cannot wait. The last time I went was in 2005, and it was a bit of a downer only being in GA. I'm hoping the grandstand seats this year will make it a better experience.

[Captain Nemo]

I was at the Top Gear festival yesterday.
Saw Webber break the track record, was amazing!
He was talking up Hamiltons chances this year big-time.
Go Webber!

[BenM]

Awesome, how was it? I forgot it was on to be honest.

I went to Top Gear Live the first time it was held in Sydney... loved it (though I will always remember sitting in the hotel room, watching the news footage of Black Saturday before we went out... same weekend ) - seems like they have expanded on the concept a fair bit. Bit difficult to get up there the week before the GP though.

Lewis's performances this year will be really interesting - the Merc seems pretty quick in testing from memory, and I think Schumacher and Rosberg really didn't do it justice - it had really good straight line speed but just not enough grip. I'm not a Hamilton fan but with improvements to the car I think he'll do better than we think... which feels strange to say, because when the move was announced I thought it was a stupid decision made for money and that he'd be lucky to win a race this season. But I'm starting to think that was wrong.

[virge666]

I reckon it comes down to the top speed of the RedBull.

That thing is amazing in corners... if they can stop them being smashed on the straights... that will piss it in ... again.

Hamilton will throw it at the scenery... often.

[rubin]

I agree, the Merc's will be there or thereabouts, and Lewis (like Alonso) seems to make the car faster than what it actually is.

Redbull will be hard to beat. They havent posted any fantastic times in testing, with the exception of one afternoon when they did qualy testing and webber was 1.5secs clear of any other time for the days prior. Mclaren seem to be a way off from all reports, but most of them are from button who always complains of understeer.

I'm looking forward to seeing Torro Rosso and Sauber actually. the sauber looks absolutely amazing, and the TR's are apparently streets ahead of last year, and they're expected to be fighting for top 6's.

Gonna be a good year.

[Jackson]

If Lewis can somehow control his temper and risk taking without it affecting his speed he will be a good chance this year.
Amazing driver but doesn't seem to have found where his limit is yet, he takes some stupid risks. Smart drivers win championships, reckless drivers win races.
Can't wait for it to restart, thinking of going over to singapore for the gp this year. Has anyone been over there for it?

[Bruce Dickinson]

If Lewis can somehow control his temper and risk taking without it affecting his speed he will be a good chance this year.
Amazing driver but doesn't seem to have found where his limit is yet, he takes some stupid risks. Smart drivers win championships, reckless drivers win races.
Can't wait for it to restart, thinking of going over to singapore for the gp this year. Has anyone been over there for it?

got my tickets for Singapore GP, going with the missus for first ever GP. Went for the premium walkabout which were $400 SD each, can move around a lot of areas and have a wander on the track after the race.

They just announced the Killers as the main act for Saturday night, happy with that choice.

[virge666]

Ferrari to best Mercedes.

Mercedes to beat McLaren

[rubin]

Ferrari to best Mercedes.

Mercedes to beat McLaren

big call.

i think it will change dramatically over the season. Will depend entirely on who can keep the development going over the long term. Im not sure Sam Michale was the best decision for Mclaren. His recent efforts at williams have been a stand out.

If Mercedes can keep up the current form, and continue the development in the right direction, they'll be in with a chance.

At the end of the day, I just hope vettel doesnt win again. The guy just pisses me off.

[virge666]

big call.

i think it will change dramatically over the season. Will depend entirely on who can keep the development going over the long term. Im not sure Sam Michale was the best decision for Mclaren. His recent efforts at williams have been a stand out.

If Mercedes can keep up the current form, and continue the development in the right direction, they'll be in with a chance.

At the end of the day, I just hope vettel doesnt win again. The guy just pisses me off.

Alonso could drive a bread truck around the circuit. And he has a fast car this year. Hamilton is quick - but it is a new car, he will take time to bed it in.

Also - new tyres this year again !!

[rubin]

The tyres will be very interesting. Testing is showing they'll get between a lap and a lap and a half on the new soft/super softs, and as little as 3 on the Garda before deterioration kicks. Some are saying we could see 4 stoppers in Melbourne.

[virge666]

The tyres will be very interesting. Testing is showing they'll get between a lap and a lap and a half on the new soft/super softs, and as little as 3 on the Garda before deterioration kicks. Some are saying we could see 4 stoppers in Melbourne.

Wow - have not heard that - tis going to be a good first few races...

[rubin]

Just read an article from the Chief Technical Analyst of BBC, the same guy who has helped design ferrari's, bennetons, minardi's and Mclarens.

He has some interesting points, but his call so far is that it wouldn't surprise him to see Hamilton there or thereabouts in terms of the title with a few races to go. Having seen some of the testing clips, i'm inclined to agree.

The RedBlls look like they can carry an absolute ton of speed into the corners, and i reckon are 10+ km/h quicker through medium speed corners. Through some of the highspeed corners and hard power corners (i.e the final turn at Jerez) they are so far ahead its not funny. They will, most likely lose out a little on the straight, but thats not anything new. F1 cars normally find the balance of top end speed and cornering speed, and then err on the side of straight line speed for effect, but when you have a car that is that much quicker in the corners, who cares!

The Mercedes looks the goods as well. seems to be well planted and when you watch hamilton or rosberg at the wheel, they aren't trying to start a chainsaw, its smooth and deliberate movements - means the car is easy to drive and gets some good speed. I like the way it comes of the corner too, it just looks very aggressive and almost seems to slingshot out of them.

The Mclaren is understeering badly in testing, but that may be an inherent trait of looking after the tyres. The tracks were alot cooler than what they would be racing on, so that may have something to do with it. The ferrari is very, very tail happy, but fortunately, its an easy enough solution. They wouldn't have they're ballast set yet, so no doubt that will fix up either car.

[virge666]

Nice one Rubes.

Good read

[hocko]

Heading over to Melbourne tomorrow night for a sporting weekend.
Friday; On the booze with a few old mates.
Saturday; Woodlands GC in the comp.
Sunday; Melbourne GP followed by the casino.
Monday; Montuna GC with a couple of old member mates.
Tuesday; Back to Perth and staight to work

[rubin]

Heading over to Melbourne tomorrow night for a sporting weekend.
Friday; On the booze with a few old mates.
Saturday; Woodlands GC in the comp.
Sunday; Melbourne GP followed by the casino.
Monday; Montuna GC with a couple of old member mates.
Tuesday; Back to Perth and staight to work

I hate you.

[Shadesy]

Not catching The mighty blues take home the NAB cup mate?

[hocko]

I seriously doubt it!

[G.K]

Good to see MW at the top after Free Practice 1 in Malaysia. Not that it means a great deal but would be good for the confidence levels. Kimi is up there too. Even the hard tyre appeared to be copping a hiding during the first practice so given they way Kimi was able to look after his tyres and do a 2 stop in Melbourne, he could be looking good for back to back wins perhaps. Fingers crossed it ends up being a dry race on Sunday so we get a good idea of where evryone is at.

[rubin]

Malaysia is a Redbull track. It almost always has been. Most of the corners are very high speed, and even though there are 2 huge straights, the cars are geared for corner speed at this track.

FP2 will be a better indication IMO. it normally is, as FP1 is experimenting and testing and making sure the car is together correctly. FP2 will see more setup work involved, and the track will have rubbered in and cleaned up a bit more by then as well.

RB/Lotus front row for mine, followed by ferrari/mercedes, and (big call i know) Torro Rosso. The force India is still a point and squirt car and doesnt have the inherent Downforce of the front runners.

[G.K]

Agree re the FP1 vs FP2 thing. FP2 has just started now BTW.

The Red Bulls definately looked the most stable through the high speed stuff as to be expected.

Most of the cars appeared to be running light fuel loads during FP1 so it will be interesting to see how the tyres cope with some heavier loads on board during FP2.

I think you are on the money with the RB/Lotus front row. Alonso is probably the only other who could upset the apple cart.

[virge666]

A total c*nt.

"Multi 21"

seb.jpg

[oncewasagolfer]

That sums it up pretty well, it was a total c*nt act but not surprising.

[oncewasagolfer]

Webber drove the perfect race and was poised to win until that prick broke team orders and nearly took them both out.

[Pieface]

Just another reason to not invest too much interest in this sport. What a dog act from Vettel...to add to his collection.