2012 Australian GP predictions

[Tozza Mazza]

Red Bull
McLaren -
Lotus +0.5
Mercedes +0.6
Ferrari +1.0
Force India +1.0
Sauber +1.1
Williams +1.2
STR +1.6
Caterham +1.8
Joke teams >107%

[siskue2005]

At the start Schumacher will split from 5th on the grid Vettel and Hamilton on the front row. He will be in the lead by turn one. Massa will locate Hamilton from P12 around the outside with his GPS. He'll spear him in turn one, causing Hamilton to rotate and take out Vettel. Webber will dive inside and chop Button, taking them both out. Rosberg will make it out of the mess and finish 2nd for an AMG 1-2. Raikkonen will fend of Alonso to finish 3rd. Schumacher will jump on the podium. Brawn will cry. Kimi will look dead. Danica Patrick watching at home after crashing her NASCAR will wonder how a woman made it onto the podium after the race not realizing it is Rosberg.

[Hail22]

I won't make a prediction until after FP2 on Friday

[beelsebob]

I won't make a prediction until after FP2 on Friday

Cheat!

[raymondu999]

Apparently Red Bull is still bringing their B-spec car to Melbourne and not the A-spec

[dren]

They have had late exhaust changes the last several years. I expect them to be confident in the car's performance.

[raymondu999]

What late exhaust change did they have last year?

[markc]

@dren and @raymondu999
I must admit that's also my recollection: RB have had exhaust changes late on in testing last year - 2011. I recall the stickers in their "expected" location when actually the exhaust was on the floor, then RB extended the exhaust to exit by the floor next to the rear tyres...

[raymondu999]

That was in 2010 - they put the exhaust stickers in the place where the RB5 had exhausts; but the exhausts had moved down. But not in 2011.

[JGomezH]

sorry for the off-topic, when teams pack and travel to Australia ?

[markc]

That was in 2010 - they put the exhaust stickers in the place where the RB5 had exhausts; but the exhausts had moved down. But not in 2011.

Wait... you mean it's 2012 already!?!?!?!
my recollection was incorrect! Damn you faulty memory!

[Ferraripilot]

I believe the Mclaren has it aerodynamically this year. The Red Bull has too uncompromising of an exhaust system to be better than what Mclaren have going. I see the Merc exhaust solution to be the best, but they may not quite be the quickest car yet. Merc's qualifying pace will be massive due to their front wing f-duct though.

race:
Hamilton
Vettel
Schumacher
Webber
Rosberg
Button

qualifying:
Hamilton
Schumacher
Rosberg
Vettel
Button
Webber

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

You really dont like Red Bull do you Ferraripilot?

[JayeOFarrell]

By the end of the race I would expect when based on race pace alone to be something along the lines of

That seems just about right to me.

McLaren
Red Bull

Mercedes
Ferrari
Force India

Lotus
STR
Sauber

Williams
Caterham

HRT
Marussia

[Earnard Beccelstone]

With my head

Top 10 drivers

Vettle
Hamilton +.150
Webber +.05
Button +.075
Alonso +.05
Raikkonen: +.1
Massa: +.1
Rosberg: +.075
Schumacher: +.150
Grosjean: +.1

Teams:
Red Bull
McLaren
Ferrari
Lotus
Mercedes
Force India
Williams
Sauber
STR
Caterham
HRT
Marussia

With my heart:

Webber
Button
Raikkonen
Kobayashi
Schumacher
Hulkenburg
Ricciardo
Hamilton
Senna
Kovalainen