How Many Finishers in Melbourne?

[Gridlock]

Let's assume at this point we'll have 22 starters (on Friday..) as Lotus appear to still exist, all rumours to the contrary. So, based on reliability not driving skill please, how many classified when it's all over? We can argue performance etc all day long but let's get our early predictions on 2014 reliability down...

I'll open at 12 - which implies a good chance of points for anyone still running a Marussia or Caterham.

[JimClarkFan]

I voted 13-14, I think this question is much harder than who will stick it on pole.

[Gridlock]

For reference,

2013 4 cars
2012 6 cars
2011 5 retired + 2 DSQ (Sauber's rear wing issue - which makes this 7 for the purposes of this poll)
2010 10 retired (!)
2009 5 retired from 20, I'm counting HRT as another 2, so 7 for the last major regs-change season opener.

So voting 16+ would seem to be against current wisdom.

[Manoah2u]

how about zero!

[Gridlock]

Oh that would make Bernie smile... So let's hope not.

Maybe I should add "Indy 2005 again" as the outside bet...

[Manoah2u]

yeah, i have the feeling there will be a load of DNF's.

reliability DNFs, car contact DNFs, driving errors (spinning etc) DNFs, Pirelli DNFs.

i voted 6-10 cars. and i feel like we can be happy if 7 cars actually finish.

[Maxion]

I'm a bit worried for the Renault cars. If they don't start racking up the KMs in the next test I fear that they'll find some engine issues at Melbourne.

I'd say 13 finish the race.

[Ferraripilot]

A better question might be, IF the Renault powered cars finish, how many times will they be lapped?

[AnthonyG]

I think everyone will be so focused on getting points by finishing (at the expense of speed) that we'll have a high finishing-rate.
The second race will perhaps be more attractive then.

[AnthonyG]

Btw, the top 10 gets points, so there will always be 10 classified cars.

[CHT]

I am guessing some cars might even choose to retire after 1st lap to avoid costly damage to the engine and kers.

[Gridlock]

Btw, the top 10 gets points, so there will always be 10 classified cars.

I wondered about this - whether points would be 'left on the table' if nobody finished in the lower points positions. Let's assume the poll means "still running when the winner crosses the line", if you want vague clarity Edit - classified as per whatever the FIA regs are.

They should add John Booth's heart-rate to the pit channel feed in Aus

[Gridlock]

I am guessing some cars might even choose to retire after 1st lap to avoid costly damage to the engine and kers.

Yes, imagine you smack the rear wheel into the wall and kill the power unit on lap 5 - you now have 4 left for the season...

[Shrieker]

Don't you have to finish at least %90 of the race to be classified and be eligible for points ? Can you be not classified and still score points ? That sounds counter-intuitive to me...

[Callum]

I wonder how many teams will decide to cruise around at 70% pace (or no ERS) to just finish and pick up any points remaining. Can you imagine if we had Caterham and Marussia with all cars in the points?