2013 Australian GP - Albert Park

[WhiteBlue]

I know it is a little early but perhaps the mods can lock the thread and open it again before the race. I thought this is quite interesting:

[mx_tifoso]

2012





2013
Tyres - Medium (prime, white) and Supersoft (option, red)

2012
Tyres - Medium (prime, white) and Soft (option, yellow)
Winner - Jenson Button (Soft-Medium-Medium)

2011
Tyres - Medium (prime, white) and Soft (option, yellow)
Winner - Sebastian Vettel (Soft - Soft - Medium)

2012 pole lap

The quote comes from a new OZ GP thread that Raymond created but I hastily deleted. Instead, I should have merged it into this existing one, so to save all of the info I've quoted his post. My apologies Ray!

Mx_Tifoso

[Nando]

Q

1. Vettel
2. Raikkonen
3. Hamilton
4. Button
5. Alonso

[Mika1]

Q

1. Vettel
2. Button
3. Hamilton
4. Alonso
5. Raikkonen
6. Rosberg

[turbof1]

Q

1. Anybody of the top 5 teams

I thought long, very long about this. Many analysises put Red Bull in front, but from what I have seen nobody really stood out during the tests. I really can't put anybody on the front place.

[k.ko100v]

http://www.accuweather.com/en/au/melbourne/26216/weekend-weather/26216?wknd=next

[beelsebob]

:Q

1. HAM
2. VET
3. RAI
4. ROS
5. ALO
6. WEB

R:

1. VET
2. RAI
3. WEB
4. HAM
5. ALO
6. ROS

[raymondu999]

Q

1. Vettel
2. Raikkonen
3. Hamilton
4. Button
5. Alonso

Wow. Interesting. Don't think I've seen a prediction for a while that doesn't feature teammates at all. In the name of curiosity, Nando - are they by any chance, your top 5 drivers too? ie the drivers you consider the "5 best" of the grid.

For my own predictions:

Qualifying
1. Lewis Hamilton - I don't think the Merc is the fastest car, but IMO it's a car that could very well suit the one-off demands of Albert Park.
2. Sebastian Vettel
3. Nico Rosberg
4. Romain Grosjean
5. Jenson Button
6. Kimi Raikkonen
7. Mark Webber
8. Fernando Alonso
9. Nico Hulkenberg
10. Felipe Massa

I'm predicting Checo to struggle in his first ever qualifying session with a top car - my guess is around mid-Q2, ie 13th/14th.

Race:
1. Sebastian Vettel - who takes the lead through the pits as it turns out the Mercedes has to do a stop more than Vettel.
2. Jenson Button - plays a smart, canny race with tyre preservation and shines in a front-limited circuit.
3. Fernando Alonso
4. Kimi Raikkonen - hounding Alonso for the podium though
5. Lewis Hamilton
6. Nico Hulkenberg
7. Mark Webber - having cold feet at Albert Park as always
8. Romain Grosjean
9. Felipe Massa
10. Nico Rosberg

Unfortunately I think Checo will struggle in the race too - trying to repeat a one-stop and it turns out that he's not such a great tyre manager without a tyre-friendly Sauber...

Strategy predictions... Giventhat in qualifyng, top cars generally run prime (Q1), option Q2 and option Q3, they generally have 2 new primes, and 1, or no, new options (if they run two laps in Q3).

As such I think some will go oPP (lowercase denotes qualifying-used, uppercase denotes new tyre set) - or some going more flat out and going ooPP. Basically - the two strategy choices we saw in China 2012.

[FrukostScones]

20/18/19 C° predicted, but predictions changed a lot in the last few days.

I expect a very strong Ferrari, a strong Red Bull, very strong Mercedes at least in qualy. Grosjean will win the race.

edit: and surprise-guests could be the Findias.

[Mika1]

It can't be cold enough for Mercedes

[Pandabeer]

Q:

1. HAM
2. VET
3. ALO
4. ROS
5. RAI
6. BUT

[Neno]

Well here is mine:
1.Raikkonen (well Raikkonen was pretty optimistic about Lotus package and as man of few words, but wise words, I
trust he can deliver it)
2.Vettel (well i expect at least one Red Bull on podium)
3.Alonso (he already announced he will be on podium, so i will take him for granted)
4.Hamilton (well i expect from Mercedes strong form in Australia, their form is always highest on beggining of season, and Hamilton will deliver it)
5.Grosjean (well i think he is matured, but this maybe means he will be more carefull on track (read it slower)
6.Webber (well Webber was not quiet satisfied with car, and when car performances are close i can see trough race he will maybe lose couple position in race)
7.Button (if he "score" setup he will win race, but Mclaren this year have setup issues mostly because pull-rod, so bigger chance are he will not score it.)
8.Rosberg (well Rosberg is weird plant, he had good car last year in Australia, but again he didnt deliver it, so i expect nothing more from him)
9.Perez (his first year in new team, quiet expectations for him, and he already last year showed he crack under pressure,
moment when he signed with Mclaren his races become worse, and almost jeopardized Sauber 6th place in championship.)
10.Massa (well we know Alonso is first driver, nothing to say about Massa)

[Hobbs04]

Aussie grit Webber for the win. Come on Red Bull let him win his home race. Vettel can have the rest.

[Mika1]

:Q

1. HAM
2. VET
3. RAI
4. ROS
5. ALO
6. WEB

R:

1. VET
2. RAI
3. WEB
4. HAM
5. ALO
6. ROS

As a Lewis Hamilton this would be a nightmare for me...

[beelsebob]

As a Lewis Hamilton this would be a nightmare for me...

You're a lewis hamilton? I didn't realise there were so many!