Australian GP 2010 - Melbourne

[vall]

Still doesn't change the fact he is best on the grid, and better than Shumacher too.

what a joke! How do you actually quantify who is the best on the grid if I may ask?

How do you quantify Hamilton ramming into Webber?

uf, you got the wrong guy I never said that.....

[i70q7m7ghw]

Hamilton did have tyre problems when he pitted, as did Alonso and Massa - the softs were several seconds slower than a new set, but everyone was in the same boat. The difference is the team asked Lewis to pit and he trusted their decision, where as Ferrari decided to risk staying out and let the drivers make do. On paper the change worked, the difference in pace between a worn and a new set of softs was enough to probably move Lewis past Kubica - on paper. In reality the loss of track position made it much more of a challenge.

The difference between Button and Hamilton today is Button felt it was the right time for slicks and suggested the change to his team, they trusted him and agreed based on their information of where he would feed out etc. - it was a team decision. Hamilton was asked to pit for new tyres and trusted his team - of which there is nothing wrong with, that is what they are there for! A more experienced driver would have questioned the change - Alonso did this when he saw cars pitting.

In my opinion the one thing today highlighted for me is a problem with the tyres. You should not be able to do a race distance (which was pretty much what Button did) on a single set of option tyres! It should be possible on the prime but with a big enough performance gap that it would be quicker to use several sets of option.

[timbo]

In my opinion the one thing today highlighted for me is a problem with the tyres. You should not be able to do a race distance (which was pretty much what Button did) on a single set of option tyres! It should be possible on the prime but with a big enough performance gap that it would be quicker to use several sets of option.

I agree, although one have to note that the temperatures were lower than usual and that might affected things.

[Just_a_fan]

But Button chose to stop for slicks. Whitmarsh has given Button all of the credit. So Hamilton could have made a call on tyres, he didn't so the team had to do it for him and things didn't work out. Instead of taking the view of a mature professional racer he acts like a spoilt brat over the radio.

I am fully aware of the driver and engineer relatationship and rule so I don't need to be patronised, thank you.

Hamilton did pleanty wrong in the race. He didn't make the right call on tyres (eventhough his teammate did), he burned up his tyres and when he couldn't get past Webber, turned in on Webber and took him out. Truely a drive of a champion(!). Worst thing is, Hamilton looses one place and Webber ends up 9th. Not exactly fair.

When did this happen? Webber drove in to Hamilton as Hamilton was trying to pass Alonso.

[Giblet]

But Button chose to stop for slicks. Whitmarsh has given Button all of the credit. So Hamilton could have made a call on tyres, he didn't so the team had to do it for him and things didn't work out. Instead of taking the view of a mature professional racer he acts like a spoilt brat over the radio.

I am fully aware of the driver and engineer relatationship and rule so I don't need to be patronised, thank you.

Hamilton did pleanty wrong in the race. He didn't make the right call on tyres (eventhough his teammate did), he burned up his tyres and when he couldn't get past Webber, turned in on Webber and took him out. Truely a drive of a champion(!). Worst thing is, Hamilton looses one place and Webber ends up 9th. Not exactly fair.

When did this happen? Webber drove in to Hamilton as Hamilton was trying to pass Alonso.

+1

And the stewards (former drivers) also thought the same thing, reprimanding Webber.

It's amazing the different color glasses people wear while watching the race.

[autogyro]

Got to mention the sponsors, sells the oil dontcha know.

[Giblet]

Not sure if this is the right thread to post this now. But found this off his qualy lap:

I don't care if this is the right place : that is a great image ...

It would explain A LOT

Those sparks are from the underside of the wing, where the strakes/skid plates are, usually titanium. If those sparks came from the brakes yes it would explain a lot.

Maybe RB has QC issues. Just cuz you get a part from a box doesn't mean it shouldn't be scrutinized as if a 16 year old made it.

[autogyro]

I think the sparks are most likely from the front wing.
The calliper is at the bottom though isnt it and the sparks look like most of them are going into the area of the calliper and disk.
Perhaps damage was caused that showed up later in the race.

[ringo]

glasses?

They were wearing these:

[wesley123]

note how those sparks are turned, they seem to becoming from there

[Hangaku]

After reading some of this nonsense from the last 5 or 6 pages, I'm sad to say that I'm losing faith in the forum as a source of decent discussion. Over-excited / upset fanboys trying to get one-up on each other, does not make good reading. Sticking with the facts is a much nicer way to conduct business [-X

If I wanted to read fiction, I'd go to the library - and perhaps some posters could benefit from exactly that

I thought it was an awesome race though, really looking forward to Sepang in 6 days.

Edit: fixed a typo

[Just_a_fan]

Their problems don't disappear in the race. It's just that their problems have become mitigated on the tracks we have had so far with the advantage in straight line speed they have. They can gain an advantage in lap time over everyone else in a relatively 'free' fashion with the effect of conserving their tyres over the race in order to gain that speed advantage.

Webber and Hamilton set their fastest lap times on lap 47 and Webber was 0.15 seconds faster. Webber's tyres were only 2 laps older than Hamilton's. So the "conserving tyres" thing looks like guff to be honest.

Hamilton was very quick today and was all over (and passing) other, supposedly superior, cars all race until the last few laps. On similar tyres he drove away from Webber in the chase after the Ferraris.

The Red Bull is obviously the quickest car so far, but over the duration of a race the McLaren is right up there as a front runner. And race pace is what matters ultimately as you don't get points for qualifying...

[andrew]

Oh no!! I made a typo and the Hamilton fans are getting all excited. Just watched a reply and I would have to say that Hamilton definately turned in on Webber. If only the gravel traps were actual traps Hamilton would not have got off easily.

Nice to see certain posters issuing insults rather than discussing. Kudos chaps(!)

[timbo]

Webber and Hamilton set their fastest lap times on lap 47 and Webber was 0.15 seconds faster. Webber's tyres were only 2 laps older than Hamilton's. So the "conserving tyres" thing looks like guff to be honest.

Hamilton was very quick today and was all over (and passing) other, supposedly superior, cars all race until the last few laps. On similar tyres he drove away from Webber in the chase after the Ferraris.

The Red Bull is obviously the quickest car so far, but over the duration of a race the McLaren is right up there as a front runner. And race pace is what matters ultimately as you don't get points for qualifying...

Once again the race was not "normal". The track was cold and slippery and Hamilton probably coped with it better than most others.
It's hard to gauge "true" race pace in such conditions.
Although it would be nice if there were more challengers at the ultimate top.

[woohoo]

Not to derail the subject, but one thing got me wondering; why did the crown boo at the Premier of Victoria ?
They dident boo at Jenson Button, or the would have booed earlier. They just booed when he presented the trophy.