2019 F1 challenge round 1 discussion thread

So what happened with pre season testing? Were Mercedes just using 80% power or is the Ferrari going to be very track sensitive? Messed up my predictions a bit but I still think Vettel will be quick with a full fuel load.

Sandbagging; it’s been going on for years, and it will continue for many more years too.

No doubt that the Albert Park circuit is bumpy, but the Mercedes almost looks violent out there. Clearly, its got tremendous vertical stiffness. It’s delivering the laptime, but one wonders how the car might work at places like Monaco and Singapore. The Ferrari looks like the “nicer” car to drive; it rides the kerbs slightly better and looks less set-up sensitive. Melbourne is littered with “arrive and drive” corners with minimal roll time. Bahrain and China will be interesting in that regard, with longer low-ish corners and longer braking zones. That might see the order change slightly.

With so many teams with new drivers, the differences between teammates at respective teams have been surprising in some regards. As Simon says, it is surprising to see Norris up there – good on him. Sainz was unlucky because he approached Kubica’s wounded Williams on his final lap in Q1.

The Williams looked dreadful in yesterdays practice sessions. It isn’t just a lack of downforce which is hampering the Grove team, that car has a fundamental balance issue as the driver turns into a medium to high speed corner. Yesterday the driver had to constantly steer away from the turn they were trying to negotiate. Sometimes it was obvious, other times it was subtle – but what a mess. Claire “Everything Is Okay” Williams has been an ineffective Deputy Team Principal, and Paddy Lowe was made a convenient scapegoat for the team’s issues.

This might be viewed as supremely harsh, but I think a few drivers might not be on the grid next year. The new Superlicense rules mean that teams have had to consider more experienced drivers, rather than hiring someone very promising straight out of F3. Albon is a case in point. I don’t think he was Helmut Marko’s first choice. Dan Ticktum would be driving a Toro Rosso if Marko had his way, but he lacked the necessary Superlicense points to take part in F1. Ticktum is racing in various series to address that issue. Giovinazzi is another one who isn’t quite good enough. He is fast in isolation, but not good enough to stay or progress in F1.

Wow! Who saw that coming? Bottas completely whooped Hamilton's ass.

Also, Leclerc is going places. Totally worthy of his Ferrari seat.

Well I managed 5 laps of highlights . Zzzzzzzz

What a bore fest. Cars look good though

It happened on lap 4, apparently.  Floor damage immediately ahead of one of the rear wheels
Last I read, the reason why / source was still a mystery


www.motorsport.com/f1/news/mercedes-floor-damage-hamilton-australia/4354516/

I was really disappointed to see that the regulation changes didn’t help overtaking in Melbourne, hopefully they work better elsewhere. I did really enjoy Max muscling his was past Seb, highlight of the race for me.

To be fair, Seb hardly did anything I could see to defend the corner. OK he took the inside line but the Seb of last year would have run Max out o road. Surrendering like that in the first gp of the season does not look good.

There were several front wings littering the start straight!