Round 1: 2015 Australian Grand Prix (Grand Prix Weekend Thread)

[Adam43]

SLAMMED! Motorsport.com has caught the disease Autosport had about ten years ago.

It seems Autosport might be catching Lambasted disease. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/118029
Kimi says, sorry lambasted, that he wasn't driving that well and didn't put a lap together.

[bjohnsonsmith]

A frostie 'intro', excellent as ever.

The season opener and one of my favourite GPs, that rarely fails to deliver. I don't have a favourite driver or team but I'll be watching Daniel Ricciardo, who though finishing 2nd last year was disqualified due to the fuel flow and I'll be watching McLaren-Honda. The hiatus is almost over.

[chillibowl]

Originally Posted by Adam43

SLAMMED! Motorsport.com has caught the disease Autosport had about ten years ago.

in fairness though Marko doesn't need any help sounding like a lunatic who drinks too much Red Bull.

[Sodemo]

Interesting that Hugo Boss sponsorship has been poached by Mercedes.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

Interesting that Hugo Boss sponsorship has been poached by Mercedes.

Nothing like associating your brand with another sucessful brand, good marketing.

[Lancsbreaker]

Great return to the intros, Frostie :-)

In Tenerife at the moment so stuck with Beeb highlights, but looking forward to this weekend's race!

[rpolinski]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

Interesting that Hugo Boss sponsorship has been poached by Mercedes.

Well if you follow Lewis on social media you'll see he's turning into more of a male model with his incessant moody, arty photos than a race driver so Mercedes and Hugo Boss are a better fit

[steve nielsen]

Toro Rosso so far faster than Red Bull.

now wich of those is the junior team?

[FAS33]

If these times are accurate year round, we're in for a exciting times ahead.

[Born Racer]

Sainz's experience is probably showing against Verstappen's.

Button looks calm and content in the interview. He must know something!

Nasr definitely looks quicker than Ericsson.

Quite a spread of times in the field today. Both Lotuses in the top 10 but Grosjean was loads in front of Maldonado.

[steve nielsen]

Originally Posted by Born Racer

Sainz's experience is probably showing against Verstappen's.

B

not really, Max made a small mistake in his last lap wich cost him Q3, but Sainz already spun twice in exactly the same corner, in exactly the same way(in FP1 and in Q1)

[chunterer]

Ok but it's Sainz who's got the job done so far isn't it?

Pretty impressive, and that car has got serious promise.

[steve nielsen]

Originally Posted by chunterer

Ok but it's Sainz who's got the job done so far isn't it?

Pretty impressive, and that car has got serious promise.

he just had a little more luck with the timing of his(bigger) mistake.

[m355y]

Sainz has been more impressive than Max this weekend, sorry. He has some properly eye catching pace in a car that looks very, very fast. It reminds me a bit of Sauber in 2012 this - a mid grid team unexpectedly having a very fast package and exciting young drivers to make the most of it, and Sainz so far has looked a step or two ahead.

Not saying Verstappen won't eventually gain the upper hand, but it's 1-0 Sainz so far.

[steve nielsen]

Originally Posted by m355y

Sainz has been more impressive than Max this weekend, sorry. He has some properly eye catching pace in a car that looks very, very fast. It reminds me a bit of Sauber in 2012 this - a mid grid team unexpectedly having a very fast package and exciting young drivers to make the most of it, and Sainz so far has looked a step or two ahead.

Not saying Verstappen won't eventually gain the upper hand, but it's 1-0 Sainz so far.

you seem to be forgetting that Max did only 6 laps in FP2 due to technical problems and did'nt spin once

Sainz spun twice already and also had more off track excursions.

and also: points are given in races, not in qualifying.

[wolfhound]

I see where Bottas has back pain after qually and had to go to the medical centre. I wonder could this give him problems for the race?

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/118051

[Sodemo]

I suppose there is no chance of Wolf taking the car if Bottas can't race?

[el_cat]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

I suppose there is no chance of Wolf taking the car if Bottas can't race?

She'd have to have run in practice for that to happen IIRC

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

I suppose there is no chance of Wolf taking the car if Bottas can't race?

It would be an awesome solution to the problem should Mr Bottas prove unfit!

[Born Racer]

Originally Posted by steve nielsen

you seem to be forgetting that Max did only 6 laps in FP2 due to technical problems and did'nt spin once

Sainz spun twice already and also had more off track excursions.

and also: points are given in races, not in qualifying.

My point was merely that amidst all the fanfare surrounding Max (and it seems rightly so) it's Sainz who has got the results so far. I'm absolutely with you Steve that Max is looking good; I'm supposing you're thinking that. Pace over the race will certainly be interesting.

[JacobP]

Nothing truly shocking about qualifying, except that McLarens finished dead last. That's a new record for them.

[Paradise City]

Sainz got the job done in qual - so well done to him. Ferrari is a force and as I predicted - a prediction, btw, met with howls of incredulity and cries of disbelief from some of the members here - Kimi was very respectable indeed.

Mclaren are replaying their first year with Mercedes. 2015 is defintely 1995 and Alonso going back in time to '95 has turned out to be a prophecy.

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by Paradise City

Sainz got the job done in qual - so well done to him. Ferrari is a force and as I predicted - a prediction, btw, met with howls of incredulity and cries of disbelief from some of the members here - Kimi was very respectable indeed.

Mclaren are replaying their first year with Mercedes. 2015 is defintely 1995 and Alonso going back in time to '95 has turned out to be a prophecy.

So maybe Alonso will come back for a couple of races, decide he doesn't like the car and will leave due to 'mutual agreement' and Magnussen will do the rest of the year

[sparkione]

Originally Posted by S griffin

So maybe Alonso will come back for a couple of races, decide he doesn't like the car and will leave due to 'mutual agreement' and Magnussen will do the rest of the year

I can't imagine Ferdy's all that delighted by the season's prospects, for sure. He never really wanted to be at Macca and I imagine he wants it even less now. They're a disgrace, pure and simple. Jenson's remarks after Q1 were a model of tact, dignity and Zen-like composure.

[bjohnsonsmith]

So Lulu's on pole; well it was either going to be him or Nico, the McLaren's are at the other end of the grid and Massa ruined Ferrari's day by getting 3rd on the grid. Williams are starting this season where they left off last season, very encouraging.