Driver of The Race - Australia

**Peter Mallett** · 2 Apr 2006, 10:18 (Ref:1567697)

Well that was a bit tedius wasn't it?

Who shone in Melbourne then?

Obviously Fernando got a well controlled and deserved win, completely outshining his teamm mate who stalled on the grid.

Monty put in a sterling drive after his foul up in the first warm up, but again Kimi was on another plane.

Michael showed some pace before hitting the wall, possibly on oil from the Button Honda

I though Jenson was driving badly but it seems to me that his engine was on the way out from the first safety car period.

But for me it has to be Ralf today. He drove through it all in a clam manner and scored Toyota's first podium of the saeson.

Nado · 2 Apr 2006, 10:19 (Ref:1567699)

Considering Ralf also got a drive-through penalty, that is pretty good.

**GTRMagic** · 2 Apr 2006, 10:25 (Ref:1567705)

I remain impressed with Webber... he was LEADING the race, and pulling away (slightly)from Alonso.... till the Williams preparation saw the gearbox/drivetrain fail

Car was destined for a podium, on 2nd, but probably 3rd.

Driver was on #10 for 10 minutes or so after the race.. was not down on the team, took some positives out of the day, despite knowing, as shown above, what may have gotten away

**Peter Mallett** · 2 Apr 2006, 10:29 (Ref:1567708)

Yes I felt sorry for him. Didn't know it was drivetrain though.

Mark Webber · 2 Apr 2006, 10:29 (Ref:1567710)

Mark was a clear pick for me but I can not justify it as he dnf'd , Ralf was my 2nd pick soild job showed his metal . But JV 19th to 6th to hard to beat .
but Mark would have had my vote if if if ..........only IF

Nado · 2 Apr 2006, 10:41 (Ref:1567722)

"Mark was a clear pick for me but I can not justify it as he dnf'd" same here

Troy · 2 Apr 2006, 10:52 (Ref:1567728)

Quick Nick Heidfeld

Bellof · 2 Apr 2006, 11:01 (Ref:1567736)

for me it was heidfeld till he dropped from 2nd to 5th, so now it's ralf for a completly unexpected result...

maximus · 2 Apr 2006, 11:05 (Ref:1567738)

I nearly voted for Mark too, he had a great drive until the failure. (out of fuel Ted? His engine was running you plank!) It would have been great for Australia had he finished. I went for quick Nick as he outshone JV and was able to keep up with some supposedly far superior cars.

FPV GTHO · 2 Apr 2006, 11:31 (Ref:1567756)

Quote:

Originally Posted by maximus

It would have been great for Australia had he finished.

Considering the local media took the hint and only hyped him up for the podium, it wouldve been great. I suppose a minor consolation though is the engines still got plenty of mileage for Imola

My pick's for Ralf though, hes gone from nowhere to somewhere with the team between Melbourne and Sepang

maximus · 2 Apr 2006, 11:35 (Ref:1567761)

He can change the engine though anyway as he DNF'ed and wasn't classified.

ASCII Man · 2 Apr 2006, 11:57 (Ref:1567773)

Quote:

Originally Posted by maximus

I went for quick Nick as he outshone JV

Hmm, I wonder how you come to that conclusion.

Anyway, I vote for Jacques for coming from 19th place to 6th.
Good performance.

Halsey · 2 Apr 2006, 12:11 (Ref:1567780)

Alonso controlled the race for almost all of it, and ended up cruising to victory.
Raikkonen suffered from an error he made which meant he couldn't fight with Alonso.
Ralf coming 3rd was totally unexpected, but having a lot of competitive cars DNF for various reasons certainly helped. Still, considering he was given a drive through, he did very well.
Schumi was pushing really hard until he hit the wall, and it was a huge disappointment to see Webber retire.
But for me the performances of Heidfeld & JV can't be overlooked, so my vote goes to JV.

jj2728 · 2 Apr 2006, 12:36 (Ref:1567810)

This race only confirmed the following for me and some of what I have said for some while:
Alonso is a worthy World Champion and superbly quick.....
Mclaren are'nt half as good as they think they are....
M. Schumacher should retire and quickly....
Massa still has every right to his nickname 'Crasha'
JPM will never be World Champion and...
Jenson will never win a GP....
Driver of the race for me?....Alonso hands down.

Dixie Flatline · 2 Apr 2006, 12:42 (Ref:1567817)

Ralf and JV are my two candidates. Through personal bias, I'm voting for JV.

Big-O · 2 Apr 2006, 12:42 (Ref:1567818)

I think there are sevral of drivers how deserve it, but I'll give my vote to Villeneuve ... Drove a good race and actually better then I expected.

Ralf did good but has this yellow flag thing hanging over him.

Alonso did a brilliant race.

Kimi did good but didn't have the that extra something you need.

Speed did well but heiii he has V-10 and thats not fair, from my point of view.

Silk Cut Jaguar · 2 Apr 2006, 12:52 (Ref:1567831)

Ralf gets my vote for the second race running. Somehow, in a car that shouldn't be a podium contender he produced something out of nothing.

**Peter Mallett** · 2 Apr 2006, 13:25 (Ref:1567867)

Its been pointed out to me that I've mispelled a couple of the names.

I'll just go and hang myself for being so dim.

Matski · 2 Apr 2006, 13:29 (Ref:1567874)

RS did a good job for sure

alonso had to do NOTHING he was gifted a 6 second lead by the SC on more than one occasion (ALONSO >>>>>6 secs>>>>>>>> MF1 > MF1> Nick Heidfeld) which was a JOKE. Nick not able to overtake until the line - with alonso just running off into the distance...

...and then it seems Montoya took Heidfeld under yellows/SC... heidfelfd had alot to deal with - but he got his head down and did a clean sensible job, bought it home 4th... so nearly a podium.

JV did well also (the only 1 stopper?), but I don't like the guy.. so!!

dsg · 2 Apr 2006, 13:37 (Ref:1567881)

Webber qualified well with a heap of fuel, made a good start, kept out of trouble and clawed up the field to be leading the race when his car failed.

So I voted for Ralf who had a good race and finished on the podium.

maximus · 2 Apr 2006, 13:48 (Ref:1567895)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ASCII Man

Hmm, I wonder how you come to that conclusion.

Anyway, I vote for Jacques for coming from 19th place to 6th.
Good performance.

I suppose, but NH was impressive. JV was good too.

marcel82 · 2 Apr 2006, 13:51 (Ref:1567899)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matski

RS did a good job for sure

alonso had to do NOTHING he was gifted a 6 second lead by the SC on more than one occasion (ALONSO >>>>>6 secs>>>>>>>> MF1 > MF1> Nick Heidfeld) which was a JOKE. Nick not able to overtake until the line - with alonso just running off into the distance...

did you notice Gacoyne talking to Herbert during those SC's? with MF1 using Toyota engines, I'm guessing he wanted them to hold up Heidfeld, so Ralph had a better shot at passing him

Menelaos · 2 Apr 2006, 14:03 (Ref:1567913)

Certainly not raikkonen after he flatspotted his tyre, again. He did a very good job while he had the nose problem of course, but still it was his own fault. I guess this one must go to Fernando, he was pretty much perfect.

curveball · 2 Apr 2006, 14:16 (Ref:1567923)

I'll go for JV, due to 19th to 6th, on a very heavy 1 stop strategy, and based on both BMW drivers' comments, tires that couldnt get up to temp. Impressive that he didnt lose positions on all those SC restarts. Too bad for the engine penalty!

luke · 2 Apr 2006, 14:34 (Ref:1567939)

Vote from me goes to Ralfie. Great to see him do well for once.

View Poll Results: Driver of the Race - Australia
Raikonnen	1	0.71%
Montoya	1	0.71%
Villeneuve	23	16.43%
Heidfeld	16	11.43%
Webber	15	10.71%
R Shumacher	30	21.43%
Alonso	38	27.14%
M Shumacher	1	0.71%
Speed	1	0.71%
Sato	12	8.57%
Liuzi	2	1.43%
Voters: 140. You may not vote on this poll

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