The Australian Grand Prix of 2009 has again become an unexpected spectacle during which Button proved the most consistent and fastest. Rubens Barrichello finished second thanks to late crashes from Vettel and Kubica, while Trulli finishes 3th after starting from last place.
xpensive wrote:The way I understand things, everybody has been trying to develop their gearboxes with the lowest possible CoG, which then could be interfering with a new diffuser?
That was my understanding of it as well.
xpensive wrote:
But on the other hand, today's gearboxes are located between the engine and rear-wheel centerline, where I believe floor must be flat anyway, correct?
Yes. The floor must be flat until the rear wheel centreline. However, the upper deck of the diffuser works by entraining air over a flat floor. So in effect, this flat floor rule is being met, but design space is required above the floor anyway for this diffuser ramp.
shir0 wrote:IMHO, I don't agree with the stewards giving a penalty to Vettel. It wasn't Vettel who was "too optimistic" as Kubica says, but the other way 'round! Watching the replay on super slo-mo, it definitley shows that it was too late in the corner for Robert to make a proper turn-in to the corner even if Vettel had braked early. Vettel was still carrying enough speed to fight for the position.
the penalty wasn't for the crash. it's for him dragging that broken front wheel around, which i think is just stupid, what did he want? finish the race behind the SC with a broken wheel?
An all too confusing result I dare say..
Brawn GP proved they have the best car, but might or might not be found illegal in 2 weeks.
Button did nothing more than cruise to the finish, I'd be surprised if he had to push anywhere near 100% during the whole race.
Rubens --- up big time twice, and went off unpunished.
A veeeeeery late deployment of the SC also helped. Combining this with the lack of any punishment for Rubens is funny. Had it been Ferrari and Massa instead, everybody would be talking about conspiracies by now..
I'd really like to see what he'll say if he has to play second fiddle to Button later on in the season due to team orders!!!
Maybe FIA are indeed planning to deem the diffusers illegal.I just wish if they do, that they will not disqualify anyone retrospectively..
The super soft tires were a joke: 10-12 laps was all they lasted, and surely not in the hottest conditions. What's the point of even having said tire for a race? It looked as it was almost dangerous..
Hamilton drove very maturely and wise, and also got lucky. Surely nothing spectacular, given all the retirements and Trulli's penalty. But I doubt anyone could achieve anything better than that with the car he was driving.
Ferrari --- up big time again. But I was expecting that, as they always seem to struggle in Melbourne. Reliability issues aside, I think in different track conditions they will be much stronger.
Driver of the race? Surely Button, he 's the one who won. Best of the rest? Definitely Vettel and Kubica, they both had a great race, and if only they were both a bit more careful everyone would be cheering at them as well..
The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents. H.P.Lovecraft
GianlucaZ19 wrote:the penalty wasn't for the crash. it's for him dragging that broken front wheel around, which i think is just stupid, what did he want? finish the race behind the SC with a broken wheel?
eerrrr... what Paul said...
"Fortunately I've got a bag with dry ice in [my suit], which I put next to my balls, so at least they stay nice and cool!"- Sebastian Vettel, 2009 Malaysian GP Friday Practice.
ben_watkins wrote:Great job too by Hamilton to come from 18th on grid to finish in the points, let alone 3rd [following Trulli's penalty]
all the major papers websites over here in the UK are jizzing themselves at that instead of Jensons win
whoppers
AS they should be!... Jensen was supposedto win, yes He did a great job, but nothing more than he was supposed to do. Hamilton on the other hand got a well deserved hard fought podium out a car that could barely got out of Q1. Both did good jobs, but Lou did a great one...
Do some of you guys actually watch the race or do you just come on here screaming for your favorite driver?
Webber did nothing wrong!. Rubans was hit from behind by Kovi(I think Kovi was on the KERS and misjudged the braking for turn 1)... this sent Rubans into the side of Webber, and Heidfeld finished Webber off by hitting him from other side simultaneously.
Vettel did nothing wrong! Even if he wanted to lift off and Let Kubica by he couldnt because Kubica forced him onto the grass/off the track. SLICK ON GRASS DONT WORK! I dont care if they are green or purple, new or old its impossible to brake or turn with slicks on grass. Vettle deserves a penalty for running around on 3 wheels, but 10 spots is too much... dont think we've ever heard of that penalty before... unless he ignored a black flag. Why didnt they fine KIMI for throwing engine parts nearly into the stands last year in France?
They didnt show the whole Trulli/Hamilton incident... but 25 seconds was too harsh(unless he overtook at speed under the yellow in the accident zone)... there was confusion everywhere, all they had to do was put Truilli back behind Hamilton and everything would have been square.
Re: LH You mean of course he would get a well deserved and fought 6th place hadn't he had the luck to see Kubica and Vettel crash 3 laps before the finish and consequently Trulli spinning out while under a SC..thus promoting himself to the podium.
The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents. H.P.Lovecraft
ISLAMATRON wrote:Vettel did nothing wrong! Even if he wanted to lift off and Let Kubica by he couldnt because Kubica forced him onto the grass/off the track. SLICK ON GRASS DONT WORK! I dont care if they are green or purple, new or old its impossible to brake or turn with slicks on grass. Vettle deserves a penalty for running around on 3 wheels, but 10 spots is too much... dont think we've ever heard of that penalty before... unless he ignored a black flag.
We're not talking about mid-corner here. Vettel should have lifted early and given Kubica plenty of room as he was approaching the corner, instead of committing to defending it. Simple.
Glad the stewards agree!
Grip is a four letter word. All opinions are my own and not those of current or previous employers.
GianlucaZ19 wrote:the penalty wasn't for the crash. it's for him dragging that broken front wheel around, which i think is just stupid, what did he want? finish the race behind the SC with a broken wheel?
eerrrr... what Paul said...
oops...i was misled by an earlier news report
well i'm not too sure about the steward's decision then. i'd say that was a 50/50 as well.
ISLAMATRON wrote:Vettel did nothing wrong! Even if he wanted to lift off and Let Kubica by he couldnt because Kubica forced him onto the grass/off the track. SLICK ON GRASS DONT WORK! I dont care if they are green or purple, new or old its impossible to brake or turn with slicks on grass. Vettle deserves a penalty for running around on 3 wheels, but 10 spots is too much... dont think we've ever heard of that penalty before... unless he ignored a black flag.
We're not talking about mid-corner here. Vettel should have lifted early and given Kubica plenty of room as he was approaching the corner, instead of committing to defending it. Simple.
Glad the stewards agree!
Bullshit again... what kind of idiot just gives up 2nd place? How many times have we seen drivers overcook it trying to pass on the outside and end up in the kitty litter?(Kimi at that same corner last year I think?) Vettel had every right to defend his position.
And the stewards do not agree with you, they penalized him for driving on track with 2.5 wheels and causing a hazard, not for causing an accident.
Last edited by ISLAMATRON on 29 Mar 2009, 17:24, edited 1 time in total.
ISLAMATRON wrote:Vettel did nothing wrong! Even if he wanted to lift off and Let Kubica by he couldnt because Kubica forced him onto the grass/off the track. SLICK ON GRASS DONT WORK! I dont care if they are green or purple, new or old its impossible to brake or turn with slicks on grass. Vettle deserves a penalty for running around on 3 wheels, but 10 spots is too much... dont think we've ever heard of that penalty before... unless he ignored a black flag.
We're not talking about mid-corner here. Vettel should have lifted early and given Kubica plenty of room as he was approaching the corner, instead of committing to defending it. Simple.
Glad the stewards agree!
I bet you prefer tag rugby to real rugby don't you? It was a racing incident between two racers.
The stewards should interfere far less, only when someone does something really stupid or deliberate.
andartop wrote:Re: LH You mean of course he would get a well deserved and fought 6th place hadn't he had the luck to see Kubica and Vettel crash 3 laps before the finish and consequently Trulli spinning out while under a SC..thus promoting himself to the podium.
Something like that... but he didnt spin and trulli did... no luck there... He lucked into a couple positions but then the 1st SC made him lose a couple positions as well... it seemed to have evened out in this race.
dumbass stewards wrote:Following a post-race investigation, stewards decided to penalise the young German for 'causing a collision and forcing a driver off the track’.
And yet no one was penalised at the start of the race? The stewards really need to wise up and act consistently. Looks like we're in for another long season of controversy in their decisions.
And yes Ferrari fans, I do think it's suspect that the first safety car took so long to deploy and would be accusing the FIA of bias had it been a Ferrari at the front receiving the same benefits. Looks like the FIA have a new favorite team at the moment.
ISLAMATRON wrote:And the stewards do not agree with you, they penalized him for driving on track with 2.5 wheels and causing a hazard, not for causing an accident.
Calm down and get your facts right: officially Vettel was penalized for causing the accident, and Red Bull fined for ordering him to stay out in 3 wheels. And, since Vettel himself apologized for the accident, one can safely assume he had his part in it! It seems most people agree on 50-50 blame..
The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents. H.P.Lovecraft
oops...i was misled by an earlier news report