2013 Australian GP - Albert Park

[Donuts]

Very interesting start into the season. I'm happy for Kimi, that was a great race, he was managing his tires perfectly (just look at Grosjean who isn't a slouch either).
Too bad for Hülkenberg though, I would have liked to see him race and show where the Sauber is relative to the rest of the grid.
Sutil with a great race overall and Force India in general looks really good. At this point, they seem to be best of the rest, ahead of McLaren even. But despite this being the first real measure for the season, it would still be premature to judge the teams by this race. Melbourne isn't your typical course and we all know that the tires are still the biggest factor, coupled with the odd temperatures this could mean that we'll have to wait for another couple of races to see the true speed of each car, just like it was last year.

Well, Romain Grosjeans racestrategy was compromised by a bad start.

[fausto cedros]

Thanks God it all started again.
By the way, this tyres stuff is becoming ridiculous: since i am a McL fan i had no need to torment myself over such a written outcome, and so I couldn't wait for the top flight skirmishes...and all of a sudden i saw alonso lifting up in an attempt to preserve tyres instead of pushing an all out attempt to catch kimi. And all those drs overtakes. This is not the formula one i would love to see. On a different note, what about that extremely low ride of kimi's car?

[gobjb]

Just one funny observation: 3 world champions

1st: Kimi (1 title)
2nd: Alonso (2 titles)
3rd: Vettel (3 titles)

The same exact podium as the last time Kimi won.

All in all it was a fantastic race. Seems like the top teams of today each have fast cars with their own little specialities. RBR with the one lap speed, Ferrari with the race speed and Lotus handling their tyres with silk gloves.

Should be an interesting season ahead of us.

[Leon]

maybe they setup the cars for wet race

[timbo]

It looks like the key to the race is to be in clean air and manage your tempo.
I'm also a bit worried about overtaking -- it looks like it's harder to follow and overtake your rival if you faster than that was last year.

[Rikhart]

Absolutely fantastic from Kimi and Lotus (shame about the other driver). I have to say I didnt expect this after the winter testing, but now they are in a very very good place for the next 3 races, at the very least.

[BlackMercedes]

Did lewis say in Barcelona that they would be bringing a upgrade package to sepang? Title sponsor home race got to put on a good performance

[rifrafs2kees]

If Lewis had understeer and high front tire deg. then perhaps they had been overly conservative with the rear and piled on some wing. This perhaps is the reason they were so slow down the straights. And with DRS available for qualifying, their top end didn't look so bad initially..

[Lorenzo_Bandini]

Webber said he has no KERS for the first 20 laps

[zeph]

Well, one swallow does not summer maketh. RBR wasn't dominant at the start of last season, but they managed their season well and came back strong after the summer break.

Somebody once said the same of Doc Rivers and the Boston Celtics winning the 2008 title. " their regular season isn't spectacular, they are winning just enough to make the playoffs. But what Rivers does is taking into account how long a season is and he manages his team in such a way that they peak when it is playoff time."

I think the same goes for RBR and Vettel last year.

[Joie de vivre]

OH, don't forget about Bianchi!!! Great driver, he will definitely rank up in better team next year, he has to! He beaten payed teammate and both caterhams, he's beasting!

[Lorenzo_Bandini]

Bianchi was FANTASTIC today. Even his fastest lap is very impressive, i don't know when he stop for the last time but to be only one tenth slower than Massa and Vettel time it's fabolous.

[thomin]

I think 5th for the team is a good result with a slower car? really what happened. Its a shame it wasnt a 5th and 7th which is what might have been. Anyone know what happened with Nico?

His battery died. No information yet as to why but an alternator problem seems to be plausible.

[Redragon]

The big question is, why is always Webber's kers not working? is it mechanical?
I am starting to think he is the real cause of the fault

[Joie de vivre]

I heard due to hydraulics ...