2015 Australian Grand Prix - Melbourne

[NathanOlder]

So doubts over Bottas, Wolff would jump straight in. If she did race, where would she start ? Pit lane or P6 ? The car qualified 6th, so wouldn't she be starting 6th ?

[3jawchuck]

So doubts over Bottas, Wolff would jump straight in. If she did race, where would she start ? Pit lane or P6 ? The car qualified 6th, so wouldn't she be starting 6th ?

That's not guaranteed. Drivers have to be changed before qualifying. In the case of unforeseen circumstances they would have to appeal to the FIA for permission and they may not allow it. This is stipulated in the sporting regulations §19.

If they did I imagine it would be from the pit lane or back of the grid.

[Lorenzo_Bandini]

Looking at the sector times, during the first 2 sectors, Mercedes is just 2-3 tenths faster than the second best car, Ferrari in S1 and Williams during S2.

But, at the third sector, they are 8 tenths faster than the rest, only Raikkonen is 5 tenths slower. So the major part of their times came from the slow speed corner.

[Lorenzo_Bandini]

So doubts over Bottas, Wolff would jump straight in. If she did race, where would she start ? Pit lane or P6 ? The car qualified 6th, so wouldn't she be starting 6th ?

I don't think she could race because Bottas take part of the quali.. If Bottas can't race, Williams will have only one car for the race..

[NathanOlder]

Lookingiat the sector times, during the first 2 sectors, Mercedes is just 2-3 tenths faster than the second best car, Ferrari in S1 and Williams during S2.

But, at the third sector, they are 8 tenths faster than the rest, only Raikkonen is 5 tenths slower. So the major part of their times came from the slow speed corner.

Or the high speed corners in that sector, that sector is more like a proper circuit where as sector 1 & 2 are more street circuit imo.
Turns 11 & 12 are very fast, as is 14.

[f1316]

Looking at the sector times, during the first 2 sectors, Mercedes is just 2-3 tenths faster than the second best car, Ferrari in S1 and Williams during S2.

But, at the third sector, they are 8 tenths faster than the rest, only Raikkonen is 5 tenths slower. So the major part of their times came from the slow speed corner.

Good point. And how are the speed traps looking, now we're sure the engine's turned up to the max?

If still lower then you wonder why other teams don't run with more - presumably it's because these days they're maxed out on wing angle so adding even draggy downforce is not so easy.

[Juzh]

Bottas hit 331 kmh for a split second

[Harsha]

Good point. And how are the speed traps looking, now we're sure the engine's turned up to the max?

If still lower then you wonder why other teams don't run with more - presumably it's because these days they're maxed out on wing angle so adding even draggy downforce is not so easy.

Wolff said they are slower in speed trap

"We see a deficit from our car on the straights in comparison to Williams and Ferrari. Both of them have much more straightline speed, we've seen as much as 10-12km/h difference in straightline speeds – less drag.

"The most difference we see is mid to high speed corners – downforce. That seems to be the strength of the car.

[Juzh]

Good point. And how are the speed traps looking, now we're sure the engine's turned up to the max?

If still lower then you wonder why other teams don't run with more - presumably it's because these days they're maxed out on wing angle so adding even draggy downforce is not so easy.

Wolff said they are slower in speed trap

"We see a deficit from our car on the straights in comparison to Williams and Ferrari. Both of them have much more straightline speed, we've seen as much as 10-12km/h difference in straightline speeds – less drag.

"The most difference we see is mid to high speed corners – downforce. That seems to be the strength of the car.

Live timing measures bottas at 331 and hamilton at 325 in Q3. Wolf blowing it out of proportions.

[dren]

I just looked through ESPNs coverage of last years races, not once did Ferrari match their best FP position of the weekend in qualifying.

FP1 - looking good - FP2 - looking good - FP3 - looking good - Quali - nowhere

Every single weekend from Australia to Abu Dhabi.

But hey, new management and drivers, clearly better car, might have changed their policy of running light in practice. Just have to wait for tomorrow to see where people really are.

Yes, last year Ferrari was a total mess in all aspects of their the game.
It was a all time low for them and they will just move forward from there. We will have a Ferrari in P3 at the end of Q3 with a gap to P1 of no more than 0.6X.

I'd put money on Williams in 3rd. Ferrari does look much improved this year, though.

Hmm, just saying...

[tranquility2k4]

Talks of Lewis overcoming his qualifying woes are premature in my opinion.

He has a history or being able to adapt and get the best out of new conditions quickly, ie, a new car, new circuit etc, and as such has probably gotten used to the W06 that bit quicker.

Nico had a noticeably bad day, he wasn't comfortable in the car - or at least not as comfortable as Lewis - and therefore just couldn't keep up with a very very good pole lap.

I'm a massive Hamilton fan, but I'm not fickle enough to believe that's it. After 5 races last year Hamilton was 4-1 up in qualifying.He then got dominated 11-3 the rest of the year.

Whilst those stats are true they do not really give a true reflection of their respective pace. Just to give an example, between Monaco and Hungary, there was an issue for Lewis in every qualifying session:

Monaco: yellow flags (could have had pole)
Canada: poor final run for Lewis, with a couple of mistakes, (could have had pole)
Austria: ran wide and then spun (was clearly faster than Rosberg)
Silverstone: rain stopped (was clearly faster than Rosberg)
Germany: brake failure (could have had pole)
Hungary: fire (could have had pole)

If we give Lewis Austria and Silverstone and then halve the other four events, this leads to Lewis gaining 4 and Rosberg losing 4. This would lead to the overall season stats of being 11 - 8 to Lewis.

There were not many times when Lewis snatched pole off Rosberg, because Rosberg had an issue (and/or when he clearly looked faster).

If you want to be naive and really believe Rosberg is faster than Lewis then continue to do so. It's like JB said - if Lewis gets his setup right and is happy with the car then no one else may as well bother turning up. It's just last year, he had a lot of bad luck and made lots of little mistakes, pushing too hard, whilst Rosberg was consistent and careful, which worked well.

[SectorOne]

Of course they are free to race on the same track with whoever they want, they just can't use the overtake button to attack or defend the Mercs....

Oh please, we´ve already been over the Monza thing. Neither Williams nor Mercedes can use overtake button indefinitely.

They can attack, defend do whatever the hell they want against Mercedes on track.
Just like how STR beat RBR one time, and how Mclaren obliterated Mercedes in the early years.

[Jonnycraig]

So doubts over Bottas, Wolff would jump straight in. If she did race, where would she start ? Pit lane or P6 ? The car qualified 6th, so wouldn't she be starting 6th ?

Williams would just run with one car now if Bottas can't race.

[Moose]

What doubts are there over Bottas?

[3jawchuck]

What doubts are there over Bottas?

He suffered a back injury.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/31886578