2016 Australian Grand Prix - Melbourne, March 18-20

[Shrieker]

So Hamilton is back to his best form, but how did that happen. Was he playing games with Rosberg last season towards the end, or were his requested changes made with the new car allowing him to extract the best from it ? Also, Rosberg looked to be struggling in qualifying at times.

So I looked at the 2015 q3 session; I don't recall the exact circumstances but the gap between pole and and the best placed Ferrari (Vettel) was over 1.4 seconds, today it was 0.8 secs. So Ferrari have indeed taken a huge step forward just going from that (which isn't enough on it's own) but the chasm was so deep in the first place, they're still nowhere near enough.

It is likely to be much closer at other venues projecting directly from 2015 though. And you never know what happens in the race; if they somehow get in the front, the mercs. will struggle massively in overtaking them at this track, even if they're significantly faster in race trim.

[GPR-A duplicate2]

- I expect Mercedes' investigation of Rosberg's slump of form, can a driver lose ~0,7 s of speed ? No, must something with a car (brand new one), just like last season.

I thought Mercedes clearly know what they were doing last year. Protecting Nico against Vettel in championship standing. And to do that, it was essential to help him against Lewis by putting him ahead of Lewis in qualifying. You don't think so?

[iotar__]

Toto Wolff: qualifying is "pretty rubbish” Perhaps now Wolff should explain to the world why Mercedes voted in favour of it? Take some responsibility.

[Shrieker]

Horner said some similar stuff, probably the team bosses lament making themselves look like utter idiots rather than ruining qualifying for the fans.

[Vasconia]

Toto Wolff: qualifying is "pretty rubbish” Perhaps now Wolff should explain to the world why Mercedes voted in favour of it? Take some responsibility.

100% agree. All the teams approved this and now the drivers have said "we knew it". Really?

This is the most fustrating qualy I have seen in many years. Please, go back to the old system. Do they want more action? its easy, give more tyres to the teams.

Apart from this I can only see two good thing in this day:

1. Toro Rosso is really competitive.
2. Mclaren is on a better shape that I had expected, both drivers times were quite good.

On the other hand:

1. Mercedes´s superiority is totaly devastating, other teams must be fustrated.
2. Williams far from what I was hoping for.

[Shrieker]

I'd say Mclaren aren't where I expected, but that's probably because I didn't pay too much attention to winter testing this year. Either way, at the start of their second year with Honda, they should've at the very least put a car in q3 without ifs or buts. They should've been here this time last year.

[Vasconia]

The rule setters are at it again. . . trying so hard to make the F1 as bad as possible. Seriously, the people sitting together in one room and introduce such nonense have absolutely no clue how to satisfy the people.

Haven't seen such a predictable und boring Qualifying in a long time. And I'm afraid that we won't see any changes in that regard. Hopefully, they will take responsibility and admit that this system failed.

They must be drunk when they write them.

When one driver is eliminated if the next one is not just doing a flying lap he is simply out. And the rest, or at least 3-4 fastest drivers can take a drink if they want. What a disaster.

I was expecting much more from Nico...

[Vasconia]

I'd say Mclaren aren't where I expected, but that's probably because I didn't pay too much attention to winter testing this year. Either way, at the start of their second year with Honda, they should've at the very least put a car in q3 without ifs or buts.

Well, Renault is not doing a much better job and they have more teams and experience.

[Shrieker]

That car(Renault) looks like it was made with a small budget to be honest. Can't say the same for McLaren-Honda, we know they have one of the top four budgets.

[Juzh]

Q3:
http://i.imgur.com/seESGft.gifv

[Just_a_fan]

Toto Wolff: qualifying is "pretty rubbish” Perhaps now Wolff should explain to the world why Mercedes voted in favour of it? Take some responsibility.

Easy. If they voted against it then everyone would shout that they were protecting their advantage. Damned if they do, damned if they don't.

The other teams voted for it because they hoped it would give them a chance.

[Manu_Forti]

Oh dear. That qualy was forgettable. Still not sure where all the teams are pace wise as I think more than a few are out of position due to the new format. Looking forward to a dry race and seeing where everyone is.

[superdowg316]

I'd say Mclaren aren't where I expected, but that's probably because I didn't pay too much attention to winter testing this year. Either way, at the start of their second year with Honda, they should've at the very least put a car in q3 without ifs or buts. They should've been here this time last year.

McLaren would've probably been in Q3 in the old format. Alonso and Button were P3 and P7 in Q1 and Ron had a cheeky smirk when doing it. Obviously they know more than we do. They couldn't get both cars refueled in time for a second run due to the 90 second rule. Hell, Alonso was 10th at the time, which the commentators say is one of the best spots to be thanks to the new rules, and 12th isn't that bad either considering his lightening quick starts. They now have a fresh set and you'll be surprised I think tomorrow.

Anyways, I'm going to the circuit tomorrow, hoping the race has more action than today! [-o<

[Shrieker]

Q3:
http://i.imgur.com/seESGft.gifv

hahahaha nice one! 2fast2meta

[carisi2k]

I really wonder how can you make such sharp conclusions from those FP1 and FP2...really astonishing.
some top team should hire you.

These numbers are completly pointless because while Mercedes is fastest. Ferrari did no dry running whatsoever so nobody knows where their pace is and neither did Williams. Only Hamilton, Both Red Bull Dani's, Hulkenberg and Verstappen did a relevant dry time and Kyvat was only 0.4 seconds off Hamilton on the same tyre. Danny ric did his time on a medium tyre in the first session. If it is dry in Melbourne today you will have your answer then.

What I will say is that the RB12 looks to have a huge amount of downforce and the new engine seems to be good enough to let the drivers push although slightly slower then Mercedes in dry conditions. The merc looks better with the old wing then the new s duct wing.

The Torro rosso and Force india look almost identical in speed. I don't think you can glean much from any of the other teams except that Mclaren is faster then the Renault which looks awful and Wehrlein could trouble the Sauber purely on his speed alone.

none of the points you made are based on any solid evidence either : ) changing conditions in practice when half the field refuses to run is not the place to make conclusions about which team is faster than the other... one more day and we will at least have a few things we will be able to hang our hat on....they all have to push in qualifying... there will be no excuses then

I didn't make any points. I made some observations from watching the sessions. Now that qualifying is over we can see all of the cars are a hell of a lot faster this year and Hamilton's new track record is proof of that. The Mercedes engine is clearly the most powerful again. This HP advantage would be the only reason the Williams and Force India's are anywhere near Red Bull or Torro rosso. If either of those cars had a Mercedes engine they would be beating Ferrari for best of the rest.

I think the only way to bring everybody up to Mercedes performance engine wise is to ban the split turbine or make everybody use the split turbine. Having these different engine layouts is proving too lopsided to overcome.