2016 Australian Grand Prix - Melbourne, March 18-20

[ferkan]

[renatope]

Hello guys, about the improvement in laptimes between last year and this year, can we estimate how much of it is tyres and how much faster the cars got?

[ME4ME]

- Ferrari a disappointment

Why this? The race is not over yet. However here are last three Australina Q3 results for Ferrari. And they don't go for one more lap today.

2014 ALO 5th -1.588s
2015 VET 4th - 1.430s
2016 VET 3rd - 0.838s

Yea, Ferrari time on itself is impressive, but no body expected Merc to improve so much

Vettel also didn't go for second run, and he could certainly go faster as he said but not fast enough.

In any case, this is closest Ferrari has been to pole at Melbourne since 2010.

2011 ALO 5th - 1.5s
2012 ALO 12th 1.5s
2013 Massa 4th - 1.1s
2014 ALO 5th -1.588s
2015 VET 4th - 1.430s
2016 VET 3rd - 0.838s

Not that bad when looked in context.

Another bit of context though:

Japan 2015 +0,661 sec +0,71 % (Vet 4th)
Mexico 2015 +0.370 sec +0.47 %
Brazil 2015 +0.522 sec +0.73 %
Abu Dhabi 2015 +0.814 sec +0.81 % (Kimi)
Melbourne 2016 +0.838 sec +1,0 %

Even if Vettel had done another run, and let's say had done a 1:24.400 he'd still be 0.67% off Hamilton. It's too far off to really matter. After Marchionnes talk-up this winter, and their "revolutionary engine upgrade", that's disappointing. Hopefully race-pace is relatively better.

[Gridlock]

Hamilton.

[ferkan]

Why this? The race is not over yet. However here are last three Australina Q3 results for Ferrari. And they don't go for one more lap today.

2014 ALO 5th -1.588s
2015 VET 4th - 1.430s
2016 VET 3rd - 0.838s

Yea, Ferrari time on itself is impressive, but no body expected Merc to improve so much

Vettel also didn't go for second run, and he could certainly go faster as he said but not fast enough.

In any case, this is closest Ferrari has been to pole at Melbourne since 2010.

2011 ALO 5th - 1.5s
2012 ALO 12th 1.5s
2013 Massa 4th - 1.1s
2014 ALO 5th -1.588s
2015 VET 4th - 1.430s
2016 VET 3rd - 0.838s

Not that bad when looked in context.

Another bit of context though:

Japan 2015 +0,661 sec +0,71 % (Vet 4th)
Mexico 2015 +0.370 sec +0.47 %
Brazil 2015 +0.522 sec +0.73 %
Abu Dhabi 2015 +0.814 sec +0.81 % (Kimi)
Melbourne 2016 +0.838 sec +1,0 %

Even if Vettel had done another run, and let's say had done a 1:24.400 he'd still be 0.67% off Hamilton. It's too far off to really matter. After Marchionnes talk-up this winter, and their "revolutionary engine upgrade", that's disappointing. Hopefully race-pace is relatively better.

Cant compare Melbourne with Japan. Its like saying Ferrari was what, one second faster at Singapore and now they are 8 tenths down (or half a second whatever) so they went backwards. That kind of comparison doesnt make sense. You have to compare same tracks, it doesnt work otherwise. Melbourne was the track (along eith Spa) where Ferrari had biggest deficit it only makes sense to compare it with this years time.

In any case Marchionne truly put Ferrari in uncomfortable position that I agree with. I also think Ferrari has never in last 5 years made better chassis, it really looks planted. Just look where RB is with engine that is half a second faster then last year. No way they have that kind of deficit solely because of the engine. Same for Williams, they actually went backwards. This time last year they were faster then Ferrari in qualifying, this year they are almost second a drift. Merc just built a car that is a wee bit to good.

[Ninners]

Can someone tell me why they didn't upload Hamilton's pole lap on the F1 website as they usually do.

Judging by the comparison lap with Rosberg on YouTube it could be that they didn't upload it because the quality isn't too good on it (kept breaking up a bit around the lap).

[NutritionFact]

Last years times-actual

Ham: 1:26.327 --- 1:23.837 Diff: ~ 2.5 sec
Vet: 1:27.757 --- 1:24.675 Diff: ~ 3.1 sec
Mas: 1:27.718 --- 1:25.458 Diff: ~ 2.3 sec
Ric: 1:28.329 --- 1:25.589 Diff: ~ 2.7 sec
Sai: 1:28.510 --- 1:25.512 Diff: ~ 3.0 sec

Huge progress over the winter break for all teams, maybe some new track records this year.

[damager21]

Last years times-actual

Ham: 1:26.327 --- 1:23.837 Diff: ~ 2.5 sec
Vet: 1:27.757 --- 1:24.675 Diff: ~ 3.1 sec
Mas: 1:27.718 --- 1:25.458 Diff: ~ 2.3 sec
Ric: 1:28.329 --- 1:25.589 Diff: ~ 2.7 sec
Sai: 1:28.510 --- 1:25.512 Diff: ~ 3.0 sec

Huge progress over the winter break for all teams, maybe some new track records this year.

But: 1:31.422 --- 1:26.304 Diff: ~5.1 sec

McLaren Honda has made huge progress

[ferkan]

Last years times-actual

Ham: 1:26.327 --- 1:23.837 Diff: ~ 2.5 sec
Vet: 1:27.757 --- 1:24.675 Diff: ~ 3.1 sec
Mas: 1:27.718 --- 1:25.458 Diff: ~ 2.3 sec
Ric: 1:28.329 --- 1:25.589 Diff: ~ 2.7 sec
Sai: 1:28.510 --- 1:25.512 Diff: ~ 3.0 sec

Huge progress over the winter break for all teams, maybe some new track records this year.

Plus, other teams (beside Merc) would probably improve another couple tenths if they went 2nd time out. But, since new qualis are such BS no body did.

[Phillyred]

I'm happy to see Mclaren/Honda making progress.. A little disappointed Haas wasn't closer to the midfield, but then again they are new.

[ME4ME]

Cant compare Melbourne with Japan. Its like saying Ferrari was what, one second faster at Singapore and now they are 8 tenths down (or half a second whatever) so they went backwards. That kind of comparison doesnt make sense. You have to compare same tracks, it doesnt work otherwise. Melbourne was the track (along eith Spa) where Ferrari had biggest deficit it only makes sense to compare it with this years time.

I'm not interested in comparing 2015 vs 2016 Melbourne GP. Such comparison would include last years in-season progress, which we have already analysed over and over again. So to me it makes sense to look at off-season progress instead.

The races I selected to look at is just to form a baseline from last year. Singapore and USA were excluded because Mercedes' slip up and rain respectivly. Also I specifically calculated those percentages so we're able to compare different tracks. What we need now is really more 2016 data. And like I said, hopefully Ferrari have relativly better race pace. [-o<

[Eniasqurku]

I dont get get it why such big disappointment from ferrari. They are definitely in the game , and seriously i would say. You forget something. Last year at melbourne vettel was 1.4 seconds adrift now it's 0.8 seconds. So 0.6 seconds faster than last year at least considering that mercedes has not stood still. 2015 barcelona ferrari was 0.8 seconds slower and with simple calculations this year it will only be 0.2 seconds. And dont forger ferrari have a completely new car still searching for the best compromise, no updates yet and the engine not running at max power yet. So really promosing start. Not saying that they're going to dominate but winning more than last year would give mercedes a big headache and us fans a really good show.

[F1NAC]

New change about visor tape. Drivers are not allowed to drop visor tape on track or during driving through pitlane

The stricter enforcement of the regulations means that drivers may now have to carefully place any tear-off strips inside their cockpits - or only have them removed at pitstops.

[NutritionFact]

Last years times-actual

Ham: 1:26.327 --- 1:23.837 Diff: ~ 2.5 sec
Vet: 1:27.757 --- 1:24.675 Diff: ~ 3.1 sec
Mas: 1:27.718 --- 1:25.458 Diff: ~ 2.3 sec
Ric: 1:28.329 --- 1:25.589 Diff: ~ 2.7 sec
Sai: 1:28.510 --- 1:25.512 Diff: ~ 3.0 sec

Huge progress over the winter break for all teams, maybe some new track records this year.

But: 1:31.422 --- 1:26.304 Diff: ~5.1 sec

McLaren Honda has made huge progress

Youre right, but last year they had more to do than laptimes... Maybe praying [-o<

[NutritionFact]

http://u.cubeupload.com/Gridl0k/20160319143948.jpg

Hamilton.

? Gridlock? What is this? What he have to do? Transmitted to his onboard display?