2017 Australian Grand Prix - Melbourne, 24 - 26 March

[NathanOlder]

Yeah I noticed that haha.

Lewis doing 1.28.0 on 19 lap old US followed by a 1.28.1 the next lap. No bad at all.

[Juzh]

Realistic improvement for pole position around 2.5.s in the 1:21.0 range I'd say, anything more would be a stretch. Kinda underwhelming,

[Gerhardsa]

I know its early days for Bottas at Merc, but maybe, just maybe Rosberg was not such an "unworthy" champ as people might have thought...
He would probably been on se same type of pace as Lewis at this stage.

[bosyber]

Rosberg had been with the team for a few seasons when Hamilton came in, rather than Bottas who comes in with Hamilton already comfortable, so that might factor into it. But, over the last few years I have thought that perhaps Schumacher 2.0 maybe wasn't all that slow, but rather Rosberg was indeed very fast - and yes, we might be seeing that here too. If so, maybe Vettel in 2018? (with Ferrari half a second down on HAM both on fumes and in race pace).

[dans79]

We are getting off-topic, but I think Rosberg was always a very good qualifier, just not very good at wheel to Wheel racing.

[NathanOlder]

Even as a maasive Lewis fan, I was thinking the same. Nico was better than he was given credit for. Although 2015 and a reliable 44 car was a little one sided.

But I would say if Lewis retired and Nico stayed, Nico would be well up on Bottas right now also.

[wickedz50]

Even as a maasive Lewis fan, I was thinking the same. Nico was better than he was given credit for. Although 2015 and a reliable 44 car was a little one sided.

But I would say if Lewis retired and Nico stayed, Nico would be well up on Bottas right now also.

Let us give Bothas some more time.

[Vasconia]

Realistic improvement for pole position around 2.5.s in the 1:21.0 range I'd say, anything more would be a stretch. Kinda underwhelming,

Everything is being underwhelming right now. Mercedes comfortably ahead with Lewis smashing Bottas so far.

[Juzh]

[Vasconia]

Better than expected for McLaren, the times are not that band and the top speed was better than I had expected.

Please tell me that Ferrari has still something hidden for the God´s sake, this season is looking like a Hamilton monologue.

[dans79]

Please tell me that Ferrari has still something hidden for the God´s sake, this season is looking like a Hamilton monologue.

If they have time in hand hopefully it's a lot, because I'm going to bet Mercedes still hasn't cranked the motor all the way up.

[Gerhardsa]

Is there any way we can compare those longer stints by Hamilton/Vet/Raik/Bottas if FP2?

Honestly, Merc is going to clobber everyone in qualy. That's a given, but we should be looking at race pace here.

If the Ferrari and RB race pace is good, well then it might not be a Hamilton run away by any means.

[Noemfster_ZA]

Palmer red flag in sector 3.

According to my live timing , Sky on an ad break.

Hi Sorry for off topic , in South Africa we are now receiving the sky sports feed on our paid sports tv package (previously FOM world feed) . I noticed the ad breaks during practice , does sky have ad breaks during the race as well ?

On Topic: I also hope Ferrari is stil holding back a bit , but so is Merc I guess
Regards

[Juzh]

Palmer red flag in sector 3.

According to my live timing , Sky on an ad break.

Hi Sorry for off topic , in South Africa we are now receiving the sky sports feed on our paid sports tv package (previously FOM world feed) . I noticed the ad breaks during practice , does sky have ad breaks during the race as well ?

Regards

Quali and race are add free.

[Vasconia]

Is there any way we can compare those longer stints by Hamilton/Vet/Raik/Bottas if FP2?

Honestly, Merc is going to clobber everyone in qualy. That's a given, but we should be looking at race pace here.

If the Ferrari and RB race pace is good, well then it might not be a Hamilton run away by any means.

That´s my only hope right now. Another forum mate has already mentioned that Hamilton´s long runs were clearly better but I have no data to confirm this.