2019 Australian Grand Prix - Melbourne, March 15-17

[seventhsin]

Are any members attending the GP? I'm heading over by myself from Adelaide and wouldn't mind catching up with people if so, shoot me a PM if you're up for a couple beers and a chat

[F1NAC]

Mercs S3 pace if representative could help them at this circuit.

Really, it shouldn't be a surprise at all if either Merc or Ferrari take pole. The surprise would be if one team really jumps out ahead in a big way. It shouldn't be surprising to see RB do well here either.

I think Seb did faster S3 than during his FL. Could be that tyres didn't last that lap.

Anyhow, if at least one Ferrari isn't fighting for pole it would be disappointing

[Zynerji]

I think we might have some surprises in Q3 for sure. Q2 should be the most nail biting part of 2019 if the midfield is super tight as well.

[Mr.G]

I think we might have some surprises in Q3 for sure. Q2 should be the most nail biting part of 2019 if the midfield is super tight as well.

Also for the big ones if they try to qualify on harder tyres...

[TAG]

One of the consequences of the midfield bunching up is going to be there's not going to be any chance for the front runners to try and get through Q2 on the harder compounds.

[Chuckjr]

One of the consequences of the midfield bunching up is going to be there's not going to be any chance for the front runners to try and get through Q2 on the harder compounds.

100%

[GPR-A]

One of the consequences of the midfield bunching up is going to be there's not going to be any chance for the front runners to try and get through Q2 on the harder compounds.

It depends upon how far ahead OR how close to the mid-field the leaders are. If the performance difference remains as it has been in the last few years, then leaders would have a choice for Q2 runs.

When the regulations changed massively for 2017, it did not do any magic to bring the mid-field closer, where the opportunity to come closer was much bigger. So, I don't expect the relatively smaller set of changes for 2019 would bring them any closer. The budgets, resources, experience and talent that the top teams possess, is far beyond what the mid-field could even imagine. Any regulation change, would only further that gap.

We also need to understand that, when these regulation changes were being planned, it was the top teams who were providing inputs, doing POCs and providing data to formulate these changes as they have budgets and resources to do so. Mid-field had no idea what was going on and obviously, that means, head start for leading teams.

Come qualifying, if the likes of Haas/McLarens/Alfa/STR/RP are any lesser than 1.5 seconds behind pole, I would be surprised.

[Unc1eM0nty]

To make F1 more interesting and to have more overtaking bring back fuel refill again. Now a days, it is very easy to predict the race with few laps.

NOOOOOO, Never Ever Again refueling

How this is Melbourne GP related?

He wants some excitement in what is usually a dull race, I know, we've all be starved of F1 for 4 months, we're all stoked and anything will do, but lets face it - this race is not one of the best, it's usually a procession.

How many overtakes last season ?

[Artur Craft]

I'll go a bit more conservatively and initially say pole lap around the same laptime as last year ~1:21. I think absolute pace the cars can do was more representative this year in testing than in previous years because of much better track conditions and from the fact teams had to push it a bit more to test out new FW/RW designs and so on.

If the conditions are good FP1 and FP2 will already give us a clearer picture.

I agree.

About something else, this race will indicate if the new rules work or not. As said before, at this track, it's difficult to overtake, so if we see cars following up more closely, like Perez hinted, we will know the new wings to be more effective on that overtaking front.

[Mr.G]

NOOOOOO, Never Ever Again refueling

How this is Melbourne GP related?

He wants some excitement in what is usually a dull race, I know, we've all be starved of F1 for 4 months, we're all stoked and anything will do, but lets face it - this race is not one of the best, it's usually a procession.

How many overtakes last season ?

I know what he wanted, I just wanted to pointed out that this is out of topic in this section...

[TAG]

Come qualifying, if the likes of Haas/McLarens/Alfa/STR/RP are any lesser than 1.5 seconds behind pole, I would be surprised.

I noticed you left Renault out. For Australia, I'd take that bet. (barring another Hamilton magic lap as last years of course)

[oT v1]

Yes! Welcome back F1 to my weekends, and oh is it welcome.

A lot of questions that need to be answered for me, mostly about Honda and Red Bull, they would have been my pick if they had continued as they finished last season. Also Le Clerc vs Vettel will add a lot (especially after the last few Rai/Vet seasons) of drama to the dialogue. Then the midfield...

Ham fan I’m saying Vet/LeC/Ham for the race!

[GPR-A]

Come qualifying, if the likes of Haas/McLarens/Alfa/STR/RP are any lesser than 1.5 seconds behind pole, I would be surprised.

I noticed you left Renault out. For Australia, I'd take that bet. (barring another Hamilton magic lap as last years of course)

I have a hunch that Renault might be making a step forward and hence, not included in that list. But wouldn't be surprised if they didn't. Hamilton goes well here in qualifying in Albert Park. He has 7 poles, but amazingly, only one win so far!!! And he has all the Albert Park poles in the V6 hybrid era.

[matt_b]

Come qualifying, if the likes of Haas/McLarens/Alfa/STR/RP are any lesser than 1.5 seconds behind pole, I would be surprised.

I noticed you left Renault out. For Australia, I'd take that bet. (barring another Hamilton magic lap as last years of course)

I have a hunch that Renault might be making a step forward and hence, not included in that list. But wouldn't be surprised if they didn't. Hamilton goes well here in qualifying in Albert Park. He has 7 poles, but amazingly, only one win so far!!! And he has all the Albert Park poles in the V6 hybrid era.

2 wins: 2015 and 2008 easy to forget that one.

[MtthsMlw]