Melbourne Grand Prix - March 17, 2019

swifttiger75 said:I’m fine with Ferrari’s decision to put Vettel ahead of Leclerc. That’s their call to make, and they have every right to do so. They were clear about their hierarchy from the start, which should help prevent those messy teammate confrontations down the road. (Remember how Kimi was asking over the radio at the German GP last year if he should let Vettel through and all that?)

So, they’ve finally decided which card to play. They’ve picked their guy to build championship ambitions around, and honestly, I don't have any issues with that decision, regardless of how I personally feel about it. But we have to be realistic—we're talking massive amounts of money, reputation, sponsorships, and endless perks here. It’s an entire ecosystem of interconnected interests that turns this circus into a literal circus sometimes. The idea that this is all just some romantic premise where they just "go out there and fight" or "race for the sake of racing"? That's a nice thought, but I think those days are long gone.

I completely agree, man. I actually wrote a few pages about this just a little while ago. Besides, my username and signature pretty much say it all.

I just feel like the people on the pit wall lacked a bit of tact during that chaos. They could have been more polite when telling Leclerc to come in for fresher tires or suggesting he try to manage the FL to snag that single point. The gap to the guy behind him was more than enough to make it work.
That would be an elegant solution.

Even if I don't think Leclerc was making too much of a fuss about that rule, there's a bigger issue here. If they really plan on building the future around him, it’s not healthy for his spirit or his confidence to be openly held back like this right from the jump.

Will Buxton

A few takeaways from today:

BOTTAS v2.0 is an absolute beast.

It took exactly one race for Leclerc to give his new bosses a massive headache...

Honda is officially here.

Stroll is proving he's way faster than anyone expected.

They really shouldn't have let Kvyat go.

The young guns—they're gonna be just fine.

Nicholas Newman2 said:Exactly, man. But you still get these forum types popping up claiming Finc is going to be a lapdog, a wingman, or just Louis's water boy by the next race. Even after a win like Finc's, where nobody even thought about sabotaging him for Louis's sake, people still have the nerve to push these narratives.

Of course, they’ll act like Rosberg's season didn't happen, pretending it all went down in some parallel universe.🤦

Completely wrong.
Finc won't become a lapdog... unless—and this is the only way—it becomes crystal clear very quickly that the title is already decided.
And honestly, probably not even then. That would be massive stupidity (and trust me, the people running things there aren't stupid). It would be pure idiocy.

I get the feeling you actually believe that. Which surprises me more than anything. If so, you're part of the cult. You try to act like you're not, but you can't really escape it.

ruggedhawk20 said:Yeah, "something weird" is definitely going on

How is it that I’m the only one who noticed this!?

And I was seeing it even two weeks ago. While everyone else here was busy obsessing over a dominant Ferrari and that grand title fight between Leclerc and Vettel.

I was the only one pointing out Ferrari's massive issues with the car.

Because unlike you guys, I don't just stare at lap times; I watch how the car actually handles the track, listen to how the engine sounds, and pay close attention to the body language of the drivers and the key people within the team...

Just using perfectly sound scientific methods... 🙂

Raymond Anderson4 said:Ferrari is making a mistake by shielding Vettel like this. He’s lost his edge, and that ability to hammer out consistent fast laps just isn't there anymore. Who knows how many races Leclerc is going to waste sitting right behind him, stuck without any real shot at overtaking?
Leclerc is a disaster. It’s only the first race and he’s already asking if he's allowed to overtake Vettel. 😁

This situation is actually a major step up from where we were last year.
Everything’s been done better.
Leclerc asks, and they clearly tell him exactly what to do.
There’s an order to things, and relationships actually work. None of this existed, let alone functioned, last year.

I wasn't particularly thrilled by the whole situation. There wasn't anything dramatic about it, really.
Honestly, I think the team should have made an exception here. Leclerc wasn't just slightly faster; he was significantly faster. If you'd asked me, I would've let him through.
The next few races will finally show us where things actually stand.
It's pretty obvious they already shook hands on how this was all going to play out with Leclerc.
The only question left is whether they're actually still with Vettel.

Raymond Anderson4 said:Leclerc is a disaster. It’s only the first race and he’s already asking if he’s allowed to overtake Vettel. 😁

If you were the boss, would you rather ask for permission or just go on the offensive without saying a word? Given that specific crew, the mess they're in, and how they actually get along... I don't know. It's a tough call.

Richard Ross11 said:All based on proven scientific methods... 🙂

Right. It’s called observation.

Anyway, I was the only one calling out the fact that Ferrari was struggling—while the rest of the whole world was drowning in red and already celebrating both titles. Those arrogant types were just praying for a Leclerc title and a total humiliation for Vettel.

Everyone—literally everyone besides me—was convinced Ferrari had actually made progress.

And now these same "geniuses" are coming for me because I don't use their precious "proven scientific methods."

Clearly, those scientific methods of yours are pretty useless if they managed to mislead the whole world.

The whole world. Except for me. Since I don't even bother using them.

Richard Walker38 said:Personally, I think every team should just tell their drivers during the first few races to fight for their own positions. Don't mess with them, don't overthink the math—just let them race. Then, whoever manages to open up the best gap and gets the better result can enjoy being the "favorite" when the situation calls for someone to grab those crucial points later on.

Sure, that sounds like a dream scenario for us fans and the drivers...

But the reality is that every single Formula 1 team operates with a priority driver. Basically, teams in this sport are built on being masters of compromise.
Compromising between aero and engine power, compromising between reliability and raw output, and so on.
The goal is always finding that perfect middle ground to squeeze out the fastest possible lap time.
It’s the exact same story when it comes to race strategy.
And yeah, it's the same deal with the drivers. ☕

Two drivers in the same car will never, ever have the exact same strategy. Never. ☕
One driver is going to get the better hand, and that better hand is inevitably handed to the lead driver...

Look at Australia. The first successful undercut strategy went to—ta-da!—Vettel (who was actually ahead, but let's be real, it would've been the same result even if he were behind...).
But at the same time, Hamilton also got that superior undercut strategy, even though he was behind Bottas...
Now, we can all lie to ourselves and say Mercedes reacted to Vettel because they were terrified Ferrari might suddenly become lightning fast (sure, keep dreaming...), but realistically, Hamilton got that call primarily to give him a shot at undercutting Bottas.
And honestly? That's totally normal.

Because if you're being realistic, you have to ask:
- If we hit a tight championship battle lasting until the final race against Red Bull Racing and Ferrari, who is the smarter bet: Hamilton or Bottas?
If you answer that logically rather than as a fan, the answer is clearly Hamilton. ☕
Even Bottas's ghost would agree.

Same thing with Ferrari. Sure, Leclerc is our golden boy, our future, and all that jazz...
But realistically, there's still zero proof he can consistently deliver titles and podiums, so there isn't much to debate there (for now...).

It's a completely different story when one team has a totally dominant car and nobody stands a chance of catching them, even in a fever dream...
Only then can a team say, "Fine, screw it, just race, we don't care who wins the title."

Though, let's be honest, even that won't happen if one driver is a massive marketing powerhouse compared to the other, or if one guy is simply getting paid a mountain more.
Otherwise, the team bosses look ridiculous for paying someone 4 or 5 times more, and the marketing departments funding the whole operation aren't exactly thrilled either...

So, it's obvious why Mercedes preferred Hamilton over Bottas or Rosberg. If I were running the show, I'd do the exact same thing. Even if I personally found Hamilton annoying and Rosberg actually quite likable—even if Kimi were sitting in his seat and I liked him even more than Vettel—Hamilton would still be my No. 1 whenever the championship was on the line. If the car is totally dominant and it's just about marketing, then sure, I'd pick Kimi just because he's my favorite.😁 al opet samo zato kaj je marketinški možda čak i jači...

Nicholas Newman2 said:I completely agree, man—I actually wrote a few pages about this earlier. My handle and signature pretty much say it all.

My only thought is that the people on the pit wall lacked any sense of tact during that mess. They could have just politely told Leclerc to come in for fresher rubber or to try making that single point work with the FL. The gap to the guy behind him was more than enough.
That would have been the classy move.

And while I don't think Lec was throwing too much of a tantrum about the call, if they actually plan on building a future around him, it’s not healthy for his spirit or his confidence to be shut down so bluntly right at the start.

"Lack of tact" is putting it lightly—honestly, they aren't worth the breath.

Regarding what you said about Leclerc: yeah, I can see that. Though, I suspect they sat him down and laid out exactly what their expectations and goals are for this season and how he fits into the long-term plan. It's an adjustment year for him to get used to the crew and the setup—seems like a win-win situation. My only real fear is that Ferrari won't have anything to throw back at Mercedes.

What this user is pointing out could be huge, and because of that, I'm worried that fighting Red Bull might actually be a reality.

Nicholas Newman2 said:I honestly have no clue what dimension you're living in.

If that’s how it works, was it just a simple button press to cause a DNF for Rosberg's car? Or maybe they just "forgot" about tires, like they did to Eddie Irvine back at Ferrari or recently to Ricciardo at Red Bull Racing.

And what if they didn't?
Rosberg never had random mechanical failures, weird spins into the woods, or bizarre tactical calls. 🙂
The only reason they let Rosberg grab a title was partly because of Hamilton's struggles, and partly because he got way too cocky and needed to be knocked down a peg...
Honestly, I wouldn't even be shocked if Russia staged the whole thing just to boost their car's reputation, especially since the American media and Hamilton himself don't talk up Hamilton's "out of this world" efforts in a mediocre car nearly as much anymore...

Nicholas Newman2 said:And while we're on the subject, it would be a shame not to mention pulling a perfectly good gearbox just to shove the No. 2 driver behind the No. 1 on the starting grid. We all know exactly who they were doing that to.

Now go wash your face and tell me who here is blind, deaf, or just hallucinating. Come on!

So what?
Of course Ferrari does that—they've always done it and they always will...
I'm fully aware of that, and I'm not lying to myself by pretending otherwise.
But I'm also just as aware that it's not just Ferrari; everyone does it.
For one very simple reason: they have every motive to.

At the end of the day, try finding anyone complaining about that time Massa had to let Alonso win with those "Alonso is faster than you" messages sent over the radio.
🙂 Everyone was talking trash about Alonso, Ferrari, and whatever else...
You know who wasn't???
Tibi, who's a Vettel fan.
Because that's what I expected, and that's why I think Ferrari's move was totally justified...☕ In fact, I'm probably one of the few people actually defending that decision from Ferrari...

Honestly, the only real difference between teams when it comes to team orders is the sheer amount of hypocrisy, brown-nosing, and lying involved...
That's it.

Anyway, regarding Hamilton in Australia...☕

So now we know why Bottas won and why it was such a blowout...
It wasn't because Mercedes allowed it or wanted it or whatever; it's because Hamilton clearly had a damaged car...

ruggedhawk20 said:Exactly. It’s called an observation.

Besides, I was the only one pointing out that Ferrari was facing some serious issues, while the rest of the whole world was drowning in shades of red and already celebrating both titles in advance. Those who were feeling a bit more arrogant were just praying for Leclerc's title and Vettel's humiliation.

Everyone—and I mean absolutely everyone except for me—was convinced that Ferrari had made real progress.

And now, these very same "experts" are calling me out for not employing verified scientific methods.

It seems those precious scientific methods of yours suddenly became irrelevant once they led the whole world astray.

The whole world. Except for me. Since I don't even use them.

Who exactly is this "you"? 🙂
Never mind, you don't have to answer... 🙂

Just answer me this: who has the "healthiest" torque this year? 🙂

ruggedhawk20 said:Everyone—honestly, everyone except me—was convinced Ferrari had finally made some progress.

That’s just you speaking for yourself, I suppose. I could easily say everyone except me thought Stroll was a total disaster of a driver, yet there are still people who know better. A minority, perhaps—but they exist. And he’s going to tear through Stroll Perez this season (I've been saying that for ages).

Richard Ross11 said:Who exactly are "you guys" talking about?🙂
Forget it—don't even bother replying... 🙂

So, who’s actually got the "healthiest" turning moment this season? — Honestly, just asking. 🙂

Look, Rudonj, quit messing with the President.

I wonder if Pierre Gasly has moved ahead of Daniil Kvyat yet. Monday is almost over—I assume he's passed him by now... 🙄

ruggedhawk20 said:Look, Rudonj, stop messing with the President

I am sorry, I simply cannot go on with this... 🙂

Stay healthy 🙂

crimsonhawk23 said:Is Gasly still trailing behind Kvyat? Monday is winding down, so I assume he’s managed to overtake him by now... 🙄

Kazo Gasly mentioned that he was pressing the button, but apparently, it just wasn't responding...
I truly hope that’s the case...

By the way, is nobody else talking about—or perhaps I just missed it—the whole David Coulthard vs. Daniel Ricciardo situation?...

It might be premature to claim that Ricciardo has been a total disappointment, but if I'm being honest... I'm starting to lean in that direction...

Once again, there was only one race to account for...

Richard Ross11 said:Kazo Gasly claims he was pressing the button, but it just wasn't responding...
I suppose I hope that's actually the case...

Alright, I haven't come across that detail anywhere yet—thanks for the heads-up. Though, even if it's true, I don't see much point; he probably could have overtaken him halfway through the race if he had been in a better car with the same engine anyway. 🤷

Richard Ross11 said:By the way, is nobody mentioning (or maybe I just missed it) Hulk vs Ricciardo?

It feels a bit early to say Ricciardo disappointed, though I guess I am leaning that way, if I'm being honest...

Then again, it was only one race...

👇👇

crimsonhawk23 said:I suspect this season will reveal just how overrated Ricciardo really is.

neonfox65 said:Power Unit observations:

Kimi’s RPM drops on the way to turn 11 in Q3 (between 3:20 and 3:23), and he’s complaining he probably ran out of ERS juice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipI7...youtu.be&t=195

Romain Grosjean on the radio during Q3 saying he "ran out of SOC twice":

Ferrari engines looking pretty fast through the speed traps:
View on imgur

Vettel doing a ton of lift and coast, looks like that green LED shows it:
https://streamable.com/seq60

Vettel’s RPM dropping while he asks about the PU:
https://streamable.com/s19in

Leclerc’s RPM dropping (?) right under the Rolex ad:
https://streamable.com/iro84

All this observation stuff is pointless if you're looking at it without context...

Obviously, Vettel was running in the weakest mode possible, and there's a simple reason: his tires were shot...
Why on earth would he push the engine when it was clear he had massive tire issues almost from the start of that medium stint?
Once it became obvious the undercut failed and there was zero chance of catching Lewis Hamilton regardless of what mode he was in...
Given how early they pitted, the only realistic goal was to hold position, not move up...

It was obvious he had no prayer attacking Hamilton ahead of him... he tried right at the start of that second stint and realized he wasn't even close...
He couldn't even get within DRS range even though Hamilton slowed to a 1:29... let alone anything else, so he just basically gave up...
He might have even cooked his tires during that first flying lap and then those few laps chasing Hamilton trying to stay within a second.🤷

Same goes for Max; there was no way he could hold him off given the pace. Max was a full second faster on fresh rubber while Vettel’s tires were already dead...
The only thing he'd gain by trying to defend aggressively was completely destroying his tires within a few laps (or worse, crashing and getting a free DNF), followed by an extra pit stop,
which would just leave him sliding down the order like a rock behind Pierre Gasly somewhere between laps 30 and 35.
http://en.mclarenf-1.com/index.php?p...Pierre%20Gasly
And you tell me how long he could have stayed out on mediums and actually matched Vettel's pace...
Red Bull could have easily sacrificed Gasly just to clog up traffic and knock Vettel out of points; they weren't winning much with him anyway...
So, it’s highly debatable whether he would have even passed him or how long he would have lasted on track if Vettel had been the one behind him.

They probably even told him not to bother fighting Max. It’s smarter to just let him pass; otherwise, they risk finishing completely outside the points...
Because losing a spot when Max breezes past is only a 3-point hit, whereas the risk of losing way more if the tires totally fall off is massive...
And that's assuming Max passes Lewis Hamilton (which was expected anyway), in which case the gap to Hamilton isn't really a big deal either...

So, when you put it in context, it’s perfectly logical to save the engine and switch to "safe mode," especially since you're allowed three engines this season before getting penalized...
Just save what you can to protect those points. Reclaiming a position from Max is impossible, and losing one to anyone behind him is also impossible, no matter how much you baby the engine...

That’s called being rational—take what you can get...
Instead of picking fights you can't win, which clearly risks losing the whole war...

As for Leclerc, the question is when he started slowing down. If it was after he closed in on Vettel and was told not to overtake, then it's damn well obvious why he was saving the engine too...

Regarding Kimi Raikkonen and the rest, it's no surprise their speeds were what they were...
Kimi was stuck in a pack where there was zero chance to break through. Naturally, he was saving the engine, so his pace couldn't be anything special, especially since he was stuck behind David Coulthard and couldn't make a move...
It's a mystery why David Coulthard is the first one above him on the list... I wonder why.

The only thing that's truly bizarre is Magnussen and his lap times...
That would imply the Haas is a freaking rocket in slow corners—maybe even the best car in that segment...🤔
Because hell, Magnussen was the only one in a lap with the top 5 cars, well ahead of David Coulthard. He wasn't slowed down by anyone or under pressure from behind...
Yet his top speed and sector times are absolute garbage...🤔

Though it makes sense that he was also nursing the engine most of the race, given he had no competition from behind and zero chance to attack those in front...

Which would mean Haas is way ahead of the midfield, and we won't be fighting for 4th in the standings, but rather battling for 5th...
Or maybe it's just the result of that slow Renault trailing him...🤷

My overall takeaway from Melbourne is that following other cars is still the exact same mess as before...
I mean, maybe the tire situation is better for some (Ferrari doesn't look like they've figured it out), but as far as overtaking goes, nothing has changed...
Maybe it's just the Melbourne race, though we didn't see much DRS action either. Most overtakes were just cars passing others because of technical issues or just a massive difference in pace...
So, in my opinion, these new rule changes haven't actually improved anything significant...

No point in even trying 🙂

Roger Wright94 said:That’s just wrong.
Finac isn't going to play nice... unless it becomes crystal clear very quickly that the championship is already decided.
And honestly, even then, they probably won't. It would be incredibly foolish—and the people running things there aren't exactly dim-witted. Actually, it would be beyond stupid.

I get the feeling you actually believe that. That’s what surprises me most. You’re practically a cultist. You try so hard to act like you aren't, but you can't really escape it.

A cultist?
Look, I don't feel the need to prove myself to anyone; I am who I am. Some people like me, others don't, and I'm perfectly fine with that. I think it's because I don't sugarcoat things or lecture people—I just say exactly what I think and what's on my mind, and most people just aren't ready to hear the truth.

Of course, that doesn't mean I'm always right. I make mistakes just like everyone else, but unlike the majority, I'm willing to admit it to myself and to others.

In reality, being narrow-minded or judging someone for something you do yourself is what's truly idiotic.

Your second point is a complete oxymoron. When Nico Rosberg was in the mix, people called him useless, a wingman, a lapdog, Roscoe... yet he still took the title. In what universe could Rubens Barrichello alongside Michael Schumacher or Mark Webber alongside Sebastian Vettel have ever won a championship? Don't make me laugh.

Good morning to those who think Mercedes is so brilliant that they'd never let a title slip away if their lead driver were sidelined or out of the race.

Yes, I believe Mercedes keeps their cards close to their chest up to a certain point, but that doesn't mean the leadership doesn't favor one driver over another. Narrow-minded people don't see nuance; for them, everything is black or white. And if they ever "pretend" to be fair, it's usually just a calculated move to keep the masses from complaining. How yes no.

Why would Mercedes wait for Lewis to pull himself together or find his drive? If you have to go looking for motivation when you're sitting on millions in salary and massive privileges, you've got bigger problems. There might be moments of crisis, but only moments. While you're busy searching for motivation, someone else (meaning the opposition) is busy sweeping up the trophies.

It’s like Mercedes has some kind of psychic connection or something, knowing ahead of time that those points wouldn't matter anyway. They knew Sebastian Vettel would pull more stunts after that crazy Singapore race that would knock him out of the title hunt, so they asked—and received—for Lewis to hand the position back to Valtteri Bottas in Canada.

To make it even more absurd, everyone seems to forget one crucial fact: Toto Wolff manages Finac. So, at one moment, Toto is the embodiment of pure evil and manipulation, and the next, he's as naive as a French maid. Ha. 😵

Richard Ross11 said:Kazo Gasly claims he was smashing that button but nothing happened...
I really hope he's telling the truth...

By the way, am I the only one not talking about (or maybe I just missed it) Hulk vs Ricc?

It’s probably too early to say Ricciardo totally flopped, but hey, I’ll admit I’m leaning that way...

Then again, it was only one single race...

I actually voted on those Formula 1 polls thinking David Coulthard would outshine Ricciardo. Look, I love both of them, but I’ve always had a soft spot for Coulthard, and honestly, I think he’s just as talented as Ricciardo is.