2009 Australian Grand Prix - Melbourne (Central Park)

slynomad32 said:Everyone is going to go out and buy those diffusers, and then it’ll just be a total SATARAŠ😁
...

👍

slynomad32 said:Look, I’m a die-hard Ferrari supporter through and through, but I can't deny Hamilton's talent or his technical grasp of the sport. That being said, you couldn't convince me—not even if God Himself stepped in—that he just happens to have all the luck or that things always somehow fall perfectly into place for him. Take that situation in Monaco last year, for instance... when he punctured a tire and suddenly the safety car comes out right when he needs it to change tires and still stay in the hunt, and so on and so forth... plus, last year's McLaren was incredibly fast, so why all this talk about espionage and whatnot...

I'm with you on that. 👍

Maria Foster372 said:I'm with you on that. 👍

Come on, Ferrari fans, what’s your take on this season opening? It’s looking even more disastrous than last year.
I’m honestly speechless. I don't know what to tell you, but it feels like Ferrari just flat-out screws up at the start of every single season. They just limp along all year only to somehow snatch a title in the final race or win by a hair.
What is actually happening? Why can't they just have one normal start to a season, like back in 2007?
But whatever. What are we expecting from Malaysia? Ferrari was sitting at 1st and 2nd there, right? Let's hope for something better than this mess eventually. FORZA FERRARI

Drew Hernandez said:Come on, Ferrari fans, what’s your take on this season opening? It’s looking even more disastrous than last year.
I’m honestly speechless. I don't know what to tell you, but it feels like Ferrari just flat-out screws up at the start of every single season. They just limp along all year only to somehow snatch a title in the final race or win by a hair.
What is actually happening? Why can't they just have one normal start to a season, like back in 2007?
But whatever. What are we expecting from Malaysia? Ferrari was sitting at 1st and 2nd there, right? Let's hope for something better than this mess eventually. FORZA FERRARI

I stayed realistic and knew they weren't in a great position because diffusers make a waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay bigger difference, believe me...😲 my friends claim otherwise, which I find impossible to comprehend. And what truly disappointed me was seeing both drivers retire; it was quite a shock. But this is only the first race, and we aren't even close to being done. Lewis Hamilton and Massa will eventually get tangled in the mix too, since Massa seems to be finding more rhythm than Kimi Räikkönen, whom I honestly thought might pull something off, but no luck...
It isn't that I'm underestimating Ross Brawn—he has done an EXCELLENT JOB👍—but I suspect as soon as Ferrari and McLaren implement their diffusers, Brawn will already 👎
In Malaysia, I am hoping for a podium for Massa, but...🤷 I'm worried.
I just don't think they are competitive enough against those teams with the diffusers...
You can try as hard as you want, but when it's simply impossible...☕

Look, if nothing else, being part of the McLaren crew means we can at least hold out hope for a win in Monaco. 😁 You throw KERS into the mix, give him a short track to play with, and put Lewis Hamilton behind the wheel? Honestly, that’s a guaranteed banger of a race right there. No question about it. 😁

redstag said:Look, if nothing else, being part of the McLaren crew means we can at least hold out hope for a win in Monaco. 😁 You throw KERS into the mix, give him a short track to play with, and put Lewis Hamilton behind the wheel? Honestly, that’s a guaranteed banger of a race right there. No question about it. 😁

I don't doubt it for a single second...☕
It’s already been proven...

I honestly think we’re looking at another big win for either Jenson Button or maybe even Fernando Alonso at the next race.
Kimi is going to keep struggling with his car just like he has every other season!

I honestly can't stop laughing at this article today, especially this part:

- Going off track was my mistake, which is such a shame because, given how things were unfolding, I could have even made it onto the podium – said Kimi Räikkönen.

😲

🙄

😂

🤣

🙏

👍

You just have to love the guy. 😍

To be honest, I’ve never really been a fan of Kimi Räikkönen 🙏

Morgan Murphy7 said:To be honest, I’ve never really been a fan of Kimi Räikkönen 🙏

I've loved him ever since he crashed his Sauber at Imola back in 2001, right in front of my seat. 😍

Morgan Murphy7 said:To be honest, I’ve never really been a fan of Kimi Räikkönen 🙏

Up until about three seasons ago, I actually thought he was quite decent 🙂 but things have shifted significantly since then. It isn't that I harbor any particular dislike for him—it's just that my respect for his driving style has waned over time.☕

fadedpanther4 said:I've loved him ever since he crashed his Sauber at Imola back in 2001, right in front of my seat. 😍

While you were busy having fun watching the race at Imola, I was stuck peeling potatoes during my time in the Army. 🙏

ironfalcon43 said:Up until about three seasons ago, I actually thought he was quite decent 🙂 but things have shifted significantly since then. It isn't that I harbor any particular dislike for him—it's just that my respect for his driving style has waned over time.☕

To me, it feels like there’s an entire side of this story that hasn't been told yet. It’s like looking at a finished painting and realizing you’re only seeing the top layer, missing all the sketches and heavy brushstrokes underneath that actually give it depth. There is clearly more to the situation than what we've been presented with. 🤷

Alright, let me throw my two cents into the ring regarding the race...

Ross Brawn really showed everyone why they're currently running the show in F1. Honestly, I’d bet on them grabbing a 1-2 finish, or at least both drivers on the podium in Malaysia, because I just don't see anyone else keeping up unless they totally mess it up themselves. If Rubens Barrichello hadn't had such a rough start, this would have looked even more dominant, not to mention the advantage Jenson Button lost when that safety car popped out. The real question is how long this streak can actually last. My gut feeling? The FIA will probably sit tight for a few races to see if the other teams can fix their diffusers. If the field doesn't catch up, those diffusers might just "fly" right out of F1 after about 6 or 7 races once Brawn builds enough of a lead to make chasing them for points interesting. It's all about keeping Formula 1 exciting, right? I actually thought Williams might give them a run for their money based on free practice—where Rosberg was absolutely crushing the competition—but it turns out Brawn was just playing it cool and hiding their cards until qualifying.
As for that Kubica-Vettel incident, I think it's pretty clear Vettel was in the wrong there. In the heat of fighting for position, he intentionally slammed into him. Kubica gave him more than enough room, but Vettel just veered off his line and hit him. Plus, Kubica was driving so fast he actually overtook him on the outside, so there was really no reason for Vettel to pull such a stupid move.
Lewis Hamilton and his Brazilian teammate, Glock, did an awesome job today. I'd also say both Toro Rosso drivers did well too—though maybe more due to luck than legendary driving, but hey, a win's a win...

Edward Howard2 said:Alright, let me throw my two cents into the ring regarding the race...

Ross Brawn really showed everyone why they're currently running the show in F1. Honestly, I’d bet on them grabbing a 1-2 finish, or at least both drivers on the podium in Malaysia, because I just don't see anyone else keeping up unless they totally mess it up themselves. If Rubens Barrichello hadn't had such a rough start, this would have looked even more dominant, not to mention the advantage Jenson Button lost when that safety car popped out. The real question is how long this streak can actually last. My gut feeling? The FIA will probably sit tight for a few races to see if the other teams can fix their diffusers. If the field doesn't catch up, those diffusers might just "fly" right out of F1 after about 6 or 7 races once Brawn builds enough of a lead to make chasing them for points interesting. It's all about keeping Formula 1 exciting, right? I actually thought Williams might give them a run for their money based on free practice—where Rosberg was absolutely crushing the competition—but it turns out Brawn was just playing it cool and hiding their cards until qualifying.
As for that Kubica-Vettel incident, I think it's pretty clear Vettel was in the wrong there. In the heat of fighting for position, he intentionally slammed into him. Kubica gave him more than enough room, but Vettel just veered off his line and hit him. Plus, Kubica was driving so fast he actually overtook him on the outside, so there was really no reason for Vettel to pull such a stupid move.
Lewis Hamilton and his Brazilian teammate, Glock, did an awesome job today. I'd also say both Toro Rosso drivers did well too—though maybe more due to luck than legendary driving, but hey, a win's a win...

Look, I have no desire to get dragged into a pointless argument, but during the pre-season testing—in every single session except one—Ross Brawn was nearly a full second faster than everyone else on the grid.
It’s hard to argue they were just holding back cards.

To be honest, during those tests, I actually suspected they might be cheating—using illegal fuel blends or driving incredibly light—just to bait sponsors into signing.
Fortunately, they weren't cheating (I've been rooting for Jenson Button for a very long time now).

By the way, if you're going to write it phonetically, it isn't "Brawn" pronounced like "braun," it's more like "brawn."

velvetdrifter15 said:I honestly think we’re looking at another big win for either Jenson Button or maybe even Fernando Alonso at the next race.
Kimi is going to keep struggling with his car just like he has every other season!

🙄 Man, you clearly don't know a thing about F1 if you actually think Alonso is going to be ready to fight for a win with a car that's a full second slower than Brown's. Especially since they had to pack up and head straight to Malaysia right after everything went down in the USA.

Matthew Young35 said:Look, I have no desire to get dragged into a pointless argument, but during the pre-season testing—in every single session except one—Ross Brawn was nearly a full second faster than everyone else on the grid.
It’s hard to argue they were just holding back cards.

To be honest, during those tests, I actually suspected they might be cheating—using illegal fuel blends or driving incredibly light—just to bait sponsors into signing.
Fortunately, they weren't cheating (I've been rooting for Jenson Button for a very long time now).

By the way, if you're going to write it phonetically, it isn't "Brawn" pronounced like "braun," it's more like "brawn."

I'm not talking about hiding stuff during testing—they were clearly amazing there. I'm talking about those free practice sessions...
Rubinho: 4th, 2nd, 6th
Button: 6th, 5th, 3rd
Rosberg: 1st, 1st, 1st
...and then boom, qualifying comes around and they absolutely smoke Rosberg and the rest of the field by a second or two. 🙏
To me, those practice sessions looked like a textbook case of throwing people a bone just to mask what they actually had under the hood.😁

By the way, if you're going to write things phonetically, Brawn isn't pronounced "braun," it's more like "brown."

I just read it how it's spelled.😁

Edward Howard2 said:I'm not talking about hiding stuff during testing—they were clearly amazing there. I'm talking about those free practice sessions...
Rubinho: 4th, 2nd, 6th
Button: 6th, 5th, 3rd
Rosberg: 1st, 1st, 1st
...and then boom, qualifying comes around and they absolutely smoke Rosberg and the rest of the field by a second or two. 🙏
To me, those practice sessions looked like a textbook case of throwing people a bone just to mask what they actually had under the hood.😁

By the way, if you're going to write things phonetically, Brawn isn't pronounced "braun," it's more like "brown."

I just read it how it's spelled.😁

My apologies, that was my mistake.

Still, I don't buy the "deception" theory. Isn't it more likely just pure engine conservation? They know the power unit works, so why push it unnecessarily? :P

Gary Palmer8 said:Haha... Lewis Hamilton really is a thorn in everyone's side—let's see if there are any other fans of that nonsense around here who actually believe Glock let Lewis slip through last year in Brazil?

It’s true—right now, the momentum is definitely sitting with McLaren.
Unfortunately—or maybe luckily, if you’re a McLaren fan—those points don't actually hide how much they struggled to find any rhythm this past weekend.

Or is it just that classic Lewis Hamilton level of talent?

I honestly think we provided more than enough proof last year that Glock let Hamilton through, so there's really no point in dragging out the debate again this season.🤣

Edward Howard2 said:I honestly think we provided more than enough proof last year that Glock let Hamilton through, so there's really no point in dragging out the debate again this season.🤣

Pure madness. ................