Man of the race ?

[pino]

Who do you think it was ? Kimi, Hamilton, or Massa ? I go for Lewis :up:

[Roamy]

God as boring as it was Pino - Nico Rosberg was the star of the race

[F1boat]

Close between Kimi and Lewis, bith made fantastic race, but since Kimi is the first driver from decades to win his first race with Ferrari, I go for him :) But Lewis was amazing as well.
I also agree with Fousto about Nico being superb and Massa and Alonso were also very fast.

[jas123f1]

Hamilton was fantastic in his first race but Kimi had a BIG pressure from whole F1 world on his scolders. So my vote goes to Kimi. :)

[jens]

I'd vote for Hamilton - he matched Alonso incredibly well.

[XSARA]

Hamilton.

I concede that both Kimi and Massa were impressive; one scored a maiden win with his new team-the first win of the season, the other showed tremendous skill in working his way to the top ten, but nonetheless, my vote goes to Lewis. He did a fantastic job and I'm sure he can and will give these guys a run for their money. :up:

[wmcot]

Very hard to choose, but I went for Massa since he showed patience and maturity moving from 22 to 6. This is something I had not seen in him before. Reminded me of MS going 22nd to 5th at Monaco.

I was going to pick DC for his "pass" on Wurz! :)

[Sulland]

Hamilton for sure - Podium in his first race, leading in the process is impressive.

Just wait for the UK press hype to start. Poor guy. That destroyed Button for a for seasons, lets hope Dennis & team can help him keep his feet on the ground !

But an impressive debut race !!

[Garry Walker]

Massa

[raikk]

Hamilton for sure! And here I was predicting he would place 7th! God I'm such a plug!

[LeonBrooke]

Massa cut through the field impressively, but Hamilton... like wow.

[Ari]

MASSA for mine!

Hamilton second and Kimi third.

[Viktory]

Definately Hamilton in my opinion. Although both Kimi and Massa put in an excellent performance and are a close second and third.

[AJP]

Hamilton for me...

Never raced at Albert Park....First race in a F1 Grand Prix...and a podium. :)

Big thumbs up...can't wait to see what he can do on a circuit that he has already raced on.

Kimi was also super impressive and only just misses out on my vote...

[TMorel]

Hamilton did what I expected - Alonso failed to live up to my expectations.
Nico and Massa, so I guess with the limits of the poll it'll have to be Massa

I'm thinking along with Nico, we might need to add the BMW drivers on the poll in a few races though.

[ArrowsFA1]

Hamilton. No question. Anyone who matches the performance of a 2xWDC in the same car in their first GP is class.

Kimi drove a good race in the car which had the measure of everyone, as did Massa, but both those performances were to be expected.

[Shalafi]

Kimi AND Hamilton... both were really impressive. For me, Massa was a disappointment. Clearly with a fastest car he was surprisingly slow. He should of taken 4th place. Kimi said that he didnt have to push at all during the race and that he could of gone much quicker if necessary. Based on that, Massas speed was a real disappointing. No-one but blind Massa worshipper can say that he was a driver of the race or drove brilliantly. Very average performance by him.

[Erki]

Men and women of the race were those people who decided to go to sleep after the first 20 laps like me. Gosh, why did I wait that long?! :p :

[pino]

... Massa was a disappointment. Clearly with a fastest car he was surprisingly slow. He should of taken 4th place. Kimi said that he didnt have to push at all during the race and that he could of gone much quicker if necessary. Based on that, Massas speed was a real disappointing. No-one but blind Massa worshipper can say that he was a driver of the race or drove brilliantly. Very average performance by him.

Average performance ? :s You are joking...aren't you ? Did you forget that he started on back row, and got stuck behind Button and Rubens for many laps ? Anyway He managed to finish 6th and to me that was a great performance :up:

[Shalafi]

Average performance ? :s You are joking...aren't you ? Did you forget that he started on back row, and got stuck behind Button and Rubens for many laps ? Anyway He managed to finish 6th and to me that was a great performance :up:

No, Im not joking. Look at his lap times and compare those to Kimis who didnt have to push at all. And yes, he stuck behind Honda boys with a easily fastest car. If Nico can overtake Ralf with Williams, surely with Ferrari Massa should of overtaken the Honda boys. You have to consider machinery when counting the performance. Massas performance was a very average.

[Ian McC]

Hamiliton, looks like he has been driving that car for ages :D

[aryan]

Kimi did fine, many people have problems adjusting to a new team and a new car which supposedly "isn't designed for them" (Rubens last year?). Kimi just showed that a real racer is quick from the get go.

Hamilton though, was the class of the field. Never raced in F1 before, just 22 years of age, never raced in Albert Park, and he just matched his double WDC teammate and got himself a podium. That counts for something a little extra ordinary in my book.

[Dave B]

Hamilton, of course.

Kimi won, but you'd expect that especially given the pace of the Ferarri. Massa's charge through the field was class, but I can't help thinking he should have despatched the Hondas far earlier.

Alonso's drive was top notch, but what else would you expect from a double World Champion?

So Lewis it is. If you didn't know, you'd never have guessed that was his debut race. :up:

[seppefan]

and Ant. He was still in the car, two laps down, racing with a serious amount of back pain. Deserves a mention maybe for the wrong reason I accept but even so.....and Nico was hot.

[baker]

Lewis without a shadow of doubt. First GP, never raced on the circuit before, matched 2x WDC in quali and race and finished on the podium. Absolutley stunning peformance.

Honourable mention to Kimi for winning on his debut with Ferrari.

[donKey jote]

What the Brock said :up: :)

[haokunnan]

Hamilton is a big surprise but not as good as Kimi.

[ATF]

Hamilton, of course.

Kimi won, but you'd expect that especially given the pace of the Ferarri. Massa's charge through the field was class, but I can't help thinking he should have despatched the Hondas far earlier.

Alonso's drive was top notch, but what else would you expect from a double World Champion?

So Lewis it is. If you didn't know, you'd never have guessed that was his debut race.


I agree 100% - Kimi was the fastest driver in the fastest car, you would expect him to win. Massa could have finished higher but like you say, he wasted too long behind the Hondas.

Hamilton did a superb job, just behind the two best drivers in the world! Credit should also go to Heidfeld and Kubica for their performances and as fousto says - Nico Rosberg.

[akv89]

Massa wasn't extremely impressive. It is true that 22nd to 6th is quite a performance but he had a car that could have been able to even challenge for the podium. The reason I say this is because of Massa's pace throughout the race, even when he had a clear track ahead of him. For example, there were times around lap 40 when he had a clear track and was going at a pace that was 3 to 4 seconds slower than Raikkonen's. Kimi's fastest lap was 1:25.235, more than a second faster than second place Alonso. On the other hand, Massa's fastest lap was only the 8th fastest lap in the race at 1:27.044. I didn't hear Massa say that he had any problems with his car during any of his interviews, that would explain his lack of pace.
That said, my driver of the race is Hamilton. First race, first time at Albert Park, and he comes 3rd and even outraces the double world champion on occasion.

[akv89]

double post

[race aficionado]

Hamilton

:)

[Giuseppe F1]

Man of the race for me has to be Lewis with Kimi a VERY, VERY close second.

Move of the race for me HAS TO go to Rosberg on Ralf

[jso1985]

Raikkonen did what he was expected to do
Massa did good but this wasn't the first time someone went from 22th to 6th with a top car.
but Hamilton managed to be at the pace of the current world champion and got a podium on his debut
so my vote goes to Lewis!

[Sleeper]

Hamilton, supurb debut. Kimi had a very strong race on his Ferrari debut but wasnt really pushed at all.

But why is Massa in the poll? He had a solid race from dead last but Rosberg was far more impressive.

[slinkster]

got to be Lewis :)

[Andrea]

I hate to be controversial because being a Brit I should go for Hamilton, but Kimi was my man of the race.

[Brown, Jon Brow]

Rosberg?- managed to lap at the same pace of the McLarens :up:

Kimi was faultless all race, Hamilton was incredible at his first ever corner in a Formula 1 race, going around the outside of 2 cars. RB also did well in the Honda to beat JB by so much.

:eek: Andrea is back :eek: :s hock:

[stevie_gerrard]

Hamilton just, for the fact its his first race and he was so composed to nearly beat his own teammate and 2 times World Champion, that is some real guts shown there! wont be long till his first race win i wouldnt have thought! :D

[Heidfeldrulez]

yea Massa did what was expected IMO, i wouldnt call it an average drive but it wasnt amazing either. he got by far the best car run the half race distance on soft compound. I think he spent a bit too long behind cars like the Hondas (who were massive seconds slower than him) Also, he was way faster than Fisi (removed a 5sec gap in about 3 laps) yet he failed to pull a move on him. All in all a good race but nothing special.

Rosberg would deserve a slot in this poll more than Massa IMO, but the man of race was without a doubt Lewis, outstanding stuff.

[Ari]

Massa for mine!!


oh and...
http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/9738/horrendousay0.jpg

[Ninse]

It´s very clear for me, Hamilton has been in a place that very few people waits for this first race.

[Ranger]

Hamilton was scarily quick.

But it has to go to Kimi. Pole, Fastest Lap and the win. :up:

Can't do better than that.

[pino]

I've added him on the poll, if anyone want to change his vote please let me know by PM or by posting in here. Sorry for not adding him in the first place :)

pino

[Ian McC]

I hate to be controversial because being a Brit I should go for Hamilton, but Kimi was my man of the race.


Welcome back Andrea :wave:

[janneppi]

My vote goes to Hamilton, apart one small mistake he drove a good, mature race.
Kimi didn't really do anything out of the ordinary, Massa really should have tried to be more agressive and i won't vote Rosberg, ever. :D

[SGWilko]

I think Massa is coming under some very unjustified criticism here. We should not forget that he was quite probably fuelled to brimming, and that will explain why he could not match Kimi's pace, or get passed the Hondas as quickly as he could.

Also, was he not on a one stopper, and as he had to use both tyre compounds, I am sure that they were pretty ropey come the end of his stints.

But hey, I think Hamilton was VERY impressive. An excellent start, composed throughout the weekend, and he lead the race too, don't forget.

I would also vote for Nico, really shone out there in the race, and a great move on Ralf. I really hope Williams start to come good this year.

Davidson also deserves a mention, for is practice times, just a shame he could not replicate that in qualifying.

[FreshF1]

It´s very clear for me, Hamilton has been in a place that very few people waits for this first race.
I agree. While everyone expected Kimi to deliver, it's not necessarily true for Lewis. He almost took second place! I couldn't beleive he was keeping Alsonso at bay.

[W8&C]

My feeling said that Hamilton will have a really good race, I expected Raikkonen to dominate, and Massa´s drive to 6th was nothing special, regarding that he had the best car on the grid. So to my surprise I have to vote for Rosberg, whom I really didn´t rate high after last years season.

[leopard]

Lewis Hamilton was obviously the man of the race, a totally new driver overshoots my prediction and many people, and how he was constantly driving the car only with minor correction.

I am not sure that was right Ron called him into the pit too late - playing so called conservative strategy - to enable Alonso took his place thereafter, Once Alonso got out of Hamilton's car he could make the gap to the race leader closer, but it was too late. As usual, Alonso doesn't do anything dramatically; he tends to do anything consistently.

As a new debutant, insisting to drive at the same pace in front of senior driver that is also a reigning champion i don't think it was totally right, except if he can significantly with a marked difference to be in front, I wouldn't mind if he keep his position and keep challenge for the better place.

The whole performance of McLaren, in term of speed and reliability, has increased significantly, what a lovely race and seems to be for the whole season.

[ten-tenths]

i got to say it was a tie between hamilton who was absolutly brilliant in his maiden race and kimi who must have had tremendous pressure put upon his shoulder trying to replace shumi. i feel massa had a great result but if it was kimi or alonso in his shoes, i have a feeling they would have finished with a better result. actually who is to say, massa put in stunning times all weekend before quali. i can't wait to see how massa answers back in the next GP.

bottom line i gave my vote to kimi

i must say the race itself was quite a snoozer but the backstories between teammates is drama at its best so far.

[PSfan]

I was gonna vote for Rosberg, until I noticed that Massa had managed what I thought impossible... run a one stopper with the new tire rules.

[Nikey]

Though Hamilton was clearly the biggest (positive) suprise of the race, Kimi was clearly the "man of the race". And that´s what this thread is all about, isn´t it?

[Valentino Rossi Boy]

Hamilton was the man of the race

[DimitraF1]

kimi is the man

[Tomi]

Kimi for me too, if Hamilton would have been able to beat his team mate, I would have choosen him.

[pino]

Kimi for me too, if Hamilton would have been able to beat his team mate, I would have choosen him.

Hamilton did beat his team-mate ;)

[EuroTroll]

Hamilton did beat his team-mate ;)

Sutil? :)

[Garry Walker]

Hamilton did beat his team-mate ;)
Due to team-orders he actually didnt.

[Ian McC]

Due to team-orders he actually didnt.

Oh dear, here we go already :rolleyes:

[tstran17_88]

Kimi. He did something he couldn't do all last year...win.

[webliams]

I'll say it a close between kimi and heildfeld,

heildfeld tried something different, kimi did what was expected.

don't think massa used the car to it's potential, if the cars so fast why wait for people to pit and pass them then, bad move I reckon.

my opinion is Hamilton held Alonso up, Hamilton did well for what it was but he's in the second best team, he's done a lot of testing miles and in the past we've seen rookie drivers do well (i.e. kubica, rosburg) the difference is the car and were there positioned on the grid. Alonso came in first but I believe it's only because of traffic. Alonso had more fuel, his pit stop time show this unless mclaren had slow pit stops for Hamilton.

the race was boring, it could of been different if Alonso wasn't blocked by the bmw at the start to push him back to 4th, he might of pushed kimi but we'll never know.