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2014 Australian GP Official Thread
So with just over a week until the cars role out in Fridays Practice for the first round of 2014 F1 championship, it feels like its time to get the official thread up and running. I always like the opening weekend thread to be opened early so we can get straight into it.
I was generally not looking forward to 2014 that much, with many things I consider stupid to be in F1 again this year. However testing and the potential excitement of an unpredictable start of the season has got me pumped again. :bounce:
2014 Australian Grand Prix, Albert Park, Melbourne.
Times are Local and (UK times). (Sorry about that :vampire: )
FP1: 14th March -12:30pm -14:00pm - (1:30am-3am)
FP2: 14th March -16:30pm - 18:00pm - (5:30am-7am)
FP3: 15th March - 14:00pm - 15:00pm - (3am-4am)
Quali: 15th March - 17:00pm- (6am)
Race: 16th March - 17:00pm - (6am)
Race Length: 58 Laps
Previous Winners at Albert Park:
1996: Damon Hill - Williams
1997: David Coulthard - Mclaren
1998: Mika Hakkinen - Mclaren
1999: Eddie Irvine - Ferrari
2000: Michael Schumacher - Ferrari
2001: Michael Schumacher - Ferrari
2002: Michael Schumacher - Ferrari
2003: David Coulthard - Mclaren
2004: Michael Schumacher - Ferrari
2005: Giancarlo Fisichella - Renault
2006: Fernando Alonso - Mclaren
2007: Kimi Raikkonen - Ferrari
2008: Lewis Hamilton - Mclaren
2009: Jenson Button - Brawn
2010: Jenson Button - Mclaren
2011: Sebastian Vettel - Red Bull
2012: Jenson Button - McLaren
2013: Kimi Raikkonen- Lotus
Michael Schumacher 4 Wins
Jenson Button 3 Wins
David Coulthard 2 Wins
Kimi Raikkonen 2 Wins
Damon Hill 1 Win
Mika Hakkinen 1 Win
Eddie Irvine 1 Win
Giancarlo Fisichella 1 Win
Fernando Alonso 1 Win
Lewis Hamilton 1 Win
Sebastian Vettel 1 Win
Ferrari 6 Wins
Mclaren 6 Wins
Renault 2 Wins
Brawn 1 Win
Red Bull 1 Win
Williams 1 Win
Lotus 1 Win
Driver Line Ups
and driver numbers,
Red Bull:--- Sebastian Vettel (1)---------Daniel Ricciardo (3)
Mercedes:-- Lewis Hamilton (44)----------Nico Rosberg (6)
Ferrari:---- Fernando Alonso (14)----------Kimi Raikkonen (7)
Lotus: ------Romain Grosjean (8)---------Pastor Maldonado (13)
Force India-Nico Hulkenberg (27)----------Sergio Perez (11)
McLaren: --Jenson Button (22)-------------Kevin Magnussen (20)
Sauber:-----Esteban Gutierrez (21)---------Adrian Sutil (99)
Toro Rosso--Jean Eric Vergne (25)---------Danii Kyvat (26)
Williams ----Felipe Massa (19)---------------Valterri Bottas (77)
Marussia-----Jules Bianchi (17)--------------Max Chilton (4)
Caterham---Kamui Kobyashi (10)-----------Marcus Ericcson (9)
So there we go.
Let discussions begin.
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Re: 2014 Australian GP Official Thread
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Re: 2014 Australian GP Official Thread
Where is the pickems thread??
Shall we see an all Mercedes-powered podium?
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Re: 2014 Australian GP Official Thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by Koz
Where is the pickems thread??
champ.php?series=f1 :sailor: :kiss: :sailor:
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Re: 2014 Australian GP Official Thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tazio
Quote:
Originally Posted by Koz
Where is the pickems thread??
champ.php?series=f1 :sailor: :kiss: :sailor:
That Mr Alca-wotssit must have been a great pickem champ. :)
Bet you wish you were that good, hey Taz. :laugh: ;)
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Re: 2014 Australian GP Official Thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by Koz
Where is the pickems thread??
Shall we see an all Mercedes-powered podium?
I think it would be worth betting on a Mercedes powered top 8!
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Re: 2014 Australian GP Official Thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tazio
Quote:
Originally Posted by Koz
Where is the pickems thread??
champ.php?series=f1 :sailor: :kiss: :sailor:
But where do I make the picks for Australia?
Mark!!!!! :angryfire
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robinho
Quote:
Originally Posted by Koz
Where is the pickems thread??
Shall we see an all Mercedes-powered podium?
I think it would be worth betting on a Mercedes powered top 8!
If they don't run out of gas...
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Re: 2014 Australian GP Official Thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robinho
I think it would be worth betting on a Mercedes powered top 8!
I'll take that bet, what are the stakes? I will be very surprised if Kimi and Fred finish outside the top 8 :rolleyes:
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Re: 2014 Australian GP Official Thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tazio
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robinho
I think it would be worth betting on a Mercedes powered top 8!
I'll take that bet, what are the stakes? I will be very surprised if Kimi and Fred finish outside the top 8 :rolleyes:
Remember the Gearbox problems will strike............... :vampire: :skull: :devil: woooooooooooooo :vader: :monster:
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Re: 2014 Australian GP Official Thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by steveaki13
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tazio
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robinho
I think it would be worth betting on a Mercedes powered top 8!
I'll take that bet, what are the stakes? I will be very surprised if Kimi and Fred finish outside the top 8 :rolleyes:
Remember the Gearbox problems will strike............... :vampire: :skull: :devil: woooooooooooooo :vader: :monster:
Remember if they don't you owe me a ham sandwich :vampire: :burp:
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Re: 2014 Australian GP Official Thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by Koz
Where is the pickems thread??
:angryfire Yeah Mark, and what is the prize for the winner this year?? :angel: :stareup: :sailor:
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Re: 2014 Australian GP Official Thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tazio
Quote:
Originally Posted by Koz
Where is the pickems thread??
:angryfire Yeah Mark, and what is the prize for the winner this year?? :angel: :stareup: :sailor:
As a prize I would like to humbly suggest a weekend vacation with overnight accommodations at the Easy-8 Motel with billy's missus in beautiful French Lick, Indiana USA. I hear she does women too. :bounce: :vampire: ;)
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Re: 2014 Australian GP Official Thread
I take it the silence means there won't be any Pickems this year?
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Re: 2014 Australian GP Official Thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by Koz
I take it the silence means there won't be any Pickems this year?
That's the most unheard of thing I'v ever heard of! :crazy: :angryfire
In fact I aint buying it.
Here are my banker picks:
1)Kimi
2)Hulkenberg
3)Boss
4)Fred
5)Rosberg
6)Felipe
7)Bottas
8) Jense or Seb I can't make up my mind yet .... Ok? :dork:
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Re: 2014 Australian GP Official Thread
Fascinating stuff. It brings back the memories of 2009. I remember, how the off-season was that year. It feels like going back by 5 years' in time. We could see something incredible again. This time from a different angle with different issues, but nonetheless.
This year Williams has been fast in off-season (9th in WCC last year). In 2009 Brawn was fast in off-season (Honda was 9th in WCC in 2008!).:D
I remember the climax, the fascination of a new beginning. The likelihood of a new pecking order. But you still wouldn't believe until you see it. And then you see it. Brawn, Red Bull, Williams and Toyota at the front with last years top4 teams-manufacturers all behind them. Wow. That's stunning! A jaw drop.
Now you anticipate something similar. Could it be... Champion Red Bull nowhere with car problems. Last year's regular podium contender Lotus also nowhere. And last year's second in WDC (Ferrari/Alonso) could possibly be in midfield, behind Mercedes-powered teams.
Of course Mercedes winning wouldn't be anywhere a surprise. What about other Mercedes teams? McLaren had a bad year last year. They are a big team, but feel like a bit of an underdog already due to the end of Mercedes partnership. And then Williams and Force India. What about their challenge?
It will be a critical race not only for Red Bull, but also for Ferrari. It is not just about Mercedes possibly beating them. It is also that if they want to have any say in title contention, they can't let other Mercedes-powered teams beat them. But this is what happened to Ferrari and McLaren in 2009. They were just too far back in midfield, getting beaten by far too many traditional midfield teams, which destroyed their title hopes for that year.
Oh, an unreliability. Is it 80s coming back? Sounds like a song.:D The cars blowing up everywhere with less than half of the field getting to the chequered flag.
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I want to say one more thing about the specific race. Interesting that Button has been going so well at Albert Park, already 3 wins! And if I think about it, he could get a fourth one too. Aside from Mercedes, Button could be a main contender at the front in this race.
McLaren blew a bit hot and cold in winter tests. Looked good at Jerez, not-so-good at Bahrain. Yet, Melbourne is more similar to Jerez, a twistier circuit. So, there you go. But car needs to be reliable. And even among Mercedes-powered teams no-one can be sure they actually get to the finish line... An opportunity to many, but also one, which could easily get lost.
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Re: 2014 Australian GP Official Thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tazio
Quote:
Originally Posted by Koz
I take it the silence means there won't be any Pickems this year?
That's the most unheard of thing I'v ever heard of! :crazy: :angryfire
In fact I aint buying it.
Here are my banker picks:
1)Kimi
2)Hulkenberg
3)Boss
4)Fred
5)Rosberg
6)Felipe
7)Bottas
8) Jense or Seb I can't make up my mind yet .... Ok? :dork:
Now that the season is upon us, you pick Kimi to win over Fred? :laugh:
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Re: 2014 Australian GP Official Thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by airshifter
Now that the season is upon us, you pick Kimi to win over Fred? :laugh:
Dawg.....My "banker" is always a little obtuse, and I generally don't put in my serious picks until very close to the deadline, which is why I'm the reigning champ
Plus Kimi usually goes pretty well in Australia and :
"Feels a little sorry for Kimita Kimsta Rolerblade" :sailor:
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Re: 2014 Australian GP Official Thread
Saw an interesting report on Sky Sports UK at the weekend. They basically said that the top 8 will be Mercedes powered ie Mercedes 1 and 2, Williams and Mclaren sharing 3-6 on the grid. Ferrari probably next in qualifying, but falling back in the race due to having to do an economy run, with Force India moving up. Sadly, I think they could be right, if the Ferrari engine is as thirsty as reports suggest, but I have a feeling things wont quite be as clear-cut as this.
I must confess I haven't looked forward to the first race of the season as much as this for many years
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Re: 2014 Australian GP Official Thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by anfield5
Saw an interesting report on Sky Sports UK at the weekend. They basically said that the top 8 will be Mercedes powered ie Mercedes 1 and 2, Williams and Mclaren sharing 3-6 on the grid. Ferrari probably next in qualifying, but falling back in the race due to having to do an economy run, with Force India moving up. Sadly, I think they could be right, if the Ferrari engine is as thirsty as reports suggest, but I have a feeling things wont quite be as clear-cut as this.
I must confess I haven't looked forward to the first race of the season as much as this for many years
Great post An'ld,
As a general rule I completely discount rumors of "sand-bagging" that is why I think Ferrari's times in Bahrain were representative of where they were then. I don't know what the crap is going to happen,( but I hope Force India have an awesome year). Ferrari, Mercedes, and Red Bull (FWIW) will have invested massively in taking what they had in testing and refine it for an underrated aero and erxtremely important mechanical (PU) racing event that might be fun in spite of Bernie being a complete and total fuck-tard. :dork: :dork: :spanner: :spanner: :shock: :shock: :blackeye: :blackeye: :beer: :snore:
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Re: 2014 Australian GP Official Thread
OK! I usually post this before the AGP. This year, weather predictions in Melbourne vary from hour to hour today, and whether you can rely on them for Friday, Saturday, or Sunday is highly contentious. According to today's paper, it will rain on Saturday, but will be warm. Sunday will be much cooler but supposedly fine. Now THAT! is from today's paper.
For those who would prefer to see what is happening during quaals and teh race, I give you this link: http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDR023.loop.shtml
This will show you what is happening in real time. Albert Park is located between Melbourne and Caulfield on the map.
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Re: 2014 Australian GP Official Thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by Valve Bounce
OK! I usually post this before the AGP. This year, weather predictions in Melbourne vary from hour to hour today, and whether you can rely on them for Friday, Saturday, or Sunday is highly contentious. According to today's paper, it will rain on Saturday, but will be warm. Sunday will be much cooler but supposedly fine. Now THAT! is from today's paper.
For those who would prefer to see what is happening during quaals and teh race, I give you this link:
http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDR023.loop.shtml
This will show you what is happening in real time. Albert Park is located between Melbourne and Caulfield on the map.
BTW What ever happened to Filamina; now there was a Webber fan....Dawg??? I've been following the weather from two weeks out. I hope it rains for quali and the race, give fred a chance..... :dork:..... old friend ;)
Sorry about your loss.
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Re: 2014 Australian GP Official Thread
I have been thinking about some of the classic Australian season openers, like 1999, 2002, 2008. All races with only a few cars finishing the race (8, 8, 7 respectively) and a lot of chaos. Could 2014 get added to the list?
Funny thing. In those times with more than 10 years ago it was often so that teams were struggling to make cars reliable for the first race and more than half of the grid could struggle to get the chequered flag. It has seemed like a faraway past of history, but we could possibly get some insight into the old feel again. In my previous post I compared 2014 to 2009, but in other aspects we could find similarities with that era.
1998 - 9 finishers, 1999 - 8, 2000 - 9., 2002 - 8. There were always some teams, who were having some serious issues with reliability, which they couldn't iron out during winter testing. McLaren was notorious - double retirement in both 1999 and 2000. However, this while some other team was running so well that they got a double finish.
Looking at 2014, it could be that Red Bull and Lotus are the "Jordan & McLaren of 2000" with both cars not lasting at all at Albert Park. A Marussia or Caterham could be the heroic 2002 Webber underdog story.
There could be an emergence of someone on the podium from relatively midfield, like Ralf Schumacher in Williams-Supertec, his first drive for the team, in 1999, and then next year in Williams-BMW after many cars had retired in front of him.
Only 9 drivers finishing, but McLaren utterly dominating in 1998 by lapping everyone. Is Mercedes of 2014 the new McLaren, who runs supersmoothly and dominantly despite others hitting trouble?
1999 - first-time winner of Irvine after others hit trouble, but chased down by the rejuvenated Frentzen in the new Jordan. Who will emerge and capitalize in trouble this year? Stewarts were burning already before the formation lap. The second row of the grid was completely empty. Could it happen again?
2000 - trouble around, but none influenced Ferrari, who calmly took 1-2. But attrition behind as the previous year's struggler BAR finally opened its point-score (3+1).
2002 - big teams on the podium, but big losses in midfield as backmarkers (in terms of grid positions) emerged in positions 4-8. However, mostly first corner took its toll.
Or let's even look at 2008. There was a start accident, a few accidents later on too, and a few car problems. Later a DQ for Barrichello. Bourdais was fourth before engine problem. Williams got good points (3rd and 6th) in a race of attrition.
I believe the 2008 Australian Grand Prix was the last true race of attrition, the race of less than 10 finishers. Because since then I do not remember a race like that again.
These are the kind of memories with which I prepare for this year's race, which could potentially introduce us some of the forgotten old.:)
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Re: 2014 Australian GP Official Thread
I think Australia 2008 only had 6 finishers at the flag, despite several cars being classified.
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Re: 2014 Australian GP Official Thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tazio
As a general rule I completely discount rumors of "sand-bagging" that is why I think Ferrari's times in Bahrain were representative of where they were then.
Absolutely Tazio.......I can't believe that any team would be sand-bagging now, especially with all the new changes that have been implemented, and including a new V6 turbo engines......no way that anybody would be sand-bagging.
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Re: 2014 Australian GP Official Thread
I'm no engineer, so someone please explain how Ferrari can have poor fuel economy and yet less power than Mercedes, and how they can reduce ther former, whilst increasing the latter to make their power unit (apparently we don't call them engines anymore) more competitive?
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Re: 2014 Australian GP Official Thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by steveaki13
I think Australia 2008 only had 6 finishers at the flag, despite several cars being classified.
Yeah. I guess I meant Barrichello was the seventh one, just that later on he was disqualified.:)
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Re: 2014 Australian GP Official Thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by anfield5
I'm no engineer, so someone please explain how Ferrari can have poor fuel economy and yet less power than Mercedes, and how they can reduce ther former, whilst increasing the latter to make their power unit (apparently we don't call them engines anymore) more competitive?
If not sandbagging it could simply be that Merc have simply invested many more engineers and therefore man hours in optimizing and fine tuning the combined Engine/ERS's efficiency, if that's the case then Ferrari will certainly soon catch up. If not that... Power- Lower thermal efficiency due to a compromised design might mean they can't turn up the boost as far without requiring larger intakes thus increasing drag which in turn affects fuel economy?
Could be a huge number of different reasons, very much doubt anyone on here would be able to answer that without some insider info/data from both camps.
There is an interesting article on the new engines and ERS systems here- http://grandprix247.com/2014/03/10/tech ... id-to-ask/
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Re: 2014 Australian GP Official Thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by anfield5
I'm no engineer, so someone please explain how Ferrari can have poor fuel economy and yet less power than Mercedes, and how they can reduce ther former, whilst increasing the latter to make their power unit (apparently we don't call them engines anymore) more competitive?
The list of possible efficiency changing differences is vast. Aerodynamic efficiency measurements alone could account for power needs at any given time, so that alone could be a big factor. Even if we were to assume that aero needs are equal, the efficiency of all the engine operations would affect both power and brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC), which is the amount of fuel needed per horsepower generated.
The factors are essentially all of those that would affect any regular car, plus the complexities of a more high strung engine, along with the integration of the ERS system, how well that system recovers energy, how well it integrates with the torque curve of the engine when using the power, etc.
Piston and combustion chamber designs, rod ratios (connecting rod length as compared to stroke, also connected to piston design), valve timing, ignition timing, boost pressures, turbine efficiency of the turbo, fuel management... the list goes on and on. Keep in mind also that for race engines these things have to go through quite a bit of abuse, so it could simply be that certain manufacturers are being more conservative in the basics of extending engine longevity, banking on the fact that reliability will overcome sheer power over the course of the race season.
Even within the consumer car market, custom tuning as a means of modification can vastly alter the lifespan of an engine. While making more power is great, making more power until the engine goes boom is not. We may well see that engine/power units that seem to be lacking at the start of the year turn out to be the ones that take home the most points. If all of them prove reliable, more than likely all of them will eventually be pushed more within whatever the current rules allow.
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Re: 2014 Australian GP Official Thread
Cant find a photo.
However on another F1 forum, they appear to have a photo showing McLaren engine cover in silver and black.
People wondering if they are going to return to the silver and black days of pre 2006.
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Re: 2014 Australian GP Official Thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by steveaki13
Cant find a photo.
However on another F1 forum, they appear to have a photo showing McLaren engine cover in silver and black.
People wondering if they are going to return to the silver and black days of pre 2006.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BidN23pCIAAXLtA.jpg
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Re: 2014 Australian GP Official Thread
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Re: 2014 Australian GP Official Thread
Although it wasn't the season opener, the 2006 Australian Grand Prix was very eventful as well. One of the most eventful of that year.
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Re: 2014 Australian GP Official Thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ranger
Although it wasn't the season opener, the 2006 Australian Grand Prix was very eventful as well. One of the most eventful of that year.
Yer you are right. You reminded me of that.
I remember most Montoya was it spinning on the warm up lap? :laugh:
Then Jenson on Pole going backwards at each SC restart.
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Re: 2014 Australian GP Official Thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tazio
Quote:
Originally Posted by Valve Bounce
OK! I usually post this before the AGP. This year, weather predictions in Melbourne vary from hour to hour today, and whether you can rely on them for Friday, Saturday, or Sunday is highly contentious. According to today's paper, it will rain on Saturday, but will be warm. Sunday will be much cooler but supposedly fine. Now THAT! is from today's paper.
For those who would prefer to see what is happening during quaals and teh race, I give you this link:
http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDR023.loop.shtml
This will show you what is happening in real time. Albert Park is located between Melbourne and Caulfield on the map.
BTW What ever happened to Filamina; now there was a Webber fan....Dawg???
I think she went by the screen name Aussi Revhead or something similar.
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Re: 2014 Australian GP Official Thread
I think this first race is a total stab in the dark as to who will finish ,and where will they finish ,so here is my guess and a Finnish driver first;
1 Rosberg
2 Hamilton
3Alonso.
4, Massa
5. Raikonen
6 Button
7 Hulkenberg
8 Bottas
9 Vettel
10 Perez
Anything can happen ,and it's all down to reliability
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Re: 2014 Australian GP Official Thread
Rosberg
Hamilton
Fred
Kimi
Massa
Checo
Button
Hulk
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Re: 2014 Australian GP Official Thread
McLaren interim livery for Australia (and probably until they sign their sponsorship deal)
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BikAfwPCQAA7ngU.jpg
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Re: 2014 Australian GP Official Thread
Even though I find all these technical changes exciting for some reason I'm not that pumped up about the new season. For one the fake racing brought to us by the DRS is still there. The tires will still be (probably) purposely crappy again. On top of that all this we have the double points race new BS. Funny thing about it is that as far as we can tell the RBR will not do that great at the beginning but they do have the resources (moneys and brains) to catch up, so the double points might be crucial for them in the end... ironic since it seems they've been invented because of RBR's dominance... I'm no Vettel fan but I'd almost enjoy it if they sort their car and start dominating again... and end up winning the championship thanks to those double points... Go Vettel!
Even the expected unexpected race results don't get me that excited. What's so great about engines going boom? Isn't it pretty much the same story as with the 'exciting' racing caused by crappy tires? A retard may get excited about every overtaking but I really don't give a $h1t about a pass every non-retarded person saw coming since... whenever. I hope all this engine reliability issue won't give them the idea that unreliable engines could 'spice up the show'.. Everytime I read those words I feel like throwing up.
PS I've never liked the mirror McLarens. The pre 2006 was IMO so much prettier :p
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Re: 2014 Australian GP Official Thread
FP1 starts in 10 minutes.......dawgs ;)
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Re: 2014 Australian GP Official Thread
And within 5 mins, Hamilton breaks his car :o