We're in the Top4 teams, it's not a bad start with the development potential of McLaren.

This is a freaking long track, 1 sec isn't a reason for hysteria, it's P4. Lewis did his Q3 lap following Massa quite close, he wasn't in the most ideal place. He was running in disturbed air. And we cannot know how mediocre he was in that lap. He's no perfect. Vettel's lap could be a better performance too.

Martin Whitmarsh: We sensed today that we didn't give the best car we could have done to our drivers, but we will see what we can do as a team. We maybe haven't got enough downforce here, certainly for that middle section, and we've got to look at the job we are doing.

This could mean they could have brought a more downforce configuration. They went for the straight line speed too much, but the track has changed more with its new slow section than they might have predicted. It uses to happen with teams they choose a non optimal aero configuration for a track.

And the most important rthing; we have a completely new formulae, pole position may be irrelevant if it's grabbed with a quali-biased setup which will suck for race pace and tyre handling.

That 1 sec means nothing yet, we have to see the race pace. I wouldn't be surprised if after 10 lap Vettel would be in P5, Lewis in P1. I sense big surprises will come in the race, not just relating to McLaren.

McLaren will be contender for the title this year, I have no doubt.

Massa changing engine before race without penalty under new rules.

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/formula-1-news/2...ngine-for-race/

So maybe potential problems for Alonso in the race? Either way I expect some failures in the race. Red Bull I believe will chew their tyres and if Ferrari are worried about engines already this may boost our chances

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/photolarge.php?p...catID=1105-4456

Can I just say "stuckinsecond" lighten the hell up, we have a go at Zool, but you make him sound like he is skipping through daisies.


I think no judgements can be made on this track, clearly the bumps have caused a setup compromise. Lets get the best result here and see what its like elsewhere.

Holy crap that woman has three arms!

Good morning people,

We all know McLaren can come from a long way, starting 2009 with a car that was 2.2 - 2.5 seconds off pace having a winning car mid season. IF there is a team that is able to turn the wheel as early as the next race it is McLaren.

I've had the original idea of starting a team thread, as this is the car thread and it tires the mods to constantly remind us of that:

http://forums.autosport.com/index.php?showtopic=126071

Mp4/25 napping under his mozzie net before the race

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/photolarge.php?p...catID=1105-4456

exactly, plus there's 19 races this year, championships aren't won on the first race

if we come back to europe and are still don't have a winning car then it's time to monger some doom

goodmorning, well after the disapointing result yesterday, im a little more positive today. Lets see what we can do in race. The chance of both red bull finishing is very slim in my opinion. Also if the red bull is so hard on its tires it could help. Lets wait and see. I think the ferraris will disappear into the distance, but if we could get third. I just really hope that mclaren didnt sacrify all mechanical grip for aero this year. Our limousine of a F1 car does seem not to be the most agile, but one GP wont show, so lets keep some faith. Still Monaco and Singapore, our two favorite tracks of last year, may be the worst this year.
Lets hope for a good race, with hami showing his magic.

Wow you really kept this thread going all day and night yesterday.

There is nothing I would love more than at the end of the season for you to tell me "I told you so." I would guess that in such a circumstance we would both feel great. But if the situation was reversed and it was me telling you "I told you so", I can guarantee that you will feel terrible but at least I won't feel as bad because I'm already expecting us to not be in with a chance of the championship. I can only be positively surprised from hereon, but for you I'm afraid to say that there is proper downside to your expectations.

Both Ferrari engines changed before the race. Perhaps we can hope for some white smoke coming up from behind of the Ferraris on the last laps

They'll last the distance now that they are new...

http://images.gpupdate.net/large/148048.jpg

Is there any reason to believe they were not new yesterday, why would they start a GP weekend with old or used engines?
Anyway, I'd rather the Mclaren win on pure merit not relying on some other teams' failures and I am sure that is the goal of the team as well.

Here's what I mean:

InsideFerrari
Not the best start of the day. We are going to replace Felipe's engine but just for precaution. The engine can be used again in FP sessions.
about 3 hours ago via web

InsideFerrari
We will change the engine on Alonso's car for the same precautionary measure which determined the previous decision.
41 minutes ago via web

source

They changed both engines this morning.

Just re-read my post (via your reply as the Mods saw fit to delete it without alerting me - top job guys!) and it may have come across as aggressive which was unintentional however the point remains; there are SO many arm-chair experts spreading doom and gloom and the 1st race hasn't even taken place yet, we need to keep some sense of reality here is what I was trying to get across.

If you believe (see last few pages for a few examples) you can do better on the MP4-25 than the guys at Woking did then don't waste your time here telling us, get into F1 and do it!

Ferrari is playing it clever

Hi guys, today is a race day dunno why but i have good feelings about today. Good start is vital for us. If we can take one of the Ferrari's it will be much more exciting race. Red Bulls and Ferraris are not as reliable as McLarens so we can see some actions throughout the race. I really hope our race pace will be so good. In straight line we have top speed advantage near to 10km/h to REd bulls,mercedes and 5 to ferraris. Button must overtake a few cars in front of him at the start. Actually he can pass webber and Schumacher with his top speed advantage and late breaking abilities.

Some people here are way optimistic but Lewis should do well today:) I don't think the top speed advantage of the McLaren car will help Button at the start (as already mentioned before in this thread).

It's just the first race and apparently this track doesnt suit the McLaren car so it is too early to worry.

So much money spent and the MP4-25 is still a dog of a car.

I imagine Hamilton will be lucky to hang on to P4.

I agree. I think he will have pressure from behind from Rosberg because the Merc seem to be the quicker car this weekend.

funny interview just now on BBC jenson and lewis. Jenson really funny quote when jake asked him who are you DC or EJ lolzzz lewis as ever corporate and serious as usual -LIGHTEN UP LEWIS!!

newey bit**hing about mercedes developing the engine during engine freeze. But then says he is happy with renault and likes it.

http://www.yallaf1.com/2010/03/14/newey-sa...m+(YallaF1.com)

not our problem, they would block us if we wanted renault engines

newey and horner starting to become annoying with there constant moaning. no other team moans as much as them

Close the door on your way out

What did I say? Their race pace is good, too bad that Lewis was stuck behind Rosberg.

button destroyed by lewis.
they'd better get bruno. at least he's young and has heritage.

Not really. Ferrari just had overheating problems and Massa with his engine. Else Lewis wouldn't be close to the Ferrari's most likely.

It's a shame Lewis got stuck behind Nico, because he could have taken Massa perhaps.

Lewis 3rd!


Woohoo

Button just struggled. Though he held off against Webber well...Nico annoyed me a lot in the race >_<

Great race by Hamilton, again he got the max out of it. If it hadnt been for rosberg who knows what would have happened. Well if this is one of the worst tracks for us, its ok, then we look decent.
Lets also welcome the new heiki in our team

So? Lewis had brake problems incase you forgot.

Without Rosberg, Lewis would have being up with them all through the race.


Bad S2, Poor over bumps, but good race pace.

Not bad, considering we are 1 sec off the pace! Congrats, Lewis!

Jenson - good overall, but I would prefer him ahead of Schumi. Still, not bad.


We are in the game!

There is nothing lost, no WDC or WCC

Lewis

a podium to begin 2010.

a weak smile from me - its a podium.. but we need half a second a lap in race pace.

Lewis was faster than Massa but not as fast as Alonso. He could be in contention for wins at later races if the McLaren car has parity with the Ferrari.

True. I think once Mclaren fixes the handling issues, Lewis is going to be winning races

And Mclaren still has 7 new engines left, the same can't be said about Ferrari.

The RBR are faster than the Ferraris, still 4 cars in front of McLaren. Occasional podiums when Vettel's engine blows is not good enough.

McLaren seem to struggle with the softer tyres on bumps. Perhaps it was a one off.

The car was very good everywhere except the S2. Alonso's best time there was 63.0 sec dead vs LH 64.0. The team needs to and will certainly work on the weak areas of the car. The cars will be much more closer on a normal circuit even if there are no further developments introduced to the Mclaren.

This is a very good test circuit for the teams. The development race is on - it's going to be great fun following these.

I think McLaren need to start taking some pikeys with them to the circuits, get them onto track at night to smooth those bumps out.

If this is McLaren at its worst then we are not in bad shape, 3rd when we are down.

If Ferrari needs 2 engines per race per driver, there are from from being in good shape.

Had Hamilton not made a mistake into T4 on the first lap (he would have overtaken Massa), he could have fought with Alonso for the win, or would have been an easy 2nd.

exactly, lets wait for a smooth track and im sure we will be at the front with ferrari and red bull, and then Hamiltons talent will do the difference

This is probably most boring race in the last 3-4 years. Loooong straight - mickey mouse - looooong straight - and repeat.

This was damage limitation, I hope we can perform better at Melbourne.

Rosberg holding Lewis up, Vettel's problems and Webber's poor weekend masked the overall pace. But I do guess 3rd is a very good result, given the circumstances, and neither does the gap to Ferrari seem insurmountable. Hopefully qualifying will go much better from now on while Button shows some significant improvement in the next rounds, for his and the WCC's sake.

It's a very long season, nothing is won or lost yet. And Lewis is still Lewis afterall.

depends, how bumpy and twisty is Melbourne?

Again the moaning. The car is fine, couple of tenths of the Ferrari, and Lewis was near them all the way, excerpt the Rosberg episode. Red Bull is just a joke, ultrafast unreliable piece of artwork machinery which can¨t last a race distance without problems on both cars, and even can˝t overtake mediocre Button today.
This one will swing between Lewis and Teflonso, they both flatter their cars.

I am thoroughly disappointed with this out come And what on earth was the current world champion doing???

He could certainly have pressured Massa, he was lapping faster on the average after jumping Rosberg - LH: He is holding me up big time! - but I doubt he could have taken the battle to Alonso, Alonso's fastest time in the middle sector was 63.0 sec and LH was 64.0

I think it would have been easier for the Mclaren to take the battle to Vetel than Alonso.