2012 Australian Grand Prix Discussion Thread

Collieafc · Post by **Collieafc** » 17 Mar 2012, 06:37

Sad trumbones for Alonso

Hes happy! :lol:

Klon · Post by **Klon** » 17 Mar 2012, 06:53

My name is Klon and I am very happy how this qualifying is playing out - especially with Räikkönen failing. :lol:

TomWazzleshaw · Post by **TomWazzleshaw** » 17 Mar 2012, 06:54

English on Monday just got a whole lot more interesting as my English teacher is an Alonso fan :lol:

TomWazzleshaw · Post by **TomWazzleshaw** » 17 Mar 2012, 07:00

Holy shite. Crofty is so much better than the entire ONE team combined it's not funny

Klon · Post by **Klon** » 17 Mar 2012, 07:07

Romain Grosjean - oh man, oh man. I. Am. Amazed. :shock:

TomWazzleshaw · Post by **TomWazzleshaw** » 17 Mar 2012, 07:07

Where in the blue hell did Grrrrsssssjjjjjnnnn get THAT from?

RonDenisDeletraz · Post by **RonDenisDeletraz** » 17 Mar 2012, 07:09

GGGRRRSSJJJNNN 3rd

It hurts to live.

Collieafc · Post by **Collieafc** » 17 Mar 2012, 07:10

I like how all the better looking cars are also the fastest. Who was it that once remarked that good looking cars are fast cars?

the Masked Lapwing · Post by **the Masked Lapwing** » 17 Mar 2012, 07:10

Vettel not on pole, Webber faster than him, Grosjean and Schumi making the session interesting, not a Ferrari to be seen. If only Jenson had nicked pole, it would have been perfect!

TomWazzleshaw · Post by **TomWazzleshaw** » 17 Mar 2012, 07:11

Collieafc wrote:I like how all the better looking cars are also the fastest. Who was it that once remarked that good looking cars are fast cars?

I think it's more an age-old saying if anything :lol:

Mister Fungus · Post by **Mister Fungus** » 17 Mar 2012, 07:12

RMN GRSJN

Where are the naysayers now?

Mister Fungus · Post by **Mister Fungus** » 17 Mar 2012, 07:12

edit *glitch*

WaffleCat · Post by **WaffleCat** » 17 Mar 2012, 07:12

GGGRRRSSSSSJJJNNN 3rd?

That came out of nowhere!What next?Ferrari not making it into Q3?Oh,wait....

sswishbone · Post by **sswishbone** » 17 Mar 2012, 07:14

Gotta say that was a great qualifying, anything can happen in tomorrow's race, but you have to say what pace Mclaren had in store, how soon do you think the other teams will protest the Mclaren then :p

Post by **Londoner** » 17 Mar 2012, 07:16

Where did GRRRJJJSSSN pull that lap out of? :shock:

At least there isn't a Red Bull on pole for once, though I'd prefer Button on pole....

Paul Hayes · Post by **Paul Hayes** » 17 Mar 2012, 07:18

Well! I am tempted to be glib and suggest that not only was that qualifying session well worth getting up for, it was worth paying out the filthy lucre to actually be able to watch it, too...

All through the session, even experienced commentators like Brundle and Croft almost didn't quite seem able to believe that Red Bull really weren't going to pull it out of the bag in the same way that they always used to last year... They must have the pace in hand, they must have it, surely they must...

But they didn't. They're still very quick, of course, but - unless McLaren go on to dominate - we really do seem to have a much closer F1 season on our hands this year. And where the hell did Grosjean come from!!?? Schumacher up there too, Rosberg probably out of position and not as high as his pace would have suggested...

Ferrari will be very disappointed, although after testing probably not surprised, Raikkonen will certainly have food for thought, but probably the most disappointed overall will be Force India and especially Caterham, who on this evidence at least appear to have progressed absolutely nowhere.

sswishbone · Post by **sswishbone** » 17 Mar 2012, 07:20

@ Grosjean's massive grin in the press conference

RonDenisDeletraz · Post by **RonDenisDeletraz** » 17 Mar 2012, 07:22

Mister Fungus wrote:RMN GRSJN

Where are the naysayers now?

What will you be saying when he causes a pileup at the first corner.

Belegur · Post by **Belegur** » 17 Mar 2012, 07:24

Was Crofty channelling Brian Blessed there? That was painful to listen to.

LionZoo · Post by **LionZoo** » 17 Mar 2012, 07:27

sswishbone wrote::lol: @ Grosjean's massive grin in the press conference

He looks like a schoolboy that just got his first kiss.

GwilymJJames · Post by **GwilymJJames** » 17 Mar 2012, 07:29

HRT should protest the Mercedes cars for a laugh.

sswishbone · Post by **sswishbone** » 17 Mar 2012, 07:29

hahaha great analogy

TheBigJ · Post by **TheBigJ** » 17 Mar 2012, 07:33

Collieafc wrote:I like how all the better looking cars are also the fastest. Who was it that once remarked that good looking cars are fast cars?

Ironically, Enzo Ferrari.

Mister Fungus · Post by **Mister Fungus** » 17 Mar 2012, 07:40

eurobrun wrote:What will you be saying when he causes a pileup at the first corner.

Now is not the time for you to be smug.

RonDenisDeletraz · Post by **RonDenisDeletraz** » 17 Mar 2012, 07:47

Mister Fungus wrote:
eurobrun wrote:What will you be saying when he causes a pileup at the first corner.

WAAAAAAAAHHHH I CANT COPE WITH SOMEONE NOT LIKING MY FAVOURITE DRIVER!!1!1!!111!1!!121!!oneone

Fixed

TomWazzleshaw · Post by **TomWazzleshaw** » 17 Mar 2012, 07:50

eurobrun wrote:
Mister Fungus wrote:
eurobrun wrote:What will you be saying when he causes a pileup at the first corner.

WAAAAAAAAHHHH I CANT COPE WITH SOMEONE NOT LIKING MY FAVOURITE DRIVER!!1!1!!111!1!!121!!oneone

Fixed

I predict a riot in 3, 2, 1...

sswishbone · Post by **sswishbone** » 17 Mar 2012, 07:57

eurobrun wrote:
Mister Fungus wrote:
eurobrun wrote:What will you be saying when he causes a pileup at the first corner.

WAAAAAAAAHHHH I CANT COPE WITH SOMEONE NOT LIKING MY FAVOURITE DRIVER!!1!1!!111!1!!121!!oneone

Fixed

David AGS · Post by **David AGS** » 17 Mar 2012, 08:04

Wizzie wrote:Holy shite. Crofty is so much better than the entire ONE team combined it's not funny

Agree. Today alone I heard two sentences non stop. Our new breakfast show has started..... and

Lets go to a commercial break, and we will be back shortly.

He was correct, but about 1 minute in after the break he would repeat the same thing.

Also, no quali conference apart from Lewis which was terrible. I know the red flag did occur, but this is live! Things happen

jackanderton · Post by **jackanderton** » 17 Mar 2012, 08:08

Croft and Brundle is such a natural combination, it's like they've been doing it for years. I can't believe the BBC ever chose Legard over him.

I didn't think Grosjean deserved to be back, but fair play to him for taking his opportunity. Much as he may be grinning, there's a whole race ahead of him, and somewhere along the lines he needs to show race pace, race craft and be able to fight for position.

Look at the top 10 now. It's mainly drivers from the same era of GP2.

TomWazzleshaw · Post by **TomWazzleshaw** » 17 Mar 2012, 08:09

David AGS wrote:
Wizzie wrote:Holy shite. Crofty is so much better than the entire ONE team combined it's not funny

Agree. Today alone I heard two sentences non stop. Our new breakfast show has started..... and

Lets go to a commercial break, and we will be back shortly.

He was correct, but about 1 minute in after the break he would repeat the same thing.

Seriously, the muppets from the Breakfast show were the worst of the lot. It was that bad I was tempted to throw the remote, the coffee table and pretty much everything else in the house at the TV after a few minutes

Post by **mario** » 17 Mar 2012, 08:22

East Londoner wrote:Eurgh, horrendous blocking of Alonso by Karthikeyan.

Hamilton has a trip over the grass.

Something tells me that if HRT ask to race, Ferrari will do their best to persuade the stewards to reject their request and not allow them to start as a form of revenge. (HRT did miss the 107% marker by well over a second, so they would have a point).

Paul Hayes wrote:Well! I am tempted to be glib and suggest that not only was that qualifying session well worth getting up for, it was worth paying out the filthy lucre to actually be able to watch it, too...

All through the session, even experienced commentators like Brundle and Croft almost didn't quite seem able to believe that Red Bull really weren't going to pull it out of the bag in the same way that they always used to last year... They must have the pace in hand, they must have it, surely they must...

But they didn't. They're still very quick, of course, but - unless McLaren go on to dominate - we really do seem to have a much closer F1 season on our hands this year. And where the hell did Grosjean come from!!?? Schumacher up there too, Rosberg probably out of position and not as high as his pace would have suggested...

Ferrari will be very disappointed, although after testing probably not surprised, Raikkonen will certainly have food for thought, but probably the most disappointed overall will be Force India and especially Caterham, who on this evidence at least appear to have progressed absolutely nowhere.

Williams also have cause to be pleased with Maldonado picking up 8th place (beating both Toro Rosso and Force India) - at least one car has a decent chance of a few points tomorrow, which is more than could be said last year.
It looks like we could also have a decent battle between Schumacher and Grosjean for the final podium slot too - assuming that Lotus and Red Bull's protest is unsuccessful (and given that Whiting said the device was legal yesterday, I think that the protest won't succeed) - and you'd assume that Rosberg has a chance of coming back through the field.

TimmyB · Post by **TimmyB** » 17 Mar 2012, 08:26

Great session.

Is it just me, or does last years reject of the year now have the fourth fastest car on the grid?

jackanderton · Post by **jackanderton** » 17 Mar 2012, 08:30

2012 news: Williams Faster Than Ferrari

Relieving to see Williams making a good early claim to be best of the rest, which if carried through will be an achievement after last season.

There's more pace in there too- Maldonado looked to be fairly unstable on that hotlap. If they improve the setup and make the car more stable it could potentially take on the top 8. We'll have to see how it manages its tyres though. Everyone's emphasising the importance of it.

Likewise Ross Brawn was very guarded about Merc's chances, what with everyone suspecting they chew through tyres.

GwilymJJames · Post by **GwilymJJames** » 17 Mar 2012, 10:35

It's a no on HRT

fjackdaw · Post by **fjackdaw** » 17 Mar 2012, 10:49

Mister Fungus wrote:RMN GRSJN

Where are the naysayers now?

Indeed - people were very quick to judge him as rubbish based on a few races thrown in at the deep end in a bad car. I hope none of those people ever get called for jury duty!

fjackdaw · Post by **fjackdaw** » 17 Mar 2012, 10:51

Collieafc wrote:I like how all the better looking cars are also the fastest. Who was it that once remarked that good looking cars are fast cars?

I think the actual saying is that fast cars are good looking cars - that is, once it's fast, it's beautiful, rather than beautiful cars are also fast.

AdrianSutil · Post by **AdrianSutil** » 17 Mar 2012, 10:52

Currently listening to the BBC Iplayer version on qualifying, James Allen has spent 98% of the time speaking, I forget Jaime is actually alongside him :lol:

Just restarted after the red flag for Alonso, but after reading this thread, all I know is Grosjean will start 3rd and Maldonado 8th. Hoping for a McLaren pole!

Kovalainen interview earlier, he's pretty pissed at a HRT getting in the way, he says it cost him 6 tenths.

Ferrim · Post by **Ferrim** » 17 Mar 2012, 10:53

My summary of qualifying:

RRRRRMMMMMNNNNN GGGGGRRRRRJJJJJNNNNN!!!!!

RRRRRMMMMMNNNNN GGGGGRRRRRJJJJJNNNNN!!!!!

RRRRRMMMMMNNNNN GGGGGRRRRRJJJJJNNNNN!!!!!

Honorary mention for the Reverend.

Pedestrian · Post by **Pedestrian** » 17 Mar 2012, 10:54

Hehe! Best qualifying session in ages!

Most of the teams and drivers that I support did well. Notable exceptions were Raikonnen and Senna, but they do seem to have competitive machinery, so I have hope for tomorrow.

My conclusions:
I think it is now finally safe to say that Red Bull were not sandbagging. And neither were Ferrarri (unfortunately for them)
It allso seems that McLaren and Lotus have genuine pace. Allso Williams seem to have made some gains compared to last year.
At the back of the grid absolutely nothing has changed, even at the much-hyped Caterham.

QuickYoda41 · Post by **QuickYoda41** » 17 Mar 2012, 10:57

Interesting session.

Williams is a really pleasant surprise, and I love how Maldonado is also faster than Bruno.

I'm not that happy for the order of the Mercs, Rosberg clearly felt the pressure in Q3, messed up both his laps. Not too promising in terms of first win.

Where did Kobayashi disappear in Q2?

I want banzai tomorrow. Another driver in need for a banzai is Raikkonen, he really has to put out something tomorrow. I hope he sleeps well before the race. :lol: