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Melbourne Review
Melbourne Review
A bit of a ramble on Melb.
Melbourne revealed less than I hoped, pretty much everyone stuffed up
at some point through the weekend but McLaren, BMW and Williams less
than the others, Ferrari stuffed up more than most leaving McLaren
open to a one-two which they failed to achieve. BMW should have taken
the podium left vacant by Heikki and the third step but failed to do
so. Williams were lucky to get 9 points despite a couple of errors. So
despite the press releases every team will be looking to tighten their
act before KL.
Don't forget how good KR looked before the second SC. Also note the
laps on those very worn option tyres.
Interesting sacrifice from Honda I think it's the first time that
opportunity has been used, shame it all went pear shaped, however RB's
speed in the Honda was impressive.
BMW can at least look at NH's stop and say they performed when it
counted, I hope Williams doesn't say "We did OK, it's just that BMW
were exceptional."
Bourdais showed his team mate what experience can do given the
opportunity, some would say it was luck but he did put himself in the
postion where he could take advantage of that opportunity and he did
not get carried away and make a mistake.
Glock qualified 9th (1:29.593, 3 secs off pole) with 29 laps of fuel
(1 stop), Trulli was 6th but with what fuel?
On the DC/FM item, buggared if I'm going to say who was right but does
it make sense to turn into someone who's on the inside leaving no
where for them to go?
So how did my predictions pan out? I think the last line was something
like "let's watch all that turn to excrement next Sunday"? Well it
did, while I did say I suspected RedBull and BMW could surprise I did
not expect the speed BMW showed and while I predicted McLaren would
take pole the long run pace of the MP4-23 was closer to F2008 than
Maranello would like or I anticipated. I did however win a beer on a
podium for Nico but that was pretty much wiped out by my third row
start bet on Webber, C'est la vie, my shout.
Who was it said they expected a surprise from Honda? Well done.
On to KL. well in qualifying I agree with most that LH is likely take
pole, BMW were quick in Melb will they jump the red cars, also watch
for Webber (although there are six cars a lot quicker than the RedBull
over 1 lap) and in the race Ferrari *should* take the laurel.
Ferrari's quandary could be that if McLaren have slightly better
single lap pace they need to go heavy and rely on their drivers to
keep BMW at bay or they'll be held up during the first stint and as
I'm confident McLaren will use the same strategy of a Finnish chicane
on a 3-4 lap heavier load the red cars need to make the right choice.
Perhaps it could be to qualify light and hope they can build a gap
using a Brazilian chicane? So basically you could flip a coin on
strategy.
Williams are just getting started so expect more from them at every
race.
FA seems to do particularly well at Sepang and after his gritty drive
in Melbourne should put in a good showing.
Suspect HK may be better than expected in Sepang.
Also note relative performance will vary with each circuit so lets see
where they are after Barcelona.
Severe tyre wear in Sepang should favour Ferrari and Williams and
penalise McLaren.
Tyres, med and hard.
Downforce med high.
Tyre wear high.
Brake wear high.
Track surface slippery.
beers,
build
btw, watch that lot turn to excrement (again), lol.
A bit of a ramble on Melb.
Melbourne revealed less than I hoped, pretty much everyone stuffed up
at some point through the weekend but McLaren, BMW and Williams less
than the others, Ferrari stuffed up more than most leaving McLaren
open to a one-two which they failed to achieve. BMW should have taken
the podium left vacant by Heikki and the third step but failed to do
so. Williams were lucky to get 9 points despite a couple of errors. So
despite the press releases every team will be looking to tighten their
act before KL.
Don't forget how good KR looked before the second SC. Also note the
laps on those very worn option tyres.
Interesting sacrifice from Honda I think it's the first time that
opportunity has been used, shame it all went pear shaped, however RB's
speed in the Honda was impressive.
BMW can at least look at NH's stop and say they performed when it
counted, I hope Williams doesn't say "We did OK, it's just that BMW
were exceptional."
Bourdais showed his team mate what experience can do given the
opportunity, some would say it was luck but he did put himself in the
postion where he could take advantage of that opportunity and he did
not get carried away and make a mistake.
Glock qualified 9th (1:29.593, 3 secs off pole) with 29 laps of fuel
(1 stop), Trulli was 6th but with what fuel?
On the DC/FM item, buggared if I'm going to say who was right but does
it make sense to turn into someone who's on the inside leaving no
where for them to go?
So how did my predictions pan out? I think the last line was something
like "let's watch all that turn to excrement next Sunday"? Well it
did, while I did say I suspected RedBull and BMW could surprise I did
not expect the speed BMW showed and while I predicted McLaren would
take pole the long run pace of the MP4-23 was closer to F2008 than
Maranello would like or I anticipated. I did however win a beer on a
podium for Nico but that was pretty much wiped out by my third row
start bet on Webber, C'est la vie, my shout.
Who was it said they expected a surprise from Honda? Well done.
On to KL. well in qualifying I agree with most that LH is likely take
pole, BMW were quick in Melb will they jump the red cars, also watch
for Webber (although there are six cars a lot quicker than the RedBull
over 1 lap) and in the race Ferrari *should* take the laurel.
Ferrari's quandary could be that if McLaren have slightly better
single lap pace they need to go heavy and rely on their drivers to
keep BMW at bay or they'll be held up during the first stint and as
I'm confident McLaren will use the same strategy of a Finnish chicane
on a 3-4 lap heavier load the red cars need to make the right choice.
Perhaps it could be to qualify light and hope they can build a gap
using a Brazilian chicane? So basically you could flip a coin on
strategy.
Williams are just getting started so expect more from them at every
race.
FA seems to do particularly well at Sepang and after his gritty drive
in Melbourne should put in a good showing.
Suspect HK may be better than expected in Sepang.
Also note relative performance will vary with each circuit so lets see
where they are after Barcelona.
Severe tyre wear in Sepang should favour Ferrari and Williams and
penalise McLaren.
Tyres, med and hard.
Downforce med high.
Tyre wear high.
Brake wear high.
Track surface slippery.
beers,
build
btw, watch that lot turn to excrement (again), lol.
Re: Melbourne Review
build wrote:
> Don't forget how good KR looked before the second SC. Also note the
> laps on those very worn option tyres.
True, but it does look like Ferrari have problems. Losing three engines
on one weekend is not good. Bourdais is officially down as hydraulic
failure, but we all saw the smoke billowing out of his left exhaust. And
they're blaming the ECU for Kimi's DNF, which is probably fair enough if
you listen to the details, but it's not really a matter of it being
"someone else's" ECU as much as it now being much simpler than
previously: it has no safety cut-outs when something goes wrong, so
minor failures are more likely to be terminal. Everyone, including
McLaren, is in the same boat. (Although there may be a temperature issue
also, which the Macs probably do have more data on than everyone else.)
> Interesting sacrifice from Honda I think it's the first time that
> opportunity has been used, shame it all went pear shaped, however RB's
> speed in the Honda was impressive.
It was. And they seem to be going well in practice at Sepang.
> BMW can at least look at NH's stop and say they performed when it
> counted, I hope Williams doesn't say "We did OK, it's just that BMW
> were exceptional."
They could be excused for doing so. I don't think anyone expected BMW to
run so well. Including, if you believe them, BMW.
> Glock qualified 9th (1:29.593, 3 secs off pole) with 29 laps of fuel
> (1 stop), Trulli was 6th but with what fuel?
Good point. I think it can be safely said that Toyota weren't quite as
useless as they might have been, though. Then again, they've had
promising moments in the past; their problem is consistency, or at least
maintaining and building on what little momentum they have.
> On the DC/FM item, buggared if I'm going to say who was right but does
> it make sense to turn into someone who's on the inside leaving no
> where for them to go?
It's tricky. Looking at it from the outside, it seems pretty
cut-and-dried that DC goofed. But then, it's obvious just from looking
at the drivers sitting in the cars that they have no hope of any
sideways vision at all. There's always been a lack of peripheral vision
with full-face helmets, but it's quite clear that with the new
extensions to the cockpit sides there's no longer any point in even
turning your head: you'd be looking at the inside of the tub. So all you
have is your mirrors.
It might seem a comically high-tech and expensive option, but I really
wonder whether the time hasn't come to replace the mirrors with video
cameras and a couple of lcd displays in the cockpit. Apart from covering
the blind spot, they'd probably be less susceptible to vibration. Or
what about a variation on parking radar?
> I did however win a beer on a podium for Nico but that was pretty much wiped out by my third row start bet on Webber, C'est la vie, my shout.
I'd have done the same, especially after Friday practice. I honestly
thought he was going to spring a huge surprise. If I wasn't so cautious,
I'd have put money on a podium.
> Who was it said they expected a surprise from Honda? Well done.
That would probably be me. But I did say that before winter testing; I'd
changed my mind a bit by last week. On the *other* other hand, I think
my reasoning was sound: it does look like it's an aero development
that's given them the boost.
--
Duncan Snowden.
build wrote:
> Don't forget how good KR looked before the second SC. Also note the
> laps on those very worn option tyres.
True, but it does look like Ferrari have problems. Losing three engines
on one weekend is not good. Bourdais is officially down as hydraulic
failure, but we all saw the smoke billowing out of his left exhaust. And
they're blaming the ECU for Kimi's DNF, which is probably fair enough if
you listen to the details, but it's not really a matter of it being
"someone else's" ECU as much as it now being much simpler than
previously: it has no safety cut-outs when something goes wrong, so
minor failures are more likely to be terminal. Everyone, including
McLaren, is in the same boat. (Although there may be a temperature issue
also, which the Macs probably do have more data on than everyone else.)
> Interesting sacrifice from Honda I think it's the first time that
> opportunity has been used, shame it all went pear shaped, however RB's
> speed in the Honda was impressive.
It was. And they seem to be going well in practice at Sepang.
> BMW can at least look at NH's stop and say they performed when it
> counted, I hope Williams doesn't say "We did OK, it's just that BMW
> were exceptional."
They could be excused for doing so. I don't think anyone expected BMW to
run so well. Including, if you believe them, BMW.
> Glock qualified 9th (1:29.593, 3 secs off pole) with 29 laps of fuel
> (1 stop), Trulli was 6th but with what fuel?
Good point. I think it can be safely said that Toyota weren't quite as
useless as they might have been, though. Then again, they've had
promising moments in the past; their problem is consistency, or at least
maintaining and building on what little momentum they have.
> On the DC/FM item, buggared if I'm going to say who was right but does
> it make sense to turn into someone who's on the inside leaving no
> where for them to go?
It's tricky. Looking at it from the outside, it seems pretty
cut-and-dried that DC goofed. But then, it's obvious just from looking
at the drivers sitting in the cars that they have no hope of any
sideways vision at all. There's always been a lack of peripheral vision
with full-face helmets, but it's quite clear that with the new
extensions to the cockpit sides there's no longer any point in even
turning your head: you'd be looking at the inside of the tub. So all you
have is your mirrors.
It might seem a comically high-tech and expensive option, but I really
wonder whether the time hasn't come to replace the mirrors with video
cameras and a couple of lcd displays in the cockpit. Apart from covering
the blind spot, they'd probably be less susceptible to vibration. Or
what about a variation on parking radar?
> I did however win a beer on a podium for Nico but that was pretty much wiped out by my third row start bet on Webber, C'est la vie, my shout.
I'd have done the same, especially after Friday practice. I honestly
thought he was going to spring a huge surprise. If I wasn't so cautious,
I'd have put money on a podium.
> Who was it said they expected a surprise from Honda? Well done.
That would probably be me. But I did say that before winter testing; I'd
changed my mind a bit by last week. On the *other* other hand, I think
my reasoning was sound: it does look like it's an aero development
that's given them the boost.
--
Duncan Snowden.
Re: Melbourne Review
G'day Duncan,
On the NR/NH stop.
> They could be excused for doing so.
No they can't. BMW did a better stop, Williams needs to improve.
A birdy told me NR had 2 laps of fuel on board, the Strategist called
NR in to match NH's stop so as to keep NR ahead on the track, a good
call. However despite putting in at least 5 more Kg's of fuel the well
oiled BMW machine got NH out first. One could say they muscled him in
front but they got away with it. So the Williams team cost Nico a
position, two points that can't be recovered.
The FW30 ran faultlessly through out the winter yet on Friday ... that
was not bad luck. Williams team need to tighten up even more and
improve testing methods and pit stops if they want to take full
advantage of the car as it improves as I'm sure it will. The Williams
Team have great spirit this year I reckon they can and will do what's
required to beat the soul-less German machine (BMW fans please excuse
me).
> If I wasn't so cautious,
> I'd have put money on a podium.
The odds offered on Nico on Wednesday were ridiculous the beer in good
company was better odds. Does anyone know where I can get decent odds
on place, and qualifying bets?
DC was very quick to say he knew FM was there and I believed him. I
may be wrong.
Friday practice was interesting. The red cars are quick on long runs.
Silver on short runs.
beers,
build
G'day Duncan,
On the NR/NH stop.
> They could be excused for doing so.
No they can't. BMW did a better stop, Williams needs to improve.
A birdy told me NR had 2 laps of fuel on board, the Strategist called
NR in to match NH's stop so as to keep NR ahead on the track, a good
call. However despite putting in at least 5 more Kg's of fuel the well
oiled BMW machine got NH out first. One could say they muscled him in
front but they got away with it. So the Williams team cost Nico a
position, two points that can't be recovered.
The FW30 ran faultlessly through out the winter yet on Friday ... that
was not bad luck. Williams team need to tighten up even more and
improve testing methods and pit stops if they want to take full
advantage of the car as it improves as I'm sure it will. The Williams
Team have great spirit this year I reckon they can and will do what's
required to beat the soul-less German machine (BMW fans please excuse
me).
> If I wasn't so cautious,
> I'd have put money on a podium.
The odds offered on Nico on Wednesday were ridiculous the beer in good
company was better odds. Does anyone know where I can get decent odds
on place, and qualifying bets?
DC was very quick to say he knew FM was there and I believed him. I
may be wrong.
Friday practice was interesting. The red cars are quick on long runs.
Silver on short runs.
beers,
build
Re: Melbourne Review
build wrote:
> G'day Duncan,
> On the NR/NH stop.
>> They could be excused for doing so.
> No they can't. BMW did a better stop, Williams needs to improve.
> A birdy told me NR had 2 laps of fuel on board, the Strategist called
> NR in to match NH's stop so as to keep NR ahead on the track, a good
> call. However despite putting in at least 5 more Kg's of fuel the well
> oiled BMW machine got NH out first. One could say they muscled him in
> front but they got away with it. So the Williams team cost Nico a
> position, two points that can't be recovered.
Ah, right. Fair enough. I didn't realise you were talking specifically
about the stop. My mistake.
--
Duncan Snowden.
build wrote:
> G'day Duncan,
> On the NR/NH stop.
>> They could be excused for doing so.
> No they can't. BMW did a better stop, Williams needs to improve.
> A birdy told me NR had 2 laps of fuel on board, the Strategist called
> NR in to match NH's stop so as to keep NR ahead on the track, a good
> call. However despite putting in at least 5 more Kg's of fuel the well
> oiled BMW machine got NH out first. One could say they muscled him in
> front but they got away with it. So the Williams team cost Nico a
> position, two points that can't be recovered.
Ah, right. Fair enough. I didn't realise you were talking specifically
about the stop. My mistake.
--
Duncan Snowden.
Re: Melbourne Review
build <buildy@gmail,com > wrote in
news:bbb9b394-187c-4a80-8c29-07444c243eed@e23g2000prf.googlegroups,com :
> A bit of a ramble on Melb.
> Melbourne revealed less than I hoped, pretty much everyone stuffed up
> at some point through the weekend but McLaren, BMW and Williams less
> than the others, Ferrari stuffed up more than most leaving McLaren
> open to a one-two which they failed to achieve. BMW should have taken
> the podium left vacant by Heikki and the third step but failed to do
> so. Williams were lucky to get 9 points despite a couple of errors. So
> despite the press releases every team will be looking to tighten their
> act before KL.
>
> Don't forget how good KR looked before the second SC. Also note the
> laps on those very worn option tyres.
>
> Interesting sacrifice from Honda I think it's the first time that
> opportunity has been used, shame it all went pear shaped, however RB's
> speed in the Honda was impressive.
>
> BMW can at least look at NH's stop and say they performed when it
> counted, I hope Williams doesn't say "We did OK, it's just that BMW
> were exceptional."
>
> Bourdais showed his team mate what experience can do given the
> opportunity, some would say it was luck but he did put himself in the
> postion where he could take advantage of that opportunity and he did
> not get carried away and make a mistake.
>
> Glock qualified 9th (1:29.593, 3 secs off pole) with 29 laps of fuel
> (1 stop), Trulli was 6th but with what fuel?
>
> On the DC/FM item, buggared if I'm going to say who was right but does
> it make sense to turn into someone who's on the inside leaving no
> where for them to go?
>
Well if you're inside and you're not even on the track when you make
contact (and that *was* the case - possibly why - no grip) it changes
things a bit don't you think?
> So how did my predictions pan out? I think the last line was something
> like "let's watch all that turn to excrement next Sunday"? Well it
> did, while I did say I suspected RedBull and BMW could surprise I did
> not expect the speed BMW showed and while I predicted McLaren would
> take pole the long run pace of the MP4-23 was closer to F2008 than
> Maranello would like or I anticipated. I did however win a beer on a
> podium for Nico but that was pretty much wiped out by my third row
> start bet on Webber, C'est la vie, my shout.
>
Well, I got 3rd place right at least... lets see 1 place out of 10
possibilities (and 4 probables) *real* good guessing <g>.
> Who was it said they expected a surprise from Honda? Well done.
>
Not me, but they, Red Bull, Williams and Toyota are the wild cards it
seems.
> Williams are just getting started so expect more from them at every
> race.
>
Certainly better than last year.
>
> btw, watch that lot turn to excrement (again), lol.
>
We *all* do that - therein lies the fun.
build <buildy@gmail,com > wrote in
news:bbb9b394-187c-4a80-8c29-07444c243eed@e23g2000prf.googlegroups,com :
> A bit of a ramble on Melb.
> Melbourne revealed less than I hoped, pretty much everyone stuffed up
> at some point through the weekend but McLaren, BMW and Williams less
> than the others, Ferrari stuffed up more than most leaving McLaren
> open to a one-two which they failed to achieve. BMW should have taken
> the podium left vacant by Heikki and the third step but failed to do
> so. Williams were lucky to get 9 points despite a couple of errors. So
> despite the press releases every team will be looking to tighten their
> act before KL.
>
> Don't forget how good KR looked before the second SC. Also note the
> laps on those very worn option tyres.
>
> Interesting sacrifice from Honda I think it's the first time that
> opportunity has been used, shame it all went pear shaped, however RB's
> speed in the Honda was impressive.
>
> BMW can at least look at NH's stop and say they performed when it
> counted, I hope Williams doesn't say "We did OK, it's just that BMW
> were exceptional."
>
> Bourdais showed his team mate what experience can do given the
> opportunity, some would say it was luck but he did put himself in the
> postion where he could take advantage of that opportunity and he did
> not get carried away and make a mistake.
>
> Glock qualified 9th (1:29.593, 3 secs off pole) with 29 laps of fuel
> (1 stop), Trulli was 6th but with what fuel?
>
> On the DC/FM item, buggared if I'm going to say who was right but does
> it make sense to turn into someone who's on the inside leaving no
> where for them to go?
>
Well if you're inside and you're not even on the track when you make
contact (and that *was* the case - possibly why - no grip) it changes
things a bit don't you think?
> So how did my predictions pan out? I think the last line was something
> like "let's watch all that turn to excrement next Sunday"? Well it
> did, while I did say I suspected RedBull and BMW could surprise I did
> not expect the speed BMW showed and while I predicted McLaren would
> take pole the long run pace of the MP4-23 was closer to F2008 than
> Maranello would like or I anticipated. I did however win a beer on a
> podium for Nico but that was pretty much wiped out by my third row
> start bet on Webber, C'est la vie, my shout.
>
Well, I got 3rd place right at least... lets see 1 place out of 10
possibilities (and 4 probables) *real* good guessing <g>.
> Who was it said they expected a surprise from Honda? Well done.
>
Not me, but they, Red Bull, Williams and Toyota are the wild cards it
seems.
> Williams are just getting started so expect more from them at every
> race.
>
Certainly better than last year.
>
> btw, watch that lot turn to excrement (again), lol.
>
We *all* do that - therein lies the fun.
