F1 2009: Melbourne

Car Freak · March 27, 2009

Since GP weekend has started, I'd like to take the liberty of starting the first thread for the 2009 F1 season.

Practice times are in, and I must admit, I'm quite disappointed by Hamilton's poor placing on the leaderboard. Hot-shot talent who doesn't have experience and can't develop a car properly? I do hope not, but we'll see.

On the other hand though, Brawn GP, who have been marked bookies' favourite, put in the expected strong showing, though how much that was down to their controversial "diffuser" is yet to be seen.

Interestingly, in the 2nd practice session, a Force India was ahead of both Ferraris! :eek2: This should prove to be a very interesting season ahead, I can assure you that

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7967203.stm

ShadowGT · March 27, 2009

I hate how to please the Europeans we were forced to run a Twilight Grand prix just so they don't have to stay up late to watch it:mad:

And even worse if we wanna keep the Grand Prix any longer we have to run it at night next year. :mad::mad::mad:

So I really couldnt give a crap about the grand prix at the moment. I'm only gonna watch the V8 Supercars race at Melbourne not the F1.

YeOldeTDUMan · March 27, 2009

OK firstly may I take my hat off to Shadow for systematically destroying everything I've asked for any having a pointless rant in the second post in the new F1 section ... thank you for reading my previous requests.

As to the content of you're post ... well being a "European" (actually I say I'm British but lets not go into that) I don't mind when races are as I'm that into F1 I'll get up to watch it live whatever the time !

But back OT ...

Well the boys with the legal illegal rear diffuser/crash boxes are up front ... as they're on the Williams, Brawns and Toyotas ... As to McLarens poor performance ... looks like they might need to go back to the drawing board ... and you have to blame the whole team for the cars performance not just one driver ... as the team, including 3 drivers, develops a car ... one of the best test drivers in recent history is DC !

looks like the diffuser may be working ... which if it's declared legal after the full hearing in a couple of weeks could be a big problem for Red Bull as it won't fit on their car due to their rear suspension

but I don't think we can make too many comments till after Quali ...

Oh I might not comment on the race quickly ... might be busy :)

Oh and can people please be aware that we CAN post results in these threads as soon as it's happened ... so if you're going to wait till 1pm UK time to watch the race don't read this thread/section

Oh don't forget summer time starts on sunday !

Baldy · March 27, 2009

We're looking at making a result thread. And you might be busy in the early hours of the morning? Interesting haha.

And remember, no ranting, i wont comment on the F1 stuff as it doesn't interest me, but i will be keeping an eye on it.

Mb · March 27, 2009

Free Practice 2 results.

Looking good for Brawn GP, but what on earth is Ferrari doing?

And Hamilton fails, yay.

YeOldeTDUMan · March 27, 2009

1. it's free practice so sometimes not a full representation of race pace

2. you'll notice Williams, Toyota and Brawn at the top ... with their diffuser style

3. Ferrari obviously are lacking pace as the cars are COMPLETELY different to last year

4. Surely you should correct your statement and say that McLaren and Renault and BMW are also struggling ... as well as obviously your beloved Ferrari

5. I QUIT this thread/section

Iced_Bullet · March 27, 2009

I hate how to please the Europeans we were forced to run a Twilight Grand prix just so they don't have to stay up late to watch it:mad:

And even worse if we wanna keep the Grand Prix any longer we have to run it at night next year. :mad::mad::mad:

So I really couldnt give a crap about the grand prix at the moment. I'm only gonna watch the V8 Supercars race at Melbourne not the F1.

No, we don't have to stay up late to watch it, we have to get up early to watch it (live) =) Which I will be doing! There's a re-run at 1pm.

Nodz86 · March 27, 2009

Great not even a day in and we've lost a big F1 fan from posting in the threads, joy.

Anyways we wont know for 2 weeks how the outcomes of the 1st few races will be, so thats a bit of a farce. and as hybrid has mention Red Bull will be stuffed if it is legal.

Also Mr DC is reserve driver for red bull for the 1st 2 races as their other reserve driver didn't get his super licence

S71NG3R · March 27, 2009

I'm too a get up at anytime fan.

The first race is going to be a lot of fun if they keep their front wings after the first few corners. Is nice to see top teams on their back foot for a change and at least the first few races will be full of unpredictability. This is good for F1 and the fans I just pray the new aero works to make more overtaking and wheel to wheel racing.

ShadowGT · March 27, 2009

And remember, no ranting, i wont comment on the F1 stuff as it doesn't interest me, but i will be keeping an eye on it.

It was not a rant, it was a legitimate post related to the Melbourne F1 Grand prix. You may not be aware but we didn't choose to hold this at Twilight, WE WERE FORCED! If we didn't hold it when the F1 commity said so, we would lose the grand prix contract. I'm just peeved we didn't get a say in the matter.

CarboyZR1 · March 27, 2009

It's going to be hard to watch this one. Thankfully, there's something called DVR or TV Recording :P

Iced_Bullet · March 27, 2009

I personally wouldn't call 5pm Twilight ... But anyway, night races are cool! Remember last years? It was a highlight of the season, as the teams had to adjust to the lighting and visibility ...

Nodz86 · March 27, 2009

5pm twilight :confused:

Thats early evening and with it being summer time its still day time at that time (how many times can I say time in a sentence :lol: )

Twilight would be a race that starts at 10pm on wards till about 4am in the morning. It also appears they are doing your end of the world first so most of the races are on at a more reasonable hour for you rather than us then it changes as the races move to Europe. So I cannot really see what you are moaning about.

TDU 505 · March 27, 2009

Offtopic: I don't care what time's the Singapore leg gonna be on the Tele because i'm most probably gonna be there again! thrst

OnTopic: Looks like that stupid diffuser thingy's really showing a difference in times. Quite anxious to find out the podium winners

Camel · March 27, 2009

I've just been told that we are to delete any posts in any of the F1 threads that go off topic or are likely to cause an argument. That means that a few posts would've been deleted already.

Anymore posts like that will be replaced with this...

-- OLD IMAGE REMOVED (imageshack) --

If you see any troublesome posts, please use the report () button rather than getting involved yourself.

Nige · March 28, 2009

I would just like to point out that I haven't posted in this thread yet until now ....

Should be interesting ...... I've got a funny feeling that Kubica will win and something tells me BMW are gonna pull the biggest surprise this year and absolutely take control of the championship I have a feeling ..... *puts bet on BMW to win constructors championship*

Still I suspect overtaking will still be a rare occurance ....

Mb · March 28, 2009

Awesome.

Hamilton had to swap his gearbox so he starts at the end :D

Together with the 2 Toyota's as their rear wings didn't follow the rules.

Go BrawnGP :p

hpluls · March 28, 2009

Being Polish, I'm cheering for Kubica as usual :thumbsup: Nice to see a debuting team (Brawn GP) doing so well also. Looks like this season is going to be interesting...

Who · March 28, 2009

it's a shame Honda quit really, being as the brawns are doing so well, they could have made some hefty cash off it all if they'd have kept it as their own team.

i'm hoping red bull do well, it looks like they have a fighting chance of regular podium finishes, and if the diffuser becomes illegal then they'll just eat everything else, look at Webber's Red bull compared to the nearest non-diffuser car. (Incidentally, another red bull) and you can see how well the team is kitted out, i mean, 6 places above Ferrari is something not to be sniffed at.

iBilo · March 28, 2009

Jenson Button for the win, Rosberg 2nd and Vettel 3rd :).

Turkey Twizzler · March 28, 2009

-snip-

Hmm, is she? :D Anyways - great performance from Brawn GP, looking towards the season. Vettel is doing great, too. But we will see when the season starts to roll (can't think of the english words :D).

Iced_Bullet · March 29, 2009

Good race! Good race!

Brilliant from Button and Barrichello and Trulli and Hamilton! Plus, quite a lot of action went on which was good for a race. First half was a bit dull, but second half was brill!

Loving the new cars. Loving the new BBC features. Loving the lack of adverts. Not loving the new commentators so much. But hey, I'll get used to it.

KoenigseggBG · March 29, 2009

Hooray for Brawn GP. :)

[imglink]http://i342.photobucket.com/albums/o429/Koenigsegg_album/TDU%20Central/F.jpg[/imglink]

Car Freak · March 29, 2009

Loving the lack of no adverts?

Anyway, epic race. Like Iced said, not so good first half, stunning second half. I think Hamilton is VERY lucky to have been able to make the 14 places, especially in the light of his car's lack of performance.

Vettel's and Kubica's last min shocker though, well what were they thinking? I mean it was brilliant for the spectators, but as a driver they should know better than to lunge like that, or at least back off for the next few corners. Must say though, was very funny seeing Vettel on 3 wheels holding everyone else back during the safety car period. Would he have been allowed to finish the race on 3 wheels though?

Anyways, congrats to Brawn GP, and to commemorate their win, here's something I've been working on since yesterday (it's still a WIP though) :

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p265/1carfreak1/NFS%20ProStreet/nfsProStreet051.jpg

:D