True. Although I dislike Hamilton, I don't hate the guy. I don't think he is a POS. I just think he is a good driver but doesn't have the mind Vettel has. As seen by last season.

Can't believe I'm missing the race. Just moved and no tv yet. But looks like Vettel was in 2nd last time I looked and Webber did his usual going backwards. Hopefully Vettel doesnt have to fake a gear box problems again this year to give Webber a win. I would like to see webber get a few before he retires.

 

2nd place after starting 6th isn't too shabby at all.

 

Can't be upset with that race. I like button and Vettel took second in "an inferior car" lol

 

They are in it alright, if by in it, you mean IN Formula 1 with no chance of one of their driver's getting to the podium in 2012.

 

My prediction before the race was Button, Hamilton, and then Vettel, so he even exceeded my expectations.

 

Thats the best U can do?...let's look at what happened here...Perez starts dead last, ends up 8th with more collisions than bumper cars...Kobay, my man, has rear wing damaged at the start (think this hurt his performance?) and battles Ice man, in a faster car, and ends 6th and that's all U have to say?
I have a little difficulty hearing...if U guys were cheering that Sauber, not Force India or TR or some suggesting Williams was back, then I must not have heard U...so don't hold back...let me hear it again
As for podiums, they R a possibility for Sauber this year..no doubt...the car is fast/competitive this year relative to last...GG is sweating bullets and whistling passed the grave yard for he NO's it is going to happen and when it does, it will be sweet vistory...what a race...I am up, up and away

Later, Ken

PS: there is a bunch of other stuff from the race, but I am having trouble pulling the words together....BANZAI, BANZAI!!!!

 

Recall before Melbourne there were questions about the effects of banning the double diffuser and whether the teams would B able to claw back the lost downforce and whether RB would still B on top with their new designs. In addition, some questioned, I won't mention any names bc I am not a spiteful person, that the mid field in 2012 would B positioned similarly to that in 2011, i.e., they would not B closer to the top runners (say top three cars).

Well, the race results R in and they R indisputable. Specifically, the race times R totally consistent with the Qualy results (see earlier post), namely 2012 cars R slower, much slower than 2011. Proof U ask? 2011-1st 1:29:30.259; 2012-1st 1:34:09.565..~5minutes slower. Furthermore, Vettel, the winner in 2011 was 22.3 sec ahead of the second place runner but in 2012 Button, the winner, was only 2.1 sec of second place runner...the same is true throughout the top ten (which include midfield runners, like Sauber, FI, TR) with the 10th position in 2011 being lapped while in 2012 being 39.8 sec down from winner.

Bottom Line: Qualy and Race results demonstrate that the 2012 cars were not able to maintain all the high downforce achieved in 2011 and were considerably slower. That said, the rest of the field is now also more closely bunched together performance wise and while RB is in the mix at the very top they lost more than McLaren with the new 2012 rules.
The only bad news for me is, at present, it looks like it is a McLaren vs RB season for they are only couple of seconds apart while Ferrari, Sauber R tens of sec off the pace...Sauber battling Ferrari...like the sound of that

Later, Ken

 

Ken,

Please don't take this the wrong way. Maybe it's the 3 hours of sleep, but yeah, that's the best that I CARE to do. I have no intention of placating you again on this ridiculous Sauber podium business, but I'll leave it at this.....even if Sauber has closed the gap between them and the fastest car, they were still clearly slower than at least 5 other cars out there, and it took both Mercedes and both Lotus Renault cars to get knocked out for some reason or another for Kobay to get 6th. Right now there are two guys that will most likely see the podium at every race, and then another 7 guys that have a realistic shot at one of the other podium spots, and I'm sorry to say for your sake, none of those is Kobay or Perez.

 

Did you not watch the race? There were three cars that unlapped themselves due to the safety car period 3/4ths of the way through the race, including I believe the eventual 9th-11th place finishers, so that 39.8 seconds is not indicative of the real time differential from 1st to 10th. Same goes for 2nd place coming up 2.1 seconds behind. Vettel was well over 10 seconds behind Button when the safety car came out. So yes, closer, but not like the field is completely bunched up like you're suggesting.

 

i don't hate any drivers, i just like to see more wheel to wheel racing. it's just boring to see a car with 20+ second lead from start to finish. it's definitely more exciting to see Vettel drive with the field instead of in front of the field. excited for next weekend's race. RB doesn't seem to be very far behind of Mclaren.

 

While it is true, there was a safety car this year but there was one as well or more in 2011. If you want to question the race results, look at the qualy results...the conclusion is the same. In addition, I said the gap between the other teams and the mid field had decreased this year relative to last...never said they were "bunched up"...just closer together, but significantly closer...that is the good news...the bad: only two teams are really close, McLaren and RB...so I agree it will take some things to happen for my guys to slip in but we still have not seen the Sauber do its potential...at the start of the race, both of their cars were damaged (front and rear wings) with associated parts falling off throughout the race...what I am looking for is a race where they survive the bumper car start and then C what they can do...it is not just their speed that is important but the low tire wear which they seem to have carried with them from last year...34 laps on softs?! It ain't over baby, not nearly and when it happens I promise not to gloat

Later, Ken

 

I don't like the look nor sound of this: http://www.crash.net/f1/news/177705/..._promises.html

Later, Ken

 

Assuming everything equal, and everyone makes it through the bumper car start, then their potential is 9th.

 

First, as of today, they are #3 in the Constructors Champ. If U R talking about driver position, as of today Sauber's drivers are 6th and 8th so for the first race of the season U R back of the bus. The way I see it then, if Sauber's drivers R <9th for the next race, I will B vindated again. We shall C as they say.

Later, Ken

 

All I can do in response to that is