2018 Australian Grand Prix - Melbourne, 22 -25 March

[Zynerji]

It was vapor. Easy to see in HD.

[TechAddict]

Hamilton said he was in the same mode for the last 2 runs. Might be true, or he is blowing smoke!! He was clearly cautious on the first run in Q3.

Surprised to see McL so far down...

[NathanOlder]

2016 - 0.838
2017 - 0.268
2018 - 0.664

the gaps of the last 3 years here in Melbourne Qualy, Fastest Merc vs next fastest car.

[Tom145145]

Magic modes.

Why was there oil smoke spewing from Bottas's DRS arm after his wreck? Blowing the rear wing with the oil vapor?

Good question, coming out of the vertical vent (proper name anyone?)

Is that not the hydraulic fluid used to control the DRS open/close?

I noticed the same in the slow motion shots, it could be hydraulic fluid for the DRS actuator.

[Zynerji]

Magic modes.

Why was there oil smoke spewing from Bottas's DRS arm after his wreck? Blowing the rear wing with the oil vapor?

Good question, coming out of the vertical vent (proper name anyone?)

Hydraulic fluid

Doubt

[LM10]

Kimi faster than Vettel, strange. I don't know if Vettel has done any mistake, but I guess so. If so, the gap could have been smaller.

But still, Lewis' lap was way too good. This was a combination of party-mode and Hammertime.

[dans79]

Good question, coming out of the vertical vent (proper name anyone?)

Hydraulic fluid

Doubt

I'm pretty confident its hydraulic fluid.

[NathanOlder]

Hamilton said he was in the same mode for the last 2 runs. Might be true, or he is blowing smoke!! He was clearly cautious on the first run in Q3.

Surprised to see McL so far down...

His first run had already done the first sector on the tyres and had to abort due to Bot crash. so the edge was taken from the tyres. Plus his first time was a banker lap

[Jambier]

So,

The 4 Ferrari are saved by their engine.
But RBR have a better chassis than Ferrari
And Renault a better than Haas

Renault have to make engine progress!

In race I hope RBR can challenge Mercedes.
And Renault have to overtake the Haas

[Nathanael F1]

Wow. Looks like the championship is already over.

[dans79]

So,

The 4 Ferrari are saved by their engine.
But RBR have a better chassis than Ferrari
And Renault a better than Haas

Renault have to make engine progress!

In race I hope RBR can challenge Mercedes.
And Renault have to overtake the Haas

If Mercedes really has the efficiency advantage that people are claiming I can't picture rbr challenging them.

[Zynerji]

Hydraulic fluid

Doubt

I'm pretty confident its hydraulic fluid.

I've never seen hydraulic vapor, and there isn't anything hot enough to burn it back there...

[GPR-A duplicate2]

2017 Vs 2018:
Hamilton 1.22.188 - 1.21.164 = 1,024 Seconds
Vettel 1.22.456 - 1.21.838 = 0,618 Seconds
Verstappen 1.23.485 - 1.21.879 = 1,606 Seconds.

[JPBD1990]

Unfortunately, it tells you something about the state of this sport when pretty much everyone already knows the WDC and WCC before the season has even begun.

Let’s be real, do even the biggest optimists seriously believe that anyone other than Hamilton will actually win the championship?

I called it.

season over.

Honestly, I think this is ridiculous. I think both redbull and Ferrari are much closer than I personally expected, and it’s always closer on race day than in quali. I think we’re in for a great season!

[TechAddict]

Agree. It is clear to see that Renault is lacking the Q3 mode. They are savd by their great chassie