2018 Australian Grand Prix - Melbourne, 22 -25 March

[gandharva]

So well done FIA at sucessfully preventing Ferraris oil burning but not the one from Merc. So at the beginning of the season we now have Mercedes running away while 2 teams behind are taking away each others point.

[dans79]

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...

The exhaust isn't exactly cool you know! Not to mention Formula 1 teams are not running pidly pressures on their hydraulic systems.

[DVB]

Well, we just have to give Ferrari time to figure out they're car configuration.

As they changed their concept from last year, they will need a bit more time to fully understand the setup. Mercedes has a year advantage over this.

Will be okay in some races.

[Poleman]

One thing that caught my attention on the pole lap analysis on Sky is how on the edge the lap was yet HAM's steering input was like he was on an outlap,damn what a car this W09 is.

[ivanlesk]

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...

You can see fluid squirting out of broken DRS hand.

[NathanOlder]

One thing that caught my attention on the pole lap analysis on Sky is how on the edge the lap was yet HAM's steering input was like he was on an outlap,damn what a car this W09 is.

Indeed, I think it was highlighted in the free practice consistency. Easy to drive on the edge is what it looks like.

[FightingHellPhish]

That engine mode really is party mode.. holy crap..haha

[Juzh]

Well, nothing surprising happened. Merc in front, with RB and Ferrari close between themselves, but miles off mercedes. RB might be stronger in the race than ferrari but still nowhere near hamilton. We'll see what bottas does.

[FightingHellPhish]

One thing that caught my attention on the pole lap analysis on Sky is how on the edge the lap was yet HAM's steering input was like he was on an outlap,damn what a car this W09 is.

Indeed, I think it was highlighted in the free practice consistency. Easy to drive on the edge is what it looks like.

When it goes though... boy does it go. But you know what they say.. smooth is fast.

[ripper]

Do you have lap times splitted in sectors?

[jurinius]

The season is not over after one pole position. Ferrari will have their chances tomorrow for sure. People just have to accept that in this mode Lewis and the Car combined nobody can be up there. We saw that many times, Lewis has always special tenths in the pocket. As for the competition it will be interesting to have more competitors upfront.
Qualy : 1-Merc 2-Ferrari 3-RBR
Race : Ferrari = Merc (I am waiting Allison touch for tyres) = RBR. Strategy will be the key.
PS: That Force India is looking like a big mess Maybe I am wrong ! So disappointed because I think they better drivers than Renault or Haas.

[TechAddict]

Well, we just have to give Ferrari time to figure out they're car configuration.

As they changed their concept from last year, they will need a bit more time to fully understand the setup. Mercedes has a year advantage over this.

Will be okay in some races.

Agree. I dont think Ferrari are so dissapointed. They know it has been a bit messy until now, but the car is not bad.

[NathanOlder]

So after that session, I think Red Bull will be most depressed. I think its clear the Renault PU isn't up for a title challenge just yet, and The Honda PU is still way back, (testing looked good, but today was bad for STR)

So by the summer when Red Bull need to decide, it looks like their choices of PU will be crap and crapper

[NathanOlder]

The season is not over after one pole position. Ferrari will have their chances tomorrow for sure. People just have to accept that in this mode Lewis and the Car combined nobody can be up there. We saw that many times, Lewis has always special tenths in the pocket. As for the competition it will be interesting to have more competitors upfront.
Qualy : 1-Merc 2-Ferrari 3-RBR
Race : Ferrari = Merc (I am waiting Allison touch for tyres) = RBR. Strategy will be the key.
PS: That Force India is looking like a big mess Maybe I am wrong ! So disappointed because I think they better drivers than Renault or Haas.

The gap is way bigger than last year, and last year Merc had an edge over the season. This year is looking bigger than last year.

[Mandrake]

That's terrible for F1, even if others are closer in the race, with overtaking being so hard it's gonna be another Merc walk through with that Q3 mode....