F1 - 2019 Australian Grand Prix

[gofast182]

F1 - 2019 Australian Grand Prix

US TV Times:
Practice 1 - Thursday, March 14, 8:55 PM - ESPN3
Practice 2 - Friday, March 15, 12:55 AM - ESPNEWS
Practice 3 - Friday, March 15, 10:55 PM - ESPNEWS
Qualifying - Saturday, March 16, 1:55 AM - ESPN2
On The Grid - Sunday, March 17, 12:30 AM - ESPN
Race - Sunday, March 17, 1:00 AM - ESPN

2018 Results:
Podium
1. Sebastian Vettel - Ferrari
2. Lewis Hamilton - Mercedes
3. Kimi Raikonnen - Ferrari
Race laps: 58
Pole sitter: Lewis Hamilton - Mercedes - 1:21.164
Fast race lap: Daniel Ricciardo - Red Bull - 1:25.945

For more, including track data, analysis, and video please check out my full post on TOV Motorsports.

 

[Snagglefoot]

Saturday night 11:00 PM mountain time.

 

[ragtoplvr]

For those with Netflix, check out the new Formula 1 series. Great race filming, and unprecedented access to the team members. I really enjoyed it.

Rod

 

[slo town]

Originally Posted by ragtoplvr
For those with Netflix, check out the new Formula 1 series. Great race filming, and unprecedented access to the team members. I really enjoyed it.

Rod


I watched 4 or 5 of the episodes. Yes, they were good. However, why would Netflix make artificial crash sounds for some of the crashes?????????????????? Stupid!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Scott

 

[gofast182]

Yes, great insight in that documentary series that fans who follow F1 closely, particularly the 2018 season, will find fascinating.

 

[Garak]

Thanks for the thread, once again! I just want to remind everyone here, if they aren't sure of times, to always check the Autosport or official F1 websites. They both have the correct local times for me and did so over a week ago, before the time change, which Saskatchewan does not have and usually trips other organizations up.

 

[Brad_C]

Originally Posted by Garak
Thanks for the thread, once again! I just want to remind everyone here, if they aren't sure of times, to always check the Autosport or official F1 websites. They both have the correct local times for me and did so over a week ago, before the time change, which Saskatchewan does not have and usually trips other organizations up.


Or just go to the formula1.com website, scroll to the bottom for the current race and select "convert to my time" to get the race weekend schedule.

 

[Garak]

That's what I meant.

The official website and Autosport both have that functionality. I suppose though where you are, the time difference isn't going to be catastrophic like it is here! Well, Aussie time works good for me, given my hours.

 

[dparm]

I can't tell if Leclerc's practice times are just a fluke, a sign of some actual skill, beginner's luck, or the result of being put in a really good car. His spin during P2 was a bit concerning.

Williams is still way off the pace. I just don't get it.

 

[billt460]

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

 

[Brad_C]

Originally Posted by billt460
The more things change, the more they stay the same.


I don't think anyone is surprised. I'll be interested to see how the mercs go over race distance though as they do look like a bit of a handful.

Nice to see Haas put a reasonable showing in. Maybe this year they can keep the wheels on.

....and finally..... Go! Kimi Go!

 

[Brad_C]

Originally Posted by Brad_C
.Nice to see Haas put a reasonable showing in. Maybe this year they can keep the wheels on.


Whoops.

 

[weasley]

Originally Posted by Brad_C
I'll be interested to see how the mercs go over race distance though as they do look like a bit of a handful.

Whoops!

 

[Brad_C]

Originally Posted by weasley
Originally Posted by Brad_C
I'll be interested to see how the mercs go over race distance though as they do look like a bit of a handful.

Whoops!

No argument here. Bit of a difference between botching an observation and a wheel coming off *again* though.

I won't make any season predictions but right now they're looking on the ball. Nice to see bottas come out on top for once.

 

[weasley]

Bottas was peerless. Even an off-form Hamilton was largely uncatchable (Verstappen got close but never really threatened him). The Ferraris were disappointing, especially the team orders in the first race of the saeason.

Interesting to see how much the drivers valued the extra point for fastest lap.

And Ricciardo's run of luck continues.

 

[Brad_C]

Originally Posted by weasley
And Ricciardo's run of luck continues.


Being an Aussie I'm supposed to support the homeboy, but I think this one was squarely on him.

Agree, Bottas was in a league of his own.

 

[weasley]

Originally Posted by Brad_C
Originally Posted by weasley
And Ricciardo's run of luck continues.


Being an Aussie I'm supposed to support the homeboy, but I think this one was squarely on him.

I sort of agree, but having a deep gulley just off the track like that shouldn't be expected. Putting a wheel on the grass should result in a dirty tyre and perhaps a spin if the grass is wet (which the driver can judge). Having your front wing ripped off on the start, where this sort of shenanigans is likely, is IMHO an unfair penalty. You're right - it was there to be seen, but it shouldn't be there. He did a great job to collect the car and not plough through the pack at the first corner.

 

[dparm]

Definitely some [censored] luck for Daniel and that weird bump in the grass, but that's what happens when you leave the racing surface. It was a calculated risk that didn't pay off.

Overall, I found the mid-field racing to be decent but not amazing. Australia is a notoriously difficult track for passing so I guess we'll have to see how things go at Bahrain.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted by weasley
Bottas was peerless. Even an off-form Hamilton was largely uncatchable (Verstappen got close but never really threatened him). The Ferraris were disappointing, especially the team orders in the first race of the saeason.

I'd have preferred Vettel to win, obviously, but I am a Bottas fan as well from when he showed up at Williams, and it's nice to see his bad luck disappear. I wasn't really disappointed in the Ferrari orders, but was hoping for Verstappen to do a mad charge and take himself and Lewis out.

With respect to Leclerc, Autosport did an interesting analysis this preseason. They pointed out that mathematically, Vettel was the best qualifier, by stringing together his three best sectors into one real lap at qualifying more than anyone else on the grid by a significant margin, even better than Hamilton. Leclerc was on the opposite end of that list, and has some work to do there.

 

[Garak]

I also forgot to mention, but this being BITOG, I can't have been the only one to notice, there's now a (small) Shell logo on the sides of the Alfa Romeos.