I know it has only been one race but lets rank teams in the order of fastest first in race trim as we see it. Here goes: McLaren/Red Bull Lotus Mercedes Williams Ferrari Sauber Torro Rosso Force India Maurussia Catherham It's early days but I think it will be interesting to see how our perception evolves over the coming season. The McLaren/Red Bull choice is hard to call. Horner isn't the straightest talking person on the grid so they may or may not of had issues in practice and quail. If they haven't and its just excuses then I'd put them in P2 for now, if they did have issues I'd level peg them with McLaren. Whitmarsh may also be on the mind game path saying they had some pace in the bag. We were robbed of seeing if Grosjean could keep his quail position, but Kimi did a great job and I think it shows how good the car is. Mercedes have a fast car but it's appetite for tyres slows it down in the race, plus were were denied seeing how Schumacher could have done Williams were a real and very welcome surprise in the form of Maldonado, I think they are genuinely on top of a struggling Ferrari. Ferrari are tough to call. Alonso does a great job and way out performs the car, Massa on the other hand isn't probably doing the car service. Over the season I expect this one to move up the most places. Saubers strength is their pit strategy, but I believe it's a strategy that won't ever get them out of the midfield, no one running at the front could afford to gamble like that. As for the rest it's a mixed bag. Force India have 2 good drivers that need a better car in my opinion along with a little luck.
McLaren were comfortably out in front in Australia, Button was in cruise control, his fastest lap proved that. Vettel was pushing as hard as he could to shrug off Hamilton/catch Button and could only manage a time 3/10ths slower than Button's. I wouldn't like to call the order for the next three races based on Melbourne though, it's completely different to the up coming circuits. Red Bull looked a lot stronger round Barcelona in testing so I think they'll come back at McLaren in Malaysia, I expect Mercedes to be really strong in qualifying for Malaysia and China, but to fall away in the race. It's hard to tell what kind of pace Lotus have as well given Raikkonen's struggles in quali and Grosjean's in the race. If I had to guess an order for Malaysia: McLaren Red Bull Mercedes Lotus Sauber Ferrari Williams Force India Toro Rosso Caterham Marussia HRT
Unusually for McLaren for the past few years they looked more comfortable in the high speed corners in testing. I think they may be a surprise again in Malaysia. I didn't bother with ranking HRT, but I think it's a sensible assumption to put them at the bottom.
McLaren Red Bull Mercedes/Lotus/Williams Sauber Ferrari Toro Rosso/Force India Caterham Marussia HRT I've gone with this order, I haven't seen enough to choose confidently between some of the teams. I put Sauber before Ferrari because I think Alonso made the difference in the race, not the car, although Sauber will probably drop back soon.
My honest opinion... Mclaren Red Bull Lotus Mercedes Ferrari Williams Sauber STR Force India Caterham Marussia HRT
The Ferrari is probably the hardest to judge. I think it may be lower than most people so far think. Whiplash is right, Alonso pushed that car much further up the grid than it should have been and Massa, when he isn't hitting people, is a fair driver and probably a good indicator of where the car is in an regular drivers hands. Along with some competition at he top the assent of Williams is a welcome addition for me. We should run a thread like this post Malaysia and see how it varies
I like the idea of another thread, like a progress report on the cars and their development. I also find the Mercedes hard to judge: lightning quick in quali but perplexing during the race, as least from Rosberg's performance. Likewise Lotus: following Grosjean's speed in quali, Raikkonen pushed through the field quickly, then stayed stuck for much of the race. I'm really chuffed about the Williams too.
I believe that, based on a street circuit where Red Bull's traditional strengths tend to be more subdued, there is nothing to choose between McLaren and Red Bull after Round 1. All four cars were very close and although Button was able to push out a lead after the safety car as well as at the start, Hamilton was unable to threaten Vettel and was under mild attack from Webber. As far as I am concerned, there is no way they could be closer. Button was simply superb. I also believe Ferrari are better than they looked, especially in race trim; but unfortunately they only have one and a half drivers. Mercedes may be better than Ferrari; but are their drivers good enough? Rosberg continues to threaten something special but still comes up short, whilst their other guy is not fast enough. Lotus may be right up there with these two teams but Räikkönen needs to sort out his qualifying and Grosjean needs to get a few racing laps in! My order shows it very compact and too close to call after just one race: Red Bull/Mclaren Lotus/Mercedes/Ferrari Sauber/Williams/Toro Rosso Force India Caterham Marussia HRT
I would agree with the OP but putting Sauber ahead of everything above it bar RB/Mclaren. Showed by Maldonado keeping up with Alonso, the Williams is better than Ferrari. But maybe Force India is a bit better than we think, as i think they have a poor driver line up atm.
Overall for qualifying and the race: McLaren Red Bull . . Lotus Ferrari Williams Mercedes Sauber . . Force India . Toro Rosso . . . Caterham . . . marussia . . . . . . *Wormhole* . . . . HRT Basically Mercs race pace is badly letting them down.
Its hard to judge from Melbourne because it is such a unique track, so i would say the dry order is... McLaren Red Bull Lotus Mercedes Ferrari Williams Sauber Force India Torro Rosso Carterham Marussia HRT
McLaren RBR Lotus Ferrari Mercedes Williams Force India Sauber Torro Rosso Caterham Marussia HuRT That's how I see it, I think the Merc only looks good in Quali, seems hard on it's tyres (again) and I don't really rate either driver tbh, the Ferrari looked bad in Quali but had the race pace when on the harder option and of all the cars probably has the biggest room for improvement, and Massa wasn't that far of the Mercedes during the race. The Sauber looks good because, IMO, it has 2 of the best drivers outside the top 3 teams (and better than some of them).
Reposted: McLaren are comfortably quickest. Red Bull in comparison were struggling for rear grip. We didn't get a chance to see what Lotus' quicker driver was capable of in the race but to qualify 3rd shows the car has speed.
We must watch Mercedes closely this weekend. Is the gap between qualy and race pace really that bad? Michaels retirement atleast adds some uncertainty. At the moment i have to say McLaren Red Bull Lotus Mercedes Sauber Williams Ferrari Force India Toro Rosso Caterham, Marrussia and HRT are pretty much as you'd expect. Barely worth a mention.
It's not fair to compare them to McLaren's slower driver. That's like saying Ferrari are at the back of the midfield based on Massa's pace. Button easily controlled the race from the front like Vettel did many times in 2011. Vettel was pushing quite hard but was no match for Button.
Agree, although people liked to do that last season with Red Bull. I do think Mclaren were faster, especially that they were having to save fuel, but I do not think it is a massive gap between them and Red Bull.
