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Grand Prix thread Official Not606 2016 Australian GP Chat and Predictions

Discussion in 'Formula 1' started by EternalMSC, Mar 11, 2016.

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Who Will Hit The Ground Running?

Poll closed Mar 19, 2016.
  1. Lewis Hamilton

    65.5%
  2. Nico Rosberg

    17.2%
  3. Sebastian Vettel

    13.8%
  4. Kimi Raikkonen

    3.4%
  5. Valtteri Bottas

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  6. Felipe Massa

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  7. Daniil Kvyat

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  8. Daniel Ricciardo

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  9. Sergio Perez

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  10. OTHER (PLEASE STATE)

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  1. EternalMSC

    EternalMSC Well-Known Member

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    10 Years ago Fernando Alonso won this Grand Prix with the Iceman second and the other Schumacher in third. David Coulthard, Villeneuve and Fisichella were close behind. Jenson Button grabbed pole. 10 Years into the future, Alonso and Button are on the edge of retirement in a collective last ditch effort to recapture the glory of yesteryear. Kimi Raikkonen still believes he has what it takes at the front and the rest have retired. Now we have a new story with two titans, a triple champion in the Silver Arrow and a quadruple champion in the Prancing Horse...
    This is the last season of the current regulations, savour the moment my friends, enjoy the ride.

    Has Ferrari closed that gap? Will Nico challenge? Will Kimi, Massa, Alonso or Button see glory again?
    Will anyone understand the new tyre system? Will Magnussen beat his former team Mclaren? How will Palmer fair? Will Hulkenberg ever see the podium? Will Manor or Haas race for points? Will the Renault or Honda engine come good?

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    Number of times held 80
    First held 1928
    Most wins (drivers)
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    Lex Davison (4)
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    Michael Schumacher (4)
    Most wins (constructors)
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    McLaren (12)
    Race length 307.574 km (191.071 mi)
    Laps 58
    Length 5.303 km (3.296 mi)
    Turns 16
    Lap record 1:24.125 (Michael Schumacher, Ferrari, 2004)

    (TV TIMES, ONLY AVAILABLE ON SKY)
    FP1 FRI 18TH MARCH 01:30
    FP2 FRI 18TH MARCH 05:30
    SP3 SAT 19TH MARCH 03:00
    Q SAT 19TH MARCH 06:00
    R SUN 20TH MARCH 05:00



     
    #1
  2. Smithers

    Smithers Well-Known Member
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    Street track, different tyre options, new quali and there is always the weather - who knows!
     
    #2
  3. Big Ern

    Big Ern Lord, Master, Guru & Emperor

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    interesting, when I voted it was 2:1 in Vettel' favour, wishful thinking, I don't think they're close enough yet, I hope I'm wrong, in fact I hope none of us score a point.
     
    #3
  4. happyal

    happyal Active Member

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    I hope it's not another Hamilton bore fest of a season, they are still fastest but I'm hoping for some action.
     
    #4
  5. El_Bando

    El_Bando Can't remember, where was I?
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    I'd like to think Rosberg could continue his form but it's not going to happen. Hamilton to win in corporate fashion.
     
    #5
  6. BrightLampShade

    BrightLampShade Well-Known Member
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    I'm feeling strangely confident that there will be a Ferrari in the top two. It may be a flash in the pan but something just seems likely.
     
    #6
  7. Big Ern

    Big Ern Lord, Master, Guru & Emperor

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    Drinking a latte' from costa as he goes round?
     
    #7
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  8. Sportista

    Sportista Well-Known Member

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    Going to wait to see the likely weather before I vote, but I'd like to see Nico go all out for it this year. Being out of contract at the end of the year - the way I see it - he has two options:
    • Continue his relatively passive approach and hope for some luck. Probably isn't going to be WDC, but will likely earn a new contract and win a few races a year for a few years as a number 2.
    • Be super aggressive on and off the track and don't give an inch. He's lost the narrative war since Spa 14, despite the fact that Hamilton's done far worse to him since. He needs to show he's prepared to lose his job to win the WDC and give the fans something to get behind turn the narrative tide. Likely there will be decent drives at Ferrari, McLaren and Williams available at the end of this year, so there will be somewhere to go. If he can get the fans behind him he may even keep his Merc drive as fans and Bernie pressure them to give us a chance to see round 2.
    Unfortunately, I'm not sure he has it in him, but I'd love to be proved wrong - over to you Nico.
     
    #8
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  9. BrightLampShade

    BrightLampShade Well-Known Member
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    It's happening :)

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    #9
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  10. Smithers

    Smithers Well-Known Member
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    Looks like Maldonado parked them!
     
    #10

  11. TopClass

    TopClass Well-Known Member

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    Perfect summary of Rosberg.

    I'd be utterly amazed if he was passive in his approach and rolled over. I don't think he'll give an inch and if I was him I'd be prepared to piss off everyone. I can see them being so defensive of their positions that contact is inevitable this year.

    Even if he plays politics and is waiting for Lewis to leave one day, someone like Alonso will then turn up so there's no point waiting. Attack this year and if you have to leave then so be it. Williams will be a good seat to fall back on and he has history there.
     
    #11
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  12. Big Ern

    Big Ern Lord, Master, Guru & Emperor

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    yep, pretty much the way I see it, 2nd place caps could fly.
     
    #12
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  13. TopClass

    TopClass Well-Known Member

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    I can't help but think that Merc might have an embarrassing amount of time up their sleeve and it will be pretty crushing to deal with such a gap ....again. Bottas thinks that they are in a league of their own. I hope not.

    Ferraris testing was pretty peculiar though and one would think that they haven't been silly enough to reveal their full hand just yet.
     
    #13
  14. eddie_squidd

    eddie_squidd Well-Known Member

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    Safe thing to do is go for Hamilton, but I just have a funny feeling the first race might throw up an interesting result. Maybe a Ferrari or even a Williams getting in there, even if that isn't the pattern for the whole season.

    So I've gone for Vettel in Aus. Maybe Merc will get caught out by their rivals closing the gap, or perhaps some sort of cock up or coming together.

    I don't think he'll win the championship but I think Ferrari will win 5 or 6 races. And I think Williams will get one too. Merc will win the constructors but they won't have it their own way this year.
     
    #14
  15. Big Ern

    Big Ern Lord, Master, Guru & Emperor

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    it'll probably be Kimi
     
    #15
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  16. TopClass

    TopClass Well-Known Member

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    Can't get the link from my phone but a smashing article from Brundle in the Telegraph today about just how exciting it would be if you had McLaren fighting Merc and Ferrari- he said it would be a proper Chanpionship but fears they may be fighting Manor early on! <yikes>
     
    #16
  17. Big Ern

    Big Ern Lord, Master, Guru & Emperor

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    well, could be that Manor are at the sharp end this season, their livery should add 1-2 seconds to their lap time. If they work on upgrading a couple of go-faster stripes down the side, it could see them on pole.
     
    #17
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  18. Smithers

    Smithers Well-Known Member
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    Ted's testing round up with a couple of Journalists put McLaren just in front of Hass/Manor and on a par with Sauber <wah>
     
    #18
  19. TopClass

    TopClass Well-Known Member

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    How can I put this politely.

    Teds a prick.

    Bore those sandals off Ted.

    <laugh>


    He might be right though I think McLaren are going to be faster than Sauber, Manor, and Haas and I think they'll be around P10.
     
    #19
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  20. JonnyBaws

    JonnyBaws Well-Known Member

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    5 seconds covering the top 4 throughout the race...
    Who wins, I don't really know..
    Thinking it could be anyone of the 4 from Merc/Ferrari...
    Going to take the easy option and go for Hamilton, but I really have no idea..
    Just want a good race/start to 2016 and not a borefest!
     
    #20
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