So where were the tyres shredding? the bits hitting cars? the new overtaking enabled KERS? the 4 pit stops sorting strategies out? the race was a bit of a procession yet again. No rain to liven things up - no late setting sun to blind the drivers. No overheating front exhausts? Oh dear - not really excitement was it? Back to the drawing board.
I think overall it has been a good start to the year, maybe not jam packed full on racing and pitting, but the tyres are degrading, different strategies coming into play, the DRS is making passing possible put at least its not giving easy passes, also KERS are helping too. Overall i think there will be some cracking races, where degredation is high, so im hopeful of a good season ahead.
I have to admit I was a little underwhelmed too. Certainly not a vintage grand prix. Red Bull, and more specifically Vettel, looked unbeatable this weekend. He made it all look so comfortable. I'm hoping this year isn't too processional, and at least the midfield looked like it was a bit more shaken up.
I think the Button-Massa-Alonso brawl at the beginning was thrilling! Overall, not a classic, but a good race imo
The first race of the season is always a bit of an anti climax. There's nothing really to be won or lost as theres another 18/19 races left. Compared to last year this first race is much better. They say never judge a book by its cover, and in my opinion the first race is the 'cover' Pleased with the result and looking forward till a week on Friday
Yea, all a bit of an anticlimax really, I expected a lot more overtaking with the use of the KERs combined with the adjustable rear wing, but it simply never happened. The anticipated tyre wear issue was a non issue, no extra marbles, no excessive tyre stops, I know Australia is traditionally easy on tyres, but ! Even Lewis managed his tyres whilst keeping in touch with Vettel with a damaged car, maybe the lack of downforce due to a dislodged plank contributed to his minimal tyre wear. The only significant issue of note for me was that Red Bull did not use KERs for the race but were still streets ahead on performance. Maybe thats going to be their achilles heel as the season progresses.
lack of down force should increase tyre wear,because of less grip,which leads to more abrasion.anyway its just a myth that lewis is hard on his tyres.he can look after his tyres just as good as any other driver.
Either the tyres suit him well or he's adapted his style. I was really impressed with him out pitting RB and Ferrari... then I saw Sauber
I think it's probably something he's looked at over winter, full credit to him for adapting. It can't be easy having to drive every lap against your instincts and he probably has the car set up differently so it oversteers less as well. It could cost him pace in qualifying though, it'll be interesting to compare his times with Jenson's.
So are we agreed? Not much to get excited about. Considering the rule changes and the stated objective for more overtaking - FAIL. KERS is rather pointless and complex. DRS was supposed to liven things up -it didn't. Tyre wear was no problem. Lets hope this first outing is not a very meaningful indicator - else F1 might become a bit of a yawn. The authorities keep tinkering but achieve little as a spectacle. Back to the drawing board?
Lewis also said that he couldve done more laps in this first stint but McLaren made him box to stick to the strategy. The fact that he was very easy on his tyres and much better than the Red Bull is great news for the championship, especially as having KERS causes more tyre wear which Red Bull will install at some stage. Personally I cannot wait until Seb qualifys somewhere other than pole i.e. 3rd, 4th or 5th. Then we will see if he really has improved as a driver!
I agree, in 2008, there was plenty of overtaking in my opinion, but when they brought in rules every year to get more overtaking, it just made it worse
I sometimes wonder what people really expect. This is motor racing. It does not mean there has to be an incident every few seconds. That is simply not the nature of the sport. Let's bear in mind that this was the first race of the season and we have had all manner of gimmicks primarily designed to pander to a largely ignorant audience, which by their very nature, will need to be tweaked in order to produce the desired effect. The problem is really an unappreciative 'fan'-base, who do not sufficiently understand the subtleties involved. Efforts to satisfy this superficiality simply cheapen the whole 'show' which leads down the path of the very thing which justifies the criticism! Motor racing needs to stick to its authenticity, or else run the risk of vaporising in its own exhaust…
It will get better though, it's only the start of the season, it's just that we are not used to the DRS and KERS.
Cosicave - if your remarks are intended to be dismissive of my feelings, can I add that I have watched F1 seriously for 50 years, starting at Silverstone. I DO think that for all the stated intent to make the racing more attractive, it has not. Superb imagination and engineering by the teams YES - but aided by computing and wind-tunnels etc. It is not so surprising that most teams will end up with similar designs, performance etc. The marketing builds up the event to be something it cannot readily be - but come on - I am not expecting crashes, overtaking, spins, wheel-to wheel, pit-lane incidents every few seconds. I just did expect to be far better entertained than I was. My case rests.
Bergkamp: without wishing to appear dismissive or derogatory it's the word {entertained} that gets to me when folk talk of matters F1, it's a purebred sport. An athlete does not run the 100m sprint with the aid of artificial performance enhancments For me I don't want to be entertained by a "show" that has been contrived for the ultimate reason of revenue growth, I want real and genuine racing by driver's using their skills to take these cars to the limits and beyond in some cases. I have been perfectly happy over the years just watching top drivers like Hamilton, Alonso, Hill, Prost, Senna, Mansell, Piquet snr, Stewart, Peterson, Fittipaldi, Andretti, Lauda etc You surely have witnessed and loved some pretty serious racing during your 50 years of watching F1 without the need for contrivances to add to the pleasure, it's the futile added value that detracts from the true essence of GP motor racing, it takes away the genuiness of the product, a bit like a fake painting.
