Formula 1 - 2016 on CH4, Page 90 Onwards

[Edwin]

Well it stands out more, there are two mostly silver teams already.

[DjchunKfunK]

McLaren have put out feelers over switching to a Mercedes engine.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/39290908

[Raid]

If it's true, then they're probably just attempting to put pressure on Honda, but honestly I'd be surprised if McLaren are willing to stick with them for the whole season if things don't improve.

The engine performance has just been farcical; Honda have now had longer to work on their engine than Mercedes did when this new era started, and if I've understood the regulations properly, they now have pretty much unlimited development because the token system has been abolished.

[Edwin]

Cars are apparently peaking at almost 8g in the corners
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/mons ... ne-886185/

They look fast too, the direction change at 1:00 is particularly impressive


Hamilton is probably going to disappear into the distance though.

[gpa-gone-west]

Everybody on 5-live going on and on about ferrari being back. I am yet to be convinced that this isnt another false dawn and that their strategy team wont drop the ball again. I hope for some good close racing. But I fear Lewis is right up for this season, and could single handedly dominate like we havent seen in a long time. Assuming he has sorted his starts out.

[DjchunKfunK]

It's only one GP, but it looks like I could be one of those season where it's won in the pit stops. It looks almost impossible to overtake. Not looking forward to that.

[Edwin]

That was a worry when the new cars were announced, although street tracks are generally hard to over take on. If they struggle to follow/overtake in China then I think the rules will need tweaking.

Spoiler: show

Why was hamilton booed on the podium? I could understand it if he won easily.

[Rossell]

If I remember rightly the first race of 2010 was Bahrain and was a procession. That was a big regulation shift as refuelling had been banned (aero changed in 2009). The next race was in Aus and it was a corker. Perhaps it's a case of everyone being careful and learning before the inevitable madness.

I might also be optimistic.

[Wrathbone]

Spoiler: show

Why was hamilton booed on the podium? I could understand it if he won easily.

I wondered that. I can't find any reason for it other than maybe they don't like him very much.

[DjchunKfunK]

If I remember rightly the first race of 2010 was Bahrain and was a procession. That was a big regulation shift as refuelling had been banned (aero changed in 2009). The next race was in Aus and it was a corker. Perhaps it's a case of everyone being careful and learning before the inevitable madness.

I might also be optimistic.

I think you are. It looked like Hamilton didn't even bother to push after Vettel came out ahead of him because he knew he would never get past him.

You also have the fact that tyres last a lot longer this season so we will only be seeing one pitstop in most races so we could have a situation where baring mechanical issues a race is over by half distance. I wasn't that optimistic going into this season after what drivers had said about the difficulty of overtaking and yesterday didn't do anything to change that. Maybe some of the tracks with bigger DRS areas might help.

[gpa-gone-west]

It makes me laugh how all the commentators are going on about how Ferrari are back and F1 is great again. After just one race. Vettel should have won last years Aussie race but didn't because of a strategy screw up, and they were nowhere near being competitive over the full season. I hope he/Ferrari are competitive and push Mercedes as it will make a great season. But lets wait and see after four or five races shall we.

As for making F1 great again. All they have done is make the problem faster. The cars are harder to follow and pass. That is taking a backwards step, not forwards. There are a lot of issues that contribute to the current state of F1. With Ross Brawn, they have a man who I think understands that. I have hope for the future.

[Raid]

The cars are harder to follow and pass.

Pass, maybe, but the evidence from Sunday suggests they may be easier to follow. It'd make sense given that the cars have more mechanical grip this year, and being unable to follow is largely an aero problem.

I'm going to hold off on judging until we see a race on a proper racetrack. The first race of a season seems to be taken a little more cautiously than usual as it's the first time the cars have been in race conditions, and Albert Park is a street circuit that doesn't lend itself to overtaking.

[Edwin]

Button is back!

Alonso is skipping the Monaco GP to do the Indy 500, Button is the replacement driver.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/39599645

[Rossell]

And Bottas is on pole. Interesting week this has been so far.

[Wrathbone]

Spoiler: show

Not a terrible race. Vettel's pace was encouraging, Botas's pace was disappointing and Hamilton... what a tit. His pit lane antics with Riccardio almost certainly cost him the win. I don't get it; in his 10 years of F1, whenever he's pushed his luck with the rules he has been routinely penalised. It doesn't work for him, so why does he risk it?