Will ANYONE finish R1 Melbourne?

[davester]

There is the very real and embarrassing possibility that the first F1 race for 2014 may fail to see any car make the full race distance.

Red flags at testing mean no-one has done a full race-spec simulation.

The final Bahrain test should have introduced safety car periods (instead of red flags) to enable teams to simulate actual race conditions while marshalls cleared stranded cars.

Proper race simulation (i.e. not having to stop for red flags) would have given better thermal control data and fuel data.

[Peter Mallett]

Reminiscent of the 1982 Monaco GP?

[NinnyMan]

I am secretly hoping this happens, just to see what transpires, but in reality
I think 6 to 9 cars might make it home, with atleast only half on the lead lap.

[m355y]

I reckon it won't be half as dramatic as people are predicting. 14 or 15 cars to finish, interesting to see if a RB makes it home though!

[Knowlesy]

Ten retirements, no more.

[wdave0]

There will be a few finishers but the secret will be the old saw "win as slowly as possible" which has been out of favor for many years. Nobody will dare push hard unless they're still running very late in the race, the rabbits will be out early.

[thetool]

4 retirements maximum.

[FordCosworthPanoz]

Whatever happens you can be sure SKY and the British Media will show plenty of clips of Red Bull Racing's testing campaign in the previews.

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by thetool

4 retirements maximum.

You have remembered that you've got Grosjean, Maldonado and Kobayashi out there haven't you? That's potential for wiping out half the field right there before you even get to unreliability

[Richard C]

Never say never, but given the number of miles the Mercedes teams have run, does anyone seriously think ALL of the cars will retire in the first race? I am excited that it could be a very unpredictable race.

Richard

[ScotsBrutesFan]

At least one car from each power unit supplier will fail to finish, but overall I think there will be 14-18 finishers, with10-12 on lead lap due to safety cars needed to clear the others away.

[el_cat]

Originally Posted by BertMk2

You have remembered that you've got Grosjean, Maldonado and Kobayashi out there haven't you? That's potential for wiping out half the field right there before you even get to unreliability

Since when has Kamui got a reputation as a crasher?

[pauln]

Originally Posted by el_cat

Since when has Kamui got a reputation as a crasher?

And Grosjean appeared last year to have learned his lessons from the year before.

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by el_cat

Since when has Kamui got a reputation as a crasher?

Well the fact that he's referred to as 'Kobacrashy' is a bit of a clue

Originally Posted by pauln

And Grosjean appeared last year to have learned his lessons from the year before.

True - but that's no use for making facetious comments is it now?

[Scooter185]

Originally Posted by BertMk2

You have remembered that you've got Grosjean, Maldonado and Kobayashi out there haven't you? That's potential for wiping out half the field right there before you even get to unreliability

if Kamui needs his car to be recovered, is it a Kobayashi Maru?

[chillibowl]

Kobayashi maru! love that nick name.

i voted yes. actually curious to know if anyone will in all seriousness vote no.

[pauln]

I don't think there's anyone will agree that no cars will finish in Melbourne.

It might be more interesting to do a poll on how many people think will finish.

[Another Bob]

I think it will be ten cars or less that will finish the race.

Out of that ten, very few if any, Renault engine cars.

More then likely neither of the Red Bulls will finish.

Pesimistic aren't I.

I waas thinking of going this year but the real possibility of seeing very few cars racing has put me off.

[MarkG]

I think it's quite probable that less than ten cars will finish, and some of those that do may not actually be racing but circulating at the lowest possible pace to keep position and get some points.

Melbourne is a great circuit and a great place to start to the season. I doubt that keen F1 followers would be so excited about the start of a season if the first race was in a desert somewhere. Shame then, that it might not actually be a "race" at all, although I suppose that depends on what ones' definition of a F1 race is nowadays.

[Sodemo]

Originally Posted by Scooter185

if Kamui needs his car to be recovered, is it a Kobayashi Maru?

There is no correct resolution, its a test of character...

[Scooter185]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

There is no correct resolution, its a test of character...

Kirk must have been piloting this recovery car https://www.youtube.com/watch?featur...&v=TRnysJ2kOnk

[JeremySmith]

I know one thing, the TV audience will be huge for this opening race ..

[Teretonga]

Finishers?
I think one car (at least) from each of the Mercedes engine teams (Mercedes, Williams, McLaren, Force India) and maybe a Ferrari and a Sauber. Of all the Renault teams I think maybe a Caterham and a Red Bull.

But that's 8 cars...minimum, - unless there is a massive pile up at the start and the teammates take each other out...

[djinvicta]

Kimi to finish..
Alonso to fail to finish..
Will create a great season.

[djinvicta]

Sorry. Ill try again. Grojean/Maldando to tackle each other.
OR/AND
Hearing Rob Smedley say; "Kimi is faster than you".
Yes. That will do me....