Don't Panic,Don't Panic,Ferrari were only 34 seconds ahead of the rest of the feild.

[alesi95]

How much you think this is down to the Bridgestone/Michelin factor? Bridgestone seemed to have pulled a new stronger tyre from nowhere and Sauber were used pretty much like a gimp.
You think we'll get another "michelin-gate" like at Monza but this time a Bridgestone-gate?

[avsfan733]

He was how much faster than his own pole time?

I think based on that and the weather changes, we gotta give a lot of credit to bridgestone...but giving credit to bridgestone is the same as giving credit to ferrari as they are one and the same nowadays

[Shoe-maker]

I guess Max and Bernie will have to change the rules again. Ha! Ha! Ha!

[alesi95]

I think it's a case of Michelin getting a tyre that works in all conditions hot or cold instead of just accepting that it wasn't a Michelin day. Come a wet race they'll probably act surprised that Bridgestone are so much faster than them.

[GP Racer]

You guys are giving an awful lot of credit to Bridgestone, which of course they deserve some, but the car itself, seems to be a real winner.

The GA2003 was probably the worst car Ferrari has made in awhile, and they knew it. Thats why they started this season with the new car, something they don't normally do. So really, Bridgestone may have had the right tire all along, but the GA was just a dog(by Ferrari standards)of a car.

Ferrari did their homework this year...

[alesi95]

the 2003GA wasn't designed with the 2003 rules in mind. Therefore it had a big fuel tank etc. Had last year been run at 2002 rules then I don't think it would have been so often.

the 2004 is the car the GA should have been.

[Redblurr]

GP Racer; the new engine would not fit the GA2003 - so they had to start with the F2004. I agree with you the car is special, the others on Bridgestone were not that brilliant because of the tyres.

[GP Racer]

The one Bridgestone car, I thought would have done better, was the Sauber, due to its Ferrari roots, but they were just awful...

[touringlegend]

I hope it was just down to the tyres. Noticed quite a few of the Michelin runners during the race having a darker line round the tyre about 3/4 of the way across it don't know what that means ?

[DriverT]

Originally posted by The Monster
Why is everyone going nuts over this Ferrari domination thing?
From 1991-1997 Williams pretty much dominated the field, things change.

Well yeah. I agree with you. But I guess old habits die hard, and some things are difficult to accept.

[Yoong Montoya]

Originally posted by knowlesy
Yeah, I just hope they let them race all season though.

I'm sure they will.

Well if they let them race then that's no wins for Rubens then

[climb]

Originally posted by BootsOntheSide
Although the Ferrari is clearly a great car, thigns really played into their hands this weekend. Melbourne is a circuit they've always done well at in recent years, and it was cooler than usual - whcih favours the Bridgestones immensely. I don't think Malaysia will be similar - start suspecting Ferrari dominance if it is.

Boots, there's a point you don't include in your analisys, that could, unfortunately, make us think of new 2002.
It's all about Jenson and BAR.
They did a good race (the only not-underperforming team, compared to expectations) despite being Michelin shod.
Now the scenarios are 2:
1) Michelin were not underperforming, because they let Bar do a good race.
2) Michelin were underperforming, but BAR are this year a very fast car.
If the assumption 1 is true, a red domination is gonna kill the season; if numer two is real, we can hope that something different may happen.

[Glen]

I don't think Michelin underperformed - they just perform differently. Bring on the hot races and the situation will be much tighter. The F2004 is indeed nothing other than the car that the F2003GA should have been. It is a fantastic testimony to the Ferrari team, and to Schumacher's tenacity, that they picked up the title last year in the face of extremely strong Michelin-team competition, despite the car having some major flaws. With those flaws gone and the usual even better, even stronger mechanical package of the F2004 they thoroughly deserve the win for being by far and away the best team.

Williams will be back on it in Malaysia and we can look forward to many tight races. If Michelin had shoved Ferrari off the podium entirely at this race (which is a good circuit for Ferrari) we would have nothing to look forward to for the rest of the season.

[Armco Bender]

The other teams are going to have to find some big leaps in performance to catch up to the Ferrari,but there must be more development to come out of the Ferrari though,so they must be going to get faster too.
And while they are doing so ,MS is going to be getting the 10 pointers,which is going to make it hard to ever peg the red cars back if you want the WDC.Could be all over by mid-season.

[Rafael]

At the recent past, Formula 1 was nice to see only in odd years.

Just compare the seasons: 2002, 2000, 1998, 1996, 1994 and 1992, and 2001, 1999, 1997, 1995, 1993, 1991, 1989...

Of course there were some exceptions, as 2000 and 98 had some nice moments over the season despite a one-team dominating start. But there is a logic with the years... let's hope things changes over the year and save this season.

[Knowlesy]

I seem to remember Senna dominated the first four races of 1991....