Official Australian Grand Prix 2019: Grand Prix Weekend Thread - Round 1 of 21 - Page 7

steve_r · 19 Mar 2019, 09:59 (Ref:3891805)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ApexTurtle

Many people seem to agree with you, although not me. Personally I find it very strange how people can think Vettel is not at least as good a driver as Hamilton, who is also world class.

Mistakes. Hamilton made virtually none last year. Vettel threw points away in several races - Germany, Azerbaijan & Italy that I can think off just off the top of my head. That is what separated them last season IMO.

greentrumpet · 19 Mar 2019, 12:14 (Ref:3891819)

^^^ Very much this which was also the story of 2017.

ApexTurtle · 19 Mar 2019, 19:58 (Ref:3891901)

Oh yeah Vettel definitely threw loads of points away! But even without those the Mercedes+Hamilton combination was too good anyway. I'm starting to fear that might be the case again this year.

S griffin · 19 Mar 2019, 22:27 (Ref:3891937)

Vettel got the maximum that was probably possible. But Merc are still the top car at the moment. Hopefully others will catch up

**Adam43** · 19 Mar 2019, 23:59 (Ref:3891963)

I agree with the Merc. being the best car last year, but Vettel clearly did not get the maximum that was possible. At the least the trip into the gravel in the Hockenheim stadium section showed that.

(this has all been covered before)

ApexTurtle · 20 Mar 2019, 02:09 (Ref:3891993)

Old stuff indeed and I think we agree on the basics so no point in going on about it I guess

Lancsbreaker · 21 Mar 2019, 11:51 (Ref:3892445)

I'd heard mutterings before but a story in today's Times says that Hamilton was lucky to get the car to the finish because of severe damage to the floor that affected the aerodynamics......there was little coverage of Hamilton's race on the Sky broadcast that I saw, but I don't remember any significant off-course or over-kerb excursions?

E.B · 21 Mar 2019, 11:55 (Ref:3892446)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lancsbreaker

I'd heard mutterings before but a story in today's Times says that Hamilton was lucky to get the car to the finish because of severe damage to the floor that affected the aerodynamics......there was little coverage of Hamilton's race on the Sky broadcast that I saw, but I don't remember any significant off-course or over-kerb excursions?

I think it was mentioned earlier in the thread but the offficial line was he is thought to have run over debris on lap 4, damaging the floor in the process, and suffering thereon from an 'out of balance' car. Hamilton claims it was after lap 4 he could no longer match the pace of Bottas, something he had done in the first laps. (To me I swear Bottas gapped Lewis from the start of the race, but that is my memory.)
I think 'lucky to get to the end' is a bit wide of the mark.... unless they are suggesting it was in such a poor state of ability he was lucky not to have binned it. (removes tongue from cheek before I get brandished an anti H)

Mike Bell · 21 Mar 2019, 12:30 (Ref:3892455)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lancsbreaker

I'd heard mutterings before but a story in today's Times says that Hamilton was lucky to get the car to the finish because of severe damage to the floor that affected the aerodynamics......there was little coverage of Hamilton's race on the Sky broadcast that I saw, but I don't remember any significant off-course or over-kerb excursions?

Read back thorough the thread a bit, Richard!

I saw a piece yesterday on the web, either Autosport or Motosport.com, that showed the damage in detail and discussed the effect it would have. Apparently the area is quite important. As E.B. Says, it happened early in the race, and ‘belief’ is that LH ran over debris from Kubica’s wing......

VIVA GT · 21 Mar 2019, 13:11 (Ref:3892462)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

Read back thorough the thread a bit, Richard!

I saw a piece yesterday on the web, either Autosport or Motosport.com, that showed the damage in detail and discussed the effect it would have. Apparently the area is quite important. As E.B. Says, it happened early in the race, and ‘belief’ is that LH ran over debris from Kubica’s wing......

The 'belief' has now been updated on the Autosport website that the damage was due to a Kerb strike!

**bjohnsonsmith** · 21 Mar 2019, 13:24 (Ref:3892468)

Quote:

Originally Posted by VIVA GT

The 'belief' has now been updated on the Autosport website that the damage was due to a Kerb strike!

http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/142255

Mike Bell · 21 Mar 2019, 13:38 (Ref:3892471)

Quote:

Originally Posted by VIVA GT

The 'belief' has now been updated on the Autosport website that the damage was due to a Kerb strike!

It will probably be a pigeon or rabbit strike tomorrow!

Kerb sounds more believable than debris, anyway. Thank you both for that latest update.

E.B · 21 Mar 2019, 15:47 (Ref:3892486)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

It will probably be a pigeon or rabbit strike tomorrow!

This pigeon? https://pickle.nine.com.au/2019/03/1...d-record-price

What about the Geese Mike!

**bjohnsonsmith** · 21 Mar 2019, 16:11 (Ref:3892490)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

It will probably be a pigeon or rabbit strike tomorrow!

Kerb sounds more believable than debris, anyway. Thank you both for that latest update.

There has always been a problem with hares at Silverstone. At last year's Silverstone 6 Hours one narrowly avoided getting flattened, while crossing the track.

https://i.imgur.com/ljwx9Q0.gifv

Mike Bell · 21 Mar 2019, 17:18 (Ref:3892496)

Quote:

Originally Posted by E.B

This pigeon? https://pickle.nine.com.au/2019/03/1...d-record-price

What about the Geese Mike!

Forgot about the geese....

That pigeon has no tattoos or piercings, so I disagree!

According to the print version of Autosport today, the floor damage could have been done before the race, as apparently ‘spy shots’ have appeared on ‘social media’ showing Mercedes repairs to that area prior to the race......

**bjohnsonsmith** · 21 Mar 2019, 17:28 (Ref:3892498)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

Forgot about the geese....

That pigeon has no tattoos or piercings, so I disagree!

According to the print version of Autosport today, the floor damage could have been done before the race, as apparently ‘spy shots’ have appeared on ‘social media’ showing Mercedes repairs to that area prior to the race......

Sabotage

?

Mike Bell · 21 Mar 2019, 18:09 (Ref:3892507)

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Sabotage

?

Bit early in the season for conspiracy theories....

Probably damaged in qually.

Think it’s parc ferme after, so they wouldn’t be able to replace it without penalty?

**bjohnsonsmith** · 21 Mar 2019, 18:41 (Ref:3892511)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

Bit early in the season for conspiracy theories....

Probably damaged in qually.

Think it’s parc ferme after, so they wouldn’t be able to replace it without penalty?

If that part of the car's floor was damaged before the race, why did Hamilton notice the car's change in behaviour after 4 laps into the race?

crmalcolm · 21 Mar 2019, 18:53 (Ref:3892515)

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

If that part of the car's floor was damaged before the race, why did Hamilton notice the car's change in behaviour after 4 laps into the race?

If a temporary repair had been permitted, is it not possible that the repair 'failed' after 4 laps?

**bjohnsonsmith** · 21 Mar 2019, 19:04 (Ref:3892516)

Quote:

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

If a temporary repair had been permitted, is it not possible that the repair 'failed' after 4 laps?

Possibly, if he Hamilton ran over a kerb. Do Parc fermé rules allow for such repairs to be made?

**ScotsBrutesFan** · 21 Mar 2019, 19:08 (Ref:3892517)

Formula1.com has an image of the damage highlighted. This is the same imagery that was used ton the FOM programme Ted Kravitz hosted yesterday.

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...zIEAzwaf8.html

djinvicta · 21 Mar 2019, 19:48 (Ref:3892521)

All these excuses just because Bottas kicked his ass big time from the start, turn 1. Love it.

RWill2073 · 21 Mar 2019, 19:54 (Ref:3892524)

What a great read this thread has been. Much better than last year.

Are we at least at a point where the Honda is a viable package now? Maybe not quite up to par with Mercedes or Ferrari, but close enough on a rare day?

With Ferraris different aero, what are the chances this is a one-off type track that does not suit them and they will be better on more normal road courses? Ah, who am I kidding. They can't get out of their own way on that team.

Poor Ocon. Looked like a rueful smile at seeing bottas dominate. And Toto didn't look too interested in acknowledging him next to him either!

Mike Bell · 21 Mar 2019, 20:06 (Ref:3892527)

Quote:

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

If a temporary repair had been permitted, is it not possible that the repair 'failed' after 4 laps?

That is the suggestion. And as far as I can ascertain, if the floor had been replaced after Q a grid penalty would have been incurred.....

The above from print copy of Autosport, so no links.

pirenzo · 21 Mar 2019, 20:08 (Ref:3892528)

I had to tell myself after the race to feel pleased for Honda. First podium after however many years getting it all a bit wrong, but I still feel like I was hoping for more!

I find all this floor damage stuff a bit convenient for Hamilton. Sure, it's not ideal. But I think the early strategy call to cover Vettel had a lot more to do with his failure to keep pace with Bottas.

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