2011 Formula One Australian Grand Prix

[Gary Ludlum]

Petrov is becoming a nightmare for Alonso

Well done Vettel, unlucky Mercedes

 

[Adam Eggbeer]

How on earth do you imagine KERS damages the rear wheel tires giving ~80 bhp extra while there is already 740 bhp already put down on them? As long as long as the tires are not out of grip i dont think there is much difference in tire usage.

The KERS system uses the braking power from the rear wheels to harness the energy. Because of this, the way the rear wheels are slowed under brakes has to be different compared to not running KERS.

As for the race well, Hamilton will probably get DQ'd. Petrov drove a great race as did Jenson and Perez. The one thing that really got me was why didn't Vettel and Buemi get penalised for overtaking another car by going outside of the track limits? Jenson got penalised for it and fair enough should of been (although Ferrari played some dirty tricks in putting Alonso ahead of Massa and then pitting Massa, giving Jenson no chance of giving the place back), so why did the stewards ignore those?

Well done Vettel, unlucky Mercedes [/QUOTE]

 

[Maurice Hurkmans]

Both Sauber cars are DQ'ed by the stewards of the meeting due to an illegal rearwing. One of the 3 rearwing elements did not comply to the regulations.

That's bad news for Sauber I still expect them (with a legal rearwing next time) to keep on the pace....

 

[ufunacaoenn]

Both Sauber cars are DQ'ed by the stewards of the meeting due to a illegal rearwing. One of the 3 rearwing elements did not comply to the regulations.

That's bad news for Sauber I still expect them (with a legal rearwing next time) to keep on the pace....

OMG, I just read it on formula1.com and I was shocked. I was so happy for there results but now it's just sad to hear this.

 

[Erik Jakobsson]

Both Sauber cars are DQ'ed by the stewards of the meeting due to a illegal rearwing. One of the 3 rearwing elements did not comply to the regulations.

That's bad news for Sauber I still expect them (with a legal rearwing next time) to keep on the pace....

Damn... real shame. I was really hoping for sauber.

 

[Rob Butler]

Not only do i feel sorry for Sauber, but it also increases Scuderia Ferrari's point total. On a brighter note it's nice to see Di Resta in the points on his debut.

 

[Joe Bough]

Not only do i feel sorry for Sauber, but it also increases Scuderia Ferrari's point total. On a brighter note it's nice to see Di Resta in the points on his debut.

Perez deserves the points more though....

IMO, the rules that Sauber broke are so minute, and irrelevent i hope their appeal works, i can't see they would have had any advantage with the tip of their rear wing a couple of mm too thick, dissapointed for them. PETROV!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Péter Bártfai]

I'm really happy about Petrov on the podium! And I'm sad about Massa, true this is not one of the tracks where he's strong usually. Overall a quite interesting race!

 

[Rob Butler]

IMO, the rules that Sauber broke are so minute, and irrelevent i hope their appeal works, i can't see they would have had any advantage with the tip of their rear wing a couple of mm too thick, dissapointed for them.

But rules are rules, and if we didn't have rules where would be (and nobody say France!)?

 

[Joe Bough]

But rules are rules, and if we didn't have rules where would be (and nobody say France!)?

We would be in France....



(But, srely if there is no performance advantage, there is no difference from the other cars? I'm also suspicious of RBR car, Very unusual.... Especially KERS?)

 

[Péter Bártfai]

Red Bull took out KERS from their cars after testing it on friday practice and having reliability problems with it.

 

[Rob Butler]

Red Bull didn't run KERS or any system like that, i'm lead to believe. If so, they've done nothing wrong. KERS is an option, not a requirement. It was nice to see Sauber do well, but surely the car was like that for a reason? When does a part begin to give a performance advantage? It's a fine line.

I know team orders are now allowed, but though Ferrari took the michael in allowing Alonso to overtake Massa and stop Button giving position back, this is not a tactical move. This is bringing the sport into disrepute.

 

[Péter Bártfai]

I know team orders are now allowed, but though Ferrari took the michael in allowing Alonso to overtake Massa and stop Button giving position back, this is not a tactical move. This is bringing the sport into disrepute.

Button could avoid that btw with rejoining beside Massa, and not ahead! But I know it wasn't an easy situation!

 

[Rob Butler]

For sure, I agree, Button was in the wrong, I just feel Ferrari completely changed the situation: Button didn't have the time to consult with race engineer, nor could stewards tell him to give position back as a result of the incident.

 

[Xosé Estrada]

Considering past decisions, like when Kubica forced Alonso out in 2010, Button and McLaren should give back position to Button inmediatly, he could, but he wait until Alonso reached Massa (he was racing more than 1 sec faster) and Ferrari, logically, decided to let him pass so Button had to give back two positions, this is F1 not charity.

I feel sorry for Jenson, and I think the real problem is you cant have 10 mins of investigation, decisions have to be taken in seconds, so you tell Jenson "give position back" before the situation changes. But still he could just rejoin after Massa as, like I said, being pushed out in the external part is not an excuse to cut anymore since 2010.

But yeah, blame Ferrari...

 

[Péter Bártfai]

Clearly not Ferrari's fault, what would they have to do? Wait for Button giving back the position to Massa? No, clearly, Massa didn't want to hold up Alonso there, I think there wasn't even a team order btw, he just saw him coming a lot faster. As I said Button could avoid that situation, I think he was just too angry to think in that situation because Massa defended perfectly in the first 10 laps against him At least it provided a good fight to watch for a few laps!

 

[Chris Butcher]

I don't even think Massa gave that position to Alonso - he just ran a bit wide and compromised his exit. What are Ferrari supposed to do anyway - not get on with their own race just so Button can let them back through? Absolute nonsense. Button had at least 2 laps to do it, but chose not to. It isn't down to the FIA to tell the teams and drivers what to do - they should be able to interpret the rules themselves.

And they didn't pit just to disadvantage button - how ridiculous. They pitted after Red Bull! So not early at all.

 

[Ivo Simons]

Btw team orders are allowed this year right?
If it was a team order wich i doubt.

 

[Chris Butcher]

Yes, they are allowed

 

[Diego Lopez]

How about the Pirelli tires? I was falling asleep last night but I woke up to about 4 (correcty me if im wrong) pit stops by Ferrari? My guess at the end is gonna be more about tyre management than fuel this time around. Now knowing RB didnt have KERS, I wonder if the other teams are going to follow thru. BTW im too lazy to research but I have to ask, I know the rear wing is movable within 1 sec in the straight during a race, is the front wing also? If im not mistaken they are allowed to lower or raise it by 6 degrees, is that still in effect for this year?