2013 Formula One Australian Grand Prix

Bram Hengeveld · Mar 16, 2013

Completely agree with you. The technique is fascinating. Only the output and pure power seems to be missing.

Why not crank up that turbo a little. Add some decent sized slick tires to the party again and try to break those old lap records from 2004 after 10 years.

Ketnix · Mar 16, 2013

At current the Mercedes power unit is looking like this -
1.6l Engine capacity, down from 2.4l
6 cylinders, down from 8
100kg Max amount of fuel per race from 2014 (around 140 litres), currently around 160litres
15,000 RPM, down from 18,000
And if I remember the turbocharger is running at 125,000 RPM

ERU
161bhp boost from ERS, up from 80bhp
33.3s duration, up from 6.7s

Having any sort of ERU failure would be the death of you, lets hope they are more reliable than some of the KERS systems, but its great technology.
Anywho, off too bed, need to get some Zzz's so I don't miss the F1 action.

Terry Rock · Mar 16, 2013

How do you guys in Oz feel about the later starting times to the Australian Grand Prix?
Do you like it...why?
Do you hate it...why?

Ketnix · Mar 16, 2013

Makes no differene to me whether its early or late. Right now this time is catering around TV auidences overseas, manly Europe, to better suit their time.

But it works for the fans. All morning and into the afternoon before the F1 sessions we've got plenty of stuff going on track. The celebrity race, V8s, the speed showcase plus all the bits and pieces around track.

Terry Rock · Mar 16, 2013

Ketnix.... watching at home is not a problem as such...but is it fair to GP ticket holders who could possibly lose out due to running out of daylight or having a race shortened due to bad weather or something else?
I just think it'd be better to start earlier in the day to minimize the impact of such things.
If the race got underway earlier, a rain delay could actually be longer and still possibly get it all in before dark.

Scott Webber · Mar 16, 2013

im waiting.......

Kennett Ylitalo · Mar 16, 2013

Couldn't we just tow the whole continent closer, somewhere around Canary Islands, fits nicely there and makes a wonderful road trip to the Americas..

driveroz247 · Mar 16, 2013

30 minutes to go until Q2 starts.

I can tell you there is still some rain and wind around in Melbourne, but definitely not as much as yesterday. So we may still get a wet track, or even a damp track of sorts.

Yep, they're doing a walk around pit lane now, and it's not raining, but the track is damp.

Kevin McDonald · Mar 16, 2013

driveroz247 said:
Yep, they're doing a walk around pit lane now, and it's not raining, but the track is damp.

If that's true then we might see a few surprise Q2 drop outs

driveroz247 · Mar 16, 2013

Melbourne radar 10:36am

Yep, they just broadast pictures of turn 1 and 2, the track is damp, and there is a strong wind blowing, a few leaves on the track too.

Bram Hengeveld · Mar 16, 2013

Hey guys back for another day of slowchatting

driveroz247 · Mar 16, 2013

They're starting on inters. There is a queue forming at the front of pit lane, as some believe there may be some more rain coming.

driveroz247 · Mar 17, 2013

Let's get this underway.

Light rain is falling again

Bram Hengeveld · Mar 17, 2013

I hope it will become worse than yesterday

They cant postponed it again so lets RACE

driveroz247 · Mar 17, 2013

They're all starting to make a few mistakes now, the track is getting just a little wetter

driveroz247 · Mar 17, 2013

Ok, who is going to gamble on going with the slicks first?

Perez!

He's struggling to control it though...

EDIT: Both him and Button come straight back in without setting a time, bad gamble! But Perez went out with a heated set of slicks this time.