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Advantage Mercedes tomorrow but hoping for a great race tomorrow.

If things go as normal with no surprises, then Merc 1 2 with Verstappen in 3rd.

VSC often has a say in the outcome of this race.

I really wanted to be excited about this season,
but once again, the champship can more or less be determined from the first race.

F1 is in a sad sorry state for the fans.

Altair wrote:I really wanted to be excited about this season,
but once again, the champship can more or less be determined from the first race.

F1 is in a sad sorry state for the fans.

Were the 2017 and 2018 Championships determined from the first race?

If cars are able to follow each other better than last year the midfield battle could be incredible tomorrow

Most people probably know but for anyone in the UK who doesn't have skysports the race is being on Sky One

While the Mercedes might be too fast to be challenged by anyone, I think we have a very interesting battle with Verstappen sandwiched by Leclerc and Vettel. The redbull typically has great race pace, so it will be interesting to see how that trio develops. I just hope Max keeps it clean in the first corner. I reckon he will be P3 after the first lap, but he could also be out of the race. Also excited to see the battle down the field, Haas is in great position to make up for what happened to them last year, Mclaren seems to be very competitive in the midfield, and Danny Ricc and Hulk battling it out. I am even interested on how Kubica will fare against Russell. The Williams cars are too slow and will only race themselves, but it is important for Kubica to not be totally embarrassed in the races.

This track is very difficult to overtake so I wonder if Gasly can get into points. He will have fresh tyres but will need a really good start. SC is also a possibility on this track.

Available race sets for all drivers.


Source - www.imgur.com

The most ideal pit strategies for today:


Source - www.imgur.com

A few cars below the top 10 would even elect to start on the more durable medium tyre.

The starting grid for today's race:

1. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:20.486
2. Valtteri Bottas Mercedes +0.112
3. Sebastian Vettel Ferrari +0.704
4. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing +0.834
5. Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.956
6. Romain Grosjean Haas +1.340
7. Kevin Magnussen Haas +1.613
8. Lando Norris McLaren +1.818
9. Kimi Raikkonen Alfa Romeo +1.828
10. Sergio Perez Racing Point +2.295
11. Nico Hulkenberg Renault 1:22.562
12. Daniel Ricciardo Renault 1:22.570
13. Alexander Albon Toro Rosso 1:22.636
14. Antonio Giovinazzi Alfa Romeo 1:22.714
15. Daniil Kvyat Toro Rosso 1:22.774
16. Lance Stroll Racing Point 1:23.017
17. Pierre Gasly Red Bull Racing 1:23.020
18. Carlos Sainz McLaren 1:23.084
19. George Russell Williams 1:24.360
20. Robert Kubica Williams 1:26.067

You think Merc will secure the 1-2?

sandman1347 wrote:You think Merc will secure the 1-2?

This is 1 worrying stat of Hamilton at Melbourne - Having been on pole here every year since 2014, he’s only managed to convert one of those P1 starts into a win.

Source - https://scontent.fbom16-1.fna.fbcdn.net ... e=5D1E4679

It's weird to see a grid with no penalties listed... Long may that continue!

P-F1 Mod wrote:It's weird to see a grid with no penalties listed... Long may that continue!

Yeah. Honda this year has 4 cars but Honda has surely improved a lot since the last 2 years to be reliable & even quite a robust engine. Other than Honda, Renault (team) seem somewhat likely to be running on a thin line as during the entire weekend they've been suffering from some or the other gremlin!

Robert Kubica lining up for the start of today's race is one of the greatest moments of my 23 years watching Formula 1

mcdo wrote:Robert Kubica lining up for the start of today's race is one of the greatest moments of my 23 years watching Formula 1

One of the most inspiring comebacks of any sport.

Perrrrfect, immediately we get to see how the rule changes have affected dirty air

Some did say these new front wings will get easily damaged.

I always wonder about the advantage of pole man starting on the racing line rather than the inside line for the first corner?

carlo sainz out

McLaren picking up where they left off

McLaren engine failure, surprise surprise. Tough for Sainz.

UnlikeUday wrote:

sandman1347 wrote:You think Merc will secure the 1-2?

This is 1 worrying stat of Hamilton at Melbourne - Having been on pole here every year since 2014, he’s only managed to convert one of those P1 starts into a win.

He usually doesn't have a good race pace here, which we also see now.
But very fast in qualy.

Red Bull look faster than Ferrari today.

vettel pits

now Hamilton pits

Hamilton gets first pit stop even if he is not leading Mercedes?

Or did Bottas have first call and just decide to go on longer?

Hamilton might get overcut if he doesn't increase his pace

vettel is catching hamilton

Bottas is impressive Today tbh...

Not sure what's going on with Lewis but he's slow out there

Alex53 wrote:Hamilton gets first pit stop even if he is not leading Mercedes?

Or did Bottas have first call and just decide to go on longer?

It was to cover Vettel, might have been a wrong call by the looks of it.

This race track is awful, it needs to change someway.

Better by Hamilton

Bottas is bossing this GP!

Hamilton has just been managing his pace for a 1 stopper.

F1 back to usual boring self. It needs more drastical change to improve something.

Hamilton might be in danger of losing a podium finish.