Official 2022 Australian Grand Prix Thread ***SPOILERS***
Poll: Official 2022 Australian Grand Prix Thread ***SPOILERS***
Total Members Polled: 245
Discussion
Round 3 and we’re finally back in Melbourne for the first race since 2019; I like it when a GP takes a bit of effort to watch. Not always the best circuit for overtaking but generally there are a few incidents along the way.
It will be fascinating to see whether Mercedes can get on top of the W13, but as the cars haven’t returned to the factories since Saudi, scope must be limited. Ricciardo should be due a good race at home, although he did stuff up his start back in 2019.
I’ve added a poll again. Verstappen win for me.
Here’s to another great race.
Date(s): Friday 8 April to Sunday 10 April 2022.
UK Broadcast Timings (and local time)
All sessions are live on Sky F1. The race and qualifying are shown as highlights on Channel 4.
Live timing for all sessions available here:
https://www.formula1.com/en/f1-live.html
Lap times, PU component use, technical reports and Stewards' decisions for the weekend will appear here:
https://www.fia.com/events/fia-formula-one-world-c...
Weather forecast:
https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/forecast/r1r0...
Tyre options:
Pirelli is unusually going a step softer with the softs, so it's C2, C3 and C5. The old Q2 tyre rule is scrapped for 2022.
2021 race result:
N/A
2019 Race Highlights
https://youtu.be/NdD8gEGj0to
It will be fascinating to see whether Mercedes can get on top of the W13, but as the cars haven’t returned to the factories since Saudi, scope must be limited. Ricciardo should be due a good race at home, although he did stuff up his start back in 2019.
I’ve added a poll again. Verstappen win for me.
Here’s to another great race.
Date(s): Friday 8 April to Sunday 10 April 2022.
UK Broadcast Timings (and local time)
All sessions are live on Sky F1. The race and qualifying are shown as highlights on Channel 4.
Live timing for all sessions available here:
https://www.formula1.com/en/f1-live.html
Lap times, PU component use, technical reports and Stewards' decisions for the weekend will appear here:
https://www.fia.com/events/fia-formula-one-world-c...
Weather forecast:
https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/forecast/r1r0...
Tyre options:
Pirelli is unusually going a step softer with the softs, so it's C2, C3 and C5. The old Q2 tyre rule is scrapped for 2022.
2021 race result:
N/A
2019 Race Highlights
https://youtu.be/NdD8gEGj0to
Edited by Piginapoke on Saturday 2nd April 12:49
On pure pace it seems unlikely to be anyone except Leclerc or Verstappen... which one is anyone's guess. I voted Leclerc, but that might be wishful thinking rather than belief. I've got a feeling Redbull will out-develop Ferrari throughout the season so Ferrari getting ahead now is probably our best bet for a close finish to the season.
kambites said:
Jasandjules said:
Hoping Charles will take it. Looking forward to seeing if Merc have made a step forward too.
I don't think we're going to see much from Mercedes until the new floor in Australia at the earliest. Jasandjules said:
kambites said:
Jasandjules said:
Hoping Charles will take it. Looking forward to seeing if Merc have made a step forward too.
I don't think we're going to see much from Mercedes until the new floor in Australia at the earliest. 
Jasandjules said:
Yes, and this the Australian race, soooo I assume they will have the new floor.... And may have made a step forward.. At least I hope so.......... I really, really want to see the latter half of the season with Mercs, Ferraris and Red Bulls ALL scrapping for wins...
Mercedes problem is that Red Bull Ferrari and everyone else will also be bringing upgrades to races though. DanielSan said:
Jasandjules said:
Yes, and this the Australian race, soooo I assume they will have the new floor.... And may have made a step forward.. At least I hope so.......... I really, really want to see the latter half of the season with Mercs, Ferraris and Red Bulls ALL scrapping for wins...
Mercedes problem is that Red Bull Ferrari and everyone else will also be bringing upgrades to races though. 
ttiest hand of all throughout Covid, so it's great for the racing to be back there.Derek Smith said:
On the other hand, Merc have to take a massive step forward. Ferrari and RB are looking at small incremental improvements, so their improvements might shave a couple of thousanths. Merc needs 8/10ths. McLaren need a miracle.
I guess the difference is that Mercedes imply that they know the ultimate downforce/drag ratio is good if they can sort out their suspension problems so they have a specific very focused target to potentially give a big improvement in lap time whereas the other teams are perhaps closer to the fundamental limits of their aerodynamic concepts. If Mercedes are right and the performance is there if they can sort the bouncing, they could easily make the huge leap they need. But then they might never manage to solve the problem, or they might have to shed so much downforce to do so that they lose the performance they believe is in the car.
It's certainly going to be interesting to see how the cars evolve over the season. I suspect we'll either see Mercedes competing for race wins when they fix their main problem, or slipping back into the clutches of the midfield as they focus on a problem they can't solve.
kambites said:
Derek Smith said:
On the other hand, Merc have to take a massive step forward. Ferrari and RB are looking at small incremental improvements, so their improvements might shave a couple of thousanths. Merc needs 8/10ths. McLaren need a miracle.
I guess the difference is that Mercedes imply that they know the ultimate downforce/drag ratio is good if they can sort out their suspension problems so they have a specific very focused target to potentially give a big improvement in lap time whereas the other teams are perhaps closer to the fundamental limits of their aerodynamic concepts. If Mercedes are right and the performance is there if they can sort the bouncing, they could easily make the huge leap they need. But then they might never manage to solve the problem, or they might have to shed so much downforce to do so that they lose the performance they believe is in the car.
It's certainly going to be interesting to see how the cars evolve over the season. I suspect we'll either see Mercedes competing for race wins when they fix their main problem, or slipping back into the clutches of the midfield as they focus on a problem they can't solve.
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