Bootstrap Framework 3.3.6

[sagi58]

Woohoo!! First race of the season is almost upon us!!

Forza Ferrari!!

[sagi58]

, Staff wrote:">Australian Grand Prix – Qualifying



Melbourne, 14 March – Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen will start the first race of the year from the second and third rows of the grid. Dominating today’s qualifying at Melbourne’s Albert Park was the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton (1.26.327,) with the top three completed by the Englishman’s team-mate, Nico Rosberg (1.26.921) and Felipe Massa for Williams (1.27.718.). Vettel was fourth in his SF15-T, posting a 1.27.757, followed by Raikkonen who did a 1.27.790.

[sagi58]

, Staff wrote:">Australian Grand Prix - Melbourne, 14th March 2015 - Sebastian Vettel

Sebastian Vettel: “Let’s keep our feet on the ground. So far this weekend, it’s gone well and we’ve had no problems with the car. It’s a shame that third place escaped us, as that would have made us the first team behind Mercedes, but it wasn’t by much and, after all the race is tomorrow. We lost third place because my first run wasn’t quick enough: I’m not very pleased with myself, because there was still some performance to be found, which would have meant I’d have qualified one place higher. In terms of strategy, maybe we could have done something different, but basically the result is down to me. First and second are a long way in front, but the race is tomorrow and anything can happen during the Grand Prix. A podium? There’s not much of a gap between third and fourth on the grid, so I think the podium is a realistic goal and that’s what we have to aim for.”

[sagi58]

, Staff wrote:">Australian Grand Prix - Melbourne, 14th March 2015 - Kimi Raikkonen

Kimi Raikkonen: “On my quick lap, I lost around three tenths at turn 3 and then I made a couple of mistakes in the next two corners. We knew we couldn’t fight the Mercedes, at least not in today’s qualifying, but third place on the grid was possible. In any case, during free practice, we saw that our long runs are pretty good, so we can be confident of having a good race. All we need to do is get a good start and then give it our best, but I think we can fight for a good position. As a team, we are working well together and we have a pretty clear picture of the situation. We know we are quick, but we need to improve in all sectors and, as for myself, I have to drive better.”

[sagi58]

[youtube]/A6S-WQ1TH6I[/youtube]

[Ferrari man 009]

Nice to see some red on the podium today

[sagi58]

Totally worth losing sleep over!!!

[sagi58]

Post Race comments"

, Staff wrote:">Australian Grand Prix Melbourne, 15th March 2015 - Kimi Raikkonen

Kimi Raikkonen: “Shortly after the start, someone hit me from behind. Then I felt another contact on my right side, but I don’t think it was Sebastian’s car. The impact activated the anti-stall system and did some damage to the floor of the car. We were very quick in the race, able to catch the Williams and to fight for the podium: but then there were problems at both pit stops. I don’t know exactly what happened, but I know I lost something in terms of downforce. However, my team-mate’s podium is a great result for the team. Already in qualifying, despite my mistake on the quick lap, we knew we had a good car. And in the race, the gap to the Mercedes seemed less than on Saturday. It’s simply that, today, everything happened to me.”

, Staff wrote:">Australian Grand Prix Melbourne, 15th March 2015 - Sebastian Vettel

Sebastian Vettel: “They did not play the Italian anthem on the podium, but we can be very pleased with this weekend. It’s a shame that a small mistake prevented Kimi from finishing the race but, in general, it was a very “clean” weekend. The most important thing is we have a good car, a real platform from which to carry on working. So thank you and congratulations also to the people who have worked hard in Maranello, as well as those here in Australia. Without them, this result would not have been possible. The start was not the best, there was too much wheelspin and when I tried to hold the inside line, my tyres were still too cold. We had a great race strategy, which allowed us to jump the Williams, which had a good top speed, at our one pit stop. Now we must confirm our performance in the coming races and then, one step at a time, let’s hope we can begin to close on the Mercedes. The gap is still big, but of all the teams, I think ours is the one that has improved the most over the winter. For a long time, I’ve dreamed of driving for Ferrari and it’s happened at the right time. I drank the champagne on the podium and I kept some for the guys in the team, because they told me they like it a lot… Thanks also to the fans. We have a great car, not just for qualifying but also for the race. Let’s hope we can get on the podium again and maybe even get a few wins!”

, Staff wrote:">Australian Grand Prix Melbourne, 15th March 2015 - Maurizio Arrivabene

Maurizio Arrivabene: “I’m only half happy today, because the real joy comes when you win. I am happy about the podium and for Seb, but above all I am pleased for the team, because this is a good starting point, although it’s definitely not the end of the road. I am sorry for Kimi, because everyone could see how strong he was in the race. But at the second pit stop, there was a problem with a wheelnut on which the threads had already been crossed during the first one. We realised there was a possible problem and we decided to stop the car immediately, because safety is the number one priority. Looking to Malaysia, we will keep our feet on the ground, because the Albert Park is a rather unusual track. If the second Williams had also been racing today, there would have been a clearer picture of the opposition we face. But now we have realised we can do well, we must begin to stop thinking about being “second best” and start aiming higher.”

[sagi58]

, Staff wrote:">Australian Grand Prix – Race Report

Melbourne, 15 March – “Forza Ferrari!” the Italian accent might still need some work, but this was Sebastian Vettel’s happy radio message to the team on his slowing down lap, as he made it to the podium in his debut race for the Prancing Horse. It was the Scuderia’s first podium since Fernando Alonso finished second in last year’s Hungarian Grand Prix and it was Vettel’s first since a third place in Japan, also in 2014.

The season started with a Safety Car, as Maldonado’s Lotus spun and crashed at Turn 2 on the opening lap, leaving plenty of debris to deal with. By then we had already lost Magnussen and Kvyat who had problems on the way to the grid and, of course the two Manor cars were not there either. The Mercedes duo led off the front row, followed by Massa in the Williams. Kimi and Sebastian were behind the lead trio, but the Finn’s Ferrari found itself trapped behind Massa and dropped to eighth.Once the Safety Car came in, Vettel managed his race to the end and thanks to a well planned strategy, he was able to get ahead of Massa at his pit stop on lap 24.

Kimi’s race was complicated by a problem with the left rear wheel, during his pit stop on lap 16. Trying to make up for lost time, he put in several fastest lap after fastest lap, passing Verstappen on lap 27, he was fifth and set off in pursuit of Massa. Unfortunately, there was a problem at his second pit stop, again with the left rear, which resulted in the Finn having to park his SF-15T at the side of the track.

Sebastian Vettel’s third place is a great reward for all the hard work over the winter and a great incentive to learn lessons from the weekend and mount an even stronger challenge in a fortnight’s time in the heat of Malaysia.

[sagi58]

, Edd Straw and Lawrence Barretto wrote:">Australian GP: Ferrari escapes Kimi Raikkonen pit release penalty

Ferrari has escaped punishment from the Formula 1 stewards for releasing Kimi Raikkonen from his second Australian Grand Prix pitstop with the left-rear wheel not properly attached.

Raikkonen stopped at Turn 4 on his out-lap after the problem - caused by damage from a cross-threaded nut at an earlier stop - was detected, costing him a likely fifth-place finish.

But while unsafe releases usually lead to teams being punished, FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer accepted that the car was not sent out of the pits in an unsafe condition.

One of the crew on the left-rear corner of the car did signal that there was a problem when Raikkonen's car was released.

But the stewards, including Le Mans legend Tom Kristensen, deemed that Ferrari had monitored this situation closely and stopped the car as soon as the data and Raikkonen confirmed there was a definite problem.

"The team explained that the system used to monitor the pitstops gave no indication that the car was in an unsafe condition when released and the team caused the driver to stop immediately [once] the problem was apparent from the driver and telemetry.

"The team had paid close attention to the telemetry after the actions of the team members involved in the pitstop and further that the FIA technical delegate accepted the car was not in an unsafe condition when released.

"The stewards took no further action."

Team principal Maurizio Arrivabene was seen talking with the pit crew after the incident, which he stressed was primarily to ensure the team remained focused.

"I went down into the box first of all to calm them down because I didn't want them to panic," he said.

"Second, I was asking the mechanics what had happened and if he could explain it to me.

"I simply said to him 'calm down, be focused, don't worry'".

FIRST-CORNER DAMAGE

Raikkonen's race was also affected by minor damage from a first-corner incident triggered when he was hit by Carlos Sainz Jr's Toro Rosso.

The slowing Ferrari then got into a three-way contact with Felipe Nasr and Pastor Maldonado as both tried to drive around it, sending Maldonado spinning into the barriers.

"I got hit by Sainz on the rear wheel, the floor got damaged and the rear," said Raikkonen.

"The car went into anti-stall because of that, then obviously I was slow before I could get the gear in, then I got hit by the Sauber quite heavily so it damaged the front wing, but it was the Toro Rosso of Sainz that started everything."

Sainz admitted responsibility for the incident.

"I just know that I braked a tiny bit too" late, probably a bit too encouraged by the great start I got, and unfortunately I hit one of the Ferraris. I'm sorry for that. But lesson learned," he said.

[gdh]

Here's hoping for another podium (preferrably two) in Malaysia. I am hoping that TSN in Canada re-broadcasts later in the morning or in the afternoon so we can watch the entire race without falling asleep.

[sagi58]

Here's hoping for another podium (preferrably two) in Malaysia. I am hoping that TSN in Canada re-broadcasts later in the morning or in the afternoon so we can watch the entire race without falling asleep.

This is one of those races that TSN doesn't carry!!
They're televising the "World Curling Championships" instead!!

n.b. note to self, set up the laptop and then set the alarm!!

[darwin dali]

Here's hoping for another podium (preferrably two) in Malaysia. I am hoping that TSN in Canada re-broadcasts later in the morning or in the afternoon so we can watch the entire race without falling asleep.

This is one of those races that TSN doesn't carry!!
They're televising the "World Curling Championships" instead!!

n.b. note to self, set up the laptop and then set the alarm!!

World Curling Championships - LMAAAAAAAO!
You Canucks need to get your priorities straightened out

[sagi58]

Here's hoping for another podium (preferrably two) in Malaysia. I am hoping that TSN in Canada re-broadcasts later in the morning or in the afternoon so we can watch the entire race without falling asleep.

This is one of those races that TSN doesn't carry!!
They're televising the "World Curling Championships" instead!!

n.b. note to self, set up the laptop and then set the alarm!!

World Curling Championships - LMAAAAAAAO!
You Canucks need to get your priorities straightened out

Ya think??

Anyway, when I logged onto the TV schedule at zap2it, in my hurry to see who would carry the race,
I forgot to go to March 29!!
So... Yes, the race is on TSN at 3:00 in the a.m. and it will be RE-broadcast at 8:00 a.m. on TSN...

p.s. If you think World Curling is a hoot, tune in for the race I miss because of Tennis!!