FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[darwin dali]

F1live:
Brawn GP recorded a one-two victory in Melbourne, but it seems the former Honda team could have destroyed rather than simply beaten its competition.

BMW-Sauber figures expressed huge disappointment about Robert Kubica's late crash with Sebastian Vettel last Sunday, insisting the Pole could have raced up to eventual winner Jenson Button and passed him.

"That's interesting," Briton Button, 29, grinned as he reflected on his win in St. Kilda - a beach suburb near Melbourne - before having to jet off to Malaysia.

"I don't think Kubica has any idea about whether I was driving as fast as I could have," he added coyly.

Red Bull's Vettel, seemingly matching his Mercedes-powered rival as he ran second to Button for most of the 58-lap race, suspects the Brawn driver's hint is indeed true.

"I have the feeling they (Brawn) were playing with us," the German told Auto Motor und Sport.

An unnamed Brawn team figure is quoted by Britain's Guardian newspaper as also suggesting the Brackley camp did not display its full pace throughout the 2009 season opening race weekend.

"It is just foolish to just annihilate people all the time," he said. "I think we have a little bit in the bag. We've got good stuff coming and I think we have reason to be confident," he said.



Hm, that sounds ominous. If this is true, the rest of the paddock will be moaning all season long from the pain of defeat
This however, might be balanced by the fact that Brawn GP is still short on money, so their advantage may dwindle the further the season progresses if they can't keep up with the frantic development steps other teams will undoubtedly make.

[texasmr2]

I dont think BrawnGP is going to be short on money with VIRGIN onboard especially after there performance in Australia. Also JB had such a huge lead before his tire stop the rest of the field were left stumbling, they have the package to dominate and I hope they do.

[bmwpower]

I think Jenson does what's best for the team, by not revealing anything in his comments but rather more questions. He's hinted that he's go more speed, wether its true or not, its got the other teams worried and spending more money and sleepless nights thinking of ways to catch up. Its a head game at this stage, by the 4th race we should know who's improved and who's not.

[racechick]

F1live:
Brawn GP recorded a one-two victory in Melbourne, but it seems the former Honda team could have destroyed rather than simply beaten its competition.

BMW-Sauber figures expressed huge disappointment about Robert Kubica's late crash with Sebastian Vettel last Sunday, insisting the Pole could have raced up to eventual winner Jenson Button and passed him.

"That's interesting," Briton Button, 29, grinned as he reflected on his win in St. Kilda - a beach suburb near Melbourne - before having to jet off to Malaysia.

"I don't think Kubica has any idea about whether I was driving as fast as I could have," he added coyly.

Red Bull's Vettel, seemingly matching his Mercedes-powered rival as he ran second to Button for most of the 58-lap race, suspects the Brawn driver's hint is indeed true.

"I have the feeling they (Brawn) were playing with us," the German told Auto Motor und Sport.

An unnamed Brawn team figure is quoted by Britain's Guardian newspaper as also suggesting the Brackley camp did not display its full pace throughout the 2009 season opening race weekend.

"It is just foolish to just annihilate people all the time," he said. "I think we have a little bit in the bag. We've got good stuff coming and I think we have reason to be confident," he said.



Hm, that sounds ominous. If this is true, the rest of the paddock will be moaning all season long from the pain of defeat
This however, might be balanced by the fact that Brawn GP is still short on money, so their advantage may dwindle the further the season progresses if they can't keep up with the frantic development steps other teams will undoubtedly make.

This doesnt bode well for the rest of the teams but i suspect there is a lot of truth in it. Didnt Rubens have his diffuser smased on the openning lap and still race to 2nd?

[zurich_allan]

I'm not sure about sandbagging. I don't think they were intentionally not showing their true pace, more likely is that with so little testing they were worried about reliability and didn't want to push the car to the absolute limit. I suspect there is a little more to some from them assuming they're stripped back the car and found nothing ominous.

As for other teams catching them up, I'm quite sure they will make movements closer, but the restrictions on mid-season testing mean that they won't be able to test changes quite as effectively as in the past, so I don't think we'll see any remarkable turnarounds a la Renault last year.

Just an opinion.

[Denthúl]

F1live:
Brawn GP recorded a one-two victory in Melbourne, but it seems the former Honda team could have destroyed rather than simply beaten its competition.

BMW-Sauber figures expressed huge disappointment about Robert Kubica's late crash with Sebastian Vettel last Sunday, insisting the Pole could have raced up to eventual winner Jenson Button and passed him.

"That's interesting," Briton Button, 29, grinned as he reflected on his win in St. Kilda - a beach suburb near Melbourne - before having to jet off to Malaysia.

"I don't think Kubica has any idea about whether I was driving as fast as I could have," he added coyly.

Red Bull's Vettel, seemingly matching his Mercedes-powered rival as he ran second to Button for most of the 58-lap race, suspects the Brawn driver's hint is indeed true.

"I have the feeling they (Brawn) were playing with us," the German told Auto Motor und Sport.

An unnamed Brawn team figure is quoted by Britain's Guardian newspaper as also suggesting the Brackley camp did not display its full pace throughout the 2009 season opening race weekend.

"It is just foolish to just annihilate people all the time," he said. "I think we have a little bit in the bag. We've got good stuff coming and I think we have reason to be confident," he said.



Hm, that sounds ominous. If this is true, the rest of the paddock will be moaning all season long from the pain of defeat
This however, might be balanced by the fact that Brawn GP is still short on money, so their advantage may dwindle the further the season progresses if they can't keep up with the frantic development steps other teams will undoubtedly make.

This doesnt bode well for the rest of the teams but i suspect there is a lot of truth in it. Didnt Rubens have his diffuser smased on the openning lap and still race to 2nd?

Yep. And he was still on the pace after that and losing part of his front wing. It was only after tapping Raikkonen and losing a bit more of his wing that the pace really dropped off. Every part of that car appears to be designed in a brilliant way (although when your team decides to work on next year's car before you run this year's car, you do get the ability to go that far ).

[MAD MAX]

Jenson's playing with their heads lol

[Jamie]

F1live:
Brawn GP recorded a one-two victory in Melbourne, but it seems the former Honda team could have destroyed rather than simply beaten its competition.

BMW-Sauber figures expressed huge disappointment about Robert Kubica's late crash with Sebastian Vettel last Sunday, insisting the Pole could have raced up to eventual winner Jenson Button and passed him.

"That's interesting," Briton Button, 29, grinned as he reflected on his win in St. Kilda - a beach suburb near Melbourne - before having to jet off to Malaysia.

"I don't think Kubica has any idea about whether I was driving as fast as I could have," he added coyly.

Red Bull's Vettel, seemingly matching his Mercedes-powered rival as he ran second to Button for most of the 58-lap race, suspects the Brawn driver's hint is indeed true.

"I have the feeling they (Brawn) were playing with us," the German told Auto Motor und Sport.

An unnamed Brawn team figure is quoted by Britain's Guardian newspaper as also suggesting the Brackley camp did not display its full pace throughout the 2009 season opening race weekend.

"It is just foolish to just annihilate people all the time," he said. "I think we have a little bit in the bag. We've got good stuff coming and I think we have reason to be confident," he said.



Hm, that sounds ominous. If this is true, the rest of the paddock will be moaning all season long from the pain of defeat
This however, might be balanced by the fact that Brawn GP is still short on money, so their advantage may dwindle the further the season progresses if they can't keep up with the frantic development steps other teams will undoubtedly make.

On that sort of note, it’s doubtful? With the resources some of the teams behold it will be like Africa Vs USA.... not to be racist at any sort but that is how it will be. They have laid of people and are already scared of defeat; people have put them on a pedestal and will now have to deal with at 1 stage defeat, which some people in here won't be able to handle? It will be a shame if they do start to lose out but in 2010 they don't have a chance, as the car they are driving now is 1-year advance to last season, last season Macca & Ferrari were at top because they both play with the car they have. They had a year advantage to us, but when it comes to round 5 when everyone has adapted to the systems that are in place. F1 is a fools game to bet on and I believe for the moment the top dogs will fly low until it's time to jump? But at the end it will be the same dogs scrapping it out for the top spot.
Ferrari V Macca V BMW -If Kubica can stop being a pric-kk

[Jabberwocky]

I think in the GP they where sandbagging, Why would Jenson have to drive at 10/10 with a comfortable lead.

[Jamie]

I think in the GP they where sandbagging, Why would Jenson have to drive at 10/10 with a comfortable lead.

Very true, I think 5th round it will be a fool’s game to bet they could win the WCC

[Jensonb]

I'm not sure about sandbagging. I don't think they were intentionally not showing their true pace, more likely is that with so little testing they were worried about reliability and didn't want to push the car to the absolute limit. I suspect there is a little more to some from them assuming they're stripped back the car and found nothing ominous.

As for other teams catching them up, I'm quite sure they will make movements closer, but the restrictions on mid-season testing mean that they won't be able to test changes quite as effectively as in the past, so I don't think we'll see any remarkable turnarounds a la Renault last year.

Just an opinion.

That's part of it, but there's little doubt they had no reason to fully open the taps. They don't want to draw too much negative attention to themselves.

[Jamie]

I'm not sure about sandbagging. I don't think they were intentionally not showing their true pace, more likely is that with so little testing they were worried about reliability and didn't want to push the car to the absolute limit. I suspect there is a little more to some from them assuming they're stripped back the car and found nothing ominous.

As for other teams catching them up, I'm quite sure they will make movements closer, but the restrictions on mid-season testing mean that they won't be able to test changes quite as effectively as in the past, so I don't think we'll see any remarkable turnarounds a la Renault last year.

Just an opinion.

That's part of it, but there's little doubt they had no reason to fully open the taps. They don't want to draw too much negative attention to themselves.

Plus in that sense then yeah? They don't want to let anyone down which I totally respect! As most teams or drivers lead you on to believe and put all your hops in them that they can win. I like Jenson because he tells the truth take away how much he believes himself or how much he thinks he can win.
He Keeps it Real

[Gert]

There's a difference between sand-bagging & making sure your car's engine is subjected to the least amount of abuse possible 'cos it's got to last longer than it did last year. At least in my dictionary.

[Jensonb]

There's a difference between sand-bagging & making sure your car's engine is subjected to the least amount of abuse possible 'cos it's got to last longer than it did last year. At least in my dictionary.

The extra life of the engines is accounted for already. The only need Brawn has to look after its engine is the relative lack of testing.

[scotty]

There's a difference between sand-bagging & making sure your car's engine is subjected to the least amount of abuse possible 'cos it's got to last longer than it did last year. At least in my dictionary.

Same goes for the gearboxes. Either way, they weren't using the full potential of the car so it is sandbagging in some form.