Grand Prix of Australia – Race

There was a lot of info about the new season in my Qualifying post, so I’m only going to recap the key items relevant to this race:

• tyre compounds: prime = medium (white); option = soft (yellow)
• a software problem for both Marussia cars prevented STE and MER running in free practice or qualifying
• provisional grid: HAM, ROS, MAS, VET, RAI, BOT, RIC, SAI, GRO, MAL; NAS, VES, KVY, HUL, PER; ERI, BUT, MAG
• BOT “will undergo Sunday morning medical checks to assess his fitness after he suffered back pains during qualifying”

Update: Williams is down to one car after BOT has withdrawn because of his back; this means RIC and everyone behind him move up one spot

Both KVY and MAG had problems on the warm-up and haven’t taken their spots on the grid

Revised grid: HAM, ROS, MAS, VET, RAI, RIC, SAI, GRO, MAL, NAS, VES, [KVY], HUL, PER, ERI, BUT, [MAG]

HAM leads a reduced field of just 15 cars away on the formation lap
Radio for HAM warning him of oil (from MAG’s McLaren) is on the racing line through Turns 3 and 4

Lap 01/58: HAM leads into Turn 1
RAI slow through T1; RIC tagged by RAI, and then SAI? taps MAL
MAL spins, backs into the tyre wall
Safety Car deployed
Pit crews getting ready

02[SC]: GRO pits; he’s pushed into the garage

03[SC]: GRO is out of his car
Lights off on the SC so it’s in at the end of this lap

04: Green flags for the restart
HAM opens a big gap over ROS before Turn 1
Radio for PER: overtook ERI under SC so he must let ERI take the place back
RIC past SAI but RAI can’t find a way round

05/55: HAM, ROS, MAS, VET, NAS, RIC, SAI, RAI, VES, HUL, BUT, ERI, PER – only 13 runners

07: HAM and ROS pulling away from the field
PER runs wide in T3
RAI finally passes SAI for P7

08: VET closing on MAS
Radio from RIC: understeer at high speed

10/58: HAM, ROS, MAS, VET, NAS, RIC, RAI, SAI, VES, HUL, ERI, BUT, PER; retirements: GRO, MAL, KVY, MAG

11: ROS closing almost within DRS range of HAM
RAI on the tail of RIC

13: PER attacks BUT but the McLaren stays ahead

14: Big lockup from NAS but RIC not close enough to benefit
PER spins; bodywork on the track; did PER hit BUT when trying to pass?

15/58: HAM, ROS, MAS, VET, NAS, RIC, RAI, SAI, VES, HUL, ERI, BUT, PER
Replay shows PER try to get inside BUT but instead he hits the McLaren

16: Marshal runs across the track and clears PER’s debris
RIC falling back a little from NAS

17: RAI pits from P7; problem changing the left rear wheel; very slow change; rejoins P11

19: BBC report ROS touched the wall in turn

21: On-board with HAM shows a pretty smooth drive

22: MAS pits from P3; clean stop; switches to primes; rejoins P6
HUL pits too

23: HAM setting fastest lap times – presumably pitting soon
Radio for MAS: need to pass RIC

24: MAS attacks RIC but RIC closes the door
RIC pits, releasing MAS

25/58: RAI all over ERI; picks his moment and passes
VET pits; rejoins ahead of MAS
SAI pits; problem with rear left; mechanic changes air gun; still struggling to change wheel

26: HAM pits; clean stop
NAS pits too; good stop for Sauber

27: ROS pits, handing P1 back to HAM; clean stop too
RAI closing on VES; straightforward pass using DRS

28: Radio from BUT – struggling with tyres
BUT pits; not a fast stop
ERI passes PER

29/58: HAM, ROS, VET, MAS, RAI*, VES*, NAS, RIC, HUL, ERI, PER*, SAI, BUT (*needs to make pit stop)

30/58: Radio for ERI reminding him to look after his tyres

32: Radio for RAI – race with MAS is still on

33: VES pits; OK stop, better than SAI’s 40+ second stop

34: Radio from VES – smoke in the car!
VES coasting back to the pit entrance but can’t get into the pits

35/58: HAM, ROS, VET, MAS, RAI, NAS, RIC, HUL, ERI, PER, SAI, BUT

37: SAI right up the gearbox of PER
ROS has reduced gap to HAM to 1.5sec
SAI attacking again; PER defends and keeps P10
(PER yet to pit)

38: Radio for ROS – save fuel now to attack at the end of the race

39: RIC still harrying NAS
Radio from ROS – might struggle to get to end of race on these tyres

40/58: PER finally makes his first pit stop; slow changing the front right

42: RAI pulls off and parks his Ferrari
Replay of his 2nd pit stop – left rear slow – was it properly attached?

43: PER takes P10 from BUT

44: ERI locks up, runs wide, clips the edge of the gravel trap

45/58: ERI pits; rejoins behind SAI
Radio for MAS – happy with his pace

46: HUL pits
RIC falling back from NAS

50/58: HAM, ROS, VET, MAS, NAS, RIC, HUL, SAI, ERI, PER, BUT
Radio from BUT – problem, but I couldn’t hear what

51: Radio for NAS – need small amount of brake saving

53: ERI closing on SAI
Radio from ROS asking about fuel use; new regulations mean the engineers aren’t allowed to tell them details

54: ERI within DRS zone, lining up SAI

55/58: HAM, ROS, VET, MAS, NAS, RIC, HUL, SAI, ERI, PER, BUT
ERI pushing hard; twitch coming out of the final turn

56: ERI makes a nice clean move on ERI, takes P8

57: HAM coming to lap RIC (P6)

58 = final lap: Mercedes dominating the field again

HAM takes the chequered flag
ROS just 1.3sec behind his teammate

Provisional result: HAM, ROS, VET, MAS, NAS, RIC, HUL, SAI, ERI, PER, BUT

Rookies NAS & SAI in the points
BUT got the McLaren to the end but just outside the points

Arnie doing podium interviews when Jackie Stewart was up there?