The 2020 Australian GP Thread

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cmlean
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The 2020 Australian GP Thread

Post by cmlean » Sun Mar 08, 2020 8:20 pm

This is the place to discuss everything related to the first round of the 2020 season taking place in Australia between the 13th and 15th of March.

To submit your 10 'n' Pole Picks for Australia click here, to register in the competition click here

Picks for Australia close at the start of Saturday practice.

The event timetable for the Australian Grand Prix.

Friday
1st Practice 12:00 local time - 01:00 GMT
2nd Practice 16:00 local time - 05:00 GMT

Saturday
Practice 14:00 local time - 03:00 GMT
Qualifying 17:00 local time - 06:00 GMT

Sunday
Race 16:00 local time - 05:00 GMT

Formula 1 is back!

cmlean
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Re: The 2020 Australian GP Thread

Post by cmlean » Mon Mar 09, 2020 8:18 pm

This weekend, the circus hits the city of Melbourne, home of the Australian Grand Prix.
So much has happened since the close of the 2019 season. The south and east coast of Australia has been decimated first by drought, bushfires and then flooding. Can't say it isn't the lucky country. They get it all!

Anyway, what are we to expect this weekend?
Pre-season testing shows that the Mercedes are still the team to beat. They were fast but the power unit has shown some fragility.
Red Bull have definitely stepped up. They have been fast and reliable. The only possible problem is that the chassis is a little twitchy.
Ferrari are either playing their cards really close to their chest or haven't found the sweet spot in their setup. They will do well to catch the Red Bulls.
Racing Point have been consistently the fourth best team in the tests. Their 2019 Mercedes lookalike is really performing. Even Lance Stroll looks like a regular points finisher this year.
McLaren and Renault are so close to each other. That is expected with both sharing the some power unit. Just who can get the best out of their challenger will determine their placings.
AlphaTauri, formerly Toro Rosso, have made up some ground and Gasly and Kvyat seem comfortable.
Probably next in the pecking order would be Alfa Romeo. They haven't shown much but they're getting there.
Haas. What can I say. They probably haven't gone backwards, it's just the rest of the midfield has gone forwards.
And finally, Williams. After a dismal 2019 season, the only way they can go is forward. That said, I am optimistic that they will again be challenging for points rather that trailing the field and making up numbers.

So, bring it on. I am counting down the days to FP1.

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Re: The 2020 Australian GP Thread

Post by Tim » Thu Mar 12, 2020 9:50 pm

The McLaren team have just announced that they are withdrawing from the Australian Grand Prix after one of their team members tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus.

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Re: The 2020 Australian GP Thread

Post by Tim » Fri Mar 13, 2020 3:54 pm

The Australian Grand Prix has been canceled amid the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. It now looks like the 2020 F1 season won't start until at least early June

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