Australia GP
1st - Flouncy - Ferrari
Controlled and measured drive. Handled
the first corner setback well and set himself up for a comfortable win with good
strategy and consistent pace. Never really looked troubled.
2nd - Atomic
Lambo - Lotus-Renault
A solid drive. Kept out of trouble, was mistake free,
but just didn't quite have the overall pace that the Ferrari did. Suffered some
tire degradation during the first stint that allowed Flouncy to catch up, but
solid after that. Gave the Ferrari a small scare during the second stint, as
well as an incident with 3rd place ET-Rom, but overall a good drive.
3rd
- ET-ROM - Mercedes
The surprise package of the new season so far. Vastly
improved over the testing break, ET was perhaps the dark horse to shake things
up and indeed he did. Putting the Mercedes on pole, all be it by the smallest of
margins to claim is maiden pole. Got away well at the start and built and
sustained a solid lead. By the second stint the race win was less likely,
however second was well within grasp but a mistake into the last turn would see
the Renault of Lambo steal the position. Regardless a stunning podium and only
his 3rd so far. We are sure we'll see more.
4th - roxas3sora3 -
Williams
Perhaps a vote for drive of the round. A solid drive from the
Williams driver saw a recovery from 7th on the grid to finishing 4th, just off
the podium. Keeping relatively out of trouble and avoiding some of the chaos
behind, roxas put in a solid drive to round out the top 4. Vastly improved over
last season, another young talent to watch.
5th - HOLYGHOST79 - Lotus
Not the best start to a season from the Lotus driver, give his explosive start
to season 3 and missing out on the drivers championship by only 16 points. A
relatively disappointing race give he was an early favorite amongst the book
makers. A number of mistakes saw last seasons runner up tangle with a number of
drivers. A number of pundits criticized his pre-season preparation, and perhaps
rightfully so. He never looked comfortable and number of errors was telling. A
20 second penalty for his hit on TurrbalTerror was warranted. Hopefully he
bounces back next race in Malaysia.
6th - CruiserComet -
Lotus-Renault
A good start to the season for the new Lotus-Renault drive.
Steep learning curve but has plenty of potential. Qualified a solid 6th place
and through patience was rewarded with 6th finishing ahead above the highly
rated Eradicator and TurrbalTerror. Stayed out of relative trouble, one or two
mistakes, but a good start to the season and critical points for the
constructors championship.
7th - Eradicator84 - Williams
After a
season hiatus Eradicator was back driving for Williams. Eradicators last race
was round 19 of season two, so there was alot of interest to see how he'd fair
after a season out of the sport. Qualifying a solid 7th considering, his race
was also solid, if somewhat unspectacular. As he gets up to speed he will be
very dangerous. A good points haul for Williams with both cars finishing the
race.
8th - TurrbalTerror - McLaren
One of the early favorites having
completed extensive pre-season testing, however was mared by bad luck and a
number of run ins. Early contact with Ghost saw his race ruined and it appeared
after that the McLaren driver never got back on song. However he was quick and
bolting on the softs near the end of the race, he achieved the fastest lap
dipping into the 1:23's albeit finishing 2 laps down.
9th - BreakerMorant
- Ferrari
Perhaps one to forget for the Ferrari sister car, an improved start
to the championship was on the cards after toiling away last season for
experience. Qualified 10th on the grid, and made solid ground on the much more
experienced Lotus driver of Fredzfrog. However 9th is a solid result and a
foundation on which to build on and 2 important points in constructors
championship.
DNF - Fredzfrog - Lotus
A very disappointing start to
the season for the number 2 lotus driver. Showed promise in the later rounds of
season 3, and now has the experience, but yet to show it on the track. Melbourne
suits the driver and a solid 9th in qualifying was a solid start, however 7th or
higher wasn't out of reach. Finished 4 laps down. Will want to forget this
race.
Retired - st8smn350 - Red Bull
Unfortunately poor reliability
saw the Red Bull rookie unable to finish the race as his RB7 ground to a halt on
lap 5 with lap issues. Something we hope will be rectified next week in
Malaysia.
Retired - NIGHTKID2 - Sauber
The second of the retires, a
blown engine unfortunately ended the second of the rookies race on lap 29.
Controlled and measured drive. Handled
the first corner setback well and set himself up for a comfortable win with good
strategy and consistent pace. Never really looked troubled.
2nd - Atomic
Lambo - Lotus-Renault
A solid drive. Kept out of trouble, was mistake free,
but just didn't quite have the overall pace that the Ferrari did. Suffered some
tire degradation during the first stint that allowed Flouncy to catch up, but
solid after that. Gave the Ferrari a small scare during the second stint, as
well as an incident with 3rd place ET-Rom, but overall a good drive.
3rd
- ET-ROM - Mercedes
The surprise package of the new season so far. Vastly
improved over the testing break, ET was perhaps the dark horse to shake things
up and indeed he did. Putting the Mercedes on pole, all be it by the smallest of
margins to claim is maiden pole. Got away well at the start and built and
sustained a solid lead. By the second stint the race win was less likely,
however second was well within grasp but a mistake into the last turn would see
the Renault of Lambo steal the position. Regardless a stunning podium and only
his 3rd so far. We are sure we'll see more.
4th - roxas3sora3 -
Williams
Perhaps a vote for drive of the round. A solid drive from the
Williams driver saw a recovery from 7th on the grid to finishing 4th, just off
the podium. Keeping relatively out of trouble and avoiding some of the chaos
behind, roxas put in a solid drive to round out the top 4. Vastly improved over
last season, another young talent to watch.
5th - HOLYGHOST79 - Lotus
Not the best start to a season from the Lotus driver, give his explosive start
to season 3 and missing out on the drivers championship by only 16 points. A
relatively disappointing race give he was an early favorite amongst the book
makers. A number of mistakes saw last seasons runner up tangle with a number of
drivers. A number of pundits criticized his pre-season preparation, and perhaps
rightfully so. He never looked comfortable and number of errors was telling. A
20 second penalty for his hit on TurrbalTerror was warranted. Hopefully he
bounces back next race in Malaysia.
6th - CruiserComet -
Lotus-Renault
A good start to the season for the new Lotus-Renault drive.
Steep learning curve but has plenty of potential. Qualified a solid 6th place
and through patience was rewarded with 6th finishing ahead above the highly
rated Eradicator and TurrbalTerror. Stayed out of relative trouble, one or two
mistakes, but a good start to the season and critical points for the
constructors championship.
7th - Eradicator84 - Williams
After a
season hiatus Eradicator was back driving for Williams. Eradicators last race
was round 19 of season two, so there was alot of interest to see how he'd fair
after a season out of the sport. Qualifying a solid 7th considering, his race
was also solid, if somewhat unspectacular. As he gets up to speed he will be
very dangerous. A good points haul for Williams with both cars finishing the
race.
8th - TurrbalTerror - McLaren
One of the early favorites having
completed extensive pre-season testing, however was mared by bad luck and a
number of run ins. Early contact with Ghost saw his race ruined and it appeared
after that the McLaren driver never got back on song. However he was quick and
bolting on the softs near the end of the race, he achieved the fastest lap
dipping into the 1:23's albeit finishing 2 laps down.
9th - BreakerMorant
- Ferrari
Perhaps one to forget for the Ferrari sister car, an improved start
to the championship was on the cards after toiling away last season for
experience. Qualified 10th on the grid, and made solid ground on the much more
experienced Lotus driver of Fredzfrog. However 9th is a solid result and a
foundation on which to build on and 2 important points in constructors
championship.
DNF - Fredzfrog - Lotus
A very disappointing start to
the season for the number 2 lotus driver. Showed promise in the later rounds of
season 3, and now has the experience, but yet to show it on the track. Melbourne
suits the driver and a solid 9th in qualifying was a solid start, however 7th or
higher wasn't out of reach. Finished 4 laps down. Will want to forget this
race.
Retired - st8smn350 - Red Bull
Unfortunately poor reliability
saw the Red Bull rookie unable to finish the race as his RB7 ground to a halt on
lap 5 with lap issues. Something we hope will be rectified next week in
Malaysia.
Retired - NIGHTKID2 - Sauber
The second of the retires, a
blown engine unfortunately ended the second of the rookies race on lap 29.