Aus Gp 2024 - Blog Posts

This is the video I’m talking abt oml started crying all over again😭🤞

YASSS CARLOSSS!!

The way Carlos sr looked up him when he was standing on the podium omg I almost bursted into tears I canttttt😫😫

Race so wild I had to colour code it. Anyways the quality is terrible so you'll have to click to see a better image.

Of course I missed some stuff (like Ocon having a tear-off in his air duct or whatever happened with Alonso) but I ran out of space so this is all I could get lol

AUSGP

I'm back! What a chaotic race. Anyways doing it a little differently this week, here's how my predictions held up with the race:

Oscar Piastri placing P5 or above: Piastri started wonderfully in P6 before moving up to a podium spot! Unfortunately McLaren asked him to swap positions with Norris, who did have fresher tires. They also missed the opportunity to pit when Leclerc (who was in front) did, which probably cost him a few places. He did finish P4 though, making my prediction correct.

Daniel Ricciardo in points: Not much to say here. The commentary didn't focus on him much, but he moved up from P18 to P12 which is impressive. Regrettably not enough to get him into the points though.

Ferrari on the podium: Not just one, but both! It's a Ferrari 1-2 in Melbourne, with Carlos getting DOTD and claiming the win behind a last lap virtual safety car to get his THIRD ever F1 win. Sainz's teammate Leclerc had a few issues, but managed to overtake Norris for second place. Ferrari, of course, sang the National Anthem for Sainz on the podium. Wonderful day for Ferrari fans, who have suffered through last year for this.

My tyre is gone front left (Leclerc)

Thank you Ricky, thank you Ferrari (Cue Sainz singing on the radio after the race)

No Red Bull 1-2: With Max Verstappen retiring on lap 3 due to an engine issue and Perez's 3 grid penalty, Red Bull anywhere near the podium was practically impossible. Perez finished P5 though, so one place up from where he started.

I just lost the car there really weird (Verstappen before he DNFd)

Of course the temperature kept increasing...felt like driving with a hand-break (Verstappen in an interview after his DNF)

Nico Hulkenberg in the points: Only 1% of people voted for this in my original poll, which is hilarious as it was one of the few predictions to come true. Of course, wonderful defending against Albon amongst other things let him hold onto P9, getting a few points for HAAS (as Magnussen joins him in the points, finishing P10)

Max Verstappen wins with a less than 5 second lead: ...okay so. Yeah we don't talk about this. 

Alex Albon in the points: William's call to give Sergeant's chassis to Albon did not, in fact, pay off. He finishes P11, just out of points, after being unable to overtake the HAAS. He did attempt to report Hulkenberg moving under breaking, but not penalties were applied.

That's so dangerous, moving under breaking (Albon about Hulkenberg)

I'll of course be making a summary on this race, but it'll take a while. Anyways, I'll see you all after I've had lunch :)

When I said Max would win unless there was an engine problem or something I DIDNT MEAN IT AS A PREDICTION 😭😭

Welcome back to another episode of What the hell is happening in Quali?

On today's episode:

- Alex Albon's crash in FP1 and Williams's lack of a spare chassis means Logan Sergeant will sit out this weekend, as his chassis will be given to Albon. So far, he's been knocked out of Q2 (P12), with the team choosing to save the softs for the race instead of getting a final lap in.

- Lewis Hamilton claims this week's FP2 was "one of [his] worst sessions" and that he's "used to [getting eliminated in Q2] now," just missing out and placing P11 for Sunday's race.

- Daniel Ricciardo was eliminated in Q1 for the first time after his time was deleted for exceeding track limits, an unfortunate situation considering it was the lap that could've gotten him into Q2. His teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, got into Q3 and will start an impressive P8 for the race.

- Carlos Sainz manages a P2 start for today, showing a a spectacular recovery from his surgery. His teammate Leclerc, is less lucky, citing a "strange feeling in FP3" that didn't go away in Quali. "[He] struggled quite a lot with the front tires until the last run of Q3." He will start P5.

- Sergio Perez was handed a 3 grid penalty for impeding Hulkenberg, meaning he will start from P6 instead of P3. Everyone from P6-4 (Norris, Leclerc, Piastri) will all move up a spot.

- Of course, Max Verstappen tops the times and will start from pole today.

I thought I'd give my two cents on how I think the Aus GP will turn out, since it's in a little less than a week. I'd like to think my predictions are pretty reasonable but the delusion never stops. Anyways,

For elaborations, look under the line :)

Oscar Piastri placing P5 or above: Self explanatory really. McLaren is good on fast-speed sections, as Lewis Hamilton pointed out while being chased down by Piastri in Jeddah, and Albert Park has a few. He's also been able to place in the top half of points before, so it's just a matter of whether or not he can do it again for his home race.

Daniel Ricciardo in points: He hasn't had the best start to the season, but it's Australia and he was able to do it in the McLaren even with all the DNFs and frustration so hopefully the car (and him) are good enough to get in some points this weekend.

Ferrari on the podium: They've got the second-best car this year, as most people have pointed out, and they've been on the podium in the last two races already. I've got no doubts they'll do it again. The only problem might be Carlos Sainz, who recently had surgery for appendicitis and might not be in top condition.

No Red Bull 1-2: We all know Verstappen will win, unless reliability issues or something else arises. So the real concern is whether or not Perez will make it onto P2 and join his teammate, since competition between him and the Ferraris has occurred the last two races. However he has the skill and the car, so I'm sure he'll at least be a podium sitter on Sunday.

Nico Hulkenberg in the points: I'll be honest I'm starting to become a Hulkenberg fan. Despite being in a HAAS, he's managed to pull in a P10 in quali (Bahrain) and in the Saudi Arabian GP. Obviously Jeddah was a team effort, but I think his season is off to a good start.

Max Verstappen wins with a less than 5 second lead: This is less of a prediction and mostly just me wanting to see his car broadcasted for longer. In all likeliness, unless Red Bull messes up their strategy, he's probably going to win with a larger lead.

Alex Albon in the points: Williams seems pretty promising this year! Albon has been able to pull points for them before, and he pulled some nice moves to overtake in Jeddah. The car has had issues, but they seem to mostly have been resolved.

Tell me your predictions!! I'm personally super excited even though I can't attend the race, and I hope everyone else is as hyped after one week of no F1.