Analysis for Australia 2012

This does not mean dominance, but just who performed where on the grid.

Brief, team by team.

McLaren        
Qualified 1 & 2          
Result: Jenson Button: 1 & Lewis Hamilton: 3


The team had looked confident coming into the first Grand Prix and it was perfect and they appear to have the best car on the grid. A 1:2 qualifying, thought didnt match the race, although the safety car may have put paid to Hamilton’s chances. Button was amazing and happy, though Hamilton looked grumpy about being third, so performance between the two will decide who will be the No.1 driver.

Red Bull         
Qualified 5 & 6         
Result: Sebastian Vettel: 2 & Mark Webber: 4

No domination like last year, though Vettel looked quite happy in the following interviews and the car was better in racing conditions and certainly close enough to the McLaren. Webber, the home boy could have finished higher, but the safety car made it a little too predictable towards the end.

Ferrari            
Qualified 12 & 16      
Result: Fernando Alonso: 5 & Felipe Massa: DNF

ALONSO. Ferrari are so lucky to have this guy in the car. The car is horrible and doesnt seem to move at all.  No matter how the car is, Alonso just gets the best out of it. Massa looks to have started where he started off last year, and if he carries on like this, we can see a driver change at Ferrari before the end of the season.  Need a certain re vamp if they are to have any chance.

Sauber          

Qualified 13 & 17      
Result: Kamui Kobiyashi: 6 & Sergio Perez: 8

They certainly look like contenders in the mid field and both Kamui and Sergio look good for a good season.  


Lotus              
Qualified 3 & 18        
Result: Kimi Raikkonen: 7 & Romain Grosjean: DNF

They have the speed, they have a reliable machine and they have Kimi and Romain who look certain to amongst the big names and probably beat them too.  Kimi had a strong race, and Romain did start strong and if they build on this performance they could be in the top 4 this season.

Toro Rosso

Qualified 10 & 11      

Result: Daniel Ricciardo: 9 & Jean-Eric Vergne: 11

Th car has shown some initial pace and this could be a very interesting year for the team by the look of it.  Both the drivers have soon some consistency and did have an incident free race.

Force India    

Qualified 9 & 15       

Result: Paul di Resta: 10 & Nico Hulkenberg: DNF

Should be a very disappointed team leaving Australia, though Paul did manage to get into the points. They have some work to do and by the looks of it, they have a strong team with good drivers so they should only get better from here. 

Mercedes        
Qualified 4 & 7         
Result: Nico Rosberg: 12 & Micheal Schumacher: DNF

Expected to lead the pack in Australia, with strong pre season testing and a good qualifying stint, but let down during the race. With one DNF and the other clearly struggling, things did not go as per plan, but can be expected to bounce back. 

Williams        
Qualified 8 & 14        
Result: Pastor Maldanado: 13 & Bruno Senna: 16

Though classified, both the cars failed to finish the race. It could have been a great weekend, if not for Pastor's over ambitious drive to move up. The car though is a great improvement from last season with speed and top finishes will be a regular for this team.  

Marussia        
Qualified 21 & 22      
Result Timo Glock: 14 & Charles Pic: 15

Glock finished the race, and Charles completed about 53 laps, which should bring them joy, but they are expected to remain amongst the back markers again. 

Caterham      

Qualified 19 & 20      

Result: Heikki Kovalainen DNF & Vitaly Petrov DNF

Not a great weekend for the team, and even with the KERS system are still expected to be at the back.

HRT        

Qualified 23 & 24      
Result: Narain Karthikeyan DNS & Pedro de la Rosa DNS

No Pre Season tests, not within the 107% qualifying time meant that the car was not going to race. They did do some laps in the new car, but this could become a regular activity if they do not get the car up to speed with the grid.

So Looks like its going to be Redbull vs Mclaren at the top, peppered with Lotus who look the surprising package and if Ferrari get their heads together and give a better car to Alonso, they can get close up to the top.  Mercedes seem close and Williams are back to the midfield and this only means a very very close grid and all this means an amazing season of 2012.