A tad late since the season is almost upon us but anyway predictions from me

Championship: Kimi

Disappointment: BMW

Surprise: Bourdais in the Torro Rosso


And hopefully Alonso gets stuffed and Lewis does decent as well.

Feel free to post launch and testing pics guys.

Good call on a new thread Gulli.

Championship : Kimi (though Mclaren is looking strong too)

Dissapointment : BMW (they'll be strong but will dissapoint because they didnt make the step up to the top tier). Plus it seems Williams and Renault have caught them or even overtaken them.

Im impressed by the Williams form in testing. Bodes well fro Rosberg and Nakajima seems much better than expected.

Piquet Jr looks out of his depth (he's no Lewis, Rosberg or Kova) and because Renault are a one car team (favour Alonso), he'll suffer even more.

Sebastien Bourdeas does indeed look like he'll do well, though Sebastien Vettel is quite strong. Will be interesting to see the two battle it out, unless Vetel gets the call by Red Bull to join them in place of DC (he's taken his place for testing this week due to DC being ill).

Toyota seem to have improved while Honda are in some dire straights.

I'll post some vids and pics soon.

Here are a few vids from the last day of testing...

http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=OyDaxo-T184
http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=XJlLFhppsv4
http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=hrN85b8vgTc

Some tidbits of news. Looks like noone can come to any agreement regarding the pecking order after testing. Looks like the teams are all closer than we expectd...

- Symonds thinks Ferrari is up front, but only by a small margin: ''According to our calculations McLaren is part of the group BMW Sauber, Red Bull, Williams and we (Renault) belong to. Depending on track there's just three tenths difference between the best and worst. The form of the day decides.''

So far Renault and BMW Sauber haven't really been underway with little fuel.

Symonds admits this year it's difficult to 'read' the testtimes: ''Perhaps it's down to the fact that they're all so close to each other. The laptimes are not always clear, the (general) picture swings from track to track.''

- Michael doesn't agree: ''Ferrari is in front of McLaren by three to four tenths and seven to eight tenths to the group with BMW Sauber, Red Bull and us.''

- Last Friday Massa came to a 1:20.5 setting his Q2 qualifying lap, today Trulli did a 1:20.8 A Toyota engineer: ''We're better than many think.''

- Ferrari admits that according to their calculations they're up front. Depending on track, one to three tenths. Relative weak point would still be the flying lap: ''What's the best speed over a distance bringing us when we're behind others at the start and we cannot overtake ?''

The tests have shown that Ferrari has the fastest car on the straight though.

i'm not buying into whose doing better than the other. lately, cars in early testing haven't worked as well during the actual season at all. right now, its anybody's guess.

While testing doesnt tell you a whole lot unless you know what each team was doing, from the little we know - Ferrari and Mclaren are slightly ahead of the rest - especially on long runs. Ferrari holds the edge there while Mclaren seems to have the edge over lap. Offcourse all will be answered when the season begins.

I wonder what odds you'd get on Super Aguri going bust or being sold before the end of the season. They aren't looking great atm.

F1 is not a sport.

Quiet You!

I drove around the track last night, unfortunately it was a bit dark but the most interesting pic was that of the Mclaren garage - they have been slotted in between Williams and Red Bull - middle of the pit comples as opposed to the end pit garages as per coming last in the constructors...

A couple more pics.

Grandstands at Turn 1



Looking back at the start/finish line from Turn 1. Still a fair amount of work to be done.

are you going to the race madgez?

Yes Baba. Who knows how long we will still have the race so cant miss it. I'll be on the main straight for the race (probably opposite the Ferrari or BMW pits). The rest of the weekend i'll move around the track. I'll take some vids if i can.

Are you planning on going to Montreal again?

Padraig is dropping by and we both have tickets reserved for the grand stand. Can't wait .

I'll video the start of the race.

The Melbourne race will now start at 5pm local time in 2009.

I will probably go to the Grand Prix next year, or the 2010, as I don't think the F1 will renew an Australian license for the event.

Great

I remember both you and Padraig filmed yourselves on the track when he was there. Good to see him going back and attending hist FIRST GP!!!

Yeah while i think 5pm would be good - it wont cut it. Bernie wants more money and the pathetic VIC government wants to get rid of the event. They'll be sorry.

Anyway, do come next year - you'll have a great time. Last years was an amazing weekend in all manner of ways.

Im dreading the heat this weekend - 37 degrees - looks we're getting your weather!

Just a few pics from visiting the track today:

Some are from the pits and some are from the pit building roof. More to follow tomorrow...

Nico in the Williams pits



My friend Paula with Nico Rosberg





MY EYES, MY EYES :drunk: The Honda boys in fluoro green...









Yours Truly posing like a fool on the pit garage roof





Jock Clear still searching for Jaques...



At the speed limiter line...

man those are some mighty good pics

Damn Awesome shots Gerry.

what a lovely grid yet horrible coverage on my end. sound, picture kept going off

I personally wouldn't mind a night race. The NSW government is considering bidding for it if the Victorian government doesn't sway. I see no harm in a 6pm or even a 6:30pm start.

I probably am gonna go next year. I need to do it before I miss out. Anyway have fun today.

ps i am glad you guys are getting hot weather as well. Its ridiculous how we have a 14-day long heatwave and you guys can barely go thru one without a cool change ruining it.

Seems like Bernie has mentioned a 6pm start may do be enough. Lets see what happens. I'd be happy with that aswell. It doesnt get dark before 8pm anyway and a lighting company (Hella) has designed a track lightening system that they are willing to implement for free if need be (as long as they get sponsorship).

NSW hasnt got a place to put it. Eastern Creek is a joke so unless they can drive by the harbour -it wont happen.

Yesterday was great weather wise - today like Friday will be horribly hot. Yeah ive spoken to a few friends (and strangers) from Adelaide at the track and they dont mind the heat so much considering you guys have put up with weeks of it.

Well what a race. Will discuss that more later - but here are two vids:

The Race Start:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZYdBIxshPU

I ended up getting a pass to drive into the circuit and park near the Paddock Club. This is whow I encountered on my way out of the circuit... (more vids to follow of us chasing Kimi (we were both going to the Casino) but will upload them later)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7NSob4tvrY

Nice first vid. The second one was a bit stalkerish.

Amazing race btw. Only seven cars managed to finish the race? I hope it's not like this the rest of the season.