2009 FIA Formula 1 ING Australian Grand Prix

[EJ25RUN]

http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq16/EJ25RUN/f1_09_v1.jpg?t=1238213973

pic thanx to Andy Blackmore.


Ill add more later.

[EJ25RUN]

http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq16/EJ25RUN/gp_masthead.jpg?t=1238214424

Round 1

Australian GP Melbourne

Albert Park Circuit
http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq16/EJ25RUN/australiangrand-prix_melbourneci-2.gif?t=1238214719

Speed TV Coverage

Saturday Qualifying : March 28 2:00 AM
Sunday Race: March 29 1:30 AM


Weekend Headlines.

1. Toyota, Brawn GP, and Williams use of possible illegal diffuser mechanisms.

Visual Comparison

McLaren and Ferrari's Legal squared off diffuser vs Brawn GP and Williams' triangular element on the rear light.

McLaren and Ferrari

http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq16/EJ25RUN/djm0919ma32-1.jpg?t=1238215968http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq16/EJ25RUN/diapo_119.jpg?t=1238216202

Brawn GP and Williams


http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq16/EJ25RUN/BrawnGP001Diffuser.jpg?t=1238216542http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq16/EJ25RUN/BrawnGP001Diffuser2.jpg?t=1238216193

http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq16/EJ25RUN/diapo_106.jpg?t=1238216214

***Spoilers From here down***
Qualifying results

2009 FORMULA 1 ING AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX

Pos No Driver Team Q1 Q2 Q3 Laps

1 22 Jenson Button Brawn-Mercedes 1:25.211 1:24.855 1:26.202 19
2 23 Rubens Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes 1:25.006 1:24.783 1:26.505 21
3 15 Sebastian Vettel RBR-Renault 1:25.938 1:25.121 1:26.830 21
4 5 Robert Kubica BMW Sauber 1:25.922 1:25.152 1:26.914 19
5 16 Nico Rosberg Williams-Toyota 1:25.846 1:25.123 1:26.973 21
6 10 Timo Glock Toyota 1:25.499 1:25.281 1:26.975 19
7 3 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:25.844 1:25.319 1:27.033 21
8 9 Jarno Trulli Toyota 1:26.194 1:25.265 1:27.127 20
9 4 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari 1:25.899 1:25.380 1:27.163 21
10 14 Mark Webber RBR-Renault 1:25.427 1:25.241 1:27.246 20
11 6 Nick Heidfeld BMW Sauber 1:25.827 1:25.504 14
12 7 Fernando Alonso Renault 1:26.026 1:25.605 12
13 17 Kazuki Nakajima Williams-Toyota 1:26.074 1:25.607 16
14 2 Heikki Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes 1:26.184 1:25.726 15
15 1 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:26.454 no time 5
16 12 Sebastien Buemi STR-Ferrari 1:26.503 10
17 8 Nelsinho Piquet Renault 1:26.598 12
18 21 Giancarlo Fisichella Force India-Mercedes 1:26.677 10
19 20 Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1:26.742 9
20 11 Sebastien Bourdais STR-Ferrari 1:26.964 10

[Elbow]

HOLY BRAWN F1 QUALIFYING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! INSANE!!!!!

The diffuser deal, they are technically LEGAL in the rules, I think they will win the appeal honestly.

[EJ25RUN]

HOLY BRAWN F1 QUALIFYING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! INSANE!!!!!

The diffuser deal, they are technically LEGAL in the rules, I think they will win the appeal honestly.

I'm not gonna go to the diffuser debate just yet. Some will say the device is ALL that is giving the speed but i disagree.

Williams and Toyota had those diffusers too...... where were they?

I'll give that diffuser a couple tenths but they are head and shoulders faster than anyone else.

I'm really glad to see this as Ross Brawn deserves the best and congrats to Rubens and Jensen.

Not at all surprised to see Vettle as the best of the rest. The Red Bull is the best looking car imo. Reminds me of the Ferrari 126 C4.


HOLY BRAWN F1 QUALIFYING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! INSANE!!!!!

The diffuser deal, they are technically LEGAL in the rules, I think they will win the appeal honestly.

Not surprised to see you post first. :cheers:

I noticed the ITV stream was 10 minutes ahead of SpeedTV's broadcast.

I think the they will win the diffuser argument as well as it is three teams that will be posting the appeal.

[SampaGuy]

Its great to see the cars actually getting loose again. Lets see if there's actually more passing.

I think Button can't hold Barrichello back. I also think Massa will finish well, specially if BrawnGP is disqualified. Not what I'm hoping for, but we will see.

[EJ25RUN]

Its great to see the cars actually getting loose again. Lets see if there's actually more passing.

I think Button can't hold Barrichello back. I also think Massa will finish well, specially if BrawnGP is disqualified. Not what I'm hoping for, but we will see.

This is a pretty poor track for Felipe. His best finish is 6th in 2007 and the rest are either DNFs or No Times.

[BKgen®]

Williams and Toyota had those diffusers too...... where were they?

Yes, but keep in mind that the Brawn team is not only using the modified diffuser, but they also don't have the added weight of the KERS system.



I'm not sure how I feel about the whole rear diffuser issue yet...
Whether they win the appeal or not, it should make this season pretty interesting. I think if some of the other teams are this upset about the whole rear diffuser situation, they should go ahead and modify their diffusers similar to the Brawn and Williams teams for future races.


Congrats to Brawn though, very impressive for a new team. I'm just glad the SFM boys finished in the top 10.

[Elbow]

Yeah is not having KERS a benefit? You lose the weight but don't have the 80HP bump either.

[BKgen®]

I feel like the power boost for that 6 seconds per lap is offset by the added weight. :2cents:

[EJ25RUN]

Its great to see the cars actually getting loose again. Lets see if there's actually more passing.

I think Button can't hold Barrichello back. I also think Massa will finish well, specially if BrawnGP is disqualified. Not what I'm hoping for, but we will see.

It is. Seeing a driver fight the car is one of the most important aspect of racing.

For the past 2 years, the pole man won the race.
2006...Button was on pole and did not win the race.


Yes, but keep in mind that the Brawn team is not only using the modified diffuser, but they also don't have the added weight of the KERS system.



I'm not sure how I feel about the whole rear diffuser issue yet...
Whether they win the appeal or not, it should make this season pretty interesting. I think if some of the other teams are this upset about the whole rear diffuser situation, they should go ahead and modify their diffusers similar to the Brawn and Williams teams for future races.


Congrats to Brawn though, very impressive for a new team. I'm just glad the SFM boys finished in the top 10.

Williams is said to have the best KERS system in the paddock and Toyota did not want to modify their chassis in order to fit the unit.

I'm gonan keep my opinion on the fact that last year, Ross Brawn spent more time than anyone else developing this car.

One thing that should be noted is when the FIA called upon various team members to help put the 2009 car rules together, no one from Toyota, Williams, Brawn (Honda at the time) was present.

Steve Matchett also brought on something interesting. Brawn is using Mercedes' FO108W Engine with great success thus far while the factory McLaren are no where to be seen. What's Norbert Haug thinking right now lol?

This was also the first time a pole position was earned by a new team on their debut since MARCH did it in 1970.


Yeah is not having KERS a benefit? You lose the weight but don't have the 80HP bump either.

Kers weights about 80 lbs so some of the drivers have begun losing weight to help compinsate the difference.

On a second note, KERS is dead weight that cannot be moved around so you might get a 6.6 sec advantage out of corrners but on entry and going through, you towing something that not everyone else is.

On yesturdays broadcast, an onboard with Kimi Raikonen showed him using KERS on the new speed telemetry. He used it up in less than 3 corners.


I feel like the power boost for that 6 seconds per lap is offset by the added weight. :2cents:

Race day will really help us see the difference.

Does anyone know which teams are running KERS?

1. Williams
2. Ferrari
3. Renault (maybe check in a sec)
4. ...


On a side note, im pretty sure the people tha have posted thus far will make up 90% of the posts in this and other F1 race threads i make.

To keep it organized, i'll make a new thread for each race. 17 in all this year.

[Elbow]

I saw the KERS telemetry last night, pretty cool, I personally could see it MAYBE only being a positive thing in a close close battle. Weight is always the enemy of a race car.

I guess it's would you rather have 80lbs extra and 80 more HP for a few seconds, or 80lbs less and no 80 extra HP jump...personally I would choose the no KERS. I am interested to see how it really performs in wheel to wheel conditions and if it's noticeable.

[Elbow]

Who's jacked up on caffeine and counting the time down?

[EJ25RUN]

Who's jacked up on caffeine and counting the time down?

I wont start caffeinen till about 2:00. Same way i handle the Le Mans 24.

Besides that, i'm ready!

[EJ25RUN]

Anyone got questions or opinions on the new sig?


---------------------------------------------------------------------------


I added some news in post #2

*Both Toyota's will be starting from the back because of flexing rear wings.
*Hamilton goes down 10 grid spots for gearbox change.

Some random person on Autoblog posted the weights of the cars but i can NOT say they are accurate. I'll have to check.

1. Jenson Button - 664.5kg
2. Rubens Barrichello - 666.5kg
3. Sebastien Vettel - 657kg
4. Robert Kubica - 650kg
5. Nico Rosberg - 657kg
6. Felipe Massa - 654kg
7. Kimi Raikkonen - 655.5kg
8. Mark Webber - 662kg
9. Nick Heidfeld - 691.5kg
10. Fernando Alonso - 680.7kg
11. Kazuki Nakajima - 685.3kg
12. Heikki Kovalainen - 690.6kg
13. Sebastien Buemi - 675.5kg
14. Nelson Piquet - 694.1kg
15. Giancarlo Fisichella - 689kg
16. Adrian Sutil - 684.5kg
17. Sebastien Bourdais - 662.5kg
18. Lewis Hamilton - 655kg
19. Jarno Trulli* - 660kg
20. Timo Glock* - 670kg


This is how they lineup for the race as well.

Beardy Branson's Virgin is now the title sponcer for BrawnGP.
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/03/aus_gp_brawn.jpg

[Elbow]

What's this on the Toyota wing?

Sucks for Hamilton *jumps up and down*

[EJ25RUN]

What's this on the Toyota wing?

Sucks for Hamilton *jumps up and down*

F1Live...

Timo Glock and Jarno Trulli have been excluded from this afternoon’s qualifying session for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix after qualifying sixth and eighth respectively. The duo will therefore join Lewis Hamilton at the back of the grid for Sunday’s 58-lap event.

Post-qualifying inspection revealed that the TF109 wings flexed excessively and therefore contravene Article 3.15 of the FIA technical regulations which specified that wings must not have any ‘degree of freedom’.

Toyota statement
"Toyota Motorsport has been informed that the rear wing of the TF109 has been found to demonstrate "extreme flexibility" by the Australian Grand Prix stewards.

"The design has passed our own internal test procedures which are designed to reproduce twice the proscribed official load tests. In light of this decision it is clear we must review these procedures to ensure there is no repeat of this situation and we will also review our production processes to ensure there is no variation between parts.

"We naturally accept and respect the decision of the race stewards.

We intend to modify the components overnight and we are confident these modifications will not result in any performance drop."

Article 3.15 of the technical regulations
'With the exception of the cover described in Article 6.5.2 (when used in the pit lane), the driver adjustable bodywork described in Article 3.18 and the ducts described in Article 11.4, any specific part of the car influencing its aerodynamic performance: - must comply with the rules relating to bodywork; must be rigidly secured to the entirely sprung part of the car (rigidly secured means not having any degree of freedom).'

[Elbow]

^Thanks for the info, that sucks for them.

My channel is set on SPEED and I am awake and ready.

[StraightSix]

I'm awake at the moment, but I don't know if I'll stay up for the race. The Tivo is definitely set to record it and, at worst, I'll watch tomorrow morning before heading in to work.

Should be a really exciting season. I'm skeptical of the KERS system. It would seem to me to not be worth the trouble, especially after watching the qualifying results.

I think that the diffuser appeal will be stuck down. I seriously doubt that the Brawn, et al., designs are really *that* much of an advantage.

Should be a really exciting season!

[BKgen®]

not long now, boys :D :cheers:

[EJ25RUN]

Who's watchin?

[EJ25RUN]

Safety car took way too long to be called out.

Is Vettle or Button being picked up by the safety car?


*goes to get timing and scoring*

[EJ25RUN]

anyone else having issues with timing and scoring?

[BKgen®]

Safety car took way too long to be called out.


Exactly. It stayed out for way too long as well.

This twilight race time must mean the guys up in race control just had dinner and are sleepy :dunno:

[EJ25RUN]

Exactly. It stayed out for way too long as well.

This twilight race time must mean the guys up in race control just had dinner and are sleepy :dunno:

Bernie's wants Europe to have primetime TV hours.

That means the U.S. has to wait longer to see and more important, the actual race is worse for the fans, teams, and drivers.

.....

(i wrote that before Speedtv said same thing)

[EJ25RUN]

Kubica is dumb for seeing Vettle all over the place with 3 to go and knowing he can get him in a safer spot.

Vettle dumb for knowing his tires were gone and he should have just taken 3rd.

BRAWN 1&2 OMG!!!!



Hamilton is on the podium.....haha

After starting pretty much last, that's impressive.

Forget that ^ timing and scoring was off.

Hamilton was forth.

[Elbow]

Did this really just happen?!!?!?!?

[EJ25RUN]

BRAWN GP WINS

http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq16/EJ25RUN/jenson-button_1373248c.jpg?t=1238312395

[Elbow]

AWESOME, so exciting, amazing finish for Brawn....wow....lol......

I thought the race was great, looks to be an exciting year, the competition seemed very tough this race and more hardcore wheel to wheel? The start was awesome.

[BKgen®]

Wow. speechless.

[EJ25RUN]

That was totally worth staying up.

I didn't even need the coffee. Hope every race is like this from now on.


The three of us should get on AIM and chat as the race is going on.

My name on there is EJ25RUN

[EJ25RUN]

TV in podium = Good Idea :goodjob:

[EJ25RUN]

2009 FORMULA 1 ING AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX

Provisional Results

Pos No Driver Team Laps Time/Retired Grid Pts
1 22 Jenson Button Brawn-Mercedes 58 Winner 1 10
2 23 Rubens Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes 58 +0.8 secs 2 8
3 9 Jarno Trulli Toyota 58 +1.6 secs 20 6
4 1 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 58 +2.9 secs 18 5
5 10 Timo Glock Toyota 58 +4.4 secs 19 4
6 7 Fernando Alonso Renault 58 +4.8 secs 10 3
7 16 Nico Rosberg Williams-Toyota 58 +5.7 secs 5 2
8 12 Sebastien Buemi STR-Ferrari 58 +6.0 secs 13 1
9 11 Sebastien Bourdais STR-Ferrari 58 +6.2 secs 17
10 20 Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 58 +6.3 secs 16
11 6 Nick Heidfeld BMW Sauber 58 +7.0 secs 9
12 21 Giancarlo Fisichella Force India-Mercedes 58 +7.3 secs 15
13 14 Mark Webber RBR-Renault 57 +1 Lap 8
14 15 Sebastian Vettel RBR-Renault 56 +2 Laps 3
15 5 Robert Kubica BMW Sauber 55 +3 Laps 4
16 4 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari 55 +3 Laps 7
Ret 3 Felipe Massa Ferrari 45 +13 Laps 6
Ret 8 Nelsinho Piquet Renault 24 +34 Laps 14
Ret 17 Kazuki Nakajima Williams-Toyota 17 +41 Laps 11
Ret 2 Heikki Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes 0 +58 Laps 12

[SampaGuy]

This is a pretty poor track for Felipe. His best finish is 6th in 2007 and the rest are either DNFs or No Times.


You were right lol.

Barrichello got a lucky for once. Good race.

[EJ25RUN]

You were right lol.

Barrichello got a lucky for once. Good race.

Felipe started last year with 2 DNFs so all he needs to do now is avoid any engine explosions while leading and pit stop catastropes for the rest of the year.

And maybe a car more competitive to the Brawn will help too. :)


I'm glad Barrichello got a break. I remember when he crash from the lead here in his Ferrari days.

[EJ25RUN]

Trulli had 25 secs added to his overall racetime because of off behind the safety car. This dropped him from 3rd to 12th.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

F1.com overview of weekend.

Brawn GP take dramatic one-two victory in Melbourne Not since the French Grand Prix in 1954 has a team new to Formula One racing finished one-two on their debut. That day it was Juan Manuel Fangio and Karl Kling for Mercedes-Benz. This afternoon it was Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello for Brawn-Mercedes after an extraordinary ‘race of two halves’ in Australia.

Button led from pole as Barrichello bogged down when his car activated its anti-stall device, and the Brazilian was then embroiled in a first-corner clash with BMW Sauber’s Nick Heidfeld, Red Bull’s Mark Webber, Force India's Adrian Sutil and McLaren’s Heikki Kovalainen.

Button streaked away from Sebastian Vettel’s Red Bull, Robert Kubica’s BMW Sauber, Nico Rosberg’s Williams and the Ferraris of Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen. But the face of the race changed on Lap 19 when Kazuki Nakajima crashed his Williams heavily, bringing out the safety car until the end of the 24th lap.

By then Button had watched a 47.7s lead reduced to nothing, and began to struggle to generate heat in his tyres. But he got his head down and opened a gap to Vettel again. As the Ferraris faded, Kubica found his BMW Sauber getting better and better on the harder Bridgestone tyre and gradually began to put Vettel, on the softer option tyre, under serious pressure in the closing stages.

Going into Turn Three on the 55th lap - with three left to run under a setting sun which made driving conditions very difficult - Kubica got alongside Vettel but they touched. Both spun, but continued. But not for long. Vettel had lost his front wing and crashed heavily just as Kubica, further down the road, did the same thing. Out came the safety car again.

Incredibly, that melee had promoted Barrichello back to the second place, despite his first-lap incident and a later touch with Raikkonen which damaged his Brawn’s front wing. It was changed during his first pit stop on the 18th lap. As the race finished under the safety car, he admitted that he had never expected a one-two after all his dramas.

Jarno Trulli started from the pit lane after Toyota’s rear wing infringement yesterday, but hauled through to take the final podium finish, while a very determined drive brought a hugely valuable fourth place for McLaren's Lewis Hamilton. The world champion was briefly third in the dying stages after Trulli ran off track behind the safety car, before the Italian subsequently retook the place - an infringement which prompted stewards to subsequently add 25s to his race time, later dropping him to 12th.

In the second Toyota Timo Glock came home fifth. The German survived a spin while battling from his own pit lane start, when he and Fernando Alonso tangled.

The Spaniard brought his Renault home sixth, while seventh place came as a bitter disappointment to Rosberg. The German was running fourth with six laps to go and had set fastest lap, but had used up his Bridgestone option tyres and was simply in no position to defend the place. By the finish he had rookie Sebastien Buemi thirsting after him as Toro Rosso’s Swiss driver scored a point for eighth place on his debut.

Neither of the Ferraris finished. Both struggled with tyre wear, and as Massa suffered a mechanical problem late in the race, Raikkonen spun and subsequently retired.

Sebastien Bourdais was ninth in the second Toro Rosso, ahead of Adrian Sutil, who survived a brush with Force India team mate Giancarlo Fisichella. They were separated by Heidfeld, who was consigned to a recovery race after the first corner fracas, while Fisichella further delayed himself by missing his pit marks in his first stop.

Webber, another in recovery mode, was the final classified finisher, ahead of Vettel, Kubica, and Raikkonen. The retirements were Massa, Nelson Piquet who spun his Renault after the first safety car restart, Nakajima and Kovalainen.

Button’s great victory marked the 200th for a British driver.

"It's not just for me but for the whole team,” he said, “a fairy tale ending really to the first race of our career together and I hope we can continue this way. We are going to fight every way we can to keep this car competitive and at the front. This has got to continue and this is where we want to be. Bring on Malaysia!”

[EJ25RUN]

Just watched the British BBC1 version of the race.

I cant believe i'm saying this but just like in its ITV days, SpeedTV commentary is better. I do like David Coulthard and Eddie Jordan serving as pit reporters but you don't hear them all the time.

Speedtv's Steve Matchettwisdom of tech, David Hobbs drivers thinking input, and Bob Warsha's overall great commenting skills really made me much more interested in the race.

For instance, the Vettle Kubica shunt.....SpeedTV treated it as the amazing ending it was while the BBC team were much more conservative about it.

Maybe its just me as i love Motogp's Toby Moody and Julian Ryder's approach of being on the limit of the microphone all the time.

(They're back with Eurosport's Motogp team for 2009 btw :yay: )

I guess in the perfect world, F1 would be covered BBC style with NO COMMERCIALS and have SpeedTV's commentary.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
One important fact presented by Eddie Jordan deserves mention.

The internet is full of people laughing at Honda right now for the success of BrawnGP.

It must be noted that after Hondas offical exit from F1, they were the ones that provided Ross Brawn and Nick Fry the funds to restart a new team.

For that, i say thank you Honda.

[StraightSix]

Wow.

That was an amazing race. Brawn's 1-2 finish is simply astounding.

I thought that the racing was a little tighter and more exciting than last year. Perhaps the new aero rules will actually help to stiffen the competition. I *do* hope that the side effect isn't that the cars are as "snappy" as they seem to have been during practice and qualifying. Perhaps some of that comes from the drivers getting used to the new package?

I think this season will be really exciting to watch.

[OnURleft]

I was screaming at the T.V towards the end of the race. Damn Vettel or however you spell his name.

I loooovvvve no driver aids!

[matthewAPM]

I have since watched the race twice...wow is probably the best way to describe it.

Now thats the way to start a season!

[2turbo4u]

So hamilton got third now

[Ed]

really good start for brawn...

awesome race... good info ej25run.

[Mike Lowrey]

So hamilton got third now

I hope it does not stick, as it would be a dis-service to Trulli and Toyota.


Quoted from DailyF1...


F1 : Appeal in doubt, but Toyota's claim valid
Trulli's podium lost in technicalities?

Toyota faces an uphill battle to appeal its lost Melbourne podium, but the Japanese team does have a valid case to argue.

Jarno Trulli's third place and champagne celebrations became twelfth on the official classification, after stewards ruled he illegally overtook Lewis Hamilton behind the Safety Car.

The Italian had been running third when the Safety Car came out late in the race, but he dropped behind the McLaren driver in an off-track moment.

"Trulli took back the place under the Safety Car," said McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh at the time of the investigation.

The stewards of the meeting agreed, promoting Hamilton to third, but Trulli insisted that he only passed the Briton because he had "suddenly slowed down and pulled over to the side of the road."

"I thought he had a problem," the 34-year-old said, "so I overtook him as there was nothing else I could do."

The rules permit overtaking under the Safety Car in such circumstances.



The problem for Toyota is the inadmissibility of appeals for post-race 25-second penalties, because if the incident had occurred earlier in the race, the penalty would have taken the form of a drive-through, which is not subject to appeal.

Toyota snuck in its appeal through a loophole, by lodging it not with the stewards of the meeting, but with the local clerk of the course.

The team has two days to formalise its appeal in writing.

If it allows the procedure, the Court of Appeal would be faced with a difficult decision. Hamilton has been quoted by Speed TV as admitting that - after passing Trulli following the Toyota's off - he was then "told (by McLaren) to let him back past."

Hamilton presumably then pulled over and slowed, which would seem to corroborate Trulli's explanation that he only passed the Briton because "there was nothing else I could do."

[EJ25RUN]

I hope it does not stick, as it would be a dis-service to Trulli and Toyota.


Quoted from DailyF1...
I would appeal the decision.

What a terrible weekend for Toyota overall.

Tossed to the back in qualifing for illigal rear wing and now this.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Autosport.com...

Trulli: No choice but to pass Hamilton

By Pablo Elizalde Sunday, March 29th 2009, 12:09 GMT


Jarno Trulli said he had no choice but to overtake Lewis Hamilton in the incident that cost the Italian his third place at the Australian Grand Prix.

Trulli finished in third position for Toyota, ahead of Hamilton, but the FIA stewards gave him a 25-second penalty after the race, deeming he had overtaken the McLaren driver while the safety car was on track.

The disappointed Toyota driver, who had started the race from the pitlane, claimed Hamilton left him with no choice but to overtake him.

"I can't say how disappointed I am to finish third but have the result questioned," said Trulli.

"When the safety car came out towards the end of the race Lewis Hamilton passed me but soon after he suddenly slowed down and pulled over to the side of the road.

"I thought he had a problem so I overtook him as there was nothing else I could do."

Team boss Tadashi Yamashina, whose team had already being sent to the back of the grid over a technical infringement, admitted today's penalty was very frustrating.

Yamashina was nonetheless encouraged by his team's performance.

"This is an extremely frustrating way to finish a challenging weekend," he said. "Already we were disappointed to be starting from the pitlane after we were informed yesterday about the problem with our rear wing.

"We responded to that in a fantastic way and we showed that our car has genuine performance."

[Mike Lowrey]

Jarno Trulli has been re-instated to 3rd place!

Quoted from DailyF1...


As the chequered flag flew Sunday evening in Melbourne, Jarno Trulli celebrated a fine third position after starting the 58-lap Australian Grand Prix from the pit lane.

The Italian veteran was later handed a 25 second penalty for allegedly overtaking Lewis Hamilton whilst behind the safety car, dropping the Toyota racer to 12th in the results.

Today stewards looked at ‘new evidence’ and concluded that Hamilton had deliberately misled the FIA delegates in Australia. Trulli is therefore reinstated to third position while defending champion Hamilton has been excluded from the results.

A statement issued by the stewards on Thursday evening confirmed that Hamilton and McLaren Mercedes "acted in a manner prejudicial to the conduct of the event by providing evidence deliberately misleading to the stewards."

The stewards said the conduct was in breach of the International Sporting Code.

The final finishing positions for the opening round of the season are; Jenson Button, Rubens Barrichello, Jarno Trulli, Timo Glock, Fernando Alonso, Nico Rosberg, Sebastien Buemi and Sebastien Bourdais.

McLaren's response..


Following the news today from Sepang that Jarno Trulli has had his third position in the Australian Grand Prix reinstated and that Lewis Hamilton has been excluded from the results, McLaren Mercedes this evening made the following statement:

"The FIA Stewards have reviewed their decision of Sunday 29th March 2009, and have excluded Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton from the results of the 2009 Australian Grand Prix."

"Vodafone McLaren Mercedes understands that the Stewards made their decision on the basis of reviewing radio transmissions between the driver and the Team."

"The Team mistakenly believed that the radio transmissions had been reviewed by the FIA on Sunday 29th March 2009, and consequently did not believe it was necessary to discuss them with the Stewards on that date."

"Nonetheless, the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Team now regrets that it did not do so, accepts the Stewards' decision and will not appeal."

[EJ25RUN]

^ :rolleyes:

This is getting a bit rediculous. I don't like to see this go back and forth this late after the race has happened.

[Mike Lowrey]

^ :rolleyes:

This is getting a bit rediculous. I don't like to see this go back and forth this late after the race has happened.

I think the stewards have been too involved with the outcomes of races both last year and this race. They should have left things alone.

[SampaGuy]

I have no problem with it at all. Cheating pisses me off.

[EJ25RUN]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8q27gzS4C4


Here's is McLaren's radio transmission between the team and Hamilton.

This is what caused the FIA to decide that McLaren would be disqualified for the Melbourne GP:

Team: OK Lewis, you should need to make sure your delta is positive over the safety car line. After
the safety car line the delta doesnt matter but no overtaking. No overtaking.

LH: The Toyota went off in a line at the second corner, ..., is this OK?

Team: Understood, Lewis. Well confirm and get back to you.

LH: He was off the track. He went wide.

Team: Lewis, you need to allow the Toyota through. Allow the Toyota through now.

LH: OK.

LH: Hes slowed right down in front of me.

Team: OK, Lewis. Stay ahead for the time being. Stay ahead. We will get back to you. We are
talking to Charlie.

LH: I let him past already.

Team: OK, Lewis. Thats fine. Thats fine. Hold position. Hold position.

LH: Tell Charlie I already overtook him. I just let him past.

Team: I understand Lewis. We are checking. Now can we go to yellow G 5, yellow Golf 5.

LH: I dont have to let him past I should be able to take that position back, if he made a mistake.

Team: Yes, we understand Lewis. Lets just do it by the book. We are asking Charlie now. You are
in P4. If you hold this position. Just keep it together.

Team: OK Lewis, your KERS is full, your KERS is full. Just be aware. You can go back to black F2, black Foxtrott 2.

LH: Any news from Charlie whether I can take it back or not.

Team: Still waiting on a response Lewis, still waiting.

Team: Lewis, work on your brakes please. Front brakes are cold.

Team: If we are able to use one KERS that would be good. If you deploy KERS please do so now.

Team: OK, Lewis, this is the last lap of the race. At the end of the lap the safety car will come in,
you just proceed over the line without overtaking, without overtaking. We are looking into the Trulli
thing, but just hold position.

[Mike Lowrey]

Don't beleive that anybody "cheated". I think both drivers/teams were trying to do the right thing. I do not agree with Hamilton being DQ'd. Unfortunate situation that was not handled very well by the stewards.

[EJ25RUN]

Don't beleive that anybody "cheated". I think both drivers/teams were trying to do the right thing. I do not agree with Hamilton being DQ'd. Unfortunate situation that was not handled very well by the stewards.
I agree. I listened on the onboard and it seems that there was mass confusion by both Lewis and McLaren.

I think McLaren will not let this go that quickly.

[EJ25RUN]

found the Toyota transmission but it is hard to make most of it out.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OohT1HbaEF0

[StraightSix]

The quality of the Toyota radio doesn't help to clarify much. I couldn't decipher any of that really.

I'm not particularly comfortable with the stewards making changes to the race results this long after the finish of the race, either.

[SampaGuy]

The radio conversation by itself is not why they were disqualified. The brazilian newspaper explains it a lot better.

The FIA held a meeting after the race to discuss Trulli passing Hamilton under the safety car. The decision to punish Trulli was partly based on false information (we don't know exactly what) that McLaren told the FIA, which had specific intention to get Trulli penalized so that Hamilton could get the 3rd place. The radio conversation is proof against something that they had said or knew, but decided to keep quiet during the meeting.

[SampaGuy]

I think McLaren will not let this go that quickly.


Actually they are quite embarrassed about it. They said they "thought the radio conversations had already been heard by officials before the meeting, so decided not to bring it up." and they "accept the disqualification and will not appeal it".

[OG-Skinny]

LOL.. Hamilton just got DQ'd for the race. LMAO.

[bigdare23]

Why doesn't anyone like Hamilton?

[EJ25RUN]

Actually they are quite embarrassed about it. They said they "thought the radio conversations had already been heard by officials before the meeting, so decided not to bring it up." and they "accept the disqualification and will not appeal it".

I think i get it now.

The "talking with Charlie" is what we didn't hear and that was where the problem arose. That still doesn't put Hamilton at fault as he just wanted to know what he had to do and didn't instigate. It was all down to the McLaren brain trust.



Why doesn't anyone like Hamilton?

Anyone? That isn't true.

I have nothing against Hamilton. I'll admit he isn't my favorite driver but his talent is undeniable and his presents has allowed F1 to gain back fans they lost many years ago as well as bringing new ones.

He is unlucky in that McLaren has done some shady things in the past few years and he was wrapped up in the middle of it.