.jpg?p=120522_05:21)
.jpg?p=120522_05:22)
.jpg?p=120522_05:23)
.jpg?p=120522_05:24)
.jpg?p=111221_03:51)
Despite pre-season testing problems, Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton have topped the Aussie timesheets.
Button clocked a time of 1:25.854 in the second practice session of the Australian GP, while teammate Hamilton registered 1:25.986. Alonso was third fastest on the day (1:26.001), while world champion Sebastian Vettel timed 1:26.014 after 35 laps and came fourth.
After a difficult start to the season, the McLaren team updated the MP4-26 with a heavily revised exhaust and underbody arrangement, no doubt easing the brow of team principal Martin Whitmarsh.
"Today was a good, solid day," Whitmarsh said. "Today we saw a decent correlation from simulator to race track."
Button was bubbling too, noting: "To have a car that runs for as many laps as we want it to is very satisfying."
But, Whitmarsh and Button both know the hard work starts on race day...
"You don't get any points on Fridays," Whitmarsh helpfully explained. "All I'll say now is that we're going in the right direction."
Heading in the right direction is good, especially when Red Bull's Big Brain Adrian Newey reckons the RB7 is ‘three-to-five tenths' quicker than its nearest opposition. Plus, Vettel has customarily nicknamed his RB7 ‘Kinky Kylie' ("it has a tight butt, is supple and good to look at").
With that in mind, your predictions for Sunday, if you please. To help you think, here's a vid of Button wranging around the Bathurst track in his McLaren.
Open Car Bar
What do you think?
Want to comment on this?
j-e-r-e-m-y commented on this article
at 04:41 pm on 25 March 2011
Predictions: 1. Alonso 2. Vettel 3. Schumacher ...first comment
Link to this comment
Report this comment
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Mariani commented on this article
at 05:31 pm on 25 March 2011
Adrian Newey speaks too much. And hell, it is such a frustrating thing to wait until tomorrow.
Link to this comment
Report this comment
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Unifish commented on this article
at 05:47 pm on 25 March 2011
if you think back to how badly McLaren have started the last couple of seasons this start is quite encouraging for them, however the safe bet would be red bull unless Ferrari or somebody are holding back.
Link to this comment
Report this comment
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
StigsIrishCousn commented on this article
at 09:30 pm on 25 March 2011
Good to see Mclaren get their exhaust issues sorted out, it will make it at least a 3 way fight up front, with the possibility of Mercedes getting in amongst them too. However the signs are already there that Red Bull will be just as good as they were last year so you would have to put your money on them getting at least one of the championships.
Link to this comment
Report this comment
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Viper_des commented on this article
at 09:44 pm on 25 March 2011
Let's see if they can keep that speed up on race day for more than 3 laps.
Link to this comment
Report this comment
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.