Rate the race: Australia
So, who thought Melbourne gave us a better race than Bahrain? Rate the Australian Grand Prix out of ten and leave a comment below.
Rate the 2010 Australian Grand Prix out of 10
- 1 - Terrible (1%)
- 2 (0%)
- 3 (0%)
- 4 (0%)
- 5 (1%)
- 6 (1%)
- 7 (9%)
- 8 (30%)
- 9 (32%)
- 10 - Perfect (26%)
Total Voters: 4,366
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2010 Australian Grand Prix
- 2010 Australian Grand Prix – the complete F1 Fanatic review
- Australian GP team-by-team analysis
- 2010 Australian Grand Prix stats and facts
- Melbourne was a blast but F1′s aero problem remains (Australian GP analysis)
- Alonso fourth, Schumacher tenth in their battle from the back in Melbourne
- Australian Grand Prix fastest laps
- Australian Grand Prix in pictures
- Unreliability costs Vettel another win
- Hamilton fumes after strategy mistake
- Button wins thrilling Australian GP
- Australian Grand Prix result
- F1 championship points after Australia
- Rate the race: Australia
- Australian Grand Prix live blog
- Vettel looks hard to beat at Melbourne (Australian GP pre-race analysis)
- Australian GP qualifying in pictures
- A bad weekend gets worse for Hamilton
- Vettel beats Webber to Melbourne pole (Australian Grand Prix qualifying)
- 2010 Australian Grand Prix grid
- Australian Grand Prix qualifying live blog
- Webber fastest at home in final practice
- Australian Grand Prix practice 3 live blog
- Make your Australian Grand Prix predictions now to win F1 prizes
- Australian Grand Prix practice in pictures
- Australian GP practice two analysis
- McLaren on top after wet second practice
- Australian Grand Prix practice 2 live blog
- Australian GP practice one analysis
- Kubica quickest in disrupted first practice
- Australian Grand Prix practice 1 live blog
- Drivers on duty in Melbourne (Pictures)
- 2010 Australian Grand Prix – The F1 Fanatic unofficial race programme
- Di Resta excited ahead of Force India debut
- 2010 Australian Grand Prix preview
- Low chance of rain at Melbourne
- Australian Grand Prix live TV Times
Diacho said on 28th March 2010, 8:42
Primeirão!!!! That was an awesome race!
MigueLP said on 28th March 2010, 8:47
overtaking problems immediatly felt after the track dryed out. dry track low fuel result in fast turning speed which led to an increase on turbulence making a lot harder to overtake
Icthyes said on 28th March 2010, 8:58
Agreed, but what I think really made the race come alive was the freedom of tyre strategies. The aero dampened things again as is the norm, but I hope the FIA and FOTA take note of the impact of being able to choose your own tyres whenever you wanted had on this race.
Scribe said on 28th March 2010, 9:27
Yes Icthyes, definatley this, get rid of the quali tyre rules. Will add strategy, different performance of the line. So many elements artificially removed, it was a knee jerk reaction that has damaged the racing. Please get rid of it. This needs to be expressed in anyway it can be to the bosses. If enoguh fans give this message before Malaysia hopefull this silly rule can be done with.
Icthyes said on 28th March 2010, 15:16
I don’t think it’s the qualifying tyre rules, but the two-compound rule that stifles strategy more, although the qualifying rule is just as artificial.
plushpile said on 28th March 2010, 9:28
“what I think really made the race come alive was the freedom of tyre strategies”
Agreed, let’s hope they sit up and take notice of what makes a good race.
sid said on 28th March 2010, 10:19
Rated 8, Bahrain was 1
A bit of rain helped make things less predictable and as others have said, gave more freedom for tire strategies…
Ferrero said on 28th March 2010, 10:48
I could not agree more. This race has to be the greatest supporting argument for all those that say “no tyre rules”. Basically everyone ran the inters for a few laps then had complete freedom, and what we were left with were some teams trying to stretch tyres the whole race while others changed twice and were noticeably faster. FIA were you watching?
Tom said on 28th March 2010, 12:05
The hard tyres were good for nothing today, nobody went near them. They should drop the “use both compounds” rule straight away.
Michael Roberts said on 28th March 2010, 10:33
Exactly, I think what really hit home was Martin Whitmarsh saying you now need to be 3 secs a lap quicker than the guy you want to pass.
cabbagesVScarrots said on 28th March 2010, 9:04
A disgraceful strategy from Mclaren for Hamilton. Button did not deserve this win. Hamilton would have had him if wasn’t made to stop from 3rd place. Hamilton drove a fantastic race and passed more than anyone including Button. Hamilton robbed of a victory AGAIN. SHAMEFUL
S-D said on 28th March 2010, 9:20
McLaren – sensibly – covered all their options by operating different strategies…
plushpile said on 28th March 2010, 9:30
Hamilton had shagged his tyres, buttons were still ok.
Matty said on 28th March 2010, 9:36
During the race, Hamilton was bitching about tyre wear. McLaren change the tyres, Hamilton drops a few places and cannot get past Alonso. He then bitches about the reason McLaren brought him in for a third stop
– Matty
beanzoo said on 28th March 2010, 11:07
he wins a race thanks and praises the team, when he does bad he blasts the team!! bit of a bad loser in my opinon like a spoilt kid!!:(
Scribe said on 28th March 2010, 11:12
oh come off it, Did he blame the team in Hugary, no he didn’t, did he blame the team till Germany in 2009. Not that much, he said things like “we win together we lose together” before he made his complaint to the beeb he added the caveat that the team always does great work.
An his radio transmission was in the heat of the moment. Seriously do you people work for Newspapers, stop trying to sell scandal where there aint none.
Scribe said on 28th March 2010, 11:16
woops corection ment valencia
beanzoo said on 28th March 2010, 11:52
scribe i’ll admit he had a great drive but i don’t think he has his head screwed on properly all the time, and also i question the communication and organisation in that team at times
Pedro Candeias said on 28th March 2010, 9:37
Like plushpile said, Hamilton wrecked his tyres while Button successfully managed to keep his in good nick. Jenson’s smooth style paid off in spades this time, and Hamilton, despite the merit of his storming drive, needs to cool off a bit. Anyway, great race! Voted it an 8.
Vishy said on 28th March 2010, 9:43
Hamilton drove a fantastic race and overtook Button, Weber, Massa, Barichello. You guys have no proof that he wrecked his tyres. He just complains a lot like… just like everyone else.
Button got lucky he was no match for Vettel. However McLaren were only covering their options and it made sense to bring in Hamilton as he was behind Button.
TomD11 said on 28th March 2010, 10:28
He only complained about his tyres after he pitted and got up behind Alonso again.
I assume like S-D says they were just covering their bases with different strategies. Although I think really they shot themselves in the foot because it looked like a 1-2 was on the cards.
Scribe said on 28th March 2010, 12:49
Not sure this is as conclusive as you make out, Hamilton wore his tyres harder, but he reckons he could’ve lasted the distance. He may have been marginal at the end but it would probably been worth it.
An in most races Jensons driving style isn’t going to have the chance to shine through in this way. Turkey could be a Button Massa face off.
alex said on 28th March 2010, 17:25
i think it was one of the best races since brazil 2008 i thought it was the most exiting at least im thrilled to see f1 back after the rule changes leading to 2009.
bob said on 28th March 2010, 17:34
Malaysia 2009 was interesting too
alex said on 28th March 2010, 23:01
but it rained so hard that the race couldnt continue?
wasiF1 said on 1st April 2010, 8:37
Should we have permanent wet races.Like at certain point of the track the it will be wet & the drivers will all have to race with dry tyre! That will make things very interesting indeed.
choiMatthew said on 28th March 2010, 8:43
everyone will forget what happened in bahrain after this, i guess
Ned Flanders said on 28th March 2010, 9:15
Depends what happens in Malaysia and China. If every race is half as good as this I’ll be happy!
Mike said on 28th March 2010, 9:35
Both Tilkedromes, Wide with al ot of run off, nice smooth tracks.
not good!
Icthyes said on 28th March 2010, 15:18
Ironically though it was Albert Park’s lack of long straights that stifled overtaking the most today, apart from the cars themselves of course.
wasiF1 said on 1st April 2010, 8:38
Rain is expected in Malaysia, hope we go to the distance.I am expecting some good racing, but Tilke should at least learn some lesson from this track.
Influenced said on 28th March 2010, 8:43
Now that was a great seasoning opener, forget Bahrain. AMAZING
Icthyes said on 28th March 2010, 8:44
Definitely a 9 for me, just needed a scrap for 1st to make it perfect, but a thoroughly enjoyable race and here’s hoping Malaysia will be the same!
Scribe said on 28th March 2010, 9:30
Imagine if they hadn’t pitted Lewis. You know, it’s going to happen sometime. We’ll get McLaren one twos this year, that might not apeal to all but picture this, Buttons saved his tyres, Hamilton is catching him half a second to lap 10 to go.
MigueLP said on 28th March 2010, 8:44
This race was very stupid but very entertaining
thestig84 said on 28th March 2010, 8:47
stupid? What are you on about. It had everything. Only down was Webber ramming Lewis…spoiled a good fight with Alonso
Calum said on 28th March 2010, 8:58
Amazing race, but was left fuming at Webber, although he had nowhere to go!
wasiF1 said on 1st April 2010, 8:56
What was stupid about it? Other than Vettel not winning & both hamilton & webber failing to finish where they should have been despite the fact both were racing hard.
F1Yankee said on 28th March 2010, 8:45
the only thing needed for a 10/10 was a pass up front. the rain gods have saved f1 again. kubica for driver of the race, webber refuses to go quietly at home, wacky radio calls and car-on-car violence.
Robbie said on 28th March 2010, 9:09
Didn’t hear what Webber said on the radio, what was it?
I did hear Lewis getting angry about that disastrous pit strategy though.
spawinte said on 28th March 2010, 8:46
Already 2 votes for terrible, who are these people?
Setroc said on 28th March 2010, 8:49
Webber fans maybe? :P
SeminoleAJ said on 28th March 2010, 9:09
Schumacher fans probably…
David A said on 28th March 2010, 10:00
More likely Webber fans :P
Scribe said on 28th March 2010, 10:16
planet f1 fans.
Tom said on 28th March 2010, 12:03
Kobayashi and Vettel?
DropBear said on 31st March 2010, 0:17
I’m a Webber fan and I gave it a nine!
Awesome race. I don’t want textbook, I want war! And Webs fought hard, got up in there gave us something to watch. Aus GP rules.
KNF said on 28th March 2010, 8:46
It was an awesome race, but it needed the changing conditions to make it happen.
Short of having lawn sprinklers trackside, what can the FIA and FOM take away from this race???
Karan said on 28th March 2010, 8:51
Squirrels in the cockpit!!
ZanteX said on 28th March 2010, 9:05
omg that’s so funny to imagine :D
Scribe said on 28th March 2010, 10:18
That freedom to choose tyres made the race. Keep the mandatory rubber change, get the hell rid of the quali tyre rule, it could well produce rubbish races in future.
If you different tyre chices you get overtaking at the begining an the end of the race. If there all on same, you get none, simple as.
Tony said on 28th March 2010, 11:08
For me, its the combination of rain (both the ‘proper’ rain at the start and the occasional flurries making the track slipperier) plus some very slow cars out of position
Prisoner Monkeys said on 28th March 2010, 8:47
Great race. I think this is what a lot of people were expecting from Bahrain.
There’s been some movement on the development front; apparently there’s to be an emergency meeting at Sepang next week. A couple of people – including Stefano Domenicalli and Fernando Alonso – seem to have worked out that the aerodynamics at the back of the car are the problem. However, I hope they don’t look at this race and think there’s no problem with the sport.
Also, this is a manjor blow to the people who think Button can’t best Hamilton. Button was cool, calm and collected; Hamilton blew it.
F1Yankee said on 28th March 2010, 8:50
i want to know why mclaren put that radio on tv.
gabal said on 28th March 2010, 9:56
the rules are that all pit to car communication is open. They don’t get to choose what is broadcast anymore.
Icthyes said on 28th March 2010, 8:51
Button had the measure of Hamilton today, but ‘Hamilton blew it’? I know people have said ridiculous things about how Button would be nowhere in comparison to Hamilton this year, but that’s a bit of a reactionary exaggeration I’d say.
rfs said on 28th March 2010, 8:55
Hamilton blew what? He drove an absolutely storming race! Thankfully that collision with Webber only lost him one place. Great job anyway by Jenson, a fine win, but Lewis will beat him still. ;)
KNF said on 28th March 2010, 8:56
It was really a very disciplined drive from Button, he wasn’t even anywhere near Vettel when he (Vettel) binned it.
Going 50 laps on options? Button really deserves the moniker “Mr Smooth”…
KNF said on 28th March 2010, 8:57
Although to be fair, it was the brakes which did Vettel in…
Prisoner Monkeys said on 28th March 2010, 9:03
Uh, how about the way he pitted for fresh rubber, came back out with the intention of using said fresh rubber to catch the Ferraris and Robert Kubica, but pushed too hard and the net result was that once he caught on to Alonso’s diffuser, his tyres were no better than the Spaniard’s.
Robbie said on 28th March 2010, 9:06
That isn’t ‘blowing it’, that’s the car’s problem when Hamilton was caught up in turbulent air. It’s the same problem everyone had in Bahrain. At that point it was starting to become a procession.
Prisoner Monkeys said on 28th March 2010, 9:15
Hamilton consistently drove sub-1min 30sec laps when he had new rubber. Button was doing 1min 32sec. If Hamilton was two seconds a lap quicker, he was clearly pushing harder. And pushing harder like that means your tyres get more worn out.
Robbie said on 28th March 2010, 9:50
That’s the result of of pushing harder to gain time, but do you really think his tyres would’ve worn out that quickly if he had clear air? I don’t think so.
Icthyes said on 28th March 2010, 15:22
PM, funny how Hamilton’s tyres went at the exact time he found himself in Alonso’s wake. Yet you still insist it was Hamilton’s doing that the tyres went off.
Icthyes said on 28th March 2010, 9:16
McLaren brought him in for tyres.
He ate up the lead for so long that it’s pretty unlikely the tyre wear, which came on suddenly, was down to him pushing. Everyone’s performance went down in dirty air, so I guess Massa, Alonso, and Webber all blew it too, then?
Sorry PM, but your argument doesn’t square with what happened out there. I know you don’t like Hamilton too much and get annoyed by people saying he will blow Button away effortlessly this year, but coming up with equally disproportionate assessments of your own is hardly any better of an argument.
Robbie said on 28th March 2010, 8:58
Hamilton didn’t blow it, he was absolutely brilliant. It’s McLaren’s fault for their strategy and the crash was actually Webber’s fault because he should’ve held back after Hamilton took the line.
Icthyes said on 28th March 2010, 9:00
Yeh I’ll be interested to see if there’s any action over that, though Webber came off far worse anyway, and the last thing we need is the return of silly penalties.
Ned Flanders said on 28th March 2010, 9:21
I still think Webber deserves a penalty for taking Hamilton out, it was terrible driving
James_mc said on 28th March 2010, 9:42
I’d say it was a mistake, but nothing more. If penalties start getting handed out for stuff like that then noone will have a go.
gabal said on 28th March 2010, 9:59
It was a racing incident and it would be a mistake to give penalties for it.
ajokay said on 28th March 2010, 10:07
I want to know where the investigation is into massas dangerous weave and block on Webber going into the fastest corner on the circuit.
Icthyes said on 28th March 2010, 15:20
ajokay, I was thinking the same thing.
Keith, I know it makes the pages a bit of a mess if it becomes a particularly long conversation thread, but is there any chance of removing the limit on how many Replies can go in one “tree”?
IDR said on 28th March 2010, 10:04
“Button was cool, calm and collected; Hamilton blew it”
You’re right but, I prefer 100 times to watch Ham way, than Boring-Button one
Plink Plonk Plunk said on 28th March 2010, 20:49
So Webber is, or was, the head of the drivers association and always going on about driver safety.
Todays calamity with running into Hamilton is yet another one of his stupid moves. Not saying he should get a penalty as I too think it was a racing incident but Webber is just as guilty as anyone for making a dangerous block or moving someone over recklessly. Yet no one says a thing about it.
I never really cared for Webber and today only adds to my dislike of his driving. I just find him to be hypocritical about safety then makes dangerous moves on the track.
Hamilton had a great drive. Agressive yet not reckless. Webber had no business trying to make the pass on the outside like that.
macahan said on 28th March 2010, 8:48
Now THAT was a race. Intense all over. Start to become procession towards the end. It was great race (result SUCKED).
Please Bernie installed sprinklers at all tracks with a randomizer that might or might turn on them for random time period on all or part of the race.
Winnipeg GP said on 28th March 2010, 8:51
Button did not deserve to win at all. He ruined both Schumacher and Alonso’s race at the start and got insanely lucky with the early pit stop gamble. He is a good gambler and a good driver.
curedcat said on 28th March 2010, 8:56
we are about to experience some friction at mclaren and that friction will be instigated by the sneaky british press alongside some rather cunning folks at mclaren . Alright button made the call to come in early , but the question is who made the call to call lewis in thereby putting him at a great disadvantage
PS hamilton was at least a second faster than button today
rfs said on 28th March 2010, 8:59
Lewis came in I think because Schumacher was going fastest after he changed tyres. But I do hope the McLaren drivers don’t fall out over that.
Robbie said on 28th March 2010, 9:02
I don’t think there’ll be friction, they’re in a very warm team and the season is early.
ajokay said on 28th March 2010, 10:11
Hamilton was a second faster than Button because Button was doing a stunning job of keeping his soft tyres happy for four fifths of the race, and did a wonderful job of doing so.
sato113 said on 28th March 2010, 10:21
true about the sneaky brit press. but would the italian press try and split massa and alonso???
KNF said on 28th March 2010, 11:18
Depends on which driver they consider more Scuderia, which IMHO is Massa…
Icthyes said on 28th March 2010, 15:24
I don’t think there will be any friction ion the team just because of this, but it’ll be interesting to see how the media handles this, and I think they will try to stir things up to appeal to the lowest common denominator, as usual.
rfs said on 28th March 2010, 8:56
Deserving to win does not matter. Whoever wins, wins and if you don’t like it then well too bad.
Winnipeg GP said on 28th March 2010, 9:01
I bet you would not say that If you were not cheering for Button/macca.
rfs said on 28th March 2010, 9:12
Er, I’m a Hamilton fan. If Lewis wins a race fair and square and people say he doesn’t deserve it then I’d tell them the same thing. It does look like a bad call by Lewis’s engineer, but surely that wasn’t to screw him over, surely?
Winnipeg GP said on 28th March 2010, 10:00
I’m neither a fan of Lewis or macca but I must admit Lewis was absolutely fantastic today. He surely deserved to win. Button
won the race without even overtaking a single car.
curedcat said on 28th March 2010, 9:03
i see you either hate hamilton or you are just one ignorant follow-follow fan . Hamilton deserving better is an understatement , the question i asked is not off mark at all , who made the call to bring hamilton in . why is it important ? because it was the wrong call , the ferraris stayed out , the renault stayed out why did lewis come in ? whilst you don’t see anything wrong with that i bet over the coming days the press will move in on it . And then you’ll run back to this forum.:-)
Robbie said on 28th March 2010, 9:11
I don’t think it’ll be a big media issue. I think McLaren made a mistake and they know it. Martin Whitmarsh at the end of the race admitted that to the BBC.
Jarred Walmsley said on 28th March 2010, 9:00
How, it was all Alonso in that incident Button had the racing line and Alonso didn’t let him take it, so Alonso has no one to blame but himself, and so was Alonso that ruined Scumachers race not Button. I think this race as well as alievating some of the naysayers over the new rules will also prove to people that he actually can drive an F1 car very well and it wasn’t just his DD last year that allowed him to win all those races. The person I feel most sorry for is Vettel who was unfortunate not to win from pole again and due to another incident that he had no control over.
Icthyes said on 28th March 2010, 9:03
As a former Button basher it annoys even me to see people deride his obvious quality. I imagine they would be saying the same thing of Prost, were he racing today.
Vettel has had some bad luck but it’s all about the car and driver package, if the Red Bull is good enough to make you lead races it has to be good enough to get you to the end in the lead too.
curedcat said on 28th March 2010, 9:04
this time no one is going in on button , you should ask button if you meet him , why he was one second slower than hamilton :-)
Victor. said on 28th March 2010, 9:10
Cause his tyres were old whilst Hamilton was FLYING on a new set? Note that Hamilton and Webber were by a large margin quicker than anyone else after their pit stops.
BasCB said on 28th March 2010, 9:11
Maybe that was down to Hamilton having new tyres at that time?
Robbie said on 28th March 2010, 9:13
The same reason why Massa, Alonso and Kubica were slower than Webber and Hamilton – new tyres.
BasCB said on 28th March 2010, 9:13
Maybe Vettel should try NOT getting on pole this year to get his first win?
Did you see him sitting on the pit-wall, getting a hug from Horner. Great for him to be there and not just get on the plane back home as soon as possible.
Pedro Candeias said on 28th March 2010, 9:48
There seems to be a lot more camaraderie in Red Bull than the rest of the field combined, doesn’t it? Horner I think is doing a great job as a team boss, and his drivers help. Button’s word exchange with his team seemed, in contrast, somewhat jaded. Even at the podium, ceremony, he and Whitmarsh looked like they were from different teams. At least to me.
Frans said on 28th March 2010, 9:06
From what I see Alonso didn’t give Button enough space, so if I’m pointing finger at the first corner accident, it would be Alonso’s fault.
Lachie said on 28th March 2010, 9:48
Haven’t read everyone elses reply but simply, Alonso clearly cut in on Button and only ‘fan visors’ would make you see otherwise
Jarred Walmsley said on 28th March 2010, 19:39
Exactly, Alonso didn’t pull away when it was obvious Button’s racing line.
Harvs said on 29th March 2010, 5:56
Button had the racing line, it was 100% Alsonso fault (auctully ferrari’s fault, for those stupid mirrors, that vibarate at speed and the driver cant see anything out of them).
The blame is not on Button for ruining Alonso’s and Schumi’s race, but on Ferrari’s car design, if you watch a replay you will see alonso turns into Button because he cant see him. Red bull and Torro Rosso also have the same mirrors
Ninad said on 28th March 2010, 8:52
I would give 7 points. There have been better races that this one, but a big improvement over Bahrain.
Saip said on 28th March 2010, 8:53
Amazing race from Alonso. Coming all the way down from the last position to 4th is an incredible thing. Superb. Disappointed with Massa….he definitely should have done better with the position he was in. But happy for him on his podium.
Major story would be Schumacher. Being in a similar position as Alonso, he could come up with only a 10th place. And he took so long to overtake Jamie….not at all impressive.
I am really happy with Alonso’s performance….Incredible!
Winnipeg GP said on 28th March 2010, 8:58
He had to pit one more than Alonso. Also Alonso made all those passing moves when the track was still wet. Alonso struggled to pass his slow teammate once the track dried out.
Gagan said on 28th March 2010, 9:55
Both had to save their tyres (if u r aware). Getting too close to the car ahead of u destroys the tyres. It was a damage limitation for Alonso adn he drove superbly, even a blind guy can say that. After the 1st lap, who would have thought that alonso will be 4th. Even MIchael was taken out on the 1st lap but he could not make groud. This was a similar performance from alonso to what he drove in 2005 San Marino…. great driving ALo
Pedro Candeias said on 28th March 2010, 9:52
Winnipeg nailed it. I think Schumacher is doing really rather well but suffering from a bit of bad luck. Rosberg is proving himself as a top driver and may be able to hold his own against his fellow german, but I don’t see Schumacher letting the gap stay this wide for long. Amazing and worthy return, I think, for a 41 year old. And I’m not really his fan.
ALT-iD said on 28th March 2010, 8:57
Gave it a 7.
Soft tyres lasting so long was the only down side for me.
vettelfan said on 28th March 2010, 15:24
I gave it a 7 too, although I admit that I am biased so if Vettel had won it probably would’ve got an 8 or 9.
I wouldn’t give it a full 10, because even though we saw some overtakes, the “aero factor” is still there – as shown by Alonso not getting past Massa, and Hamilton/Webber not overtaking Alonso. But, all in all – it was a great race :)
Robbie said on 28th March 2010, 8:57
It was a brilliant race, full of drama and excitement. I’m ecstatic that Button won and that Massa’s on the podium again. I’m a little disappointed that Hamilton wasn’t on the podium though because he was on fire for most of the race but a disastrous strategy held him back.
Vettel deserved better too.