It's quite tiring going to four days at the track (though admittedly I skipped the morning non F1 races) but finally I've loaded my last pics from race day.
March 17th 2019
I love how the drivers do a lap on the back of MGAs.
Sainz (McLaren)
It was a disappointing race for him finishing up at lap 11. I must say it seemed like the fire wardens or officials took a bit too long to appear when his car was showing flames straight away.
Grosjean (Haas)
I don't know if anyone has watched the 'Drive to survive' Netflix F1 series which covers in great detail the 2018 season but you can't help but feel sorry for Grosjean's driving misfortunes after watching it. Apparently his retirement at Lap 29 in the Aust. race was also due to a tyre fitting problem. That surely can't be true. They've had too many of those errors.
Quite a bit of talk in my part of the crowd about Stroll being at 'Racing Point'. Sympathy for Ocon being ousted though his Mercedes connection may be good for the future. Nepotism isn't too popular in most 'job' situations.
Also how could they pick 'Racing Point' as a team name !
I used to follow Sahara Force India last year as one of my teams of interest. Surely they could have found a better name.
Hamilton
Hamilton's car seemed slower than Bottas by a lot on the day. Something the mechanics have to get right before Bahrain.
Kimi Raikonnen and Le Clerc
Some pics are a bit blurry but you get what you can quickly on the day.
Ricciardo
No one in the crowd (even those in new yellow caps - and didn't Renault make a killing at their merchandise stand in Aust. at $80- a cap !) expected Dan to do well but most were hoping he'd scrape into the top ten.
The disbelief and groans in the crowd when he appeared to hit dirt on the first bend (which was out of sight from Fangio stand) on the big
screen was audible everywhere. For a minute we all thought he was out of the race. His retirement at lap 30 was disappointing but
Le Clerc got similar groans from Ferrari fans next to me when they thought he'd wiped out Vettel and himself. It just shows that anything could happen in a race. It was surprising that Ferrari did not finish in the top 3. Vettel has such a good record at the Aust. GP.
I was in the Fangio stand opposite the pit garages as I do love the organised chaos of pre race and being able to see the checkered flag when the winner crosses the line.
Drivers photo which I took off the big screen !
Raikonnen
The RAAF F/A-18 jet impressed with fly overs earlier in the day (so loud !) and the RAAF F/A C-17 Globemaster.
I took these pics with my phone so quite pleased to get a more panoramic view.
Starting warm up lap
Bottas certainly started well and flew to establish fastest lap as well.
I don't take pics during the race as on the main straight my pics would just be a blur and I like to just watch the race.
A popular winner according to the cheers of the crowd. I am happy for Bottas. Great way for him to start the season.
My focus was a bit average at this point (and no I hadn't been drinking !). Some clearer than others. I had a woman with a Finnish flag who constantly waved it (of course understandably) while the presentations were made so dodging that was a challenge. Lol
I had a wonderful four days enjoying the Melbourne GP.
POS NO DRIVER CAR LAPS TIME/RETIRED PTS
1 77 Valtteri Bottas MERCEDES 58 1:25:27.325 26
2 44 Lewis Hamilton MERCEDES 58 +20.886s 18
3 33 Max Verstappen RED BULL 58 +22.520s 15
4 5 Sebastian Vettel FERRARI 58 +57.109s 12
5 16 Charles Leclerc FERRARI 58 +58.230s 10
6 20 Kevin Magnussen HAAS 58 +87.156s 8
7 27 Nico Hulkenberg RENAULT 57 +1 lap 6
8 7 Kimi Räikkönen ALFA ROMEO 57 +1 lap 4
9 18 Lance Stroll RACING POINT 57 +1 lap 2
10 26 Daniil Kvyat TORO ROSSO 57 +1 lap 1
11 10 Pierre Gasly RED BULL RACING 57 +1 lap
12 4 Lando Norris MCLAREN 57 +1 lap
13 11 Sergio Perez RACING POINT 57 +1 lap
14 23 Alexander Albon TORO ROSSO 57 +1 lap
15 99 Antonio Giovinazzi ALFA ROMEO 57 +1 lap
16 63 George Russell WILLIAMS 56 +2 laps
17 88 Robert Kubica WILLIAMS 55 +3 laps
NC 8 Romain Grosjean HAAS 29 DNF
NC 3 Daniel Ricciardo RENAULT 28 DNF
NC 55 Carlos Sainz MCLAREN 9 DNF
Note - Bottas scored an additional point for setting the fastest lap of the race.