F1 Australian Grand Prix: 6 Things We Learned from Friday Practice

After what seemed like years, the 2012 Formula 1 season finally got under way at Albert Park, Melbourne.  This was the first chance we were going to get to see all 24 cars on the track together, and hopefully gain some idea of how quick the cars truly were.

So naturally, the track was wet.

Fortunately it was from rain before the session, not during, but it took almost an hour for the circuit to dry enough for some real times to be set.

Jenson Button led a McLaren 1-2 with a time of 1:27.560.  That's not a particularly quick lap around the Albert Park circuit, but it was set on hard tyres and fans were hoping to see an improvement in the second session.

So of course, it rained again.

There was no bone-dry running in the second session, the best time a 1:29.183 set by Michael Schumacher for Mercedes.  His countryman Nico Hulkenberg was next on the timesheet, one-tenth of a second behind.

The weather meant we didn't get to see much raw pace, and it's rare for a team to push close to the limit in practice.  But it was possible to scrape at least a few bits and pieces of information together. 

Kimi Raikkonen Isn't Totally Happy with the Lotus

2007 F1 champion Kimi Raikkonen wasn't entirely happy with the steering of the Lotus during testing, and the Finn sat out most of the first session as the team rushed to replace the steering rack in his E20.

He got out towards the end, and in the eight laps he completed, he set a reasonable time.  But it's clear the problem from testing isn't totally resolved, and it may make Raikkonen's first race back that little bit more difficult.

That said, it looks like a quick car when it's out on the track.

The McLaren Is Beautiful

It looked nice in pictures, but on the track, cutting through the air, light reflections and shadows moving over the surface, it's truly a thing of beauty.  In a year of ugly ducklings, the McLaren is the most striking of swans.

And if you're not one of those fans who'd reject a copy of Playboy/Playgirl/Equestria Daily to spend far longer than necessary admiring the finer details of an F1 car, you probably think that was a very strange paragraph.

HRT Are Not Going to Qualify

Or more specifically, neither HRT is going to set a time within 107% of the fastest qualifying lap.

The team did no preseason testing, and Narain Karthikeyan's car broke down after (what I believe was) around two-thirds of a lap in the first session.  Pedro de la Rosa's car wasn't even ready, and he got no running at all.

In the second session, Karthikeyan's car broke down again.  De la Rosa did get out on the track this time, but only for a single installation lap.

On their previous record of poor performance—they didn't qualify last year either—and their lack of readiness this time, it's unlikely they will start the race.  And they probably know it.

But Marussia Probably Will

Like HRT, the Russian squad did not take their new car to preseason testing, and free practice was the first chance they got to run it properly.

It was something of a mobile chicane at first, but at least it was out there getting some running, and Timo Glock set a time of 1:32.632 on a drying track in the second session. 

That's only a second outside last year's 107% time, and on a fully dry track the Marussia shouldn't have too much trouble.  They should make it.

The Ferrari Looks Horrible to Drive

We had heard it was from testing reports, and now we've seen it for ourselves.

The red car isn't slow through any specific corner, at least in the hands of Fernando Alonso.  However, it looks extremely unpredictable when pushed closer to the limit, and stringing together a whole lap of decent corners in qualifying is going to prove difficult.

If anyone can do it, Alonso can.  But having seen it in action, even he's going to have his work cut out for him.

Felipe Massa ended the first session in the gravel trap, but the car wasn't to blame—the Brazilian dropped a wheel on the grass at the entry to Turn 9.  Massa and the car were OK for the second practice.

Mercedes Are Stronger Than They Were Last Year

Mercedes had a good winter, and the W03 looked very promising out on the track.  Sharp, poised and appearing to do exactly as it was told, the German car looked everything the Ferrari did not.

Last year it was the fourth best car.  During Friday practice, it looked top three. 

If Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg can qualify well, the podium—which eluded them in 2011—looks to be a realistic goal.

And Finally, Who Can Resist a Prediction?

Practice didn't tell me this, but Red Bull are probably going to have the fastest car in qualifying and the race, when they finally get around to some low-fuel running.

McLaren will likely be second.  Then Mercedes, Ferrari—when it can string a lap together—and Lotus.  Toro Rosso and Force India will be battling with the Saubers a little further back.  Williams and Caterham will be at the rear of the midfield.  Then Marussia alone at the back, and HRT in the garage.

But that's just slightly-educated guesswork—no one is quite sure yet, even the geniuses down the pit lane.

Dry weather is forecast, so hopefully we'll find out more on Saturday.