Melbourne Quali Postponed

[cosworth151]

Due to heavy rain, Q2 & Q3 at Melbourne has been postponed until 11:00 am Sunday local time (8:00 pm EDT Saturday night, I think)

The big surprise of the day was Pastor Maldonado not making it out of Q1.

[Scott]

We had a catering job for 150 people last night so I decided to skip this Q and watch it on BBC.  Sure glad I didn't try to get up for it   

[Williamsfan]

Not that surprised about Maldonado, that car looks a dog out there sadly.  I know it is only race one but the talk from Maldonado has gone from positive to incredibly negative again, talk of how it was 2 years ago. 

[vintly]

Not that surprised about Maldonado, that car looks a dog out there sadly.  I know it is only race one but the talk from Maldonado has gone from positive to incredibly negative again, talk of how it was 2 years ago.

Bottas qualified for Q2. I'm thinking Pastor's outburst about the car being awful is partially true, partially frustration at himself for driving poorly, but mainly an error in saying it at all. Even if it's true, he's not done himself or his team any favours by blurting that out, except to give a confidence boost to his rookie team-mate. I hope he has a better race, and that the Williams car is not a complete dog. On the plus side, good start for Bottas.

[Williamsfan]

Not that surprised about Maldonado, that car looks a dog out there sadly.  I know it is only race one but the talk from Maldonado has gone from positive to incredibly negative again, talk of how it was 2 years ago.

Bottas qualified for Q2. I'm thinking Pastor's outburst about the car being awful is partially true, partially frustration at himself for driving poorly, but mainly an error in saying it at all. Even if it's true, he's not done himself or his team any favours by blurting that out, except to give a confidence boost to his rookie team-mate. I hope he has a better race, and that the Williams car is not a complete dog. On the plus side, good start for Bottas.

I hope for the same as well but the team have been way off the pace all weekend and I think their given reasons (not going for speed but to test components) is really a bit weak.  Bottas did get through but you could argue he was lucky that Gutierrez crashed at a fortuitous moment in qualifying (I know, Sutil was slower than Bottas as well).  Anyway, I hope this is all just bad luck and Maldonado showing his Latin temperament and that come tomorrow the FW35 with both drivers will blitz the race.  I imagine Pastor is probably feeling a bit of pressure given events in Venezuela as well, perhaps even if it just him putting it on himself. 

[cosworth151]

Q1 was a right mess. I lost count of how many front wings were torn off during it. The rain let up just long enough for some teams to switch to intermediates. Than it came down hard again, leaving the cars on inters sliding & spinning like mad.

[Irisado]

It was fun while it lasted.  It's a novelty to see drivers going off the track these days, so rain, and a challenging circuit without car park run off, actually meant I was excited for the first time in ages.  It's such a pity that the session had to be stopped.

If it's dry tomorrow, we'll just have another predictable and boring Vettel demonstration run.  Keep doing that rain dance everyone .