[Alvin]

Originally Posted by MikeNoun

I was surprised that Vettel did so well, considering how bad his car was. But then again, he's a 4-time champion, the kid can drive.

Interesting to see how the teams matched up, with teammates finishing together. Mercedes 1-2, then Red Bull 3-4, then Bottas (Williams), then Ferrari 6-7. Lewis Hamilton was not having a good day with his team. He seemed like he was questioning everything they said, and it counded like he didn't trust them, or didn't agree with their decisions. Nico Rosberg is a force to be reckoned with, and I think we'll see contact between Hamilton and Rosberg on track, soon.

The rant that Wil Buxton did on Pastor Maldonado was one of the funniest things I've heard from this announcing crew (not taking anything away from David Hobbs' classic lines).

Buxton said something like, "Maldonado (Lotus) does not have his head in the game. He blames everyone but himself. He blames the car, the setup, the engine, the team. So I asked him who's fault it was when he ran off the track all by himself. Was it the wall's fault, or the corner's fault?"

Brilliant stuff.

Agree on the anti-Maldonaldo rants. Perhaps attempt to "Montoya him" like in NASCAR? Brings to mind the question if Will Buxton has actually ever competitively driven an F1 racer where he is so critical?

"Mercedes to use megaphone exhaust during practice"

Mercedes is preparing to show off a louder engine note during the Spanish grand prix weekend.

Early this week, team chief Toto Wolff revealed that one proposed solution to the turbo V6 sound ‘problem’ is a sort of “megaphone” addition to the exhaust.

Along with Ferrari and Renault, F1′s three engine makers have been considering how to spice up the sound of F1 2014, after some spectators and promoters were shocked at the difference compared to the screaming V8s of 2013.

“The solutions range from very complex solutions within the exhaust system down to a simple megaphone at the back,” Wolff is quoted by Kolner Express newspaper.

“The ‘megaphone’ is a parallel exhaust that simply opens up at the end, with all the problems that brings with it,” the Austrian added.

Insiders say Wolff is concerned that the solution will interrupt the thermal and aerodynamic integration between the ‘power unit’ and the current exhaust layout.

Nonetheless, he said that sound solutions will be tried on the W05 car at the post-race Barcelona test next week.

But Germany’s Bild newspaper claims that Mercedes’ plan is actually to test the ‘megaphone’ exhaust during free practice for the Spanish grand prix on Friday.

“Bild’s information is that the solution will be testing in the morning,” said correspondent Lennart Wermke. “Whether it is also used in the race is still open.”...

More http://www.f1-fansite.com/f1-news/me...aust-practice/