If I predicted the qualifying result as the following: 1st – Vettel, 2nd –
Ricciardo, 3rd Alonso, and the result was: 1st – Vettel, 2nd – Alonso, 3rd –
Raikkonen, then I would score 15 points. You get equal points for qualifying
and the race.
Australian Grand Prix
Now to the hard bit. As I alluded to before, there is little to suggest my
predictions will be anything like the best, but hopefully it won’t be too
embarrassing.
This qualifying and race is especially hard to predict. Pre-season might have
revealed that generally Mercedes-powered teams look in good shape, but
beyond that it’s nearly impossible to tell. Practice even showed that Red
Bull have caught up ground, so there’s a possibility they could be in the
mix.
Qualifying
1st – Lewis Hamilton
2nd – Nico Rosberg
3rd – Valtteri Bottas
It’s hard to look beyond Lewis Hamilton. Mercedes are probably in the best
shape, and the Brit is known to have the edge of Rosberg in qualifying.
The race
1st – Nico Rosberg
2nd – Valtteri Bottas
3rd – Jenson Button
I mean I feel almost silly trying to predict this race, but it has to be done.
I think Mercedes look the strongest, but as first practice showed they are
not invulnerable, so I don’t think both cars will make it to the chequered
flag. All this talk about Felipe Massa has disguised the fact that Bottas is
a mightily impressive driver who has a great chance on Sunday. Jenson
Button, reliable as ever, will bring his McLaren home third, but some way
behind the front two.
Bonus category
The bonus category this weekend is very simple: how many cars will finish?
Predictions in the paddock have ranged from zero to about 16. If you guess
right, it’s an additional 15 points to your score.
Number of finishers – 9
Good luck, and I look forward to reading your predictions and comments.