Predictions/Things to Watch For

[Joe in LA]

We've got the major outcome predictions the the contest thread, but I thought it would be interesting--in light of new cars/engines, a number of new drivers or driver swaps and the general off season chaos to see what other predictions/things to watch for, we might have.

My two are: Chaos on the start--given all the off season problems, I expect there to be a least one mechanical or launch problem, making for a bit of chaos when the red lights go out.
This one's not too creative, but I expect the finishing percentage will be extraordinarily low, or a lot of cars will limp home.

Others?

[brundle]

1)Definitely think there will be launch trouble.
2)Slow race, weird pit strategies (not many running at finish).
3)Red Bull better than expected
4)Points for both Williams!

[Indy kiwi]

Expect the seasoned veterans to do well rather than the young hotshoes. So many things to look out for and think about besides of course just driving very fast. Things like the energy recovery systems, fuel consumption, tires… Can't wait!

PS Hope my retired friends can stay up late to watch this one. Hopefully they have negotiated some time off the next morning with their real paymasters!

[Baulz]

I expect to see Marussia or Caterham get their first points this season.

[ajfoster88]

The fewest cars finishing since the 2005 USGP.

[MadisonIndyFan]

I expect to see Marussia or Caterham get their first points this season.

But still by attrition.

[Ferris]

Always a roll of the dice at Melbourne....For sure expect a first lap incident someplace that will result in the first of what I think will be 2-3 safety cars....I expect Mercedes to run away and hide like McLaren did years ago....Surprise of the event will be someone runs out of fuel on either the last lap or the trying to get back to the pits after the race, and the Race Stewards will drop them from the event...

[Kurt Cobain]

I will predict that the season will not go like the first race of the year. Kind of like 2013.

[Ferris]

Well at 800pm EDT tonight on TCM it's Le Mans with Steve McQueen!!! Good way to lead up to FP1....

[Sleepcheap]

Well, weather could be a factor. Forecast is still being refined, but it looks like a good chance of rain during qualifyng and possible showers at race time. Predicted temps are edging up from couple of days ago. Guess we'll have to see what happens.

[mainemandean]

My Predictions:

-Some kind of cheating accusations will flair up, and Ferrari will be either an accuser or accusee, or both.
-Kimi will say his car is not equal to Fernando's.
-Maldonado will say his car is not equal to Grosjean's.
-Simona diSilvestro will not drive a 2014 Sauber, not in a race, practice or testing.
-Ross Brawn will be rumored to be headed to at least three different teams, but nothing will actually happen.
-Daniel Ricciardo will learn to better appreciate what it meant to be Mark Webber.
-Adrian Sutil will get involved in a nasty screaming match with someone.
-Jean Todt will be accused of collaborating with Ferrari.
-Bernie will not be thrown in jail, but rumors will surface that he bribed his way out of that too.
-Ron Dennis will still not be reinstated to Max Mosely's Christmas Card list, and vice versa.
-Niki Lauda, Bernie, and Nelson Piquet will all say something really offensive to some group.
-Gene Haas will not be granted an entry into F1.
-The proposed USGP in NJ will be declared dead, once and for all.
-F1 will not gain access to Long Beach CA.
-Crowds in Austin will be down compared to last year.
-F1 will be heavily criticized for going to Sochi after Putin continues to hold the Crimea (or worse).
-Almost everyone will agree at season's end that double-points anywhere is a bad idea.
-Fans will complain all season long about the anemic sound of the new cars.
-Some us will have less time to post stuff, because we will have actual racing to watch.

[TC in Indy]

Things to watch for will be reliability, will the new tire compounds be better, which drivers will adapt best to the added torque, will the Mercedes engine remain dominant over the Renault all season long? It will be interesting to see which teams adapt and get better as the season progresses and which teams start out hot, but don't keep up as the season plays out.

[flatlander_48]

Could be some trouble at the start. Not the actual start, but 1 or 2 corners in. The cars are still bunched and if someone gets sideways on the inside of a corner with others beside, that could be ugly...