The first of the twitter Question and Answer sessions, via @StirlingMossCom, took place after the Australian Grand Prix. Stirling will always tweet with CAPS turned on so that you know it is him and not the www.stirlingmoss.com team.

The next twitter Q&A will take place on the 19th April, post the Chinese and Malaysian Grand Prix, tweet your questions to @StirlingMossCom and Stirling (SM) will answer as many as he can.

Enjoy the replies to the questions posed following the first race of the 2011 Formula 1 season that took place in Melbourne, Australia:

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Q. from @rpseymour - Do you think it would be better to have two places for the possible use of DRS but can only be used on one, makes defending harder?

SM. I PERSONALLY THINK YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO USE DRS AT THE DRIVERS DISCRETION THROUGHOUT THE RACE, MAKES IT AN EVEN PLAYING FIELD FOR ALL

Q. from @pollzie - Stirling who inspired you as a driver and which driver in Formula 1 right now does he see promise in?

SM. FANGIO WITHOUT DOUBT AND VETTEL, AS HE IS ONLY 23 YEARS OLD, WITH PLENTY OF YEARS OF FORMULA 1 AHEAD OF HIM

 Q. from @djaison - Sir, Colin Chapman seemed to get a bashing in the documentary (Ed: the BBC documentary on Formula 1 titled “ The Killer Years”), was that an accurate portrayal of Colin’s attitude to safety?

SM. MY OWN PERSONAL OPINION IS THAT HE WAS A BRILLIANT ENGINEER WHO WOULD ON OCCASSION GO BEYOND THE LIMIT, CERTAINLY UP TO 1962 WHEN I RACED HIS CARS

Q. from @elephino - What stands out from your win in the 1956 Australian Grand Prix, anything would be great.

SM. A LOVELY GIRL ON CHANNEL 9 CALLED JENNIE HAM (Ed: a former model and presenter on “ In Melbourne Tonight”)

Q. from @mashupsoldier - Please ask SM, why, when he saw the danger, and worked tirelessly to improve things... did he still drive? Thank you.

SM. I RACED BECAUSE IT WAS DANGEROUS, BEING YOUNG & STUPID, THE DANGER ATTRACTED ME. I HAVE LESS AVERSION TO RISK NOW THAT I AM OLDER!

Q. from @pk500 - Stirling what was the most enjoyable racing car you ever drove? Not the best, but the most fun?

SM. MONACO IN 1961 IT WAS ALWAYS FUN TO WIN! (Ed: we realised on review that the questioner meant racing car not race, we will address this on the 19th April)

Q. from @neillivesey - Stirling what was your biggest impact? Please don't tell me it was your lift excursion!

SM. PROBABLY SPA IN 1960 WHEN THE WHEEL CAME OFF MY LOTUS FOLLOWING A HUB FAILURE, I BROKE MY BACK AND LEGS (Ed: crashed at 150+ mph at Burnenville, he was dancing with nurses a month later!)

Q. from @BadgerGP - Stirling you have caps lock on :)

SM.THAT WAY YOU KNOW IT IS ME AND NOT PATRICK!

Q. from @TheVanquish - What are SM's thoughts about the rule changes & the impact it will have on the season, also are the new tyres a good thing?

SM. IN THEORY IT IS MEANT TO MEAN MORE OVERTAKING, ALTHOUGH NOT MUCH EVIDENCE OF THAT IN AUSTRALIA - TIME WILL TELL. TO EARLY TO SAY HOW GOOD THE PIRELLI'S WILL BE ACROSS ALL CONDITIONS. WOULD EXPECT THEY WILL PERFORM AS THEY PLANNED

Q. from @streetmagix - Stirling should KERS have been reintroduced when F1 is supposedly trying to save money?

SM. PERSONALLY THINK IT IS A TECHNOLOGY THAT WILL TRANSFER TO ROAD CARS IN 10 YEARS OR SO. WHAT BETTER PLACE TO PROVE THE CONCEPT THAN IN FORMULA 1

Q. from @bwass24 - What was the RBR KERS situation?

SM. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT WAS FITTED BUT NOT USED

Q. from @keelingover - Is SM as shocked by the sudden pace of the McLaren after pre-season testing put them well off the pace?

SM. NO BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A TECHINCAL SPORT THAT A SMALL CHANGE CAN MAKE BIG GAINS IN TERMS OF 10THS OF SECONDS & MCLAREN ARE A CAPABLE TEAM

Q. from @keelingover - Does SM agree with the re-introduction of the 107% rule?

SM. ABSOLUTELY WITH CAVEATS E.G. ALONSO AT THE MONACO LAST YEAR, I.E. HE DAMAGED CAR BUT WOULD HAVE BEEN WELL WITHIN THE 107% LIMIT HAD THE ACCIDENT NOT OCCURED
 

Feature image @suttonimages