Formula 1 Talk

[FLtrackdays]

Maybe his F1 stint did damage to his mental health and now he has to basically rebuild his confidence in himself.

I think you nailed it! Such a mental game. Like any sport. Except it’s not just mind and body. The car being an extension of their body and they‘ve got to have confidence in that too. When they do, that’s very hard to beat. And some of these guys have that drive more than others. Lewis and Max being the extreme. Absolutely obsessed! Max playing sim games the night before a race ? Lewis staring at faster cars as if they have some illegal component or something so obvious he’s going to find it ?

Danny Ric talked about wanting to find out if he still had that same mental drive the year he took off. Guarantee he wanted to do well when he came back. But was he obsessed with it like Max, Lewis & the others? Doubtful. And that doubt started creeping in his own mind as well.

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[romanLegion9574]

Hard to say who will be fighting for the wins next season, I'm not going to cross off Mercedes and Russell or even Aston Martin and Alonso (with Newey).

If RB don't drop Checo for next season I don't know how they can justify the move to keep him. He's been really bad this season and hasn't really helped either Max or the team much at all. Who they take in his place, that's a good question. I could see it being Yuki, Lawson, Danny Ric, or even Carlos Sainz. You might say, but Sainz is with Williams next season, yes but I don't think it wouldn't cost much to get Williams to give him up for RB if the consolation prize is keeping Colapinto long term.

The winter could change a lot, but I get the feeling that Mercedes are looking ahead to 2026 with the new regulations, and the Newey aero impact will also be more pronounced in 2026 than 2025, given 2025 development started before Newey even signed for Aston.

Red Bull should drop Checo, since he's about to cost them 2nd place now, and I think if Lawson keeps it up, he might get the promotion to the top seat next year. They could bring in Hadjar to partner Yuki.

 

[romanLegion9574]

I think we all need to realize what Albon means to that team, make no mistake, he could have easily gone to another team, one that might be performing better at the moment, but he chose to stick with Williams and work with the team to get better. That level of loyalty and trust is hugely valued to a team such as Williams which is much more family based club than most other teams.

They are pushing hard to get better, hiring their new principle from Mercedes was the first step, signing Albon long term, and then Sainz after, all moves that are a push to become more relevant on the grid. Colapinto is a fantastic young driver, it would be a shame for him not to have a full time gig next season, but he could do a Liam Lawson and have a contract that stipulates he either gets a seat by the end of next season or he is a free agent to sign anywhere else.

I kind of think Colapinto's performances are really making Audi reconsider their options for the second seat; Bottas seemed to have been the front runner, but Colapinto's performances, age, and probably lower wage demands really would make them think if Bottas is the best long term option.

 

[FLtrackdays]

Any predictions this weekend? Everyone is driving so close with each other. And only 5 more races ?

 

[RWhiz]

I’m gonna go with the red cars occupying 2 podium spots with Lando splitting Charles and Carlos in first and third respectively.
followed by Max in forth in front of both Mercedes.
I‘m not sure where to put Oscar, could be third could be sixth.

 

[FLtrackdays]

I’m gonna go with the red cars occupying 2 podium spots with Lando splitting Charles and Carlos in first and third respectively.
followed by Max in forth in front of both Mercedes.
I‘m not sure where to put Oscar, could be third could be sixth.

Damn you were spot on! Like the Whiz of F1 Oz ?‍

I gotta give Max credit again, since we can’t find @Dannyvandelft, for placing that RB car on the qualifying dime again when he needed to. Gonna be a fantastic race ? ?

 

[Dannyvandelft]

Damn you were spot on! Like the Whiz of F1 Oz ?‍

I gotta give Max credit again, since we can’t find @Dannyvandelft, for placing that RB car on the qualifying dime again when he needed to. Gonna be a fantastic race ? ?

I've been busy lol. Max is doing what he needs to. Limiting his point loss to Lando. Max is putting that third fastest car, realistically a P5-P6 car, consistently higher. P2 in qualy while Lando in the fastest car puts it P3. That's a Champion. Lando crying with McKaren because he got punished for overtaking 3 miles off the track in Austin just shows he's another crybaby. Which is a shame because I really liked him. Now I'm rooting for Piastri to kick his ass, although that didn't go to well in qualy ?

 

[FLtrackdays]

I've been busy lol. Max is doing what he needs to. Limiting his point loss to Lando. Max is putting that third fastest car, realistically a P5-P6 car, consistently higher. P2 in qualy while Lando in the fastest car puts it P3. That's a Champion. Lando crying with McKaren because he got punished for overtaking 3 miles off the track in Austin just shows he's another crybaby. Which is a shame because I really liked him. Now I'm rooting for Piastri to kick his ass, although that didn't go to well in qualy ?

Glad ur back ? Missed your brutal honesty broham! Good points.

I honestly don’t know how Max is so effin’ consistent. I’d swear you’re the male version of my wife across the other side of the pond ? She was going as far as to saying Lando is one of her least fav drivers ?. I’m telling her yesterday - listen woman (falling on deaf ears ofc), Lando is a Max protege and I kept trying to come up with more excuses but quickly had to switch to other drivers (like Albon) that I don’t like even more… lol. She’s more fact based and I’m on the emotional side of the sport (& relationship for that matter hahaha….). Anyway, I couldn’t find enough recent accolades to backup my boy Lando. We both can agree on and love stone cold Oscar. He’s such a badass at such a young age.

Both of us are turning into Ferrari fans, as long as they are taking away points that could have gone to McLaren. I actually like McLaren. But now that they’re directly competing with RB, they potentially can ruin a weekend for me if my wife is unhappy. Enough of the psychology chair time. Before you send me a bill ?

Back to the real question. Carlos yesterday… Where the fock did that come from???

 

[Dannyvandelft]

Glad ur back ? Missed your brutal honesty broham! Good points. I honestly don’t know how Max is so effin’ consistent. I’d swear you’re the male version of my wife across the other side of the pond ? She was going as far as to saying Lando is one of her least fav drivers ?. I’m telling her yesterday - listen woman (falling on deaf ears ofc), Lando is a Max protege and I kept trying to come up with more excuses but quickly had to switch to other drivers (like Albon) that I don’t like even more… lol. She’s more fact based and I’m on the emotional side of the sport (& relationship for that matter hahaha….). Anyway, I couldn’t find enough recent accolades to backup my boy Lando. We both can agree on and love stone cold Oscar. He’s such a badass at such a young age.

Now Carlos yesterday… Where the fock did that come from???

Well, ask yourself this. Would Max have made all those bad decisions that cost Lando so many points? True, McLaren made some bad calls, but they've mostly come from Lando himself, not to mention his AWFUL starts.

If roles were reversed, Max would have taken the lead of the Championship in that McLaren already.

 

[RWhiz]

Damn you were spot on! Like the Whiz of F1 Oz ?‍

I gotta give Max credit again, since we can’t find @Dannyvandelft, for placing that RB car on the qualifying dime again when he needed to. Gonna be a fantastic race ? ?

Thanks, my guess for qualifying at least was pretty good.
I just gotta say that I like when they race in Europe better, I like getting up early, grabbing coffee, and watching a pre recorded race and being done by 8:00 am to go about my day. These western hemisphere races are affecting my weekend plans!!!

 

[Dannyvandelft]

That was ridiculous Max. Not ok. I don't agree with that, at all. In Austin was fair game, but this was ridiculous.

 

[RWhiz]

I’m gonna go with the red cars occupying 2 podium spots with Lando splitting Charles and Carlos in first and third respectively.
followed by Max in forth in front of both Mercedes.
I‘m not sure where to put Oscar, could be third could be sixth.

I’ve never quoted myself but damn what a prediction!!

I would have been spot on if Max didn’t pick up the 2 penalties.

That’s an amazing save from Charles BTW.

Carlos speaking Espanyol to the crowd was great.

Did Liam Lawson give Perez the finger?!?! Haha, he’s better and knows it.

 

[FLtrackdays]

That was ridiculous Max. Not ok. I don't agree with that, at all. In Austin was fair game, but this was ridiculous.

Yeah I overdid it with my Max kudos. Ouch…. His meds were off or sumthun! He knows his car doesn’t have it like he’s used to and loosing his control in the process ?

Kudos to Lando, Charles and CARLOS!!!! WOW ?

I’ve never quoted myself but damn what a prediction!!

I would have been spot on if Max didn’t pick up the 2 penalties.

That’s an amazing save from Charles BTW.

Carlos speaking Espanyol to the crowd was great.

Did Liam Lawson give Perez the finger?!?! Haha, he’s better and knows it.

You would have been spot on again! Had Max not self imploded. Well done. Good thing we’re not in a fantasy/ prediction league ?

Lawson is way better than I thought. Maybe than most thought. Yuki and Checo both know it and they’re feeling their own version of Max’plosion. I’m ready for Checo to go ?

 

[romanLegion9574]

Thanks, my guess for qualifying at least was pretty good.
I just gotta say that I like when they race in Europe better, I like getting up early, grabbing coffee, and watching a pre recorded race and being done by 8:00 am to go about my day. These western hemisphere races are affecting my weekend plans!!!

I was in Hawaii this weekend, and they get the short end of the stick honestly. Both the race and football were pretty early Hawaii time.

 

[romanLegion9574]

I’m gonna go with the red cars occupying 2 podium spots with Lando splitting Charles and Carlos in first and third respectively.
followed by Max in forth in front of both Mercedes.
I‘m not sure where to put Oscar, could be third could be sixth.

Damn what a prediction! These last few races have told me exactly why Lewis is jumping ship, and I think Vasseur has put a lot of the silly strategies in the rear view mirror.

Yeah I overdid it with my Max kudos. Ouch…. His meds were off or sumthun! He knows his car doesn’t have it like he’s used to and loosing his control in the process ?

Kudos to Lando, Charles and CARLOS!!!! WOW ?




You would have been spot on again! Had Max not self imploded. Well done. Good thing we’re not in a fantasy/ prediction league ?

Lawson is way better than I thought. Maybe than most thought. Yuki and Checo both know it and they’re feeling their own version of Max’plosion. I’m ready for Checo to go ?

I'm expecting a rule change coming at some point, definitely for 2025, changing how "controlling" the corner is determined -- the FIA will probably add some rule so being first at the apex with no intention of staying on track will earn some sort of penalty.

I have to agree on Lawson. The strategy cost him spots, but he's looked like the best candidate for the #2 Red Bull seat. Hopefully they don't do what they did to Gasly and Albon and immediately expect 1-2 finishes too early.

And I also agree, Checo's poor form has been going on way too long for him to continue racing at the highest level. The false start, lack of pace, grudge match with Lawson which he lost, everything just shows he's not up to it.

Also, it was fun watching the Mercedes race each other in no-man's land. Hamilton still showing he's got the chops, and I can see he's very likely going to be a championship contender unless McLaren suddenly build a rocketship for 2025.

Lastly, I also think that the brinksmanship Max has been driving with shows he doesn't care if he runs up Red Bull's bill with crashes as long as he wins the WDC -- I think it's a sign that could indicate he'll opt out in 2026, since I don't really see any driver Red Bull could pair with Max to have a pair like Leclerc/Hamilton or Norris/Piastri.

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