Formula 1 Talk

[BrettMRC]

Decent drives by Albon, Russell and Antonelli too!

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[RWhiz]

Awesome race last night wow!

I have a bet going with a co-worker we made a year or 2 ago between Lando and Oscar and who would win a WDC first, I have Oscar and might have to buy him lunch after this season ?

it was really cool to see Alex and James Vowels get interviewed after the race, Williams is definitely stepping it up.

 

[Dannyvandelft]

Awesome race last night wow!

I have a bet going with a co-worker we made a year or 2 ago between Lando and Oscar and who would win a WDC first, I have Oscar and might have to buy him lunch after this season ?

it was really cool to see Alex and James Vowels get interviewed after the race, Williams is definitely stepping it up.

Yeah you will, but not because Lando is better. Oscar already getting team orders in race 1 to hold station after all that talk how they're being treated as equal drivers BS during the winter and preseason test, just shows how full of shit they are at McLaren. Oscar was faster, especially when it was wet out, and he got super unlucky he went on the grass instead of Lando. I'm definitely in camp Oscar, especially after Lando's comments after the race how "it's not the car" when he made opposite comments about Mercedes and RedBull. I liked him, but he's full of shit too. So I say, go Oscar, but the pecking order is already decided, and I think Oscar made a mistake signing that contract extension. And shame on his manager Webber, having been the #2 to Vettel, should know better.

 

[RWhiz]

Yea dude, I favor Oscar, but too bad McLaren is going to see to it I have to buy my co-worker lunch!

 

[BrettMRC]

Yeah you will, but not because Lando is better. Oscar already getting team orders in race 1 to hold station after all that talk how they're being treated as equal drivers BS during the winter and preseason test, just shows how full of shit they are at McLaren. Oscar was faster, especially when it was wet out, and he got super unlucky he went on the grass instead of Lando. I'm definitely in camp Oscar, especially after Lando's comments after the race how "it's not the car" when he made opposite comments about Mercedes and RedBull. I liked him, but he's full of shit too. So I say, go Oscar, but the pecking order is already decided, and I think Oscar made a mistake signing that contract extension. And shame on his manager Webber, having been the #2 to Vettel, should know better.

That order was in place for less than a lap IIRC, presumably because it was so treacherous they didn't want to risk binning both cars.

I'd agree with you more if Oscar hadn't beached it.

Don't get me wrong, I think he's capable - but his lack of experience shows up at times like this.

 

[Dannyvandelft]

That order was in place for less than a lap IIRC, presumably because it was so treacherous they didn't want to risk binning both cars.

I'd agree with you more if Oscar hadn't beached it.

Don't get me wrong, I think he's capable - but his lack of experience shows up at times like this.

Yeah when Oscar went from 3 tenths to 3 seconds behind then they were "free to race" again.

They both went off at the same spot. Oscar was just unlucky he slid on the grass while Lando didn't.

 

[BrettMRC]

Yeah when Oscar went from 3 tenths to 3 seconds behind then they were "free to race" again.

They both went off at the same spot. Oscar was just unlucky he slid on the grass while Lando didn't.

Pretty certain it was Oscar giving it a load of right foot after recovering on to the tarmac where Norris kept it subtle that put him in the grass.
Fair play that he recovered it though - I reckon a lot of the other drivers might have called it quits there and caused a red flag.

China next - I think we might see a replay of the dominance McLaren had in 1998...

 

[Dannyvandelft]

Pretty certain it was Oscar giving it a load of right foot after recovering on to the tarmac where Norris kept it subtle that put him in the grass.
Fair play that he recovered it though - I reckon a lot of the other drivers might have called it quits there and caused a red flag.

China next - I think we might see a replay of the dominance McLaren had in 1998...

Yeah I think so too. When the track dried up the McLaren's were gone.

 

[FLtrackdays]

I think Lando drove a great race. Especially in the rain! I hated the team orders thing. I get it, not crashing the cars and loose it all. But damn that timing was gawd awful. Oscar getting close and then call team orders, while (whew… he’s far enough away) calling it safe to race that much later. WTF . Just stick to your original team orders and not appear like jackasses. If I was Oscar, I’d be shopping other teams. Had he not signed that contract extension ??‍

I’m hoping, fingers crossed, RB might be able to make the same kind of improvements McLaren did last year. I think it would keep this season more interesting to have someone as good as Max Verstappen in a car he feels is capable, chasing them. It’ll make Lando & Oscar better drivers/racers as well. That goes for the rest of the field too. So fingers crossed George‘s comment that McLaren is so far ahead they can go ahead and work on 2026 is wrong. Plus, my wife is such a bad sport & will probably drop out of watching it with me if Max isn’t up there ?

Poor Lewis. Y‘all think he’d have still made the switch knowing it would be this hard converting from Mercedes to Ferrari? I think he wants to know if he still has what it takes but now will be blaming his lack of progress on the mechanics of it all.

Lastly, can no one else drive that RB car??? Or is Yuki really the one that should be driving next to Max?

 

[Dannyvandelft]

I think Lando drove a great race. Especially in the rain! I hated the team orders thing. I get it, not crashing the cars and loose it all. But damn that timing was gawd awful. Oscar getting close and then call team orders, while (whew… he’s far enough away) calling it safe to race that much later. WTF . Just stick to your original team orders and not appear like jackasses. If I was Oscar, I’d be shopping other teams. Had he not signed that contract extension ??‍

I’m hoping, fingers crossed, RB might be able to make the same kind of improvements McLaren did last year. I think it would keep this season more interesting to have someone as good as Max Verstappen in a car he feels is capable, chasing them. It’ll make Lando & Oscar better drivers/racers as well. That goes for the rest of the field too. So fingers crossed George‘s comment that McLaren is so far ahead they can go ahead and work on 2026 is wrong. Plus, my wife is such a bad sport & will probably drop out of watching it with me if Max isn’t up there ?

Poor Lewis. Y‘all think he’d have still made the switch knowing it would be this hard converting from Mercedes to Ferrari? I think he wants to know if he still has what it takes but now will be blaming his lack of progress on the mechanics of it all.

Lastly, can no one else drive that RB car??? Or is Yuki really the one that should be driving next to Max?

I always said Yuki deserved that seat. Lawson is good, but he needs a season or two at RB. I love that Yuki gave them a big F you at qualy. Poor Hadjar, I thought he did fantastic. A tiny mistake with big consequences, and Lawson did the exact same, in the same spot. Hadjar impressed me, as did Antonelli.

 

[romanLegion9574]

I always said Yuki deserved that seat. Lawson is good, but he needs a season or two at RB. I love that Yuki gave them a big F you at qualy. Poor Hadjar, I thought he did fantastic. A tiny mistake with big consequences, and Lawson did the exact same, in the same spot. Hadjar impressed me, as did Antonelli.

I'd give Lawson some more time since he hadn't ever done a lap in Australia prior to this weekend. He definitely would've benefitted with another year at the junior team, but I don't think Yuki would be doing any better.

By this point, it's pretty clear the second car needs drivers who prefer a sharp nose; the 3 best candidates I can think of for that setup are Leclerc, Albon, and Ricciardo, but none will be under consideration, and everyone else drives too differently to mesh with the car.

 

[FLtrackdays]

I'd give Lawson some more time since he hadn't ever done a lap in Australia prior to this weekend. He definitely would've benefitted with another year at the junior team, but I don't think Yuki would be doing any better.

By this point, it's pretty clear the second car needs drivers who prefer a sharp nose; the 3 best candidates I can think of for that setup are Leclerc, Albon, and Ricciardo, but none will be under consideration, and everyone else drives too differently to mesh with the car.

I honestly didn’t think it would be this hard for someone as good as Lewis (with the Ferrari switch). So it makes me think it’d be even worse for that RB no. 2 position.

I like to relate my own experience in going from dedicated track S2K vs the Supra. I know it’s nowhere near as close to a F1 car. But my S2K was so friggin tail happy, she made me a much better driver. Plus most people hated it, lol. She’d spin with the slightest inclination or just looking in the wrong direction. I think that style is much easier to transition from once you’ve got it down. No nannies & ABS only. That ability to rotates much better & forced to be comfortable driving on the edge = faster lap times, which I think he does so well. That’s my silly adaptation. I’m sure it’s way more complex. Hence why I’m even more impressed & think Max’s transition into the F1 afterlife will be hugely successful.

Maybe put a formula DRIFT driver in that seat ?

 

[BrettMRC]

I think it's quite interesting that both Sainz and Hamilton have had issues adjusting to how different the power delivery is between the Merc and Ferrari units - how much is mapping and how much is an inherent delivery philiosphy remains to be seen I guess. (I assumed that this far into the regs the PUs were bound to have huge convergence on almost every facet - I was clearly wrong!)

 

[tracer bullet]

Regarding the car switches for the drivers, I'm sure things can be revised at least a little to suit their preferences but generally speaking - muscle memory is a hell of a thing. Can you imagine so many years of very intense concentration from practices, qualifying, and race days to move to an all new car... I wonder how long it takes to let that stuff go and truly learn the new car (and if you ever completely can). I guess they've all changed cars up the various levels i.e. moving from F2 and such, and each year their own cars at the previous teams took on some changes, so it could be that they are somewhat used to the process... But it's gotta be really tough to fully switch over.

 

[FLtrackdays]

Regarding the car switches for the drivers, I'm sure things can be revised at least a little to suit their preferences but generally speaking - muscle memory is a hell of a thing. Can you imagine so many years of very intense concentration from practices, qualifying, and race days to move to an all new car... I wonder how long it takes to let that stuff go and truly learn the new car (and if you ever completely can). I guess they've all changed cars up the various levels i.e. moving from F2 and such, and each year their own cars at the previous teams took on some changes, so it could be that they are somewhat used to the process... But it's gotta be really tough to fully switch over.

You are right ofc. Most fall into that category. And not short changing Hamilton‘s brilliance of what he did or how good of a driver he was (saying was because he fell below George last year in the same car). And I doubt he thought it would be this difficult either. Hopefully he will adapt and overcome Charles soon. Only time will tell.

Remember the Bo Knows commercials… as in Bo Jackson. Or Deon Sanders that would play two sports and both sides. Or Marvelous Marvin Hagler ? that could switch up from orthodox to southpaw seamlessly. They are few and far between but all adapt really well to a multitude of other styles. I’ve heard interviews of other F1 drivers claiming Max can do the same. It is a rare trait indeed.

To make my thought bias worse, I personally know a guy that still gets hired to bring up a team’s standings (mainly in IMSA) and/or young drivers with deep pockets. He’ll only take jobs he believes the kid has potential or the money is redonkulous. I‘ve seen him get in any car, drive fast as fock, while making it look so simple (rain, shine or drift). That’s the level of respect I believe these guys have for Max. Like him or not, I think it’s his innate ability & car control he has giving him that edge. Who knows… ?‍ & to make matters worse, rarely does British media cover him in depth. I don’t blame em, not being their standard market demographics. Just sayin… rarely will they give credit where credit is due when it comes to him.

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