Formula 1 Talk

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Screenshot of qualifying results if folks are interested.

Top couple of teams aren't exactly unexpected. Check out Hadjar and Antonelli both being really high. RB, Audi and Haas all looking like 5th place could be a good battle, could they even make it to a 4th spot?

Glad Verstappen is OK. Given Hadjar's spot it seems clear they have a fast car this year (barring issues like Max had, of course).

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[Johnny Utah]

Max doing Max things and LOVE the new “power boost” feature. It looks like this is going to be a fun year gents.

 

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Mercedes, Wow. Question (because I really don't know): Is this one of those times where the track is "suited" to their cars, or is their car just that much faster than everyone else's much like McLaren was last year?

 

[Alexanator]

Those first 11 laps were amazing between Charles and George.

 

[Dannyvandelft]

Mercedes, Wow. Question (because I really don't know): Is this one of those times where the track is "suited" to their cars, or is their car just that much faster than everyone else's much like McLaren was last year?

Looks like they built a good car, and a really good engine. I doubt their customer teams know how to unlock it's full potential yet. Each team do their own tuning and mapping.

 

[Dannyvandelft]

Those first 11 laps were amazing between Charles and George.

It looked artificial to me. It was all about who deployed their battery at what time. If Ferrari hadn't messed up their strategy (shocker) it could have lasted the whole race.

 

[Loco38SUP]

Where did this 18-year old Lindblad come from? So refreshing to see him not backing down from the top drivers .

-RJM

 

[Ron L]

That was a fun race to watch. And although Max had a good drive, I think the drive of the day belongs to Ollie Bearman who fell to the back of the pack and came back to be the 'Best of the Rest' and finish 7th (behind Max) after a big battle with Linblad in the Racing Bull (who also had a great drive for a first F1 race rookie!).

 

[gixxersixxerman]

Lawrence Stroll right now sitting in last place

I thought the race wasn’t bad. I agree it was sorta artificial at times, BUT these are the new regulations and no amount of bitching from fans or drivers is going to change the formula over this season. They are not ripping out the hybrid units or changing IG the aero regulations. This is the hand they are dealt. I do think the cars will get better but was shocked at how slow they were compared to the first year of the ground effect cars. At times it didn’t look like F1 cars passing F2 cars. Hope Mercs stay on top, but would rather see Kimi beating Russell. Also Another season another Ferrari blowing the strategy. And what a drive by Lindblad, also Max showing you can’t count him out.

 

[BrettMRC]

Ferrari probably should have split the strategy, there was nothing to lose from pitting one of the cars. (Probably LH so the LC kept track position)

On the flip side, the Mercedes strategy wasn't great - it was their pace advantage that got them the 1-2, nothing clever on from their strategy team.

Solid job from Audi/Sauber/Bortelleto too!

Can't help but wonder where Hadjar might have finished, probably 5th?

Norris did a good job keeping Verstappen behind, I honestly that would be over and out in a lap or two!

 

[Ron L]

Ferrari probably should have split the strategy, there was nothing to lose from pitting one of the cars. (Probably LH so the LC kept track position)

On the flip side, the Mercedes strategy wasn't great - it was their pace advantage that got them the 1-2, nothing clever on from their strategy team.

Solid job from Audi/Sauber/Bortelleto too!

Can't help but wonder where Hadjar might have finished, probably 5th?

Norris did a good job keeping Verstappen behind, I honestly that would be over and out in a lap or two!

I agree completely about Norris holding off Max. I think maybe, for right now, Merc & Ferrari are pretty even at the front and McLaren & Red Bull are pretty equal and just a tiny step behind. Racing Bulls, Haas and Audi look to be the best of the rest. And now, maybe all 4 of the top teams have intra-squad battles... Max is probably better than Isack... but not by very much. And I think the younger drivers may settle in to the new cars better than the older drivers.

 

[romanLegion9574]

Lawrence Stroll right now sitting in last place

I thought the race wasn’t bad. I agree it was sorta artificial at times, BUT these are the new regulations and no amount of bitching from fans or drivers is going to change the formula over this season. They are not ripping out the hybrid units or changing IG the aero regulations. This is the hand they are dealt. I do think the cars will get better but was shocked at how slow they were compared to the first year of the ground effect cars. At times it didn’t look like F1 cars passing F2 cars. Hope Mercs stay on top, but would rather see Kimi beating Russell. Also Another season another Ferrari blowing the strategy. And what a drive by Lindblad, also Max showing you can’t count him out.

I saw rumors the FIA is set to meet with the teams after China to discuss battery deployment. No idea how that's going to go. The racing did feel a bit odd just due to how powerful the overtake mode was.

Overall, the race was more entertaining than I expected -- Ferrari botching the strategy and starts being very important now.

Curious to see how everything plays out: reliability at first glance doesn't seem as good and there are bigger gaps between cars again. The FIA might also want to consider how to allow for more varied tire strategies.

 

[Dannyvandelft]

Norris did a good job keeping Verstappen behind, I honestly that would be over and out in a lap or two!

Max had deployment issues the whole race. Apparently they need to get that sorted still at RBPT/Ford

 

[Ron L]

I read that Honda can NOT do anything to fix their engine until after the 6th race, and then can only change 2 things. And 6 races will be deeper into the season if the April races are cancelled. How will Aston Martin ever recover anything this year?

 

[BrettMRC]

They can thank Newey for demanding a late change to the design to make it more compact.
A few years ago the RB cars were suffering massively from overheating due to similar demands around sizing of the bodywork.

He's a genius, no doubt - but usually he has a TP above him to temper some of his requests/demands.

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