Formula 1 Talk

[26StratMT]

That's something Hamilton should know, at this stage in his career.

All the drivers know it, from Alonso to the newest rookie.
Yet opening lap shenanigans, going off the track, colliding, understeer, oversteer, etc all happen pretty much every race.
A totally clean first lap is a rare thing.
you can know about it but that doesn’t mean you can necessarily predict the exact moment it may happen.
If you aren’t pushing you are losing.

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[Ron L]

All the drivers know it, from Alonso to the newest rookie.
Yet opening lap shenanigans, going off the track, colliding, understeer, oversteer, etc all happen pretty much every race.
A totally clean first lap is a rare thing.
you can know about it but that doesn’t mean you can necessarily predict the exact moment it may happen.
If you aren’t pushing you are losing.

I raced SCCA for over 20 years and I'll agree that first lap 'stuff' happens all the time. I was very lucky that 9 times out of 10, I would get a good start and make up a spot or three on the starts (except for those occasional times when I was on the pole)!

This is me at the SCCA RunOffs (National Championships) in 1995 driving an E Production Toyota MR2. I was 18th on the grid, got as high at 12th near the end when the crank broke in my engine!

 

[kaj]

I wouldn't take Max as a replacement. He is getting way too cranky about cars he thinks aren't good enough for him. He bitches and Hadjar just drives on. Max would likely destroy the moral at any other team. Just look at who he has driven away from Red Bull.

Depends on how you look at it. Max is a perfectionist. That's how he trains and that's what he wants from his team. If he weren't complaining, how would they know what to change? Nobody progresses when they sit and accept how things are. Every other top driver is also complaining about their cars. Well, I guess unless you drive for Mercedes LOL. If you were Hamilton, then you were also complaining about yourself. If any of us put in as much time as he does and were given the car he's dealing with, we'd probably be vocal about it, too.
Hadjar is firstly just happy to be there and possibly being quiet because he knows they will swap drives at the drop of a hat. Maybe he doesn't want to rock the boat. Does he have enough experience that he should voice his opinion and have it be heard? Only they would know. If I'm Hadjar and finishing mid-pack after seeing how everyone before me placed, I'm gonna keep quiet and drive, unless I'm asked.
Then again, Max's outbursts are advertised as front-page news. Isaac is a hot head but maybe just not under the watchful eye of the media.

Kimmi or George is a fun one, who would have thought Kimmi would be so good, so fast?

As much as it panged me, all my money was on George for this season. Lucky for Kimmi, he happens to "get" these cars. They apparently suit his style. I didn't see it coming at ALL. Yes, it's the fastest car out there, but I didn't think the 18yo would be ahead in points.

All the drivers know it, from Alonso to the newest rookie.
Yet opening lap shenanigans, going off the track, colliding, understeer, oversteer, etc all happen pretty much every race.
A totally clean first lap is a rare thing.
you can know about it but that doesn’t mean you can necessarily predict the exact moment it may happen.
If you aren’t pushing you are losing.

All true, but there's a difference when it's an incident because you were too aggressive and/or misjudged the braking zone. Both can be avoided, so will usually get them a penalty. Had George done something unorthodox to catch Lewis by surprise, with no way to avoid him, it most likely would have been a "racing incident". I think the penalty system is a bit overly intrusive at times, but that's a different conversation. I'll just say that I'd like to see the drivers allowed to be a bit more aggressive.. but I get it.

 

[Ron L]

First, let me state that I don't agree with all of the following.

Former Sky Sports F1 presenter Rachel Brookes has predicted these driver changes for 2027:
Max Verstappen to join Kimi Antonelli at Mercedes
Oscar Piastri to join Isack Hadjar at Red Bull
George Russell to join Lando Norris at McLaren
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton to stay at Ferrari
Alonso to join Pierre Gasly at Alpine
Carlos Sainz to join Gabriel Bortoleto at Audi
Franco Colapinto to join Alex Albon at Williams
Leonardo Fornaroli (F2 star) will get a seat, maybe at Haas with Ollie Bearman
No changes at Cadillac or Racing Bulls
And she didn’t say who would take Alonso’s seat at Aston Martin

 

[26StratMT]

I feel like the only way I could see Verstappen to Mercedes is if George chooses to leave.
Mercedes is looking great with Kimi and Russel is doing well enough to keep the constructors locked up.
I know Toto felt like he missed out on Verstappen but I think Kimi might be even better so not sure he would feel like he needs him anymore.
The drama and other issues that Verstappen would bring probably would not be good for Kimi.
Max and Kimi seem to get along ok and are friendly with each other but if on the same team the power struggle would be strong and the Verstappen camp is ruthless.
I think there’s a better chance of Christian returning than Max to Mercedes but stranger things have happened.
I do sometimes miss the Christian vs Toto battles and drama lol.

I could see Oscar moving, he doesn’t seem super happy and I think he’s still a bit sore over all the Papaya rules favoring Norris.
George going there I could possibly see but feel like he would still need to play second to Norris and not sure he would want that.
He would likely be looking for a team where he was the primary driver.

All the other rumor moves I could see but anything’s possible in the mid-field and lower.

I’m waiting patiently for Aug 21st to get back to racing!
The break is good for the drivers and teams but I always dislike them!

 

[tracer bullet]

I can't see Verstappen and Kimi together. Verstappen would need to be the leader of a team, and Kimi's way ahead in points over any other driver, so how would you choose between them? I guess for Toto it could be a dream team but I still don't see it.

 

[Ron L]

After watching yesterdays IndyCar race at Markham (30km north northeast of Toronto) I would love to see F1 move the F1 Canada race from Montreal to Markham. It's a MUCH more interesting track. But it won't happen because Markham doesn't have the garages and room that F1 tracks are required to have.

But the IndyCar race was spectacular... IMHO.

 

[Ron L]

Looking forward to F1 getting back to business after the summer break.

Anybody want to make a prediction on who wins this week?

 

[26StratMT]

Looking forward to F1 getting back to business after the summer break.

Anybody want to make a prediction on who wins this week?

Me too!
Been itching to get back to it.

I’m staying with Kimi unless something crazy happens.

Really hard to predict though, lots of teams bringing some big upgrades after the break.
Curious to see how the new Honda PU does in the Aston.

 

[Ron L]

Me too!
Been itching to get back to it.

I’m staying with Kimi unless something crazy happens.

Really hard to predict though, lots of teams bringing some big upgrades after the break.
Curious to see how the new Honda PU does in the Aston.

I agree, and IndyCar in Washington DC as well. Another new street course... but Markham will be a hard show to beat!

I think Kimi is a good choice. I hope the Honda runs great, but then I a big old optimist. And I wonder if being at home, will Max get any extra energy from the crowd?

 

[26StratMT]

I agree, and IndyCar in Washington DC as well. Another new street course... but Markham will be a hard show to beat!

I think Kimi is a good choice. I hope the Honda runs great, but then I a big old optimist. And I wonder if being at home, will Max get any extra energy from the crowd?

I’m pretty confident Honda will get it sorted eventually, they know how much their reputation (and money) is on the line.

Yea, I mean most drivers seem to get a little bump from home turf crowd but it doesn’t always end well!
Lots of times drivers have binned it in front of home crowds.
Maybe got a little too overzealous with the home fans pushing them on!
If I learned one thing, it’s never count Max out though.
So many races I thought he was cooked and he came back from the dead.

Seem to be some rumors floating around that Gene Haas may be losing some interest in F1.
I can’t say I would blame him really and he’s getting pretty old.
I really hope Toyota GR buys them at the end of the season, I think that would be great and they are already slightly integrated.
A real Toyota presence in F1 would be awesome.

 

[romanLegion9574]

Me too!
Been itching to get back to it.

Gonna be interesting; Hadjar hurt his wrist, so Liam gets the call up for the senior team drive, and Yuki takes his spot in Racing Bulls for the weekend.

With Max extending his contract, the race seems like an audition for Liam for some other teams. Even though I think he's doing more than enough to keep the Racing Bulls seat over Tsolov in F2, probably best for him to jump ship because he doesn't bring the same marketing value.

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