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Has Verstappen got a weird driving style? Maybe his style just suits however the car is. Then if he’s doing well in it the engineers listen to his feedback and make the car more as he likes it, the designers make next year’s car more like and you end up with a viscious cycle creating a peculiar handling car only he can get a grip of.
Albon says that Max runs more front end than just about anyone he knows of. Which implies less rear stability so perhaps they have gone with Max's direction, which is understandable as it is team Max to an extent. And since Ricciardo left there's only been one consistent driver to develop the car.
Would PG now get on with the RB? His tail was pretty high when he joined RB. Same as ALbon. Different cars.
Certainly the mystery of the season is trying to figure out what Bottas’s “plan” was to beat Hamilton. Unless he was carrying a significant mechanical issue, finishing ten seconds ahead of Hamilton, when he had a bunch of time robbed by a restart, 30 seconds lost to the penalty, and about ten cars to overtake, is making him look very average again. As did Norris’s brilliant move on him on the first lap.
If he has a plan he's deluding himself
I think Norris has a good point - maybe not that changing tyres under a red flag should be banned (because we've seen races flagged and everyone then swapping to full wets because conditions were horrendous) - but it shouldn't be allowed to be classed as the mandatory change. It's a within the rules but not the spirit loophole imo.
They could solve it by mandating a pitstop during the race. Red flag means race suspended so anything that happens in that time doesn’t count. Same as they do with serving penalties.
Edit, hmm that could still shaft folk in a two+ stop race. Only allow a change of tyres if weather/safety necessitates?
Grosjean has the lap record at Mugello…
Only in so much as he's set the fastest official time (test sessions) Actual (unofficial) record is held by Barrichello.
Anyone spot the sideline that Renault are changing names to Alpine next year?
TBH unless they specifically say otherwise we just assume that Toleman/Benetton/Renault/Lotus Renault(no hyphen)/Lotus-Renault(with hyphen)/Renault will be changing their name.
Lewis's penalty was harsh. From way out in front to 30 seconds behind last place. Although it only took him about 5 laps to make up that 30s!
Maybe 10 seconds on his time would have been fairer. Good to see the unusual podium though.
Lewis’s penalty was harsh.
Deliberately so, and for good reason. In this case, it was clearly not intentional, but it is a serious safety risk to have cars entering pit lane when it's closed. Therefore there is a mandatory 10 second stop-go penalty. There is no leeway in imposing it, that's the only penalty available, as I understand it. If it was just 10 seconds added to the race time, teams would be tempted to deliberately break the rule in order to get a tyre change done before anybody else. Therefore, there is a severe penalty imposed with no leeway given because it's a serious safety issue. It might have been inadvertent, but Merc and Hamilton were stone-cold guilty. The drivers who didn't break the rules benefited because they didn't break the rules.
Crazy that with a steering wheel that's able to display Blue flags, time deltas and all the car settings that it doesn't have an automated 'Pit Lane Closed' display!
Crazy that with a steering wheel that’s able to display Blue flags, time deltas and all the car settings that it doesn’t have an automated ‘Pit Lane Closed’ display
NASCAR never seem to have this problem, and their steering wheels are far simpler. “Pit lane closed” over the radio tends to do it. OTOH the guys on the F1 wall don’t half waffle on these days (from listening to the YouTube radio vid), even Sainz was confused when you really just need someone shouting clear instructions in that situation
Simon Roberts takes over as acting team principal at Williams
https://www.racefans.net/2020/09/08/simon-roberts-takes-over-as-acting-team-principal-at-williams/
oomidamon
Full MemberGood article about the call to bring Lewis in here
Posted 1 hour ago
I hadn't seen that full bit of footage before, at a glance the flashing pit closed sign looks really similar to the flashing SC sign so it's easy to see how the driver missed it.
Given the valid safety concerns perhaps a traffic light near the pit entrance would make sense, much harder to miss if it's only ever green or red.
Job jobbed.
If it was just 10 seconds added to the race time, teams would be tempted to deliberately break the rule in order to get a tyre change done before anybody else.
I have to confess that when they initially mentioned the issue in commentary, being unsure of what the actual penalty was, I did think perhaps it was a calculated violation: get it done, take the advantage, put some qualifying laps in and stay ahead.
It would be interesting (maybe) to see an article that worked out how it would likely have played out if Charles hadn’t stuffed his shitbox into the wall.
It would be interesting (maybe) to see an article that worked out how it would likely have played out if Charles hadn’t stuffed his shitbox into the wall.
The pack were bunched up anyway due to kmags safety car, and he would’ve had to take the penalty within 3 laps, so while he might’ve pulled 10 secs back in those laps, I can’t see it would’ve made much difference to the result. Save for stroll finishing a lot further down the order...
Might have been different if they’d added 30 secs to his finish time, with him having stayed in front.
Perez off at the end of the season.
Looks like Vettel to AMR?
Perez off at the end of the season.
Worst kept secret ever
We all know that but now it’s official.
Perez was absolutely adamant he was staying a couple of weeks ago.
Blimey, wasn't expecting to see that until the end of the season. So Seb to Ferrari, are there any other seats not confirmed yet?
Great, another season of watching Vettel being tediously average.
On a brighter note, I see they’ve painted the Shitbox a fetching shade of Haemorrhoids for this weekend.
Hopefully they’ll be able to repeat Mercedes’ spectacular anniversary celebrations, especially as I seem to recall reading that they’re also hosting Netflix at Mugello. I’ve got the popcorn already.
are there any other seats not confirmed yet?
Several. If I recall: Hamilton, Albon, both Alpha Tauris (obviously the RB/AT cockpits are basically a sporadic game of musical chairs anyway), both Haas and both Alfa Romeos.
On a brighter note, I see they’ve painted the Shitbox a fetching shade of Haemorrhoids for this weekend.
Safety cars are Ferrari red too.
Can’t wait for a Merc to hold the lap record there 🤭
Entirely unrelated to the topic above, but I've just noticed that Schumacher and Hamilton have a combined win total only two behind McLaren.
Between them they have won more than one sixth of all F1 races ever held.
.
I thought that was quite impressive.
I thought that was quite impressive
Lewis alone has started a quarter of all F1 races, owing to the 20 odd a season we have now, rather than a handful in the early years
Can't see any mention of a multi-year deal though, so might be the ringing endorsement of a 1 year contract.
Hope Checo finds a seat - I think he's still got a lot to offer.
Can see Hass snatching up Perez asap if he is willing to go there
Wonder who they will get rid of Magnussen or Grosjean?
Can’t see any mention of a multi-year deal though
Deal is for “2021 and beyond”, according to the F1 site.
Gonna be a great mid-field battle next year, Alonso, Vettel, Leclerc, Sainz, Norris and Ricciardo scrapping it out.
bluearsedfly
Safety cars are Ferrari red too.
Probably the only time a red car will be leading the pack
escrs
Free Member
Can see Hass snatching up Perez asap if he is willing to go thereWonder who they will get rid of Magnussen or Grosjean?
Wasn't there rumours a few weeks ago that Grosjean might be replaced my Hulkenberg. I'd be happy if Haas dumped Grosjean & Magnussen & replaced them with Perez & Hulkenberg!
Bez
Several. If I recall: Hamilton, Albon, both Alpha Tauris (obviously the RB/AT cockpits are basically a sporadic game of musical chairs anyway), both Haas and both Alfa Romeos.
Thanks, Haas and Alfa I guess are potentials for Perez then.
Honda are keen to get a Japanese driver on the grid ASAP so I wouldn't be surprised if they put Tsunoda in Kvyat's seat at some point. Not sure if he's got enough points for a super licence yet.
eta: if he keeps third in f2 he will have enough points
Can see Hass snatching up Perez asap if he is willing to go there
Wonder who they will get rid of Magnussen or Grosjean?
Bye Bye K-Mag
If its a choice between Magnussen and Grosjean, I'm pretty sure they will keep Grosjean. He gets on a lot better with the team and is well liked in the paddock generally.
Wasn’t there rumours a few weeks ago that Grosjean might be replaced my Hulkenberg.
Then again maybe its goodbye to them both!
I never cease to be amazed that Haas have kept both of those two every year. Neither is consistent and they’re both a liability. But then the whole outfit has just looked like chaos from the outset; they got a bit lucky in the early days and since then it’s had regular elements of train wreck. I can only assume Netflix is paying Gene to stay in so they can have guaranteed material every year.
Doesn't KMag bring a bucket load of cash to the team from his personal sponsors?
richmtb
Bye Bye K-Mag
If its a choice between Magnussen and Grosjean, I’m pretty sure they will keep Grosjean. He gets on a lot better with the team and is well liked in the paddock generally.
K-Mag has had better results points over all, i couldn't be bothered to tally up all the car failures so bear that in mind
[code]______RG__KM___Winner
2017__28__19___RG
2018__37__56___KM
2019__8___20___KM
2020__0___1____KM[/code]
edit: excuse the underscores, STW apparently doesn't format [ code ] properly
Wonder why there's a ? for the second Aston Martin seat in that graphic - is Lance Stroll not contracted already?
I assume they didn't want to formally announce drivers until they'd sorted out the Perez thing.
The ? for the 2nd Mercedes head is a bit dubious too.
I mean c'mon. They ain't gonna offer it to Pastor Maldonado
But then is Toto still going to be at the helm next year? If not then Lewis’s contract isn’t quite as much of a shoo-in as it would otherwise be.
But I think he might like the prospect of being on track with Vettel, Alonso and Verstappen all in fairly competitive cars.
Toto has confirmed another year.
Toto has said he's sticking with merc but hasn't confirmed what role he'll have - my guess is he is thinking of a Lauda style position where he is involved in running the team but doesn't have to be at every race,but can still support the new team principal as a bit of a handover.
Team Principle of Mercedes would be big shoes to fill. Who could they hire to do that?!?
Yeah, quite. All sounds a bit like next year might be a transition year: enough stability to keep Hamilton onboard but with Wolff looking to spread his wings. 2022 might look quite different: big changes to the formula and Russell is available then as well.
Who could they hire to do that?!?
Claire Williams
I’m pretty sure they will keep Grosjean. He gets on a lot better with the team and is well liked in the paddock generally.
I'm sure they love his dangerous weaving (but it was ok because it was less dangerous on a straight rather than a braking zone as self commentated by him at Monza), crashing into the barrier under the safety car and blaming someone for ramming him, or possibly his cat like reactions of flooring the throttle in the middle of the track during a spin to recreate a Days of Thunder scenario......
My kids moan less than him, give someone else a chance (although Gunther would have less to moan about)
Team Principle of Mercedes would be big shoes to fill. Who could they hire to do that?!?
Nico seems to have an awful lot to say now he's no longer having to prove himself on track. Maybe he could manage the team by live tweeting his input ?!
But then is Toto still going to be at the helm next year? If not then Lewis’s contract isn’t quite as much of a shoo-in as it would otherwise be.
He's incredibly valuable as a face for marketing, he will re-sign for some ridiculous salary. The only real question about his contract is how long it will run for.
see the ferrari have painted their car the colour of a bloody turd, how appropriate
95th pole now. With 8 more races after this, what’s the chance he makes 100 by the end of the year?
Quite a lot I’d imagine. I wonder where Bottas head is? Always playing second fiddle to Lewis on the track, is fastest through all the practise session, then Lewis yet again pips him to pole. Must be frustrating.
If you’re going to get beaten by someone it might as well be the guy setting records though. Probably ok to get your head around unless he truly believes he’s Hamilton’s equal
Always playing second fiddle to Lewis on the track, is fastest through all the practise session, then Lewis yet again pips him to pole. Must be frustrating.
Thing is, Bottas is generally really close to Hamilton in qualifying, it's not like Red Bull with Albon half a second behind Verstappen. Problem for Bottas seems to be more in the race rather than qualifying, he hasn't looked close to Hamilton over a race distance this year. Opposite for Albon, he seems to race better than he qualifies.
True. What's that, 7-2 to Hamilton now? But a lot of those have been by hundreths rather than tenths, Bottas is a lot closer than the headline numbers suggest.
If the tyre failures at Silverstone had been the other way around he could be leading the championship.
And losiing to someone with a legitimate claim to be the goat isn't too embarassing.
.
The gap is much. much smaller than say Verstappen/Albon or LeClerc/Vettel.
Who are most closely matched, Norris/Sainz?
It's interesting that Hamilton took longer than expected to get his head round the new circuit, but that he tried it on the Mercedes simulator first. My guess is that his brain learnt the simulator version of the track - simulations are never perfect - and he had to re-learn it for real.
Swapped from TdF to F1 just in time for the start - that got entertaining!
that was ****ing ridiculously dangerous
All the back markers trying to 2nd guess when bottas was going to go to try and make up places. Bit too keen it seems
those at the back see green lights so they floor it, further forward they go when bottas goes so there's always going to be a shunt.
They know they can’t overtake until the finish line though. Someone went, realised they were going to overtake before the line, slowed, so everyone behind ran into the back of them, causing a concertina effect.
don't show them a green light then.
Not much salvageable from that tracing point.
This is chaotic!
I missed the restart crash, was back on TdF by then. Switched back during an ad break just as Lance Stroll disappeared stage left.
I missed the restart crash, was back on TdF by then
Multi screen for me!
ferrari under pressure from alpha tauri in the constructors! 😉
Couldn’t help but be reminded of Billy Mongers crash seeing the onboard replays of that, Sainz looked properly shook up.
Double kick in the spuds for Bottas watching Hamilton set the fastest lap right in front of him.
Red Bull appear to be cheating on the engine modes too. Definitely running 2 modes! Quali has battery, race doesn't.
Bottas saying he wants different tyres to Hamilton then pitting first doesn't really work does it!
Crazy race. Anything could have happened. Was also amazed to see how knackered Lewis was at the end, that was a long way from a cakewalk.
Been a really interesting season, despite Lewis dominance.
Last two races have had more incidents and interest, as well as great racing and some unpredictable results, than some entire seasons. Mugello should be on the calendar every year - seems to have the ideal combination of speed and overtaking opportunities with the propensity for incidents. Much more interesting than the borefest of Monaco and some of the newer circuits. Shame Russell in the Williams didn't get a point after a really strong drive.
Red Bull appear to be cheating on the engine modes too. Definitely running 2 modes! Quali has battery, race doesn’t.
Excellent.
Last two races have had more incidents and interest, as well as great racing and some unpredictable results, than some entire seasons.
I am however with Wolff on trying to inject unpredictability through reverse grid qualifiers, that stops being a sport and just becomes a spectacle. Top 10 pole shootout could work though, just one lap to prove yourself, make a mistake and no more chances to correct it you are out of position. They could even do that in reverse championship order, so the championship chasers know what they have to do to take pole.
Mugello should be on the calendar every year – seems to have the ideal combination of speed and overtaking opportunities with the propensity for incidents.
My impression was it's too narrow for 20 of todays stellar fast F1 cars on track at the same time.
It looks wonderful and was awesome in qualifying to watch the speed they could carry through the bends. But in reality there's one overtaking spot and they need DRS.
I hope Imola can cope as that's one of my all time favourite tracks.
Top 10 pole shootout could work though, just one lap to prove yourself, make a mistake and no more chances to correct it you are out of position.
There's a bunch of problems with that, mainly around changing conditions: if you've got a drying or wetting track then grid order will pretty much the order they go out in or the reverse; whereas if you've got a less-frequently used track or a street circuit that rubbers in over the session then that'll massively the grid order; if the wind picks up or changes direction it'll affect everything; and so on.
seems to have the ideal combination of speed and overtaking opportunities with the propensity for incidents
Mm, maybe. To be honest, though, turn 1 is the only reliable overtaking opportunity, and DRS makes it a walk in the park. Turns 2-3 offer some opportunities for carrying on throwing punches out of turn 1, but the rest of the track offers no overtaking at all.
Great track to drive, but I think had we not had the drama yesterday it would have been a lacklustre race. It was fortunate (from a safety angle rather than a popcorn angle) we didn't get more tyre failures, I think.
Problem for Bottas seems to be more in the race rather than qualifying, he hasn’t looked close to Hamilton over a race distance this year
I think people are missing the obvious point. The best team needs the best driver, the best car and the best second driver. It is a team sport after all. A bit like in the tour where there is the GC rider and the spare to keep the leader honest. Of course Bottas wants to win, but he's doing a great team job for Lewis too.
As for the race - watched it late last night. Every overtake on Turn 1 with DRS, and I don't like seeing quite so much carbon flying around. That restart was ridiculous, The halo was put into good effect on at least two occasions I noted.
Masi is in danger of making himself look a bit of a dick by digging his heels in as hard as he is over that restart procedure. Just turn the safety car lights out at least one corner before the last braking zone in the lap, problem solved. They should have gone off coming out of turn 12 at the latest. If something’s as predictable and as dangerous as what happened yesterday, it’s fairly indefensible.
