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Racing Point are the team that consistently out perform where they sit in terms of budget.
They were, but it's important to understand why. Now they want to step up to be title contenders, that will be difficult.
Back when they were struggling, they had no pretentions that they were just struggling to survive. They bought in any parts they could and had no compunctions about copying other teams designs (which isn't illegal.) Perez was technically a pay driver, his money saved the team from collapse.
The problem with buying parts and copying designs is that you don't understand the thinking behind the designs. RP copied the Merc, but they don't understand the details of the aerodynamic design because they don't have the wind tunnel data used to refine them. Now they have an unstable car, but I think they may struggle to fix it, whereas the Merc engineers understand the fundamental concepts of how it works.
Same goes with things like transmissions, brakes, etc. Williams and McLaren can still build an entire car because they always had the philosophy that they aimed to challenge for championships, even though it would have been cheaper to buy those in. Next year the rules change and RP/AM don't have full control over the design of their car because they are stuck with Merc transmissions. If Merc get the design right, AM might come in second, but they won't come first because you will never win championships by copying.
McLaren and Williams stuck to the idea that they aimed to challenge for championships and needed to be able to design every part of the car rather than aiming to be top of the B teams. The reason Ricciardo went to McLaren is that they were the top option available for 2022 (rejected by Red Bull, Merc, and Ferrari). McLaren are far from favourites for next year, but they can't be discounted at title contenders because they understand how to build a complete car. Racing Point only ever aimed to survive by beating the mid-field teams, they won't be title contenders next year because they don't have the infrastructure to do that.
Funny thing is I quite like Vettel as a person. He became insufferable during the last 18 months or so of his championship years at RB and some of the time at Ferrari. However, away from the race track or out of the kitchen heat of racing he is quite personable. My sense is that AM wanted him as much for his experience and what he might be able to bring to the team in helping them to develop and not just a vain hope that he might help them win more races on the track. Before we get to the first weekend I am quite looking forward to this season as it does feel as though there could be quite a big shake up - especially if RB are fast out of the gates. Agre with other comments that Mercedes are a class act and do appear to have the ability to get to grips with issues in their cars quite quickly - although they did struggle a couple of seasons ago in trying to get the tyres into their operating window. In the end it didn't matter too much as Vettel failed to capitalise and RB weren't fast enough early enough in the season. I can certainly anticipate tensions at RB between Perez and Max which, ironically, may end up costing them vital points. Really looking forward to the season!
. My sense is that AM wanted him as much for his experience and what he might be able to bring to the team in helping them to develop and not just a vain hope that he might help them win more races on the track.
Vettel and Adrian Newey had a close relationship at Red Bull, they communicated well and built a series of cars that won four WDCs on the trot.
RP copied the Merc, but they don’t understand the details of the aerodynamic design because they don’t have the wind tunnel data used to refine them. Now they have an unstable car, but I think they may struggle to fix it, whereas the Merc engineers understand the fundamental concepts of how it works.
I'm beginning to come round to this way of thinking - on outright pace RP should not have finished fourth last year, something was amiss. This year they've tinkered with the car and installed 2020 Merc rear suspension but they don't appear to be able to tie it all together.
The reason Ricciardo went to McLaren is that they were the top option available for 2022 (rejected by Red Bull, Merc, and Ferrari). McLaren are far from favourites for next year, but they can’t be discounted at title contenders because they understand how to build a complete car.
McLaren have infrastructure work in the pipeline, including a state of the art wind tunnel that's likely to be completed early next year. The '22 car may not benefit from this data in it's initial form, but it's sure to develop rapidly after that.
I’d love to see McLaren back at the front. Still my favourite team - the start of the Senna/Prost era was my introduction to F1.
been looking forward to this season more than any other for a while. Don't like supporting a team over another but I can't wait to see if RB and the others can bring the fight to Mercedes.
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Alonso slowest so far...I see toys flying soon 🙂
He should have themed toys for each race - cuddly camels for Bahrain perhaps!...
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🙂
Vettel doing cheesy Aston Ads.
Bottas fastest, Hamilton third...Norris second(!). Six minutes left.
Both Astons slower than the Alfa Romeos, Ocon and Alonso further back than predicted.
And Verstappen now fastest.
And Verstappen now fastest.
and fewest laps
Verstappen ballsed up the final sector of his fast lap too apparently.
Don't mean a thing until Sunday afternoon though.
Promising FP1! Hopefully bodes well for some good battles.
Well, those top 9 spots are all pretty volatile 🙂 Five teams in the top 7 suggests a good few drivers have more to come.
Couple of interesting things below there in what looks like it might be a more stable bit of the table, though: specifically Alfa and Alpine quite precisely swapping places compared to where I’d expect them.
Will be interesting seeing how this shakes out over the weekend 🙂
Verstappen ballsed up the final sector of his fast lap too apparently.
and Hamilton was fastest in first sector, but got traffic in the next 2, apparently
Alpine not looking too good there, massive gap to the front and potentially within striking distance of Williams?
Dunno why, but I thought Williams would have made a bit more progress. Still looking a long way off the pace.
Have I missed something with Alfa? They were really struggling last year & it was pretty sad to see Raikonnen fishing around at the back of the field. Firmly in the mid-pack though based off that short practice session.
Interesting to see Vettel already faster than Stroll - I would expect that to be a sign of things to come?
Haas looking like they are just going to be making up the numbers this year.
Tsunoda fastest of the new boys...I've heard lots good about him.
Alpine say they were just focusing on long-run pace, not qualifying. I hope that's the case, otherwise this is what their debrief with Alonso is going to look like.
I don’t know about anyone else but I’ll chuck a fiver in the hat to bribe the Alpine pit wall to send the radio message “Esteban is faster than you”.
Dunno why, but I thought Williams would have made a bit more progress. Still looking a long way off the pace.
I think like Haas - the new money has arrived a bit too late for them and they are focussing on next years car (which is logical). I can see them picking up a few points this season though.
Alfa had the rubbish hobbled Ferrari engine last year. They now have the updated 'no longer the naughty boys' engine for this season. Think FIA have given them their fuel back! 🤣
I don’t know about anyone else but I’ll chuck a fiver in the hat to bribe the Alpine pit wall to send the radio message “Esteban is faster than you”.
Cruel. But sometimes cruelty is funny.
Go Lando!
The morning times were on a very hot track, I was expecting to see a change in the afternoon pecking order, but I am cautiously optimistic that McLaren have an absolute belter on their hands for the first time in a decade.
There's plenty of speculation that Mclaren have done a "Braun" and come up with a rear diffuser concept different to everyone else within the new aero regs
Vettel and Alonso must surely be disappointed with that!
I know it's only practice, but some big dollar superstars looking a bit overpaid from this list.
https://twitter.com/F1/status/1375478716856418309
Andrew Benson reckons Ham and Ver are neck and neck on long run pace, but they thing Ham has his engine turned down. I think he said that Norris is way off on long run pace, but I might have misheard.
The Merc weakness in testing was rear end instability. They seem to have dealt with that, but now have an understeering car.
https://the-race.com/formula-1/the-first-signs-that-mercedes-is-solving-its-main-weakness/
Merc and Hamilton have a history of looking weak on Friday and then looking like geniuses on Sunday. The Honda engine looks like the real deal on power, but my money is on Merc being able to turn it up when they need to without blowing shit up.
Interesting to see Vettel already faster than Stroll – I would expect that to be a sign of things to come?
Depends how you read that I suppose, I looked at it and thought 'Stroll's only a tenth off a four-times world champ' Vettel will be a good benchmark to judge him against, Perez is good but he only had one year against a top-class driver, I hope he can take the fight to Verstappen
There’s plenty of speculation that Mclaren have done a “Braun” and come up with a rear diffuser concept different to everyone else within the new aero regs
That’s not speculation, there are photos and videos of it all over the place. Unclear at this moment the level of improvement it makes, certainly not a double of blown diffuser level though
Interesting times. Fully expect Hamilton to be closer to Verstappen in qualifying. Lando and the McLaren still seem like a wildcard until then, but if last year’s season start was anything to go by you’d be unwise to bet against Lando’s pace, especially if that diffuser is as trick as it might be.
Remains to be seen how close Ricciardo and Perez get. But then Perez has never been a qualifier, he’s very much Mr Sunday.
I’m already inching forward in my seat to see turn 4 on lap 1 of the race. There’s gonna be a wing or two lost there.
Verstappen on Pole, Hamilton second, Norris third.
Turn 4 on lap 1 of the race, Hamilton throws it up the inside of Verstappen, who turns in, wipes them both out and Norris takes the lead, which he never relinquishes on his way to his first win?
Not impossible, though I’m not sure Hamilton would go all-in on lap 1 of the season. Plus if there’s an incident like that at the sharp end then my money’s on Perez. Norris could very well be in the mix either way, though…
Okay, so the conditions at Bahrain today were apparently quite windy, historically something that has not been good for McLaren so it's clear that they've made strides here, as have Red Bull who have a car that's both fast and can be leaned on. The weather might explain why Aston were so far back?
On outright quali pace McLaren look good, but I suspect their race pace is a somewhat different story. I don't think they'll be bothering Merc or RB just yet, but strategy calls have been McLaren's strong point since Siedl was appointed.
think mercs will be pleased. I doubt we've seen the anything like full grunt from that motor yet.
Ha ha, Mazepin spins on his first qualifying lap.
Vettel booted in Q1!
Ha ha, Mazepin spins on his first qualifying lap.
And the second - couldn't happen to a nicer bloke.
The Alfa Tauri is a little rocket.
oops redbull hiccup