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Get in line - Knockhill first! Could even do a double-header and run Knockhill in reverse for one race
Actually that car looks/sounds a bit of a handful, even accounting for how green the track must be.
Is that not the horrible SUV they roll out as a safety car sometimes?
Would explain why the track looks narrower too.
For comparison, a masterclass in smooooooth from Prost -
I was wondering whether the safety car just makes it LOOK narrow, as it's so big - then I thought, "I bet a current F1 car's not that much smaller...."
PS - Bring back manual boxes! 🙂
PS – Bring back manual boxes!
Can you imagine the extra workload of manually shifting an 8 speed box while fiddling with all the other widgetry they have these days? IIRC one argument against the original F duct was that it required the driver to take their hand off the wheel, and that was when they were going in a straight line.
Actually, that begs a trivia question - what's the highest level of motorsport that still uses a manual gearbox?
Actually, that begs a trivia question – what’s the highest level of motorsport that still uses a manual gearbox?
Nascar?
I was wondering whether the safety car just makes it LOOK narrow, as it’s so big – then I thought, “I bet a current F1 car’s not that much smaller….”
True, but its an awful lot lower then the roof of an SUV
Nascar?
Yep
Can you imagine the extra workload of manually shifting an 8 speed box while fiddling with all the other widgetry they have these days?
Sure, bring it on! 🙂
Is that not the horrible SUV they roll out as a safety car sometimes?
Yeah, I think you’re right. The way it moves around on turn-in it looks very top-heavy. Either way, it’s not screaming “buy an Aston” to me 🙂 (not that there’d be much point aiming that at me anyway of course 😉)
Edit: actually, no… just seen a picture on another page, it is definitely the car, not the tractor 😳
Isn't the Aston safety car a Vantage. The medical car is the SUV DBX
I see Lewis has borrowed some bins from Drooper 😂
judging by the F3 practice the perfect transport for this weekend is a gravel bike
Dear Drooper
I am getting a lot of hassle because you are quicker round my home track than me, and everyone knows I am supposed to win this one.
Love Max
Shouldn't he be leaning the scooter the other way on the banking?
The marshals seem really on the ball don’t they?
The marshals seem really on the ball don’t they?
A lot more so than the FIA/Race control - we only found out the session was restarting after Vettle's Engine failure from the TV...
Too late to edit my post - the marshals were also possibly waiting for race control before going to help??
Trolling level: GOAT 😂
Hopefully just a Friday glitch, but potential major problem for Merc teams.
https://twitter.com/GaryAndersonF1/status/1433795684583591936
Can you imagine the extra workload of manually shifting an 8 speed box while fiddling with all the other widgetry they have these days?
my suggestion would be to use a 6 speed and take all the buttons off the steering wheel.
What a bizarre comment. Desperate to find someone to have a fight with?
Really didn’t mean to come across like that. Beer may have occurred before my post.
Can you imagine the extra workload of manually shifting an 8 speed box
I get the idea of reducing driver aids to make it a test of skill, but all it would do is lead to expensive engine blow-ups when drivers got downshifts wrong under pressure. Obviously, you could use sequential shift boxes to prevent that, but teams would quickly find workarounds to replicate the functioning of automatic shifting. It would be fairly trivial to set up a sequential shifter to preload the gear selection then use an auto throttle to trigger the shit using a dual-shaft gearbox. Except that would be just as expensive as the current transmissions. There's zero support among the teams for going back to manual shifting using old fashioned gearboxes, teams don't want to pay for scrapped engines because of misshifts.
I get the idea of reducing driver aids to make it a test of skill, but all it would do is lead to expensive engine blow-ups when drivers got downshifts wrong under pressure.
How often did that happen back in the day? Have a bit of faith in their ability! 🙂
No-one's seriously advocating for it, but regulations could be written to make gearboxes entirely manual, no sweat.
A manual box would be seen as a step backwards by the driveline suppliers, they want to be able to sell their turbo hybrid semi auto to the public.
H gate gearboxes are long in the past for performance cars.
I take it all back - semi-auto is best and makes the racing GREAT!!
Edit - just to reiterate again (as the frivolity was seemingly missed when previously mentioned), no-one's seriously advocating a return to manual boxes.
i am.
i want to see them driving brutally demanding cars. i want them to be safe, but i want them to be difficult to drive. i understand that this isn’t F1 (F1is what it is), but it would be great to watch expert drivers wrestling cars with more power than grip, but with excellent handling
it would be great to watch expert drivers wrestling cars with more power than grip, but with excellent handling
Put some sprinklers round the circuit with random timers. Except that's already been suggested and nobody likes the idea.
The current cars already have more power than grip, but they have incredibly complex engine control electronics to balance the power split between the ICE and electrical side of things, and to manage the lag from the turbos. Those electronics make the cars drivable. What you are really asking is for the engine manufacturers to program the electronics to make the cars harder to drive. They aren't going to do that, they want to win races.
I think speedway sprint cars are what you want to see.
but i want them to be difficult to drive.
Just because they make look easy, doesn’t mean it is.
i want to see them driving brutally demanding cars.
watch on Sunday then
Just because they make look easy, doesn’t mean it is.
That Alonso helmet cam cottage was quite revealing. Coping with that for two hrs let alone the mental energy of keeping the thing on the road and racing other people must be hugely fatiguing and difficult.
Kimi has covid, Kubica called up.
Raikkonen, 41, is currently isolating in his hotel, with the team saying he is “displaying no symptoms and is in good spirits”.
I bet he’s in the spirits!
And Max under investigation for passing stroll under red flags. How brave are the stewards feeling?
Not sure there’s much in the red flag incident, beyond a trip to the stewards and a slap on the wrists anyway
Well he got away with it, but earlier this year Norris was penalised for not diving into the pit lane when he was passing the entrance as the red flags came out. So, stewards not brave enough to apply the same standards to the Dutch protégé at his home race...
Norris was confusion with the team wasn’t it? On this occasion Max was on a fast lap passing someone on a slow lap and lifted off as soon as he saw the lights flashing - seems fair to have no penalty
Lando received a grid penalty in Baku for a red flag infringement double standards.
That Alonso helmet cam cottage was quite revealing. Coping with that for two hrs let alone the mental energy of keeping the thing on the road and racing other people must be hugely fatiguing and difficult.
Yep, 90kg+ load on the neck though the corners, I had a gander at the driver fitness stand at silverstone a couple of years ago. I could just about pass the grip test with my right hand, I’m way too heavy though.
Russell: Watch this!
Latifi: Hold my beer.
Is it just me, or is this a soulless track with all the character of a run down go-cart track on an out of town industrial estate. I thought the banked corners was going to create some drama and interest, but it is just leaving me cold.
I thought the banked corners was going to create some drama and interest, but it is just leaving me cold.
Latifi and Mazepin's battle for 18th is pretty riveting.
Wow this really has been a boring race. Quite why they bought it onto the calendar is beyond me.
Verstappen is why it's on the calendar, so it'll be there for a good few years.
I like the track, it's like a roller coaster on the on boards, shame they can't overtake on it.
naughty bottas 😁
Russell in the Merc at MonzA?
Not a fan of Zandvoort. Tactically interesting, visually good for the first few laps but it's going to turn into another Singapore. Once the novelty wears off it's just a boring processional race where the team will know the optimum strategy and overtakes are near-impossible.
Wow this really has been a boring race. Quite why they bought it onto the calendar is beyond me.
Liberty wanted to get back to a few of the classic tracks and as Verstappen's the current golden boy we ended up running round a track that is at the limit of how small an F1 track can be. A lot of people who race there in other formulae have said it's not much more suitable than Brands Hatch or Oulton Park, narrow with a short lap and very few overtaking opportunities for F1 cars.
naughty bottas
He went in for tyres first - I can't see him doing that if the team weren't planning it. My assumption is that Mercedes wanted him to be ready to take the point off Verstappen if it looked like he might get it, but to back off if Hamilton was going to get it.
Boring race, best bit was norris getting the giggles after saying the word 'blowy'in his interview with Natalie 😁
What was the drama with Mick and maz? Must have missed that when I was snoozing
They would have been so much better going to Kyalami. It would have bought far, far more to the table. Plus Verstappen already has Belgium on the calander.
He went in for tyres first – I can’t see him doing that if the team weren’t planning it. My assumption is that Mercedes wanted him to be ready to take the point off Verstappen if it looked like he might get it, but to back off if Hamilton was going to get it.
he was told to abort his fastest lap after getting new tyres, but he still took it off LH
There was an interesting twist, though, when Mercedes pulled Bottas in for a late pit stop and ordered him not to go for fastest lap - only for the Finn to ignore the plea.
Before the end of the lap, strategy director James Vowles came on the radio and asked him to "please abort the fastest lap attempt" but despite that Bottas did post the quickest time - which many will see as an indication that George Russell will be announced as his replacement at Mercedes within the next few days.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/58455786
Well that was **** dreadful. 5 weeks without an F1 race and that’s what we got.. Very glad I recorded it and watched in 30x speed. Even at that rate I was bored!! Just hit play now and then for a pit stop and kept an eye on the gap between Verstappen and Hamilton. Shite.
It’s times like this I’m thankful they still put a 5mins highlights video on YouTube
Well I really enjoyed it! 🙂
Way more overtaking through the field than I thought there'd be. Some really good battles, and Hamilton keeping Max on his toes when I really though Max would head off into the distance.
It was ok, I'd hoped for more but Max was just too fast for Lewis today.
I was surprised to see the graphic that Vettel has had the most overtakes of the season so far, who knew? 😂
You know its shit when the commentators drone on about "oh it's been a great strategic race". Thats speak for "its been like watching paint dry and we will need to wang on about how great the second coming is once again".
Best race for ages for me. Certainly no "procession", look at Alonso and Perez.
It was a great mix of driver talent, team strategy and atmosphere at an iconic track. Plus the inter team shenanigans, Ocon/Alonso, Mazepin/Schumacher and Bottas sticking it to Mercedes. Max leading and ultimately winning only added to the fantastic occasion. Drivers (mostly) showing respect and team principles publicly acknowledging other's strategic triumphs all contributed to a brilliant spectacle for F1. It all bodes well for the rest of the season for me.
One for the real fans, mid field and inter team battles and strategy twists and turns, I thought it was good
Wasn't a classic for sure but I wouldn't describe it as boring either.
Decent enough race, I think. As strategy-heavy races go, it delivered, especially with Lewis giving it everything on an inferior strategy—there were moments when it looked like he was making the impossible possible. And a surprising amount of action in the midfield.
Shame to see Mazepin up to his old tricks again, though. He really has no place on a race track. A thoroughly karmic DNF. It’s like Gene and Gunther must sit down every season and go, right, what sort of monumental bit of a mess of a driver line-up shall we run next year? They must be gutted that they didn’t have Mazepin and Magnussen at the same time. Think of the glazing sponsorship they could have pulled in.
Winced slightly when Valtteri stuck the lap in 😉
Bottas confirmed at Alfa Romeo, multi year deal
Bottas confirmed at Alfa Romeo, multi year deal
Every reason now for Mercedes to openly ensure he doesn't take a point away from Lewis ever again.
Oooh I Wonder who'll replace him at Mercedes? 😂
Every reason now for Mercedes to openly ensure he doesn’t take a point away from Lewis ever again.
Every reason for Bottas to stick up the middle finger and drive for himself. He won’t, but there is no way to ensure he does anything once he’s in the car
but there is no way to ensure he does anything once he’s in the car
What about anti strategic pit stops feeding into traffic, "wrong" tyre choice and so forth?
Nope, because they also want to win the constructors championship…… and would look like unprofessional dicks for hobbling the guy on his way out of the door. Sponsors would not be impressed
I agree a really dull race designed to take in money rather than provide a decent race. It was a shame that David redbull groupie coulthard was back giving his usual high standards of unbiased commentary and analysis
So Bottas is facing up to the fact that he'll never be world champion. While he was with Merc there was always a glimmer of hope, but even with the new rules I'm not convinced he'll taste much champagne with Alfa. Must be a tough day when you look in the mirror and admit you're only in it for the money.
As for the race, it was a classic F1 "watch the gaps shrink and extend" type of race rather than wheel to wheel at the front. As usual the midfield was still pretty close but that never seems to excite some. I enjoyed it, but if Max were to quit F1 it obviously wouldn't stay on the calendar.
I like the Jensen Button commentary on Sky F1, especially at the point he said "...well one of us sitting here commentating has won an F1 World Championship..."
ouch 🙂
Must be a tough day when you look in the mirror and admit you’re only in it for the money.
Really? I get that every time I go to work, and I guess his job is a lot more fun than mine, even if he's not winning.
thepurist
Full Member
Must be a tough day when you look in the mirror and admit you’re only in it for the money.
Drive a F1 car, or not drive a F1 car...... I know what I'd chose to do
Must be a tough day when you look in the mirror and admit you’re only in it for the money.
Unless you actually enjoy racing cars. Getting paid millions to race a mid-field F1 car is still a pretty decent job.
As far as Bottas and Merc trying to sabotage each other, they are all professionals and I would not expect that from either side. Bottas is still paid to drive for Merc so he will conduct himself professionally. Merc seem to have a lot of respect for him and they aren't going to pull any dirty tricks on him. Lewis will probably retire in a couple of years so there's still a realistic chance of Bottas being taken back as a teammate for Russell.
From the timing looks like Bottas did back off. Still got fastest lap but not so fast it was going to trouble Hamilton on fresh tyres.
I'm getting the impression that C4's highlights were at fault - not the race!
I honestly though it was a decent race, not a classic but far from dull.
Am reeling from the shock announcement that absolutely noone saw coming - Bottas to Alfa Romeo. Gosh.
Lewis will probably retire in a couple of years so there’s still a realistic chance of Bottas being taken back as a teammate for Russell.
This did cross my mind too - but the fact of the matter Lewis has signed on for (at least) two more years, Bottas will be 34 at the end of 2023 and realistically will be looking to retire, not to return as understudy to newly promoted team leader Russell whom he doesn't have the best of relationships with.
Unless you actually enjoy racing cars. Getting paid millions to race a mid-field F1 car is still a pretty decent job.
True, but I'd wager that pretty much every driver who signs with an F1 team (not you, Mazepin!) believes they are a potential champion. That's probably been their dream since the early days of karting or F3, and for Bottas that dream is over. That's got to make a difference, but maybe it takes the pressure off and he can really just enjoy the racing now.
I really like Bottas
Vettel looks revitalised as a person as well as a driver having taken a step back from the pressure and expectation (and poison) at Ferrari to Aston Martin, and from the outside having the owners son as your team mate would look to be a horrible situation for him.
It could be a happier and racier Bottas we see next year. Some winning environments are built for ruthlessness, but it isn't the only way to win and some can be happier and win without that.
I turned it off after 10 minutes, but then I knew the result at that point.
I keep trying to stick with F1 but keep getting easily distracted. I think Max will be world champion this year, he really has the right car under him now and Merc are lagging ever so slightly. Next year though....I'm very interested to see that goes with the new cars and regs.
Thing is, if you are going to have to move to a low/midfield team, with the reg change it's probably about the best time possible.
They could even find something a la brawn and have a competitive car.
plumber
Free Member
I really like Bottas
Same, I was a fan when he was at Williams. He has the speed for the most part, I just think he lacks a bit of killer instinct.
If Lewis ended up at the back, I reckon he'd find his way back up to top 5, if not the podium. Whereas bottas would get stuck passing the mid field and end up about 8th. It's just that extra little bit that he lacks.