Andrew Benson on BBC is incredibly pessimistic about anyone’s chances of catching Red Bull this season (or next season…..or the one after that)
I agree,I’d say the early signs are that it’s similar to the Mercedes dominance of 2014-2021
Except, as he points out, the Mercedes domination wasn't what it seemed....A) they had two drivers who were just about on a level before Rosberg quit...Nobody thinks Perez is on Max's level b) they weren't dominant every year..Ferrari could have/should have won 2 years...
AM look like the most interesting story of the year. If Ferrari and/or Merc can’t sort their issues quickly it could lead to a good battle as the season progresses
I'll predict that any and every AM race win that does happen will be only as a direct consequence of a RB **** up.
I’ll predict that any and every AM race win that does happen will be only as a direct consequence of a RB **** up.
Agree
but the point is that currently it looks like AM getting the jump on Ferrari/Merc to collect those wins when they become available
I’ll predict that any and every AM race win that does happen will be only as a direct consequence of a RB **** up.
Additionally any AM podium will be accompanied by Red Bull moaning about how AM are cheating. (Whilst offering free sandwiches to everyone obvs)
Alonso 2nd in FP2. You really get a sense that being in a competitive car has awoken something in the old campaigner!
Conspiracy Theory : Alonso has been replace by an AI Borg
Facts
RB dominant - Tick
Ferrari cocking things up on their own - Tick
Mercedes struggling with technology that is great in computer models but not on track - Tick
Alonso leaves a struggling team who suddenly turn it all around while his new team nosedives - ANOMALLY DETECTED
FACT : The only POSSIBLE explanation is that Alonso is locked in a cupboard in the Alpine motorhome whilst AM are using a cyborg
Max - a second faster than Alonso in 3rd.
…it’s going to be a long drag of a season!
Watching Sebring 1000miles yesterday and IMSA today, it has to be said, WHAT THE HELL HAS HAPPENED TO PORSCHE!!! 🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️
The 919 was world beating monster - the 963 just looks slow 👎
Max gearbox issue. Ha ha. Should make tomorrow more interesting.
All the Max fans on here will be gutted ×tumbleweed emoji×
I'm so looking forward to Max going to overtake Fernando... could be epic.
Tomorrow we'll find out how fast that Red Bull really is.
I wouldnt rule out Max still getting on the podium given the pace advantage they seem to have.
I'm one. I like Max and Red Bull. I've liked them early Seb days. Not gutted, just looking forward to watching him race.
Watching Sebring 1000miles yesterday and IMSA today, it has to be said, WHAT THE HELL HAS HAPPENED TO PORSCHE!!! 🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️
The 919 was world beating monster – the 963 just looks slow 👎
New cars so itll take time, think of Toyota and the new Audi.
I’m so looking forward to Max going to overtake Fernando… could be epic
Def worth a watch!
MV still has a fair chance of winning. Safety cars are likely, a well timed pit stop and he’ll be right up there
Not a a fan of MV, but he has such a pace advantage that he could still win it
MV still has a fair chance of winning. Safety cars are likely, a well timed pit stop and he’ll be right up there
I agree!
I'm looking forward to the tussle between him and Checo tbh
shermer75
Free Member
I’m looking forward to the tussle between him and Checo tbh
Checo had to get through his tussle into turn 1 with Alonso first . . .
If Max gets to P2 but Checo is miles up the road in the lead do you think Checo will develop a ‘problem’ or will they just make him slow down and switch?
…or would Checo ignore any team orders?
Harsh penalty for Alonso
Harsh penalty for Alonso
No different to Ocon last week....you'd think someone with 500 years if F1 experience would be able to park his car in a box 😉
Why does this need a safety car?
Seems a bit of a convenient ‘Indycar’ type of call! 🤣🤔
GPS indicated car was still on track
Just heard that - or they could have just looked at their monitors in race control! 🤷♂️🤷♂️
He drove straight off the track.
So…
Decent day for Merc
Bad day for Ferrari
Better from Alpine
…McLaren - well what can you say! 🤣
Great drive from Checo, would have loved him to get fastest lap and therefore the championship lead tho!
GPS indicated car was still on track
Of course it did lol
Russell promoted to podium.
you’d think someone with 500 years if F1 experience would be able to park his car in a box
Spacial awareness must be going after 500 years. Wasn’t even close to being lined up
It's not like he was facing the wrong way.
I found that a bit boring, i was hope max would be pulling some banzai moves but there was no need.
Hamilton seems to be having a bit of a dip, needs a good result to get his head back in the right place.
The FIA under Ben Suleyman do seem to need to have a word with themselves. I get wanting to put your own stamp on proceedings but there just seems to be to much time spent enforcing the ‘minor’ rules (Jewellery) while they miss the opportunity to enforce a pit stop infringement before the podium ceremony.
LOL - Alonso gets his podium back now. 10s penalty overturned.
**** yeah!
2/3rds of the race to get it right - they get it wrong. It’s almost impressive
Hamilton seems to be having a bit of a dip, needs a good result to get his head back in the right place.
Yeah, Hamilton's always been a bit inconsistent. He spends a few months looking a bit ordinary, then he suddenly gets his shit together and looks unbeatable. As things stand, Merc have pretty much maximized their possible points haul so it doesn't matter much for the team which order Russell and Hamilton finish in. I suspect we'd be seeing a different Hamilton if they were fighting for victories instead of hoping to get lucky and put one car on the podium. I can see Hamilton tolerating another year off the pace if their mid-season updates show big improvements and next year's car is competitive, but I can't see him sticking around if next year's car turns out as disappointing as this one. Same with Leclerc and Norris, they must have lawyers working on escape clauses in the hope that Hamilton quits and a seat at Merc opens up.
I was listening on the radio while driving up the M40, so not fully concentrating but thought the snap decision to tell Stroll to stop on track was brilliant. Was the yellow flag the only way to ensure Alonso could pit and not lose position?
Sounded like a genuinely urgent call to me, and use of safety car unnecessary given Stroll’s parking
Yeah, Jeddah is a ridiculously dangerous/fast/un-sighted street circuit run in the dark, you don't mess about, any thoughts that Stroll's car might be in the way, get the safety car out. Better to say, "Oh didn't really need that" and look a bit daft, than have to explain why you didn't after a massive shunt.
The speed of that RB with the rear wing open was astonishing on the big DRS drags. Not a thing any other race car on the grid could do about it. Think someone said it further up thread, but wouldn’t be surprised if a RB wins every race this season!
Yeah, I think the interest is going to come from the fact that Perez seems to be able to drive this one just as fast as Verstappen this year. A proper rivalry between those two will pull that team apart.
Himilton's race was ruined by both his poor qualifying and where the safety car appeared. Yes, he got a cheap pitstop, but he also ran the Hards first which were slow and then had to ditch them for Mediums after only 20 laps which meant he had to manage them to the end.
