I was quite looking forward to the way this season was shaping up, but it's now just got that frustrated bully boy driving written all over it, which means it only ever goes one way.
I do not understand how Max was not made to give the place back to Lando after running off the track to regain the lead, before they came together. Definitely feels again like one rule for Max and a different rule for the rest of the drivers.
This whole thing of "Max just drives aggressively and other drivers need to get wise to it", is horse shit. Coulthard was doing his usual of sucking up to RB & Max in the highlights.
Feel gutted for Lando.
Can't help but feel that'll be the end of the good friendship that I believe Max & Lando have had up to now.
The Max dive bombing complaint almost had me off the sofa from laughing.
Saw a Sky slow mo review on you tube that quite clearly shows that Max was crossing lines.
I don't know if Max's defences of his actions is a competitive reaction, delusion or that he is so used to his manner of close driving being accepted and unpunished.
Max is looking desperate again now he's got competition. He looked properly desperate in 2021 but calmed down a bit the last couple of years when he had a massive car advantage. Now that's gone he doesn't know what to do. No wonder he doesn't want a top-flight teammate, I just don't think he'd be able to take the pressure
The penalties being handed out are almost as inconsequential as UCI fines. Some serious sanctions need to be put in place. Overtake off track? Give the place back NOW, not when you feel like it. Ruin someone else's race? Well you lose your points for that race.
Ruin someone else’s race? Well you lose your points for that race.
You'd need to black flag people (not the worst idea) as just being on track can still have further effect on other's races
But it’s back to the old question of whether you punish the actions or the consequences, and there’s no answer that works well in all situations. At the end of the day, you always have to accept that racing has this risk.
In the Austria collision, I think the actions were mild but the consequence was high. Max moved gradually to the left and, while he didn’t leave a car width, you only have to look back a week to see an example of Lando moving across to give Max the choice of either going off the circuit, backing out and ceding position, or having a crash. And that movement was more emphatic, with greater risk. Logically you might ask why Lando didn’t do what Max did and go off the circuit.
One thing I do think needs addressing is how time penalties are used. They make a lot of sense for track limits infringements (outside of passing) because time is precisely—and exclusively—what track limits infringements affect, but they’re questionable for things like passing off-track because they often don’t affect anything. We saw that yet again at the weekend where Max’s penalty had no consequence. If you gain a place and can build a gap, you nullify the penalty. The later in the race you get the penalty, the more spread-out the field is and the less impact it has: five seconds at the first round of stops will almost always have way more effect than adding it to the final time. Someone maybe needs to think about position penalties, eg lose one position in the final classification if you’re judged to have gained, or not lost, one by going off-track.
The more footage I've seen of the crash, the more I think it was 50/50. Max could have left more room, but equally there was still a lot of space on his left for Lando to move over to and do a switchback.
Max driving Lando onto the grass after though!... 🤔
Take the curb away. Track, white line, gravel.
Max's reason for the collision being he was braking and you brake in a straight line we so obviously laughable. The only person who seemed to deserve some credit was the McLaren team principal.
Horner acted as you'd expect, verstappen likewise, Norris obviously very pissed off.
I don't understand the track limits nonsense either. Just make it every corner, or as above the limit is the edge. Both lando and max (and every other driver) spent time across the line. What's the race steward explanation of the keeping his place by just not making the corner from max?
Take the curb away. Track, white line, gravel.
Can't be done - because F1 cars aren't the only vehicles to race on a circuit.
The new gravel strips worked very well in Austria. And personally I'd rather see cars still on track racing than beached in a gravel trap.
Be all right as long as it's not being driven by a petulant prima donna.
Yeah, I'm not impressed with Verstappen's weaving on the run up to the corner, it's one thing to close a door on an overtake but it's quite another to give the attacking driver nowhere to go like that.
I know that's the sort of ruthlessness that Senna and Schumacher were known for, I didn't approve of it then either.
Good news and bad news for Ollie B - the good news is you're in F1, the bad news is you're driving for Haas. But if he performs as anticipated I expect it's just until Lewis or Charles make a space for him to fill.
edit- damn, 30 seconds too slow!
Ferrari needed to find Bearman a seat, the only other customer team is Sauber, which is in the process of morphing into Audi.
Can't see alot of running this morning in fp3.
In the whole of his career Logan Sargent has only ever outqualified Alex Albon once. And Serio Perez seven times?
Who would want the poison chalice of the second Red Bull seat tho?
Great to see 3 brits at the pointy end of the grid.
Who would want the poison chalice of the second Red Bull seat tho?
Lawson?
Definitely Lawson, but also Sainz, Ricciardo, Tsunoda, Bottas, Magnussen, Zhou, Ocon, and anyone racing in the junior categories.
Not so sure about Sainz. I think he's at a point in his career where can avoid the poison challices.
Also, I think he may have vetoed by the Verstappen camp, Max really doesn't want a teammate that capable, and one with a bit of history of animosity
If it was me i'd give Checco up to the summer break to sort himself out, otherwise replace him with Ricciardo and Lawson in the RB jr team.
If, and its a big if, Danny steps up keep that line-up for '25, otherwise promote Lawson, bin-off Danny and put another junior driver in the second team.
Sainz to Mercedes for 25&26 while you place Antonelli in the Williams to gain experience, like Ferrari are doing with Bearman (and did with Russell)
By the time we get to 27 i'm expecting Lewis and Fernado to have retired, freeing up more seats in the top teams.
I don’t think there’s a hope of Ricciardo getting that seat mid season. They’d look like absolute bell-ends when/if he also consistently stuck it in the mid-field
Was there today, and back tomorrow, on weekend Garage Enclosure tickets with my 2 sons for youngests 18th.
First time for us and we really enjoyed it. Youngest is a close follower and he kept us right on what was happening and when. Great facilities and comfy marque with decent food, which was priced okish, though the drinks were pretty pricey. Big screens and loud commentary were really good.
Went to Asda on way back to our Air BnB in Rugby to stock up for tomorrow. The weather was brutal at times, and we used the cover of the marquee and inside screens for a few parts. Getting into the car park was horrendous, half an hour to get to the queue 3 miles from the car park, 90 minutes to then get in and parked.. ?. We left at about 6pm and were out and clear of traffic in about half an hour. Another 7.30 departure from accommodation tomorrow and hoping it’s a bit quicker to get in.. ?
I cant see Checco lasting the season at this rate
Or indeed lasting the session.
Great quali that.
FIA admits Verstappen should have had black-and-white warning flag in Austria
Shame it's about 4 years too late ?
I do like that C4 seem to have replaced Horner with James Vowles as their tame team principal
New Secretary of State for transport tried to crash Brundles grid walk, introducing himself.
Brundle responds, deadpan ‘no one cares’
I’ve just bought a NowTV pass for the race.
I'm just watching live on C4.
aaaahhhh FFS. Anyway, now claiming me watching live is responsible for this race
This is pretty good!
Feel for Piastri
My heart rate is up……
Get in there Lewis!
brilliant brilliant race!!
absolute banger, well deserved win there. Perfect drive!
!!!!!!! YES!
See what you get under a Labour government
Nail biting stuff those last 10 or so laps. Don’t think I watched anything but the timing screen! Over the moon for Lewis. Brilliant stuff.
See what you get under a Labour government
Actual lol. Thanks.
