Q2.

 

Exciting.

 

All 4 RedBulls are fast enough for the front 3 rows, but they gambled on medium tyres and lost Perez and Tsunoda in Q2.

 

Careless, getting beat by slower cars like that.

Q3. 

 

Merc beaten fair and square. This could be an exciting year.

2 minutes ago, camelspyyder said:

Q3. 

 

Merc beaten fair and square. This could be an exciting year.

Is it that Merc have stood still and Red Bull have gained pace? Or have Merc lost pace and Red Bull stood still?

The rule changes have mandated a big cut in downforce, allegedly to protect the fragile Pirelli tyres. 

 

It seems that both teams running a low rake angle design have suffered a lot from this change. Mercedes and Aston-Martin both off their usual pace.

 

Red Bull have gained more (or lost less) from these enforced aero changes.

 

 

Edited 27 March, 20215 yr by camelspyyder

SPOILER ALERT DON'T READ ON IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW WHO WON TODAY RACE 

 

What a race! Well hopefully it might slow down the haters who keep saying Hamilton only winds because he has the fastest team.

 

If we get a few more races like this  between the main protagonists, then it will be a season to remember. Anyone who hasn't seen it and still wants to watch the highlights knowing who won, should do so. Thrilling end to race, at least watching live

RedBull should have won that at a canter. They usually come up trumps on strategy but put themselves under needless pressure today.

 

Their car is clearly faster, so matching Hamiton's strategy should have allowed an easy DRS pass or an undercut at the second or third stop, but instead they chose to go away from his strategy leaving Max just 1 chance on worn tyres at the end. 

 

Mercedes have a lot of catching up to do. A 0.8 second performance swing to RBR since November is massive. If M-B do close the gap this could be an epic season.

 

 

Edited 28 March, 20215 yr by camelspyyder

Vettel: Past it?

 

Penalised in Qually, Penalised in the race.

And making the exact same sort of errors (unexplained crashing into other cars) that characterised Schumacher's fading twilight years at Mercedes.

 

Nice guy but has he still got it?

I guess that's why they pay Hamilton the mega bucks 

On 28/03/2021 at 20:19, Lady Elanore said:

I guess that's why they pay Hamilton the mega bucks 

 

But "he only wins because it's the best car" say the haters... 

 

Not this week it wasn't not by a long chalk.

 

The Red Bull was even faster than it looked in qualifying too as Max damaged the underfloor in Q1 and it couldn't be fixed during the session.

Yup, cracking opener that made me contradict myself after one measly race:

Vettel’s past it, Alonso isn’t. 

I hope the Red Bull can maintain this kind of pace over Mercedes this season as it’s refreshing and about time Max & Lewis fought wheel to wheel in similar machinery. 
 

Noticed an earlier post about Gasly going to Alpine in ‘22. Sounds like a very good fit as I’ve read somewhere (not on social media) that Ocon & Russell will be at the silver arrows next year as Lewis pursues outside interests and Bottas’ contract won’t be extended (back to Williams?). 
 

Edited 2 April, 20215 yr by DiscoStoo

Thoroughly enjoyable opener.. only got the highlights but what a race 

 

I don't really get all the Hamilton hate... totally understand that some won't like him but the level of vitriol is unreal...

 

Good to see that it looks like there's some real competition for #1 this year, hope that race 1 was the shape of things to come.

It was a good race  but if Max doesn't win the title this year with RBs current level of car superiority, will he ever win it? 

The " Max is the best driver crowd " have been been a little quieter this week (apart from numb nuts Piquet and his son) as RedBull somehow frittered away a massive pace advantage.

That was a big blow struck by Hamilton and Mercedes, but even they are downplaying their chances of doing it again.

 

Very interesting piece by Will Buxton on Alpha Tauri https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.buxton-believe-the-hype-alphatauri-are-going-to-thrill-this-season.6aopPjZO5gy74JkjkTIoyP.html
Hopes that this season can be a belter, who’d argue after the opener?

 

 

Edited 3 April, 20215 yr by DiscoStoo

I reckon RB have at most half a dozen races to make use of their current advantage, before Mercedes inevitably catch up 

1 minute ago, Wet Kipper said:

I reckon RB have at most half a dozen races to make use of their current advantage, before Mercedes inevitably catch up 

Completely agree. I’d say as early as Spain, even. 
Mercedes haven’t dominated the sport for 7 years for no reason; the inevitable will happen. 
 

Do you guys think that it will be a level playing field in 2022 with the massive overhaul or will we see the usual results?

10 hours ago, DiscoStoo said:

Completely agree. I’d say as early as Spain, even. 
Mercedes haven’t dominated the sport for 7 years for no reason; the inevitable will happen. 
 

Do you guys think that it will be a level playing field in 2022 with the massive overhaul or will we see the usual results?

New rules, big chance for one team to get a jump on the design front a la Brawn double diffuser. 2023 will probably see a return to the established order but yes there is a chance of a shake up next year.

Last year I was banging on about some relatively unknown Mexican who deserves a chance with a top team.

 

Bu66er me if hes only gone and outqualified the mighty Max on just his second race at RBR.

 

Fuerza Checo!!

 

Albon's comeback prospects just took a dive.

Based on history It probably wont happen again but a great result regardless.

 

Max losing to team mates in qually:

 

2020 - 0 times

2019 - 1

2018 - 3

Mercedes nil points today ?

 

Bottas gives Russell the finger and Russell then slaps Bottas helmet in the wreckage it looks like after the melee ? 

Toto seems to be blaming George, but also saying that a Mercedes junior driver employed by another privately owned team shouldn't overtake the works cars???

 

But only the people with access to telemetry will actually know if Bottas did jink to the right. and cause George to run wide.

6 hours ago, lol-lol said:

Bottas gives Russell the finger and Russell then slaps Bottas helmet in the wreckage it looks like after the melee ? 

 

Yeah.. Although I remember it the other way round (would bank on me being wrong tbh) 

 

22 minutes ago, camelspyyder said:

Toto seems to be blaming George, but also saying that a Mercedes junior driver employed by another privately owned team shouldn't overtake the works cars???

 

But only the people with access to telemetry will actually know if Bottas did jink to the right. and cause George to run wide.

 

I think Toto manages both drivers. 

Watching the replays.. from behind it looked like there was plenty of room for the Williams to go through with all wheels on the track. 

Well, I thought, having actually seen on-car shots from both competitors and from a camera looking along the track from behind them that it was more "GR puts 2 wheels on the grass, then blames Valtiri for him having done so". Also highly unimpressed with DC for taking GR's word for it then trying to recant without actually apologising after he realised what happened.

Lando Norris though!! 

I'm getting fed up with the charmed life that Mr. Hamilton seems to lead.