The Official Formula One Thread!

[SDGT3]

I'm seeing a pattern develop from both Mercedes drivers and Toto.... whenever they have a set back or bad day, they say "they could have contested Max for a win." I've heard this now about 4-5 times this season.... My question is: "When have they every contested for a win even when they've had the best of days?
This is why I love the Mercedes F1 team... they haven't been relevant since the end of 2021, but that doesn't stop them from making headlines. Someone tell Georgie that "the reason" things looked as close as they did is because Max was driving so slow, that his team told him to pick up the pace. Of all the drivers, Max was the only one to not have a track limit violation because he was driving so slowly.

Russell says collision with Hamilton cost Mercedes chance to fight Verstappen
Formula 1

Posted on9th October 2023, 11:52 | Written by Keith Collantine and Claire Cottingham

George Russell says the first lap collision between he and Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton cost them the chance to challenge Max Verstappen for victory in the Qatar Grand Prix.


The two Mercedes drivers tangled when Hamilton tried to go around the outside of Russell and Verstappen at the first corner of the race.
Hamilton’s race was ended by the collision and it forced Russell to pit for repairs. He eventually recovered to finish in fourth place.

However Russell said he sees no reason why he would not have been able to challenge Red Bull driver Verstappen had he not collided with his team mate at the start. He pointed out that McLaren’s Oscar Piastri was able to finish within five seconds of Verstappen having moved up to second place on lap one.

“We believe that we were on pace or, if not, faster than McLaren,” said Russell. “And seeing that Piastri finished so close to Max was really quite surprising.”

[dba]

Originally Posted by joli160

How well do you know him or are you believing in fairy tales from mostly biased and toxic media ?

Oh, the "mostly biased and toxic media" of course. Facts based on police reports, restraining orders and probation reports are all bull. Everyone knows that.

[dba]

Originally Posted by SDGT3

Russell says collision with Hamilton cost Mercedes chance to fight Verstappen
Formula 1

You gotta love Russell. Over the radio in Singapore, he says from third place, "I want to go for the win." Then crashes, on the last lap, still in third place mind you, while under pressure from Lewis.

Fast forward to the Sprint Race on Saturday in Qatar, HE boasts about his pass on Piastri over the radio, only to fall victim of the soft tires. Perhaps he should just keep quiet.

[enjoythemusic]

If a top team says honestly that they can't compete, there goes $$$$,$$$,$$$ sponsorship cash. So ANY time they race, they think they have a chance to win.

I have a chance to win over $1,000,000,000 ($1 billion) in the lottery. Honestly, I DO have a chance to win. Where are my sponsors???

I'll stand by my statement years ago, HAM should have retired and began his next journey as an influencer, clothing / shoe 'designer', etc.... but he's embarrassing himself nowadays imho. HAM desperately needs to get advice from Rihianna.

[SDGT3]

Originally Posted by dba

You gotta love Russell. Over the radio in Singapore, he says from third place, "I want to go for the win." Then crashes, on the last lap, still in third place mind you, while under pressure from Lewis.

Fast forward to the Sprint Race on Saturday in Qatar, HE boasts about his pass on Piastri over the radio, only to fall victim of the soft tires. Perhaps he should just keep quiet.

I agree and thought it was strange at the time to congratulate himself on a pass everyone saw. Don’t get me wrong it was a nice pass, but almost like he was trying to get an “attaboy” from the pit wall.

[77T]

The season is not over despite the Teams and WDC top spots having been determined.

There are driver and team goals that need to be aligned strategically in a viewer’s mind or just stop watching.
Otherwise you’ll feel the same pain as waiting for that AD call that never came.

To wit:



Those are the “races within the race” to be a top 3 team or a top 10 driver.

The image leaving Qatar that should be in the locker rooms of each team paddock is this:


It depicts the disappointment of tactics vs. strategy. MB’s larger interests were subsumed by red mist.


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[codecow]

I found the interesting thing about Qatar was that GR wanted to box to get rid of his soft tires, they tell him to stay out and he can get 4th; then he gets 4th. Good simulation there.

Singapore he got played by Carlos giving Lando DRS.

[SDGT3]

This puts us just after the Mexican GP.

[enjoythemusic]

Interesting post above, thx for posting.

Memories of Rubens Barrichello.... discuss.

[77T]

After that news broke with Marko’s quotes, Perez paused, but…

Several hours ago he gave this interview:
When asked by Sky Sports what he needs to succeed at Red Bull next season, Perez responded: "I think a more consistent base throughout the season and having a car that doesn't change so much throughout the year.

"That also contributes to being more consistent - I think that will be the key because that was what happened in the first few races. I think when we started developing the car, I felt that the car was drifting away from me.

"I had to keep finding the balance, making compromises here and there. We keep the further details internal to the team. It's something we are all aware of and hopefully next year it can be a different story."

So we see the reason behind Marko’s comments methinks. One driver, VER adapts, excels and wins - nay, dominates - with the same upgrades during the year. Whereas, PER drifts, compromises, and is imbalanced - ergo, falling off the performance curve the car offers.

Is RBR supposed to make no changes to PER’s car throughout the season? Should they develop the car according to a lesser skilled driver?

Interesting.


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[piratfisk]

PER is definitely caught between a rock & a hard place. He's a talented driver in a seemingly identical car as VER, but cannot perform at a similar level. He's always on the backfoot & I think is mentally always playing second fiddle, knowing he can't keep up. His team seems frustrated with him, which doesn't help anyone. Hearing this new comment from Helmut doesn't seem like PER's nail in the coffin, but they're definitely assembling the casket...

Interested in hearing if Papa Stroll will "convince" his baby boy to try another career & find another driver to partner ALO... maybe PER!

[SDGT3]

Originally Posted by 77T

After that news broke with Marko’s quotes, Perez paused, but…

Several hours ago he gave this interview:
When asked by Sky Sports what he needs to succeed at Red Bull next season, Perez responded: "I think a more consistent base throughout the season and having a car that doesn't change so much throughout the year.

"That also contributes to being more consistent - I think that will be the key because that was what happened in the first few races. I think when we started developing the car, I felt that the car was drifting away from me.

"I had to keep finding the balance, making compromises here and there. We keep the further details internal to the team. It's something we are all aware of and hopefully next year it can be a different story."

So we see the reason behind Marko’s comments methinks. One driver, VER adapts, excels and wins - nay, dominates - with the same upgrades during the year. Whereas, PER drifts, compromises, and is imbalanced - ergo, falling off the performance curve the car offers.

Is RBR supposed to make no changes to PER’s car throughout the season? Should they develop the car according to a lesser skilled driver?

Interesting.


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Perez has been in F1 long enough to know that EVERY team develops their car during the season. Sometimes it's subtle differences and sometimes large as in the car of McLaren being a back marker to start the year to a consistent podium finisher and Sprint race winner!

BTW, he's not the only one to suffer from an inability to adapt to a changing car. RIC had a really tough time with the McLaren whereas Norris did not.

Sports Illustrated piece mentioned possibility of Perez announcing retirement after Mexican GP.

https://www.si.com/fannation/racing/...rand-prix-lm22

[INC]

"Grow or die" -> "Adapt or bye".

It's not a kindergarten show for crying babies, but a business for the grown up men. If someone can't stand it, must leave it. The show must go on, because nothing else matters.

[Dr.Brian]

Maybe Stoll can get his mojo back in the WEC and the Aston Martin F1 team can get back on track as well. He’s not going to win a championship, probably not even a race. That’s no way to go when you’ve got better options.

[SDGT3]

Originally Posted by Dr.Brian

Maybe Stoll can get his mojo back in the WEC and the Aston Martin F1 team can get back on track as well. He’s not going to win a championship, probably not even a race. That’s no way to go when you’ve got better options.

Being a teammate to Alonso (or Max) isn't easy.

[INC]

Originally Posted by SDGT3

Being a teammate to Alonso (or Max) isn't easy.

I don't agree with you in this. I think, when your job is only to be the second behind a more talented pilot but in one of the best cars, then your stress factor should be far lower. And even in this case, if you are the better one, then it can be seen within some years. Let me remind all of us to Russel, Lawson, Piastri, and so on.

Perez is the only one who is crying like a baby, because he still feels annoyed, because his championship dreams was taken away too early in this year.

[SDGT3]

Originally Posted by INC

I don't agree with you in this. I think, when your job is only to be the second behind a more talented pilot but in one of the best cars, then your stress factor should be far lower.

I emphasize "should" but there are some things that factor into this:

Take away the fact that your teammate has nearly doubled your point total, let's take Max out of the equation:

You are literally in the best car on the grid, but:

- The competition is out qualifying you
- The competition is finishing ahead of you
- You're crashing into opponents on a consistent basis
- You have track penalties on a consistent basis
- You blamed the press for not going after Russell enough in Singapore after he crashed into the wall and said the press goes after him because he is Mexican.

These are all in the control of Checo and independent of whomever his teammate is.

Question to the posters on this thread: What's worse; the spotlight on you for not being close to your teammate or indifference from everyone? When Lance Stroll couldn't race a few weeks ago, it was barely mentioned and to be honest, I forgot why he couldn't race. It's far worse, IMO, to be forgotten.

[enjoythemusic]

Originally Posted by INC

If someone can't stand it, must leave it. The show must go on, because nothing else matters.

Montoya has done quite well after he left F1. Nowadays, there are many seats outside of the F1 circus. But financially, F1 sports entertainment has deeeeep pockets, and perhaps more importantly, the ability to make business connections plus media coverage on a global scale.

[Jackie Daytona]

On all the Perez stuff. I think he just doesn’t have his head in it anymore.

I love the guy, but I think that he is too distracted. Nothing wrong with being a family man, but child after child and traveling back and forth between Europe and pretty much everywhere else to accommodate that life doesn't really work at the level he should be racing at.

Not saying pick one, nothing wrong with a family and ultimately he is making the right choice in being with them as much as he can, but it’s detracting from his work. I think it’s time he just makes that final career choice or may move to something more localized instead of global like Indy car.

[INC]

Originally Posted by SDGT3

I emphasize "should" but there are some things that factor into this:

You're right, I should have written "he should stress less". And yes, I agree, it's true that someone who wants to be world champion instead of Max, with much less talent, is really stressed by the fact that not only can't be better, but he can't even keep up with him.

Nevertheless, it is still true that Perez's tension stems from this, because if he had accepted that he would be "eternal second", he could have achieved much better results. IMHO he overestimated himself, he really believed that he could be better than Max. But this was very stupid of him...

[INC]

Originally Posted by Jackie Daytona

I think it’s time he just makes that final career choice or may move to something more localized instead of global like Indy car.

I can agree with this, moreover without Max, he may achieve successes on the racetrack. So yes, it's a great idea. Now all we need is someone who can whisper this into his ears

[SDGT3]

Originally Posted by Jackie Daytona

On all the Perez stuff. I think he just doesn’t have his head in it anymore.

I love the guy, but I think that he is too distracted. Nothing wrong with being a family man, but child after child and traveling back and forth between Europe and pretty much everywhere else to accommodate that life doesn't really work at the level he should be racing at.

Not saying pick one, nothing wrong with a family and ultimately he is making the right choice in being with them as much as he can, but it’s detracting from his work. I think it’s time he just makes that final career choice or may move to something more localized instead of global like Indy car.

Excellent post. He's been in F1 a very long time, won races, made his money, now it's time to spend some time with the family (because you're not going to get those years back), maybe do LeMans or other high level races and perhaps Indy as it's closer to home and does not have 24 races next year.

[77T]

Austin is around the corner but looking a bit further ahead, F1 is having a free drawing for Las Vegas tickets and an all inclusive package. In case you’re interested, see below.



To enter:
https://www.formula1.com/en/page.unl...nchor-location

Good luck - deadline is looming this week - winners to be drawn Oct. 24th


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[Jackie Daytona]

Thanks for posting this. I just entered.

[SDGT3]

Great job by Charles for pole position. Max having a lap deleted will put him in 6th and Perez in 9th for Sunday's race. Mercedes may be carrying more wing as they were quickest in the twistys. Should be a good battle down the straights.

[TunaTuna]

Max still will win lol

[INC]

Originally Posted by TunaTuna

Max still will win lol

As usual :)

However, IMHO it will be interesting to see if Checco remains RBR's other driver in 2024. Of course, now it would be too late to fire him, because now he is the only one who can be 2nd in the driver's championship, but if he loses this position, or comes close to losing it this year, then there will be no reasonable reason to keep him as a team member.

After all, by now it could almost be said that no one else besides him would have any difficulty in obtaining this position with this world champion car and team.

[77T]

So, a little handiwork with an 18” wide white paint rollerbrush made SQ session less comic than yesterday’s Q…


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[SDGT3]

Originally Posted by INC

As usual :)

However, IMHO it will be interesting to see if Checco remains RBR's other driver in 2024. Of course, now it would be too late to fire him, because now he is the only one who can be 2nd in the driver's championship, but if he loses this position, or comes close to losing it this year, then there will be no reasonable reason to keep him as a team member.

After all, by now it could almost be said that no one else besides him would have any difficulty in obtaining this position with this world champion car and team.

Interesting stat: With 5 races to go, Hamilton is only 30 pts behind Perez. In Qatar, Hamilton DNFed when he crashed into his teammate, which was only Lewis' first DNF of the season and yet he STILL had more points than Perez that weekend as a result of the sprint race. That's how bad Checo's season has gone since the summer break.

If I had to guess, Ricciardo takes the 2nd seat at RBR and Liam Lawson slots in to partner with Yuki at Alpha Tauri in 2024. You can't put a rookie against an assassin like Max for fear of doing what he did to Gasley and Alex Albon. Ricciardo is on the backside of his career and knows that he is no longer going to win a WDC so it's a safe bet for RBR and there were no hard feelings between Max and RIC the last time they were teammates. The hard feelings were between RIC & RB after the Baku incident when both crashed many years ago.

Originally Posted by 77T

So, a little handiwork with an 18” wide white paint rollerbrush made SQ session less comic than yesterday’s Q…


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Simple and effective. Brilliant solution

[SMD]

Originally Posted by 77T

So, a little handiwork with an 18” wide white paint rollerbrush made SQ session less comic than yesterday’s Q…


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Could have sworn Russell still exceeded track limits on 19 but never got called on it