Spanish Grand Prix - Barcelona

[René]

Normally, the Spanish Grand Prix is held in May, but due to the corona virus, we’re now racing here in August. And then of course it is a lot warmer in Barcelona. A new opportunity for Verstappen and co? Not by definition. Just like last year, Pirelli will take the hardest three compounds to this race. And the fact that during the second weekend at Silverstone was driven with softer tires, it just turned out in favor of Red Bull. But who knows, Red Bull has always been good at developing the car, Max is on a roll and the Honda PU seems reliable. Hopefully enough to put the black arrows under some serious pressure.

The scrap in the midfield will be as good as ever with Ferrari, Racing Point, McLaren and Renault fighting it out but it’s Charles Leclerc so far who miraculously managed to score two podiums and that strong fourth last weekend to be fourth in the points standings.

Most question marks though so far surround Racing Point. Will Sergio Perez be back behind the wheel and how will the copycat saga continue?

¡Adelante Barcelona!

[robmarsh]

Voted for Charles- following Rene's philosophy now. A very nice article by David Tremayne about Charles Leclerc on the F1 official site. He compares his drives this year to GV's drives in the T5 in 1980. Also notes the similarity between Seb and Jody in the same years.

[charleselan]

Aug 12, 2020 11:49:07 GMT robmarsh said:

Voted for Charles- following Rene's philosophy now. A very nice article by David Tremayne about Charles Leclerc on the F1 official site. He compares his drives this year to GV's drives in the T5 in 1980. Also notes the similarity between Seb and Jody in the same years.

Some might doubt this, not here I hasten to add, but I was musing last evening to myself (and you all know I am renown for that) the self same thing as the Tremayne article. I have not seen it myself but it just struck me that there were so many similarities between Charles & Sebastian compared with Gilles & Jody.

I think Sebastian is in the wrong place right now, and I do not mean solely at Ferrari. He seems lost, and it is pretty apparent that his confidence has taken a huge hit not only with the mistakes of last year but also in not being able to come to terms with this current Ferrari. I am not certain whether there is a problem with the chassis or not, but the explanation given elsewhere that it down to how the car is set up could hold sway in my thinking.

A bit like Kimi when teamed with Teflonso a few years ago. Kimi was made to look like an amateur all because the car was designed and set up in a way that the guy could not drive it. It made Teflonso look amazing in comparison and that was a false dawn in reality as The Tef' was no where near that much better than Kimi.

Charles' performance in this current car from Maranello are truly outstanding in my opinion and it is a tragedy that he does not have the car under him to challenge Hamilton and Verstappen. Both can count their blessings at the moment, but when he does get something half decent, Look out!

[Carl]

Valtteri Bottas is best positioned to upset Hamilton and, although seldom fierce enough, remains my default choice.

"Nice guys finish last"

"I never said you can't be nice and win.  I said if I was playing third and

my mother rounded the base with the winning run, I'd trip her."

- Leo Durocher

 Accordingly, Bottas should artfully trip Toto in the garage and Lewis on track.

[chrisb]

Carl, I doubt Bottas would be allowed to trip up Lewis, which always blemishes what is happening to me, I think he is always focused on being kept on at MB and not the goal, and MB dont want the trouble they had with someone really challenging Lewis,


Ferrari, if there ever was a team who could pull victory from the jaws of defeat is this team. I have actually gone for Seb, although agreeing with John that he seems lost - more I think around motivation than ability, aka Jody, good spot that, Ferrari have come out and replaced his chassis, so maybe an inspired Seb can go out on a high,

not sure if Checo is back yet - but think the Hulk deserves another go

[robmarsh]

Checo is back

[charleselan]

Shame Nico isn't getting another run out, but good that Perez is now passed as clear.

I am going for Gilles, whoops sorry I mean Charles . Not a chance in hell with that truck but we can but dream.

[René]

The usual suspects upfront but good to see both the Ferraris close to Max. It's only early days but the new chassis seems to work for Seb. Was there really something wrong with his car in Silverstone or is this purely a mental thing? Doesn't really matter of course, a placebo also works!

Also good to see Checo back. A shame for Nico but Sergio's health is obviously more important. 

And more good news with the FIA banning the 'party modes' for qualifying. That should at least open the slight possibility for a suprise grid...

[chrisb]

I do think the rumours Rob started may be gaining momentum, with Tonto said to be unhappy is this the start of MB withdrawal,, especially as the FIA are starting to rain them back in, although I note it is a MB 1 + 2 but surprise of the day? HAAS, what gives there? and Renault up there again, well one of the Renaults, not sure Ocon is having his best time right now. disappointed to see Team Willy propping up the grid.

[charleselan]

Yes! What is happening with Roman, he is flying so far.

Sad to see Alfa Romeo so far off as well, I really don't expect to see Kimi back there like this. Really the Alfa's should be on a par with Ferrari not some make weight team. Ferrari did steal back one of their top tech people though  .

[robmarsh]

Aug 14, 2020 16:51:47 GMT charleselan said:

Yes! What is happening with Roman, he is flying so far.

Sad to see Alfa Romeo so far off as well, I really don't expect to see Kimi back there like this. Really the Alfa's should be on a par with Ferrari not some make weight team. Ferrari did steal back one of their top tech people though  .

....and Mercedes have brought up a lot of the other good guys so no-one else can have them.  I am a bit perplexed by Tonto's argument that Mercedes have added nearly as much to the sport as Ferrari and therefore should be treated as such in the new Concorde Agreement.  From this Fan and Spectators perspective, admittedly not a strong position at all even if multiplied two billion times, all Mercedes have done is make the sport less competitive and beyond the grasp of the racers by throwing increasing amounts of money at it.  To me they have destroyed it or are in the process of doing so.

A while back I floated the view that any motor manufacturers that sell more than 10 000 vehicles per annum should only be allowed in F1 as an engine supplier. That would stop the sport being dependent and more importantly, subservient to the likes of Mercedes, Toyota etc.  

[René]

Good day for Romain and Haas but I can't see them beating the works team tomorrow. But well, we've seen stranger things happen this year... 

And it's indeed sad to see Alfa Romeo so far back. Like this it makes no sense to continue. Can't see this working from a marketing point of view either.

Mercedes have a history in the sport but no more than McLaren, Williams or Renault and certainly not as Ferrari. I like your idea re. the manufacturers Rob.

[mikael]

Ref. the Practice 2 times: Apart from MB (in an league of their own), it's impressive how close the field is now: #3 and #15 are within one second.

[charleselan]

I was beginning to wonder if Roman's new found turn of speed was down to Ferrari mistakenly supplying the Haas team with last years power units .

It does indeed make no sense to have the Alfa Romeo cars running at the rear of the field, a marketing disaster considering how the marque has regained much of its prestige in recent years. I always thought that the idea was for the Alfa's to be right up with the Ferrari cars, that would make sense.

Agree completely regarding MB, no matter what they believe themselves they do not have the history of Ferrari. More often than not they just dip in and out to suit the ideology of the main MB board of directors. The current domination that MB have had in this current formula is stifling the sport no matter what the excusers may say; it is unhealthy. The money that MB throw at F1 is way beyond any of the others and that includes Ferrari and Fizzy Drinks; I never believe the so called disclosed figures anyway.

[René]

Aug 15, 2020 10:56:50 GMT charleselan said:

I was beginning to wonder if Roman's new found turn of speed was down to Ferrari mistakenly supplying the Haas team with last years power units .

Yeah, my thought also. Or maybe experimenting with a new trick. They didn't tell Romain of course.