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Post by René on Apr 29, 2021 15:54:27 GMT
Sometimes good things come out of bad things and in F1’s case this is surely true for some of the wonderful tracks we are visiting (again). This weekend it is the turn of the beautiful circuit of Portimão in the Algarve, so we are facing another exciting race in a beautiful location.
The Lewis versus Max battle will surely continue but everything behind is just as interesting. McLaren versus Ferrari for one. Can’t wait! Forza!   |
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Post by charleselan on Apr 29, 2021 16:58:58 GMT
About time some goodness came out of the bad, and this is certainly a case in point. This is a fabulous circuit, just hope that the high downforce high grip F1 vehicles do not ruin the track surface like they do elsewhere.
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Post by René on Apr 29, 2021 17:08:22 GMT
I see Charles has three votes already. Surely he must win now!  |
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Post by charleselan on Apr 29, 2021 17:20:04 GMT
I see Charles has three votes already. Surely he must win now! The cream will always rise to the top . |
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Post by chrisb on Apr 29, 2021 20:37:16 GMT
whilst it would be refreshing on a great many levels for the red cars to be successful, actually it would be really great if either of them won, whatever it is the race will be a sight that will make the eyes sore, there are some magnificent challenges here, i have gone for Norris as I do feel he has a race win in him and to see McLaren back up there would be interesting
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Post by René on May 1, 2021 13:32:48 GMT
Looking close again between RB and Mercedes. And it seems Alpine made a step to find more speed. Also believe Ferrari have some more to show. McLaren not yet up to where you would expect them.
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Post by charleselan on May 1, 2021 17:21:41 GMT
Max and the Fizzy boys did not look happy. The question is, have MB been sand bagging or simply just not got a handle on the new regulations until now. It would be pretty disastrous if MB had another steam roller championship, so lets spice it up a bit.
However I am pleased for Valterri, he deserved that but it won't help in the race I am afraid as we all know what will occur.
Another outstanding performance from Young Lando Norris in the rejuvenated McLaren, James Key has done a great job with that car, but what the blazes has happened to Ricciardo. Also great performance by Esteban Ocon who has well and truly put Teflonso in his box, particularly at this track.
Carlos was magnificent in the Ferrari which is lacking real front running pace, but to out qualify his brilliant team mate is something. Charles really did not look his normal self in qualifying, and appeared quite ragged at times, maybe trying just too hard to compensate for his less that stellar car. Carlos on the other hand kept working away at getting the times, quality driver as ever.
I was going to write Sebastian off just before qualifying began as it looked much of the same, but he did a fine job in a car that is sadly lacking what it had last year. He also does not for some bizarre reason have the latest updates, what the blue blazes do you sign a four time champion for and then give the bosses kid the best bits. I do not think for one minute that Sebastian is at his best, and not by some way, but he is the one who needs to get that team moving and not the one with a pocket full of gold.
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Post by René on May 1, 2021 18:29:23 GMT
Yep, the Benz cars were really fast. On the yellows even disturbingly so. But ok, Max did have the fastest time but taken away for track limits... so the speed is there. Checo is getting closer though. Carlos was very good. He was fast here last year in the McLaren and he's always good on slippery tracks, must be those rally genes.  . Charles was obviously not at his best, trying too hard probably but getting through Q2 on the yellows was good. On Italian Autosprint he said he's still confident. So are we Charles. Good qualy also for Ocon in the Alpine. He has speed for sure and needs to outperform Alonso regularly to make his mark. Lando very good again. He's the leading McLaren man so far. Daniel needs to up his game. Pierre solid again and good to see Seb back in Q3. I think we all want to see him do well. And strong performances by Russel and Giovinazzi. How good is Antonio? We hardly speak about him when talking about the new generation but Ferrari believe in him. |
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Post by mikael on May 2, 2021 18:43:31 GMT
Hopefully it will not be the last time that F1 visits the Algarve Circuit - that was very spectacular to watch! Particularly the last turn before the "home straight", where it seemed as if the cars almost "took off".
Watching the Sky broadcast, as others have pointed out earlier, I also find David Croft's commentary a complete nuisance (no commentary at all would be much preferable). But perhaps it's an "age-thing" - perhaps young fans like him? (Someone must appreciate him - otherwise he wouldn't stay on ...) I came to think about a Danish commentator (whose name I cannot recall) in the heyday of Danish speedway, in the mid/late 70's and early 80's, whose style actually was very similar to that of David Croft - and as a teenager, I actually liked that type of commentary ...
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Post by Carl on May 3, 2021 4:46:01 GMT
Hopefully it will not be the last time that F1 visits the Algarve Circuit - that was very spectacular to watch! Particularly the last turn before the "home straight", where it seemed as if the cars almost "took off".
Watching the Sky broadcast, as others have pointed out earlier, I also find David Croft's commentary a complete nuisance (no commentary at all would be much preferable). But perhaps it's an "age-thing" - perhaps young fans like him? (Someone must appreciate him - otherwise he wouldn't stay on ...) I came to think about a Danish commentator (whose name I cannot recall) in the heyday of Danish speedway, in the mid/late 70's and early 80's, whose style actually was very similar to that of David Croft - and as a teenager, I actually liked that type of commentary ...
Mikael, I agree that Algarve is one of the best natural road courses and should be made permanent! I thought the race was interesting because of the circuit, otherwise it was the usual contest of tyre compounds and pitstop timing, leavened by drag reduced passes into Turns 1 and 5, the drivers briefly debating whether the pass should be inside or outside.
David Croft fusses and giggles like an adolescent with attention deficit disorder anxious to bellow at the start and restarts. You may be right that young fans like him, but I would love for the serious and knowledgeable Martin Brundle to lose patience and throw him out of the commentary box one day... soon.
-Carl |
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Post by charleselan on May 3, 2021 13:48:09 GMT
From my perspective this race was somewhat saved by the excellent venue which tended to flatter the whole affair. This was made even more profound when one is coming straight from watching the excellent MotoGP meeting where the competition is extremely strong and the depth of factory teams who are in the mix puts F1 to shame.
Those in F1 can wrap it up whichever way they like and attempt to cloud the outcome with the words of "purity" of the challenge, but the fact remains it is just about a two horse race thanks to the dominance of one team and the challenge from one other.
It was said on S*YF1 commentary that the strength of Mercedes Benz over this past weekend was due to the unusual conditions, very windy and cool which helped them. Well that maybe a point, but they also had power to spare from my own observations, Max even with the dastardly "DRS" could not pass Bottas on the long pit straight and the Honda is supposed to be the best engine currently according to Peter Windsor.
Bottas also cannot account for his lack of performance during the race, before the problem with the exhaust late in the race. The cynic in me would say he did a great job of holding Max up during the vital part of the race, but then again I shouldn't say that should I.
Another point was the fact that some teams really screwed up their drivers with tyre selection, Ferrari got it completely wrong for Carlos, and why the blazes did Fizzy Drink keep Checo out for so long, or was the intention to hold Hamilton up at some stage, which of course did not work as he just breezed past him as if he was standing still.
I will continue to bang on about Charles, but yet another superb drive and his interview with S*YF1 after the race was his usual open honest and forthright self. Lando Norris yet again was a stand out with such a strong performance that left his highly paid team mate in the shade. I though Esteban Ocon drove very well in a surprisingly good Alpine, and the late race pace of Teflonso was so good to see, the old warrior getting on with the job to fine effect.
But in reality this is not a good show and it has been going on for too long now.
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Post by chrisb on May 3, 2021 13:52:21 GMT
beautifully put Carl,
you may have a point there Mikael, maybe it is as we age we find ourselves less tolerant in this 'type of enthusiasm' - in saying that in the UK pre Murray we had the wonderful and heroic Raymond Baxter, whose commentary of the 1967 Italian GP will be forever etched in my memory, and was not anything like hystreical, - in saying that I have so much affection for Murray I was always fond of his commentary as well.
Circuits like the Algarve surely makes sure the drivers actually earn their money, with some good performances that went unrewarded,
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Post by René on May 3, 2021 15:46:28 GMT
I am glad I'm not the only one feeling a bit disappointed with yesterday's race. I expected more.
Yes, the venue is great and hopefully it will stay on the calendar. And the cars did look spectacularly fast. But something was missing. Don't know. Maybe disappointed to see how far off McLaren and Ferrari still are.
And the Dutch commentary clowns are hard to digest, bunch of infantile idiots. It's not only Croft, believe me.
Next. |
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Post by charleselan on May 3, 2021 16:20:03 GMT
Re: Commentary.
Although I had S*YF1 running on one computer, my main computer (27" iMac) was running the Swiss SRF transmission, the German version. SRF is devoid of any histrionic commentary being very calm and almost surreal compared to the demented fool Croft who isn't that popular according to many on the various English speaking motor sport sites.
SRF are one of the few remaining "free to air" broadcasters of F1 in Europe, obviously Geo Restricted but if one has a VPN you set it to Switzerland and get a perfect broadcast. I obviously need a VPN anyway to enable use of English providers here in France, so it is not something I need just for motor sport.
Interestingly BTSport have a new commentator for MotoGP this year as Keith Heuwen has hung up his microphone and Gavin Emmett has moved up from the pit-lane to the comm's box alongside Neil Hodgson and Michael Laverty. Gavin is OK, and far better than the adolescent sounding individuals that are on other platforms for MotoGP. None of course come anywhere close to dear old Jack Burnacle and the ever superb James Whitham of British Eurosport BSB.
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Post by Carl on May 3, 2021 16:54:35 GMT
I am glad I'm not the only one feeling a bit disappointed with yesterday's race. I expected more.
Yes, the venue is great and hopefully it will stay on the calendar. And the cars did look spectacularly fast. But something was missing. Don't know. Maybe disappointed to see how far off McLaren and Ferrari still are.
And the Dutch commentary clowns are hard to digest, bunch of infantile idiots. It's not only Croft, believe me.
Next. When the circus is dull, send in the clowns. Someone should write a song...
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. Charles was obviously not at his best, trying too hard probably but getting through Q2 on the yellows was good. On Italian Autosprint he said he's still confident. So are we Charles. 
