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Post by René on May 5, 2021 15:11:16 GMT
The F1 circus has travelled from the south-west of the Iberian Peninsula to the north-east for another race weekend, this time in Barcelona. In general not the best track for an exciting race but let’s stay positive and hope for some good battles. What this track does usually show is which car is good and which car is not. For the sake of the championship we may hope that Red Bull can keep up with Mercedes. For Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso it’s their home race, but unfortunately still without the home crowds. A good result for these matadors would be nice though!
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Post by robmarsh on May 5, 2021 15:56:23 GMT
Heart bet for Charles.
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Post by Carl on May 5, 2021 18:43:26 GMT
The F1 circus has travelled from the south-west of the Iberian Peninsula to the north-east for another race weekend, this time in Barcelona. In general not the best track for an exciting race but let’s stay positive and hope for some good battles. What this track does usually show is which car is good and which car is not. For the sake of the championship we may hope that Red Bull can keep up with Mercedes. For Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso it’s their home race, but unfortunately still without the home crowds. A good result for these matadors would be nice though!
A fascinating display of mutual aggression! The outside front wheel camber on each car indicates both drivers are steering toward the other, although perhaps for different reasons. Turn 1 is approaching but not imminent, so have both jinked threateningly just to intimidate the other?
I would never argue with Nigel or Ayrton about right of way.  |
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Post by René on May 7, 2021 14:34:17 GMT
Interesting FP2!
Charles only 0.165 off Hamilton's time in third! That is encouriging. OK, Max should be in there as well but he made a mistake so no real time but still. Ferrari really did do a good job upgrading the hopeless 2020 car.
And also impressive were the Alpines! Ocon and old fox Alonso not far behind and the Alpha Tauris also close.
Could be good!  |
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Post by robmarsh on May 7, 2021 16:18:00 GMT
I fear Rene that Mercedes have yet to show their true pace and this is going to be another Hamilton snooze fest like the previous four years. I find it uncanny how Mercedes start the season offering a glimmer of hope to their rivals and then by the fourth of fifth race crush them into the ground. It is rather like Hamilton saying my tyres are shot and then setting the race's fastest lap three laps later. I think Mercedes have been sandbagging for years, only releasing enough performance to keep ahead and stop drastic rule changes affecting them like the tyre regs did to Ferrari in 2005. I may sound very negative but I am heartily sick of Mercedes and their desire to crush all opposition all the time.
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Post by René on May 8, 2021 9:55:49 GMT
I see where you're coming from Rob but I'm always optimistic when it comes to F1. Don't know why but I can't help it.  And even if Mercedes ramps up the performance today, Ferrari have made a big step nonetheless. The new floor is working and also Charles comfirmed the improvements. Only 0.165 off Sir Lewis is close, no matter how you look at it. 
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Post by charleselan on May 8, 2021 15:28:13 GMT
Quote from Verstappen after qualifying today (Saturday 8th May) that Barcelona is a "real track", Ha! I bet he thinks the Nurburgring is a Goat Track.
Barcelona may well be great from drivers perspective due to its technical challenge (whatever that may be) but it is one of the worst from a fans point of view. Impossible to overtake even with the ridiculous DRS and you can only win if you qualify on the front row of the grid.
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Post by René on May 8, 2021 16:16:32 GMT
Quote from Verstappen after qualifying today (Saturday 8th May) that Barcelona is a "real track", Ha! I bet he thinks the Nurburgring is a Goat Track. Barcelona may well be great from drivers perspective due to its technical challenge (whatever that may be) but it is one of the worst from a fans point of view. Impossible to overtake even with the ridiculous DRS and you can only win if you qualify on the front row of the grid. Unless of course, if the first two collide in the first corner. Wouldn't be the first time. Charles was brilliant again when it mattered and so was Esteban! There's some good pace in that Alpine. Also nice to see Daniel getting up to speed in the McLaren and Carlos not far off either. |
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Post by charleselan on May 8, 2021 17:25:33 GMT
Quote from Verstappen after qualifying today (Saturday 8th May) that Barcelona is a "real track", Ha! I bet he thinks the Nurburgring is a Goat Track. Barcelona may well be great from drivers perspective due to its technical challenge (whatever that may be) but it is one of the worst from a fans point of view. Impossible to overtake even with the ridiculous DRS and you can only win if you qualify on the front row of the grid. Unless of course, if the first two collide in the first corner. Wouldn't be the first time. Charles was brilliant again when it mattered and so was Esteban! There's some good pace in that Alpine. Also nice to see Daniel getting up to speed in the McLaren and Carlos not far off either. Yes! Charles was outstanding once more, just brilliant driving by this young man. Also hugely impressed with Esteban who is really coming into his own this year, at long last. I think Carlos will be strong in the race if he makes a good start, but needs to as overtaking is well nigh impossible at this awful place. Just a thought. What a pity the authorities and the other cry baby teams took umbrage to Ferrari's unique interpretation of the battery technology. It has been reported/rumoured that as penance for this interpretation they were forced to run last year with a more restricted fuel flow allowance, but it was kept quiet so some could save face. Might be true, might not . |
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Post by robmarsh on May 8, 2021 18:06:05 GMT
Unless of course, if the first two collide in the first corner. Wouldn't be the first time. Charles was brilliant again when it mattered and so was Esteban! There's some good pace in that Alpine. Also nice to see Daniel getting up to speed in the McLaren and Carlos not far off either. Yes! Charles was outstanding once more, just brilliant driving by this young man. Also hugely impressed with Esteban who is really coming into his own this year, at long last. I think Carlos will be strong in the race if he makes a good start, but needs to as overtaking is well nigh impossible at this awful place. Just a thought. What a pity the authorities and the other cry baby teams took umbrage to Ferrari's unique interpretation of the battery technology. It has been reported/rumoured that as penance for this interpretation they were forced to run last year with a more restricted fuel flow allowance, but it was kept quiet so some could save face. Might be true, might not . I think it is true Charles. I heard that story a couple of months back and it makes sense to me. I often wonder if part of McLarens' penance for spygate in 2007 was that none of their drivers would win the WDC that year. It is the sort of subterfuge that F1 deal in. I was thinking after qualifying how brilliantly Leclerc is driving at the moment and how Ross Brawn dissed him in favour of Yuki Tsunoda who is beginning to show how good a newcomer he really is and who threw his team under the bus after qualifying today, claiming there was a conspiracy against his car. Really, he is a bit new to start that crap. I also picked up on Max's comment after qualifying, really stupid. Barcelona is but a shadow of the previous Montjuich circuit track and apart from the wet race in 1996 I have always been incredibly disappointed with it. Even Jarama has more character. |
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Post by robmarsh on May 8, 2021 18:07:30 GMT
I see where you're coming from Rob but I'm always optimistic when it comes to F1. Don't know why but I can't help it. And even if Mercedes ramps up the performance today, Ferrari have made a big step nonetheless. The new floor is working and also Charles comfirmed the improvements. Only 0.165 off Sir Lewis is close, no matter how you look at it.
You are right of course Rene and I am normally more optimistic but the dominance of Mercedes just got to me momentarily. |
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Post by chrisb on May 9, 2021 5:56:24 GMT
joining you all in agreement - what a crap circuit and to read max's comments makes me wonder, but the MB dominance, however it is coached is just not good - a one year dominance is ok but after that it becomes a nonsense,
some good shows, well done to Charles and Esteban amongst others, are these rumours of Bottas's departure or possible swop with George do they have any substance
on a different note really sad to hear that Carlos Reuterman is seriously ill and in intensive care and want to wish him a speedy recovery .
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Post by René on May 9, 2021 9:44:16 GMT
I was thinking after qualifying how brilliantly Leclerc is driving at the moment and how Ross Brawn dissed him in favour of Yuki Tsunoda who is beginning to show how good a newcomer he really is and who threw his team under the bus after qualifying today, claiming there was a conspiracy against his car. Really, he is a bit new to start that crap. Yuki has apologized now but that wasn't very clever. I believe he is talented and fast but he still has a lot to learn. Ross's ridiculous comment doesn't help with that. Oh, and by the way, can someone take Yuki aside for a moment and tell him not to swear all the time on the radio! |
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Post by René on May 9, 2021 9:53:30 GMT
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Post by charleselan on May 9, 2021 11:56:46 GMT
I also noticed the news about Carlos Reutemann last evening which was most upsetting. I was not aware that he had been in poor health for some years after being diagnosed with liver cancer. He had a tumour removed by surgeons in a hospital in the USA and has been in poor health ever since. His current condition is due to stomach bleeding and he has been moved to critical care.
Our thoughts are with you Carlos.
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