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Post by René on Jul 20, 2022 12:37:11 GMT
 The heat wave in western Europe seems to have gone down a bit (yeez it was hot!) so hopefully no crazy temperatures next weekend. Again the fight for the win will be between Ferrari and Red Bull no doubt. Ferrari eventually had the fastest car in Austria so the question is if they can continue this form in France. But the speed won’t be their biggest worry as reliability is of much more concern. But also Red Bull had their issues so reliability is certainly a factor again, much more than we’ve seen in the previous many, many years. Mercedes is making steps but they’re still too far off the pace to think about winning (without lucky circumstances).
Alpine will be eager to score well in their home race and the speed is certainly there for a good result. Vive la France! _ There’s talk this could be the last French Grand Prix for a while or maybe alternate with the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa… which means that Spa’s position on the F1 calendar is not sure either. Not good... |
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Post by charleselan on Jul 20, 2022 17:25:20 GMT
The heat wave in western Europe seems to have gone down a bit (yeez it was hot!) so hopefully no crazy temperatures next weekend. Again the fight for the win will be between Ferrari and Red Bull no doubt. Ferrari eventually had the fastest car in Austria so the question is if they can continue this form in France. But the speed won’t be their biggest worry as reliability is of much more concern. But also Red Bull had their issues so reliability is certainly a factor again, much more than we’ve seen in the previous many, many years. Mercedes is making steps but they’re still too far off the pace to think about winning (without lucky circumstances).
Alpine will be eager to score well in their home race and the speed is certainly there for a good result. Vive la France! _ There’s talk this could be the last French Grand Prix for a while or maybe alternate with the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa… which means that Spa’s position on the F1 calendar is not sure either. Not good... Never really liked Ricard to be honest, and always remember dear old DSJ's first comments about, praiseworthy they were not. Can't stand the garish painted "car park" areas around the corners just like Circuit Of Americas, with looked like large dart boards. But better than a bit of sand in the desert!! Worrying news about Spa which I read about last night, but hey its all about money and stuff he fans and the guys who actually love the track and the fact it has massive crowds thanks now to Max. |
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Post by René on Jul 21, 2022 18:47:52 GMT
The heat wave in western Europe seems to have gone down a bit (yeez it was hot!) so hopefully no crazy temperatures next weekend. Again the fight for the win will be between Ferrari and Red Bull no doubt. Ferrari eventually had the fastest car in Austria so the question is if they can continue this form in France. But the speed won’t be their biggest worry as reliability is of much more concern. But also Red Bull had their issues so reliability is certainly a factor again, much more than we’ve seen in the previous many, many years. Mercedes is making steps but they’re still too far off the pace to think about winning (without lucky circumstances). Alpine will be eager to score well in their home race and the speed is certainly there for a good result. Vive la France! _ There’s talk this could be the last French Grand Prix for a while or maybe alternate with the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa… which means that Spa’s position on the F1 calendar is not sure either. Not good... Never really liked Ricard to be honest, and always remember dear old DSJ's first comments about, praiseworthy they were not. Can't stand the garish painted "car park" areas around the corners just like Circuit Of Americas, with looked like large dart boards. But better than a bit of sand in the desert!! Worrying news about Spa which I read about last night, but hey its all about money and stuff he fans and the guys who actually love the track and the fact it has massive crowds thanks now to Max. Paul Ricard was never one of the great tracks but I did like the Mediterranean atmosphere it had. But that has been expertly killed with the LSD paint job! Anyhow, I hope for a good race “et bien sûr une victoire pour Charles”.  |
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Post by René on Jul 22, 2022 16:39:32 GMT
Interesting practice sessions so far. Leclerc/Verstappen/Sainz in FP1 and Sainz/Leclerc/Verstappen in FP2. What stands out most though is the gap between Verstappen and the Ferraris in FP2, half a second!
Sainz will take a 10 place grid penalty because his PU needed some revision after the Austria flames.
Mercedes 3rd fastest team on P4 and P5 and Lando Norris solid in 6th. Checo Pérez is having more difficulty keeping up with Max recently. Adrian Newey's development direction does not seem to suite him which has happened before at Red Bull...
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Post by charleselan on Jul 22, 2022 17:32:23 GMT
Never really liked Ricard to be honest, and always remember dear old DSJ's first comments about, praiseworthy they were not. Can't stand the garish painted "car park" areas around the corners just like Circuit Of Americas, with looked like large dart boards. But better than a bit of sand in the desert!! Worrying news about Spa which I read about last night, but hey its all about money and stuff he fans and the guys who actually love the track and the fact it has massive crowds thanks now to Max. Paul Ricard was never one of the great tracks but I did like the Mediterranean atmosphere it had. But that has been expertly killed with the LSD paint job! Anyhow, I hope for a good race “et bien sûr une victoire pour Charles”. It certainly has the Mediterranean atmosphere and the heat to go with it but agree with you it is ruined by the dayglo paint scheme. I think Jenks said it was a flat boring place in a dry hot arid plain, goodness know what he would make of these desert venues. Do remember he was used to the speed of Reims; majesty of Rouen and the wonderful Clermont Ferrand which he rather rudely described as being next to a large rubbish tip. |
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Post by charleselan on Jul 22, 2022 17:47:03 GMT
Ferrari look strong and planted with both Charles and Carlos staring the timings, Red Bull look a bit set back by the sudden tyre wearing issue that came to the fore in Austria, although Horner looks his usual Full of self attitude. Looks like he and Tonto are still full on hand bags at dawn though.
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Post by Carl on Jul 23, 2022 3:11:03 GMT
Ferrari look strong and planted with both Charles and Carlos staring the timings, Red Bull look a bit set back by the sudden tyre wearing issue that came to the fore in Austria, although Horner looks his usual Full of self attitude. Looks like he and Tonto are still full on hand bags at dawn though. Das toto nicht in Kansas has longer arms and an advantage swinging handbags, but Horner is rumored to fortify his purse with heavy cans of caffeinated mgu-kinetic power.  |
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Post by René on Jul 23, 2022 17:17:59 GMT
Yes, yes, yes, pole #16 for car #16! Some brilliant team work from Ferrari and perfectly executed by Carlos and Charles. A perfect position for Leclerc to start the race but it won't be easy with the expected high temps and high tyre deg. The Red Bull is faster on the straight so it will be essential to keep Max behind at the start and build a gap. Strong qualy from Yuki by the way and equally disappointing qualy for Pierre at his home race. |
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Post by mikael on Jul 23, 2022 18:14:04 GMT
It may (perhaps) be of interest to note that for Hamilton, this Grand Prix is his GP start No. 300(*), while for Vettel, it is his GP start No. 290.
An amazing experience these two drivers are gathering. Michael Schumacher had 306 GP starts; but Raikkonen holds the record with 350 GP starts.
(*)Thus, I would not begrudge Hamilton the victory of this GP ...
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Post by René on Jul 23, 2022 22:06:34 GMT
It may (perhaps) be of interest to note that for Hamilton, this Grand Prix is his GP start No. 300(*), while for Vettel, it is his GP start No. 290.
An amazing experience these two drivers are gathering. Michael Schumacher had 306 GP starts; but Raikkonen holds the record with 350 GP starts.
(*)Thus, I would not begrudge Hamilton the victory of this GP ...
There was a time when reaching a 100 Grand Prix starts was a milestone. You survived! Max has 152 starts to his name and he’s only 24 years old! Sorry for Lewis but Charles needs the points.  |
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Post by charleselan on Jul 24, 2022 10:09:24 GMT
Great team work by Ferrari and it hit on the head those idiots who have been trying to sow doubt of disharmony in the camp, get it through your stupid heads that Charles & Carlos get on well.
With reference to the amount of GP completed aren't you forgetting someone? Fernando Alonso? However like race wins a bit of an unreal comparison to be honest seeing as the greats of the past not only drove in much more perilous time but also far less races. Maybe you should compare how long they raved in F1, e.g. Years, months, days, hours. Just to set you off Niki Lauda drove from 1971 to 1985 albeit with a short hiatus.
As I am currently having difficulty typing I will save you the details of my growing list of personal grouses except the titles!
(1) Porpoising and ground clearance.
(2) Grid penalties.
(3) FIA authoritarianism re jewellery and forced compliance of attending meetings.
(4) Track limits and track design.
(5) Dropping traditional and great circuits.
Discuss.
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Post by mikael on Jul 24, 2022 10:24:21 GMT
JC, you're right; Alonso is reeling in on Raikkonen's record, with his present start No. 346.
Reference:
Yes, I agree that the number of starts are not comparable through the decades, considering that the 2021 championship comprised 22 races, while the 1971 championship, for example, comprised just the half of that, 11 races. Going further ten years back, to 1961, the season comprised only 8 races.
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Post by René on Jul 24, 2022 12:13:14 GMT
...my growing list of personal grouses... Haha, love it.  But yeah, here you go. My first thoughts... (1) Porpoising and ground clearance. (2) Grid penalties. (3) FIA authoritarianism re jewellery and forced compliance of attending meetings. (4) Track limits and track design. (5) Dropping traditional and great circuits. (1) Don't like the interference by the FIA, certainly not mid season. Their role is to make sure everyone acts within the regulations. Teams will sort out the porpoising themselves. (2) The grid penalty rule is flawed. The fact Carlos is penalized for getting a new engine is ridiculous. He already lost out by the engine failure so why penalize him again? If you want a penalty system, then penalize the team by reduction of constructors points or something. Not the driver. (3) Almost too ridiculous to go into. Have they nothing better to do?
(4) Extremely annoying. If you want a track limit in a certain corner, then make a track limit. A wall or grass or gravel. All the drivers agree on that. Stop the endless run-offs and ridiculous paint jobs that apparently go with it. (5) The idea of dropping Monaco or Spa should not even exist. I understand it's a commercial sport but it's like dropping Wimbledon from the tennis calendar. Tradition does matter a lot in a sport like Formula 1.
Enjoy the race guys!  |
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Post by chrisb on Jul 24, 2022 20:43:34 GMT
good points Chaps, the interference from the FIA seems at best petty at worst pathetic what is with the jewellery business or was it personal? whichever surely there are better things to focus on,
it seems to me that the threats to the gorgeous traditional circuits are constant and never seems to happen, I am puzzled why on earth anyone should actually think of dropping or alternating Spa with another circuit - sheer stupidity, they get the cars much more interesting and then mutter about changing circuits for less than great circuits, it's a bit like repairing one foot and shooting the other foot.
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Post by chrisb on Jul 24, 2022 20:50:49 GMT
300 Gp's? that is mind boggling to someone like me, when your heroes completed 72 or 54 F1 GP's and won at ratios that would mean that Fangio would have won something like 150 GP's - just can't compute that
just watched the highlights, really sorry for you Ferrari fans, in saying that despite the 'error' my respect for Charles who apparently is acknowledging he made a mistake has just soared even higher, never thought I would wish for a Ferrari F1 champion but I am now, that guy is really special and hope he gets his championship back on track and what's more wins at Monza - my word Italy would erupt
thought Lewis and George drove well and they are creeping up aren't they -
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But yeah, here you go. My first thoughts...
