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Post by René on Aug 23, 2023 17:04:46 GMT
 For the third time in modern times, the circus visits Zandvoort again. The first two events were a big orange party with wins for Max Verstappen. And nothing indicates that this time will be different.  Max is a huge favorite, and not only with the Dutch fans, but realistically there is no one who can really threaten him. We can therefore only hope that something crazy happens, so that we still get to see an exciting race on Sunday.  It's hard to say who will be the second team behind Red Bull, because that clearly depends on the circuit. Mercedes, Aston Martin, Ferrari or maybe McLaren. But the orange madness will be huge again anyway. Hopefully everyone behaves a bit because with that madness, football hooliganism has also entered the F1 grandstands.  |
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Post by chrisb on Aug 23, 2023 18:06:37 GMT
Matt Bishop has done an excellent article in Motorsport about the 1977 Dutch GP and has encouraged Rene de Boer to write a comprehensive book on this marvellous and extremely important circuit and Rene says there is going to be something coming out later this year celebrating Zandvoort’s 75th birthday
who or what can stop Max? His own ego perhaps? As Zandvoort has provided so many 1st’s in the past wouldn’t it be wonderful if Norris broke his duck and McLaren got back to winning ways
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Post by mikael on Aug 24, 2023 7:10:47 GMT
For the third time in modern times, the circus visits Zandvoort again.
Fantastic photo from the 1976 Dutch GP! Such a fascinating era of Formula One. Looking at top ten in this photo, there are basically just as many completely different approaches to comply with the regulations.
It's a pity, I think, that the regulations have become so strict as they are. Otherwise, some teams could concentrate on - and excel at - the fast, "sweeping" circuits (like Silverstone), while other could excel at the narrow, "twisty" ones (like Monaco). (I remain to be convinced that a single car design cannot be optimal for all of the very different circuits.)
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Post by René on Aug 25, 2023 12:13:27 GMT
For the third time in modern times, the circus visits Zandvoort again. Fantastic photo from the 1976 Dutch GP! Such a fascinating era of Formula One. Looking at top ten in this photo, there are basically just as many completely different approaches to comply with the regulations.
It's a pity, I think, that the regulations have become so strict as they are. Otherwise, some teams could concentrate on - and excel at - the fast, "sweeping" circuits (like Silverstone), while other could excel at the narrow, "twisty" ones (like Monaco). (I remain to be convinced that a single car design cannot be optimal for all of the very different circuits.)
Yep, no computers, no CFD, not even wind tunnels but only a relatively basic knowledge of aerodynamics and this is what you get. Hard to turn the clock back in this regard, knowledge cannot be undone as we have talked about many times. But they were the best times. As for the optimal car for all types of tracks, you might be right Mikael but the Red Bull comes damn close. |
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Post by René on Aug 25, 2023 12:19:58 GMT
No surprise that Max Verstappen recorded the fastest time in FP1. Nice for the fans but I did not have the impression that we have seen cars going to the max yet.. (not even Max  ). We'll have to wait for FP2 to get a better picture. It's been raining cats and dogs here all day but I live in the south and Zandvoort is about 250km to the north west. It's still dry around the coast but it could be a rainy weekend. Could be interesting. |
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Post by René on Aug 25, 2023 15:41:47 GMT
Very close FP2 session with Lando Norris on top and eight different teams in the top 10! Unfortunately no Ferrari as they were clearly struggling for grip and have some work to do overnight. But I expect (hope) to see them in the mix also. But good to see the McLaren being so competitive again, even if Oscar put it in the wall and fellow Ozzie Ricciardo getting confused by the McLaren and slamming in the barriers also! _ I love the old school look of the track with the grass and gravel. Just imagine a track like Austin looking like this. It would be twice as interesting to watch. I always hate the large, brightly painted asphalt runoffs that also ruin the looks of for instance the esses at Austin. Grass and gravel. Simple as that.  |
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Post by René on Aug 25, 2023 19:36:00 GMT
Poor Daniel suffered a broken hand with that crash. He can’t race now so he will miss the Grand Prix this Sunday and I assume also the Italian Grand Prix and maybe more. That’s really bad luck. Red Bull junior and Super Formula racer Liam Lawson will replace him. He is thrown into the deep end with this, but it is also a great opportunity. Many big names have started this way.  |
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Post by René on Aug 26, 2023 20:36:43 GMT
Surprise, surprise, Max on pole! He’s on another level, no one comes close at the moment. Perez 1.3 secs slower! Good qualy for Lando and a Williams on p4, on merit. Great to see. |
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Post by René on Aug 27, 2023 19:10:08 GMT
What an event, what a race and what a result! I have to say, I am mighty impressed by how Max Verstappen copes with all that pressure and expectation. As if there is no pressure. He may have the best car (he has) but it was a very impressive performance in very difficult circumstances. So hats off to Max for another perfect weekend and equaling Vettel’s record of nine consecutive wins. Very impressive. Fernando Alonso was also on a roll again and Aston Martin looks to be back on track. And nice to see Pierre on the podium again. Disappointing race for Ferrari and Mercedes but Carlos and Lewis both drove very well. The Ferrari simply isn’t fast enough and also Mercedes isn’t operating as smooth as they used to now they are not dominating. Strong debut race from Liam Lawson. He brought the car home in one piece and made no mistakes. A memorable event.   Max and the royal family… |
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Post by robmarsh on Aug 28, 2023 9:41:37 GMT
Yep, a good race to watch, some mighty impressive performances by various drivers. Max is really in the zone at the moment as are Red Bull. Mercedes and Ferrari manage to show how easy it is to make mistakes when your car is not the best in the field.
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Post by Carl on Aug 28, 2023 16:50:10 GMT
I love the old school look of the track with the grass and gravel. Just imagine a track like Austin looking like this. It would be twice as interesting to watch. I always hate the large, brightly painted asphalt runoffs that also ruin the looks of for instance the esses at Austin. Grass and gravel. Simple as that. Paul Ricard got Austin drunk on cognac and taught it to wear too much make-up. 
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Post by Carl on Aug 28, 2023 23:32:47 GMT
"You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows" -Bob Dylan
At one time, drivers determined weather conditions without a weatherman! I recall one driver's wonderful intuition of changing conditions at Spa... Quoted from Simon Taylor's interview with Brian Redman in Motorsport:
"Ferrari got in touch, wanting me to drive the 312PB in long-distance races. Mauro Forghieri said, ‘Bree-an, you are the only man we ever ask twice’. “I was with Ferrari for two years. The 312PB really was like a two-seat Formula 1 car, marvellous. “At Spa in ’72 my co-driver was Arturo Merzario, and when I got back in the car Ronnie Peterson was right on my tail. I was going as hard as I knew, and when we came to Les Combes, I glimpsed something in the crowd, colours moving. That usually means people running or umbrellas going up — an accident just round the corner, or rain. So I got on the brakes a bit early, and suddenly I was on a wet road. The movement I’d glimpsed was people putting their umbrellas up. I just got round, but Ronnie hit the barriers. That was fortuitous, and we won." |
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Post by Carl on Aug 29, 2023 4:14:50 GMT
Weather was center stage at Zandvoort and there was some great racing during damp and dry intervals. Max Verstappen is unbeatable this year but George Russell's amazing recovery at high speed Turn 6 was the race highlight.
I feel sorry for Logan Sargeant, the lone Yankee in Formula One. Logan had been very impressive in karts and was 4th last year in Formula 2 for Trevor Carlin's team, one point behind teammate Liam Neeson's 3rd place, but so far he's clearly over his head in Formula One.
Only insult came his way from the contemptible moron in the broadcast booth, who exclaimed with mock surprise after qualifying that Logan was "only the second American in the top ten in 20 years!!" That could be because only a meager handful of Americans have driven in Formula One so far this century, but nuance is wasted on David Croft, who made clear at one point during the race that "Alonso stays ahead of Alonso..."
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). We'll have to wait for FP2 to get a better picture.
