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Post by René on Oct 19, 2023 16:31:12 GMT
 The tour of the North and South American continent starts this weekend in Austin, Texas. Then Mexico, then Brazil and then back to the USA for the race in Las Vegas. But this weekend it's Austin at the Circuit Of The Americas. Not a bad course where we will certainly see some nice action.  Of course Red Bull is favorite again, but you would think that things would also go wrong for Verstappen at some point. Mechanical failure, a failed pit stop, whatever. And what can Sergio Pérez do this weekend? The pressure will certainly not decrease with undoubtedly many Mexicans in Texas to support him and of course the race in Mexico City on the horizon.  We'll see and maybe McLaren can show some magic again or Mercedes or Ferrari. In any case, Ricciardo will get back into the AlphaTauri, but don't expect any miracles there.  |
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Post by chrisb on Oct 20, 2023 9:40:08 GMT
with Max's current ego levels I am guessing he would want to win everything he can, so I wouldn't be optimistic about Perez, certainly not this weekend, maybe in Mexico, mind you I am always reminded of that fatal photo of Ricardo Rodriguez kissing his Father's hand shortly before his tragic accident.
I like the Austin circuit although the F1 cars do tear the tarmac up with their incredible downforce, as you say Rene barring an incident or mechanical problem, it is unlikely to see anyone beating Max, I would like to see Norris do it, I do think it will lift him even higher, and the way McLaren have gone about their business is excellent.
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Post by René on Oct 20, 2023 22:35:20 GMT
Whoooaah! Pole position for Charles Leclerc! That was some magic lap. Second position for Lando Norris and Verstappen only sixth after his time (which was 0.005sec faster than Charles’s) was deleted for exceeding track limits. The Red Bull appears not to be as dominant as usual which bodes well for the race.  |
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Post by Carl on Oct 22, 2023 6:46:35 GMT
Someone informed track officials that draping the entire esses in red, white and blue was garish. Many Texans aren't sure what garish means, but think it's a high fashion term too swishy for cowboys, so they toned it down.
Next year, they should be told the name, Circuit of the Americas, is pompous, a suspicious word used only by French tourists. They should just call it Austin... "Alors toute le glamour sera à moi !
- Paul Ricard |
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Post by chrisb on Oct 22, 2023 10:04:39 GMT
Ce la magnifique Carl, shame about the result, of this 'sprint race' oh well, looks like Lewis has started to get a car he likes back, too little too late
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Post by René on Oct 22, 2023 11:06:03 GMT
Someone informed track officials that draping the entire esses in red, white and blue was garish. Many Texans aren't sure what garish means, but think it's a high fashion term too swishy for cowboys, so they toned it down.
Next year, they should be told the name, Circuit of the Americas, is pompous, a suspicious word used only by French tourists. They should just call it Austin... "Alors toute le glamour sera à moi !
- Paul Ricard If that is how the psyche of the average Texan works, maybe someone should spread the rumor that voting for trump is actually very woke...  |
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Post by René on Oct 22, 2023 11:15:49 GMT
Ce la magnifique Carl, shame about the result, of this 'sprint race' oh well, looks like Lewis has started to get a car he likes back, too little too late Yep, Mercedes not looking too bad but as you say, it's too little too late. The Ferrari is also fast over one lap but the Red Bull's race pace, at least in Max's hands, is on another level. I'm still puzzled by how much faster Max is compared to Checo. And it is also clear that Max still has a lot more in hand. He will probably win the Grand Prix if he doesn't get punted off... |
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Post by Carl on Oct 22, 2023 16:22:47 GMT
Someone informed track officials that draping the entire esses in red, white and blue was garish. Many Texans aren't sure what garish means, but think it's a high fashion term too swishy for cowboys, so they toned it down.
Next year, they should be told the name, Circuit of the Americas, is pompous, a suspicious word used only by French tourists. They should just call it Austin... "Alors toute le glamour sera à moi !
- Paul Ricard If that is how the psyche of the average Texan works, maybe someone should spread the rumor that voting for trump is actually very woke... That would drive them insane, cruel and unusual punishment outlawed by the 8th Amendment, but republicans don't pay close attention to the Constitution, so no-one would object.  |
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Post by René on Oct 22, 2023 17:40:44 GMT
If that is how the psyche of the average Texan works, maybe someone should spread the rumor that voting for trump is actually very woke... That would drive them insane, cruel and unusual punishment outlawed by the 8th Amendment, but republicans don't pay close attention to the Constitution, so no-one would object. Haha, brilliant Carl.  …and they are too busy with side issues anyway. |
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Post by René on Oct 22, 2023 17:41:19 GMT
Enjoy the race!  |
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Post by René on Oct 23, 2023 15:25:41 GMT
Well, what shall we say. Another Max win.
I read many comments from people saying this was such a great race but when you know upfront, almost 100% certain, that Max is going to win the race, I find it difficult to stay enthusiastic. We've seen dominance before but never like this. He wins from whatever grid position he starts and even with a 'braking issue' he still has everything under control. I know it's all amazing and fantastic and brilliant from Max and Red Bull but to me it feels something is wrong.
DRS makes overtaking so easy, there's no way anymore that a slower car can win the race, not even at the Hungaroring. If you have the highest race pace, you win. All the time. And with the budget cap, it's virtually impossible to catch up in time for a title challenge. It feels wrong.
And besides, not exactly a strong overtaking maneuver by Max on Charles. He pushed him completely off the track, but apparently that's all fine.
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Post by robmarsh on Oct 23, 2023 17:10:13 GMT
I agree 100% with you Rene. I didn't bother to watch the sprint race and couldn't wait for the GP proper to end. The kind of dominance that Red Bull, then Mercedes and now Red Bull have again is exacerbated by the rules. Max and Lewis are exceptional drivers but to have that type of dominance in a car doesn't make them GOATS.
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Post by Carl on Oct 23, 2023 23:57:25 GMT
Racing happens when Pirelli has taken its bows and ceded center stage after final pitstops. All else being equal, only then do drivers have full control. I anticipated a good race on Saturday, a short sprint with no mandatory pitstops, but it was dull and processional. Formula One needs reform. Currently, when an individual driver disputes the wisdom of Plan A and Plan B, wanting instead to control his race, he's reminded that the team knows best. It's no accident that Red Bull has the best aerodynamics, including the most effective drag reduction. Adrian Newey brings a savant syndrome genius to Red Bull and, I believe, sees racing as a personal curriculum vitae, a demonstration each year of his incomparable genius. For Newey, the constructor's championship is everything. Red Bull is a corruption of power and money and attracts the amoral like moths to a flame. It's no wonder that Verstappen's car is measurably faster. It's in the script. While Adrian Newey dreams pleasantly of driverless cars, Helmut Marko's nights are haunted by Colin Clive:
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Post by chrisb on Oct 25, 2023 10:45:54 GMT
Carl, Colin Clive was always a scary actor to me, in fact far more terrifying than Boris ever was, one of his later films with the wonderful Jean Arthur and Charles Boyer was a film called "History was made at night" about possessiveness a film I have but really don't like - Clive plays an all to thoroughly unpleasant person whose manipulations seem to be played far too naturally for my tastes, good acting or?
I haven't watched the Grand Prix, which in itself is a statement, I normally watch the truncated highlights but just couldn't bring myself to watch this race, knowing the result even before it started, and then reading of the disqualifications it just said no to me,
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Post by Carl on Oct 25, 2023 19:21:12 GMT
Carl, Colin Clive was always a scary actor to me, in fact far more terrifying than Boris ever was, one of his later films with the wonderful Jean Arthur and Charles Boyer was a film called "History was made at night" about possessiveness a film I have but really don't like - Clive plays an all to thoroughly unpleasant person whose manipulations seem to be played far too naturally for my tastes, good acting or? I haven't watched the Grand Prix, which in itself is a statement, I normally watch the truncated highlights but just couldn't bring myself to watch this race, knowing the result even before it started, and then reading of the disqualifications it just said no to me, Chris, You were wise not to have watched the race, or Colin Clive for that matter. He always seemed close to the edge of madness. I've never seen "History Is Made at Night" but always admired Charles Boyer's mastery of menace. Was Jean Arthur miscast here? She was excellent in comedies and still convincing as the romantic interest at 55 in "Shane"
I'll always remember co-star Leo Carillo as Pancho, sidekick to Duncan Reynaldo's Cisco Kid, one of my favorite television programs when I was very young and too undiscerning to notice Pancho's heavy makeup!
Cheers, Carl
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…and they are too busy with side issues anyway.
