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Post by René on Jun 5, 2024 16:47:01 GMT
 This weekend the Canadian Grand Prix at the now legendary Gilles Villeneuve circuit.  An 'old school' track that almost always guarantees a great race. Especially now that Red Bull's dominance is no longer as self-evident as it was just a few races ago. McLaren and Ferrari have clearly made great strides and Red Bull's weakness, driving over the curbs, will also play a role here. Although somewhat compensated by the long straight, it is no longer a foregone conclusion that Verstappen will win here.   Striking news this week that Pérez has signed for another two seasons at Red Bull. They clearly want stability and not to disrupt the Verstappen camp (by signing Sainz). But I didn't expect it to be honest because Checo didn't score really well compared to Max and is not scoring well now. An interesting analysis on Autosport ( www.autosport.com/f1/news/the-dangers-of-red-bull-re-signing-perez/10619558/ ) shows that only Sargeant scores worse in the inter team battle. Anyway, Checo will be happy because he will certainly get podiums and maybe a few wins. But I think they should have gone for Yuki! And what now for Carlos? Sauber-Audi, Mercedes or really Williams? We'll hear it soon.  |
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Post by robmarsh on Jun 6, 2024 7:59:19 GMT
Like you I was surprised Rene. Can't see the point really. Feel very sorry for Carlos. He deserves a better drive than those left on the table. Even though it would be great to see I don't think Williams will rise to their previous heights.
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Post by chrisb on Jun 6, 2024 14:27:25 GMT
too often in history we have seen steps taken to pacify the number one driver, or in Ayrton's case feeling that Lotus couldn't do justice to both him and Derek, so here we go again.
I like this circuit, mind you I liked Mosport as well, and the Canadian's are always enthusiastic, will anyone catch the fizzy drinks brigade, somehow I doubt it, but after Monaco we live on in hope- so I will go for Norris again
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Post by Carl on Jun 9, 2024 3:56:19 GMT
Maledetta Fortuna!
In a few hours, while still asleep, Charles Leclerc will have a race-winning strategy
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Post by René on Jun 9, 2024 9:09:39 GMT
Maledetta Fortuna!
In a few hours, while still sleep, Charles Leclerc will have a race-winning strategy
Then he must have an epiphany for that to happen!  I didn't watch anything live last night because we had a party, but when I looked at the results I first thought the alcohol had gone to my head!  A Mercedes on pole and Ferrari out of Q2! What the **** happened there? Weird. But strong performance from George Russell. Well done, Mercedes found some pace at last. The forecast is for a wet Canadian Grand Prix so anything can happen. It won't be boring for sure.  F1 starting grid1 George RUSSELL Mercedes 2 Max VERSTAPPEN Red Bull 3 Lando NORRIS McLaren 4 Oscar PIASTRI McLaren 5 Daniel RICCIARDO RB 6 Fernando ALONSO Aston Martin 7 Lewis HAMILTON Mercedes 8 Yuki TSUNODA RB 9 Lance STROLL Aston Martin 10 Alexander ALBON Williams 11 Charles Leclerc, Ferrari 12 Carlos Sainz, Ferrari 13 Logan Sargeant, Williams 14 Kevin Magnussen, Haas 15 Pierre Gasly, Alpine 16 Sergio Perez, Red Bull 17 Valtteri Bottas, Kick Sauber 18 Nico Hulkenberg, Haas 19 Zhou Guanyu, Kick Sauber 20 Esteban Ocon, Alpine (5 place grid penalty from Monaco) |
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Post by René on Jun 10, 2024 14:49:06 GMT
It certainly wasn't boring! The fact that Max ultimately won was with a bit of luck, but certainly not undeserved. McLaren looks very fast and good to see that Mercedes is also starting to get a grip on the ground effect concept. A few mistakes from George, but he is certainly fast. And Ferrari... I can't remember such a bad weekend, especially when it's not expected at all. In fact, Ferrari was seen by many as the favorite for this race. But everything that could go wrong went wrong. Hopefully it was a one-off.  |
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Post by robmarsh on Jun 10, 2024 16:18:36 GMT
A great race and a fair result. Lando and the McLaren were mega at one stage. Ferrari terrible for some reason. Now that Red Bull don't have the advantage they used to have Perez is starting to look rather ordinary. Hope it continues leke this for the rest of the season.
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Post by Carl on Jun 11, 2024 22:40:25 GMT
Maledetta Fortuna!
In a few hours, while still sleep, Charles Leclerc will have a race-winning strategy
Then he must have an epiphany for that to happen! I didn't watch anything live last night because we had a party, but when I looked at the results I first thought the alcohol had gone to my head! A Mercedes on pole and Ferrari out of Q2! What the **** happened there? Weird. But strong performance from George Russell. Well done, Mercedes found some pace at last. The forecast is for a wet Canadian Grand Prix so anything can happen. It won't be boring for sure. The epiphany Charles may have had was to drive for McLaren. 
Maybe it's just me, but I yearn for a return to complete driver control. I'd rather have drivers decide how to race instead of banks of computers and race engineers (Plan A or Plan B). The uproar a few years back about too much control ("Leave me alone! I know what I'm doing...) revealed the level of control team principals wanted. After all, as Toto and Christian will attest, they know how to drive and have more invested in success than anyone else on the team, ignoring that competition between drivers is what defines motorsport, as when Jim Clark came from a lap down at Monza to regain the lead and almost triumph, it was a superb display that came from Clark alone and might not have happened if team principals were empowered as they are today.
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Post by René on Jun 12, 2024 9:37:02 GMT
Then he must have an epiphany for that to happen! I didn't watch anything live last night because we had a party, but when I looked at the results I first thought the alcohol had gone to my head! A Mercedes on pole and Ferrari out of Q2! What the **** happened there? Weird. But strong performance from George Russell. Well done, Mercedes found some pace at last. The forecast is for a wet Canadian Grand Prix so anything can happen. It won't be boring for sure. The epiphany Charles may have had was to drive for McLaren. Maybe it's just me, but I yearn for a return to complete driver control. I'd rather have drivers decide how to race instead of banks of computers and race engineers (Plan A or Plan B). The uproar a few years back about too much control ("Leave me alone! I know what I'm doing...) revealed the level of control team principals wanted. After all, as Toto and Christian will attest, they know how to drive and have more invested in success than anyone else on the team, ignoring that competition between drivers is what defines motorsport, as when Jim Clark came from a lap down at Monza to regain the lead and almost triumph, it was a superb display that came from Clark alone and might not have happened if team principals were empowered as they are today.
It’s not just you, Carl. F1 has become too complicated with too much emphasis on strategy. The NASA style control rooms are ridiculous. The FIA should have safeguarded more the essence of the sport; get in that car and drive it as hard and fast as you can. |
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Post by Carl on Jun 12, 2024 20:47:38 GMT
René,
You perfectly nailed "the essence of the sport; get in that car and drive it as hard and fast as you can."
What may come closest to that ideal are various forms of amateur racing. The cars aren't as space-age but the racing is honest. In America, SCCA National events attract drivers from all over the country. The drivers are skilled, the race cars well-developed and the competition is fierce. In a just world, this authenticity would be rewarded.
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Post by chrisb on Jun 17, 2024 9:17:20 GMT
sentiments I totally agree with chaps, I have even noticed just how far these 'tactical geniuses' have traversed so many sports, I was watching the excuse of a football match and the commentators were banging on about the analysts and how they are making players perform, this like our motor racing drivers, less so riders, is for me subtracting from the greats to make the ordinary in terms of the elite look better.
I have always followed intelligent drivers, ones who work things out for themselves based on their experiences, Carl mentioned Jimmy and I would use the 65 British GP where his oil pressure was sinking to 0 around corners, he's experienced this before so worked out to switch off the engine around corners, simple but can you imagine in today's complicated environment and analysts what would happened.
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A Mercedes on pole and Ferrari out of Q2! What the **** happened there? Weird. But strong performance from George Russell. Well done, Mercedes found some pace at last.