|
|
Post by René on Aug 21, 2024 16:51:21 GMT
 After the well-deserved summer break, the circus will start again in the dunes of the Zandvoort seaside resort.  It will undoubtedly be full of orange fans cheering on Max Verstappen. Max has won the previous three editions at the modern Zandvoort, but that is certainly not a given this time. He will be strong, no doubt about that, but McLaren, Mercedes and perhaps also Ferrari could easily disrupt the orange party.  Whether the balance of power will really change after the regulation changes regarding asymmetric braking remains to be seen. It is probably a storm in a teacup. Red Bull chief engineer Pierre Wache did hint that the RB20 has probably reached its development ceiling, so that not much more can be expected there. Are they already missing Newey?  We will see it all this weekend. Atmosphere and action are guaranteed in any case!  |
|
|
|
Post by robmarsh on Aug 22, 2024 10:57:52 GMT
Let's hope the unpredictability from the previous few races continues. Ferrari always used to be strong at Zandvoort so hoping for a return to competitiveness.
Failing a Ferrari victory then hope Lando silences his critics big time.
|
|
|
|
Post by René on Aug 22, 2024 17:30:22 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by Carl on Aug 22, 2024 18:08:34 GMT
After the well-deserved summer break, the circus will start again in the dunes of the Zandvoort seaside resort. It will undoubtedly be full of orange fans cheering on Max Verstappen. Max has won the previous three editions at the modern Zandvoort, but that is certainly not a given this time. He will be strong, no doubt about that, but McLaren, Mercedes and perhaps also Ferrari could easily disrupt the orange party. Whether the balance of power will really change after the regulation changes regarding asymmetric braking remains to be seen. It is probably a storm in a teacup. Red Bull chief engineer Pierre Wache did hint that the RB20 has probably reached its development ceiling, so that not much more can be expected there. Are they already missing Newey? We will see it all this weekend. Atmosphere and action are guaranteed in any case! In the wonderful antique greeting card, the proud father emerges from the changing room as family and passersby celebrate his needing only 5 minutes to adjust the angle of his straw hat.
At the momentous 1975 Dutch Grand Prix, driver and team both came of age, at least for the moment. James Hunt was triumphant in the beautiful Hesketh 308B designed by Harvey Postlethwaite, causing the status quo in Formula One to teeter on the edge of playful indulgence. Lord Hesketh, impoverished by neglect as a child, may never have been disciplined, his adult vanity always in vain. Hunt was a flamboyant playboy, but a great driver when serious about racing.
|
|
|
|
Post by mikael on Aug 22, 2024 18:11:51 GMT
A photo appearing at "The Race" which I find truly amazing. Rarely does one see a photo conveying speed and "being on the limit" as well as this one does ...
|
|
|
|
Post by René on Aug 22, 2024 18:38:00 GMT
Lord Hesketh was an overgrown child whose vanity was in vain. He may never have been disciplined as a child or even introduced to mater and pater. Hunt was a handsome playboy, but a great driver when serious about racing. Yes, but it was wonderful.  |
|
|
|
Post by René on Aug 22, 2024 18:41:58 GMT
A photo appearing at "The Race" which I find truly amazing. Rarely does one see a photo conveying speed and "being on the limit" as well as this one does ... This is Spa, Eau Rouge. I made almost identical photos in 2022 from the grandstand we were at. If I would crop and tilt the photo a bit, it would be virtually the same (but unfortunately not a 100% sharp..).   |
|
|
|
Post by mikael on Aug 22, 2024 18:47:05 GMT
Most interesting, René - thank you :-) Great photos indeed!
|
|
|
|
Post by Carl on Aug 22, 2024 18:57:50 GMT
Lord Hesketh was an overgrown child whose vanity was in vain. He may never have been disciplined as a child or even introduced to mater and pater. Hunt was a handsome playboy, but a great driver when serious about racing. Yes, but it was wonderful. Yes, I agree. Hesketh was definitely a breath of fresh air! Many powerful Formula One players were self-adoring and contemptuous of the fans who bankroll the sport. That's still true today. If you asked Wolff or Horner, they'd say modesty is next to greatness on their list of achievements.  |
|
|
|
Post by chrisb on Aug 23, 2024 7:16:16 GMT
Zandvoort always conjures up memories of my beloved Lotus, the 25 and 49 especially - whilst I lament the passing of the original circuit I do really like that banked corner,
The 1961 GP will always be unique and that has to be treasured, and of course a certain Scot took the fight to the Ferrari's an often overlooked race.
I understand the weather to be 'interesting'. all of us suffering the backlash of the storm yet Sunday whilst still breezy in the Netherlands it does look like it will be dry for the race. The same can't be said for the Qualifying
With the Merc's finding some form I have plumbed for George and feel this is the sort of circuit he will show his strengths, I am also hoping Max doesn't win for many reasons - one of which is that Jimmy still has the most wins ever at Zandvoort.
|
|
|
|
Post by René on Aug 23, 2024 18:22:25 GMT
 FP2 times1 George Russell Mercedes 1:10.702 2 Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.061 3 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +0.111 4 Lando Norris McLaren +0.259 5 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing +0.284 6 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +0.655 7 Yuki Tsunoda RB +0.672 8 Kevin Magnussen Haas F1 Team +0.728 9 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.741 10 Alexander Albon Williams +0.848 11 Lance Stroll Aston Martin +0.874 12 Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing +0.879 13 Daniel Ricciardo RB +0.928 14 Pierre Gasly Alpine +0.942 15 Logan Sargeant Williams +1.116 16 Guanyu Zhou Kick Sauber +1.232 17 Esteban Ocon Alpine +1.359 18 Valtteri Bottas Kick Sauber +1.504 19 Carlos Sainz Ferrari +2.406 20 Nico Hulkenberg Haas F1 Team +2.594 |
|
|
|
Post by mikael on Aug 24, 2024 12:10:44 GMT
Rare - and worrying - to see a modern car so badly on fire as that of Logan Sargeant. Particularly worrying in the light that the size of the batteries will grow in future. A battery on fire most likely generates poisonous fumes.
|
|
|
|
Post by René on Aug 24, 2024 17:50:07 GMT
That looked like an 'old school' crash from Logan! But good that he is okay. Pole position for Lando Norris and a strong P2 from Max. Ferrari unfortunately not very competitive.  The grid for tomorrow
1 Lando Norris McLaren 1:09.673 2 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing +0.356 3 Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.499 4 George Russell Mercedes +0.571 5 Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing +0.743 6 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.909 7 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +0.960 8 Alexander Albon Williams +0.980 9 Lance Stroll Aston Martin +1.184 10 Pierre Gasly Alpine +1.304 11 Carlos Sainz Ferrari +0.418 12 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +0.452 13 Yuki Tsunoda RB +0.459 14 Nico Hulkenberg Haas F1 Team +0.719 15 Kevin Magnussen Haas F1 Team +0.799 16 Daniel Ricciardo RB +0.937 17 Esteban Ocon Alpine +0.989 18 Valtteri Bottas Kick Sauber +1.162 19 Guanyu Zhou Kick Sauber +2.255 20 Logan Sargeant Williams NO TIME |
|
|
|
Post by Carl on Aug 26, 2024 1:22:12 GMT
A Modest Proposal
Two dry tyre compounds. One intermediate. One wet. Each Grand Prix divided in two or three heats totalling 200- 250 miles. Heats are 30 minutes apart and the winner is decided on aggregate time (it's been done) Only one pitstop allowed during each heat. A second disqualifies... |
|
|
|
Post by René on Aug 26, 2024 18:09:02 GMT
Well, that was a Verstappen/RedBull style demonstration from Lando Norris and McLaren (except for the start). Impressive.  And Ferrari was much stronger in the race than the practice and qualy sessions suggested so I actually enjoyed it. Strong race from both their drivers. In the meantime, Martin Brundle is strangely going with a conspiracy theory suggesting Max was only putting pressure on Red Bull: “I would hazard a guess that that was not as fast as Max could go.” “He knew he couldn’t beat Lando and dropping back a bit like that, it’s going to give the factory a hurry up, isn’t it? I’d be pretty sure of that.” Totally bonkers if you ask me. |
|
