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Post by René on Oct 15, 2024 14:56:01 GMT
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Post by Carl on Oct 15, 2024 21:53:08 GMT
COTA proves that too many cooks spoil the broth, especially when one is named Tilke.
The name is ridiculous. Despite the delusions of residents, Texas isn't America. Maybe the organizers tried to buy "Road America" from Elkhart Lake, and went grandiose when rebuffed.
I like the layout until Turn 12, where Mickey Mouse takes over for four corners. Someone was scared by the approach speed and overreacted, but a fast chicane at the end of the straight and then a 90 degree left to Turn 15 would have been better.
The tower is very cool, but it's too late to throw Hermann Tilke from the top
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Post by chrisb on Oct 16, 2024 15:05:02 GMT
I have plumbed for Lando again and the first corner will be interesting,
I do think the track suits the MotoGP more, despite one riders domination for many years and I know this is an old record there are just so many fabulous circuits in America surely there would be one more suited than what we have?
Totally agree Carl, from turn 12 to 15 is just naff - something far more interesting could have been developed there.
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Post by René on Oct 17, 2024 20:03:58 GMT
Things are getting juicy in Austin even before the first car turned a wheel!
Red Bull has admitted that it has a device built in to alter its front bib (or t-tray) height. It admits it does exist but insists it cannot be used while the car is assembled…
Speculation about a team exploiting a way of lifting and lowering the height of its T-tray erupted on the eve of the United States Grand Prix when the FIA revealed that it was imposing a clampdown on the matter.
The governing body said that following concerns expressed by teams about potential exploitation by a rival of parc ferme rules to adjust its ride height between qualifying and the race, new procedures were being introduced from the Austin weekend.
Well, well… first the asymmetrical braking system and now this. I know all teams are operating on the edge of legality but is Red Bull pushing it too far? And how long has this been going on? It reminds of Benetton ‘94; “yeah, we have this illegal software installed in the car but, we don’t use it. It’s just there…”.
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Post by René on Oct 18, 2024 18:59:16 GMT
Ferrari, the only top team that didn’t put upgrades on their cars, are looking super fast in the first and only free practice session!  And the Red Bull-Bip controversy is not over yet. McLaren are asking for a more thorough investigation. Rival teams suspect that Red Bull may have used this system in the past to adjust its car between qualifying and the race. FP1 results: 1. Carlos Sainz Spain Ferrari 1:33.602 2. Charles Leclerc Monaco Ferrari 1:33.623 3. Max Verstappen Netherlands Red Bull-Honda RBPT 1:33.855 4. Lando Norris Britain McLaren-Mercedes 1:33.868 5. Oscar Piastri Australia McLaren-Mercedes 1:33.908 6. Lewis Hamilton Britain Mercedes 1:33.963 7. George Russell Britain Mercedes 1:34.093 8. Kevin Magnussen Denmark Haas-Ferrari 1:34.096 9. Fernando Alonso Spain Aston Martin-Mercedes 1:34.112 10. Yuki Tsunoda Japan VCARB-Honda RBPT 1:34.313 11. Nico Hulkenberg Germany Haas-Ferrari 1:34.364 12. Pierre Gasly France Alpine-Renault 1:34.375 13. Liam Lawson New Zealand Red Bull Racing 1:34.443 14. Alexander Albon Thailand Williams-Mercedes 1:34.618 15. Lance Stroll Canada Aston Martin-Mercedes 1:34.619 16. Sergio Perez Mexico Red Bull-Honda RBPT 1:34.638 17. Esteban Ocon France Alpine-Renault 1:34.806 18. Valtteri Bottas Finland Sauber-Ferrari 1:35.041 19. Franco Colapinto Argentina Williams-Mercedes 1:35.248 20. Guanyu Zhou China Sauber-Ferrari 1:37.219 |
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Post by mikael on Oct 19, 2024 8:49:40 GMT
Chrome and orange: a gorgeous combination! (Almost as good as "baby blue" and orange - but only almost ...)
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Post by René on Oct 19, 2024 9:20:53 GMT
A strong reply from Max Verstappen amongst all the controversy by taking pole for the sprint race. It’s all very close between the top teams, nothing in it.  Sergio Pérez’s form is shocking, being outqualified by two Haas cars and a Williams! What’s going on in his head? I guess they might replace him after the Mexican Grand Prix. Mercedes was strong after a messy FP1 with Lewis actually being the faster of the two but he was unlucky with the yellow for Colapinto. The young Argentine driver still did a great job again by reaching Q3 on a track he’d never been before. Albon must be feeling the pressure. Ferrari looked set for at least a front row position but just missed out. But the margins are very very small. All to play for. Disappointing was McLaren. Piastri’s out was not good and Lando on p4 while Max is on pole must be worrying for the papaya team… who indeed look great with that chrome finish.  The Sprint Race Grid: 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing 1:32.833 2 George Russell Mercedes +0.012 3 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.226 4 Lando Norris McLaren +0.250 5 Carlos Sainz Ferrari +0.256 6 Nico Hulkenberg Haas F1 Team +0.350 7 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +0.545 8 Kevin Magnussen Haas F1 Team +0.565 9 Yuki Tsunoda RB +0.969 10 Franco Colapinto Williams +1.573 11 Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing +0.970 12 Liam Lawson RB +1.010 13 Pierre Gasly Alpine +1.089 14 Lance Stroll Aston Martin +1.147 15 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin NO TIME 16 Oscar Piastri McLaren +1.234 17 Esteban Ocon Alpine +1.270 18 Alexander Albon Williams +1.407 19 Valtteri Bottas Kick Sauber +1.501 20 Zhou Guanyu Kick Sauber +2.825 |
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Post by René on Oct 19, 2024 19:36:26 GMT
A dominant win for Max Verstappen, his first win in almost five months!  And a very racy Carlos Sainz who passed Leclerc, Russell and, in the last lap, Norris! Lando’s chances for the championship suddenly look very slim again. Ferrari’s race pace was actually better than Verstappen so that bodes well for the Grand Prix. Results: 1 Max Verstappen, Red Bull 2 Carlos Sainz, Ferrari +3.882 3 Lando Norris, McLaren +6.240 4 Charles Leclerc, Ferrari +6.956 5 George Russell, Mercedes +15.766 6 Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes +18.724 7 Kevin Magnussen, Haas +25.161 8 Nico Hulkenberg, Haas +26.588 9 Sergio Perez, Red Bull +29.950 10 Oscar Piastri, McLaren +37.059 11 Yuki Tsunoda, VCARB +38.363 12 Franco Colapinto, Williams +39.460 13 Lance Stroll, Aston Martin +41.236 14 Pierre Gasly, Alpine +41.995 15 Esteban Ocon, Alpine +42.804 16 Liam Lawson, VCARB +44.008 17 Alexander Albon, Williams +44.564 18 Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin +46.807 19 Zhou Guanyu, Sauber +52.842 20 Valtteri Bottas, Sauber +54.476 |
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Post by René on Oct 20, 2024 16:02:40 GMT
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Post by René on Oct 20, 2024 21:31:06 GMT
Told you so…   |
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Post by robmarsh on Oct 21, 2024 8:16:10 GMT
A brilliant race by Ferrari, both cars the class of the field. I actually like this track and there was some brilliant racing. I thought the camera angles were superb except for the one looking back when there was no one behind.
Red Bull and Max know how to win, McLaren and Lando still have a lot to learn. Lando was ahead of Piastri all weekend.
Liam Lawson drove very well as did Russell and Magnussen.
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Post by chrisb on Oct 21, 2024 15:52:38 GMT
Forza Ferrari - a splendid victory - just total class from start to finish.
With regards to the Lando / Max 'race' I am confused. if Lando hadn't gone wide they would have crashed- I thought Max's over aggression reeked of previous multiple champions who refused to stay within the acceptable boundaries of motor sport. Thinking they were above such laws of racing. Yet to penalise Lando just left me perplexed as to how is he supposed to race with someone like that?
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Post by René on Oct 21, 2024 16:04:00 GMT
Woohaah! Forza Ferrari!  Yes, Ferrari was brilliant and what a drive from both Charles and Carlos. Their most convincing win of the season with by far the fastest car. Still remarkable how the season keeps swinging up and down. And a shame actually that Verstappen had built up such a huge lead at the beginning of the season. Otherwise it would have been a real classic. The fight between Max and Lando was great. Max drove very strong defensively, but it's a shame that it always ends outside the track. Max's 'signature move' of braking so late that you are the first at the apex, but actually can't make the corner yourself is effective, but not stylish. I also think Lando could have tried to be a bit more creative in the attack. And correct Rob, Piastri was invisible. Great to see Lawson and Colapinto scoring points. Yuki and Alex should be worried. |
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Post by René on Oct 21, 2024 16:14:40 GMT
Forza Ferrari - a splendid victory - just total class from start to finish. With regards to the Lando / Max 'race' I am confused. if Lando hadn't gone wide they would have crashed- I thought Max's over aggression reeked of previous multiple champions who refused to stay within the acceptable boundaries of motor sport. Thinking they were above such laws of racing. Yet to penalise Lando just left me perplexed as to how is he supposed to race with someone like that? I agree Chris. Max is such a talented racer as he has shown so often but the overly aggressive defense style is a turnoff. Schumacher and Senna were the same in that regard. They, the FIA, have allowed this style of racing for too long. Lando had nowhere to go so why penalize him? |
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Post by Carl on Oct 21, 2024 17:49:30 GMT
Woohaah! Forza Ferrari! Yes, Ferrari was brilliant and what a drive from both Charles and Carlos. Their most convincing win of the season with by far the fastest car. Still remarkable how the season keeps swinging up and down. And a shame actually that Verstappen had built up such a huge lead at the beginning of the season. Otherwise it would have been a real classic. The fight between Max and Lando was great. Max drove very strong defensively, but it's a shame that it always ends outside the track. Max's 'signature move' of braking so late that you are the first at the apex, but actually can't make the corner yourself is effective, but not stylish. I also think Lando could have tried to be a bit more creative in the attack. And correct Rob, Piastri was invisible. Great to see Lawson and Colapinto scoring points. Yuki and Alex should be worried. I agree on almost all points, but would change "have tried to be a bit more creative in the attack" to "have been more aggressive both defensively and in the attack". The stewards must have been asleep at the first turn and then overly excited near the end. Did Red Bull send a courtesy tray of energy drink to them?
I'm less certain that Mickey Mouse had anything to do with track layout because most of the wheel to wheel challenges were between Turns 12 and 15, but I venture to say the same would be true with my recommened fast chicane and ninety degree left. The end of the longest straight would still have been the place to pass.
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