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2019 Formula 1 Season Thread
- Thread starter MOFS
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
If nothing else. I am glad Liberty has pushed the start times for the European Grands Prix back an hour so they start at 6AM Pacific instead of 5AM so I can actually start them live and not from the DVR.
Since Ferrari is out of it this year, let's go Max!
Green Light!
Since Ferrari is out of it this year, let's go Max!
Green Light!
Not the worst race in the world so far. Some interesting things so far at the midway point:
- Can’t believe how much slower Gasly and Giovinazzi are than their teammates
- McLaren looks pretty good, noticeably quicker than Renault
- Sadly, Kubica’s F1 career is over
- Sadly, Bottas might get the boot from Merc next year
- Great battle between Lewis and Max! Let’s see how it ends...
Also very telling how Ferrari's low-downforce design is really hampering them on high-downforce tracks. Comfortably in third and fourth, but a full second a lap slower than Max and Lewis so by race end they could be around a minute arrears. On the plus side, Vettel was able to pit again for softs at Lap 40 so maybe he can close the gap a bit (once he gets past LeClerc).
And yes, Kubica has lost whatever spark he had before his accident. Maybe he is not suited to the new car's driving styles or the injuries are hampering him, but no matter how much money he is bringing into Williams, they need to toss him and get someone - anyone - else and do it sooner rather than later.
Considering how good George Russell has looked this week, might be time to send Valteri back to Williams and promote George to the works team.
And yes, Kubica has lost whatever spark he had before his accident. Maybe he is not suited to the new car's driving styles or the injuries are hampering him, but no matter how much money he is bringing into Williams, they need to toss him and get someone - anyone - else and do it sooner rather than later.
Considering how good George Russell has looked this week, might be time to send Valteri back to Williams and promote George to the works team.
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Sadly I can't see Max hanging on to the lead for much longer.
[doublepost=1564928032][/doublepost]And where was all this Honda power and reliability when McClaren/Alonso needed it?
[doublepost=1564928415][/doublepost]wow
wasn't expecting Lewie to stop again...
Yes! I was surprised because they knew it. Unless they tried to make it better and failed.
From watching this race.. I wonder if they might pressure Kubica to take a package. He’s really off the pace.
This pit stop by Lewis has really spiced things up! Could be a thrilling ending.
I think a major issue with McLaren was the super-tight packaging they demanded for aerodynamics. The Honda engine just could not cool itself and constantly roasted to the point of grenading. Notice how they had cooling issues with Renault at first, too. I think they've finally loosened up (literally) to allow the engines to run cooler.
Newey is a master of packaging while cooling so I think that has helped the Honda's reliability. I also think RBR is probably a bit more open-minded than McLaren when it comes to engineering (less "not invented here"-itis) so Honda has been able to implement reliability and performance changes easier.
Based on the pit comms, neither was Lewis.
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Perez can't qualify worth a darn, but at least he can gain places in the race.
On the flip side, Haas and Renault looking horrific. Scrapping for 13th through 15th. K-Mag better watch his defensive driving or he might be visiting the stewards.
Max's tires are gone and Lewis is closing with 6 laps to go...
On the flip side, Haas and Renault looking horrific. Scrapping for 13th through 15th. K-Mag better watch his defensive driving or he might be visiting the stewards.
Max's tires are gone and Lewis is closing with 6 laps to go...
And Lewis into the lead.
[doublepost=1564929867][/doublepost]Max coming in for Softs to secure Fastest Lap.
Seb past Charles to secure third - LeClerc didn't want to let him by.
[doublepost=1564929867][/doublepost]Max coming in for Softs to secure Fastest Lap.
Seb past Charles to secure third - LeClerc didn't want to let him by.
Even though Max couldn’t do much, Lewis did it quick and tidy. So interesting that he has 7 wins at this track.
Yeah, good strategy by Mercedes. I do think that if Max had stopped, he would not have been able to catch Lewis so I do not agree with Martin's call that they should have pitted, as well.
Amazing how strong Max and Lewis were on race pace - lapped the entire field with the exception of Seb and Charles and Ferrari was some three-quarters of a lap back.
Amazing how strong Max and Lewis were on race pace - lapped the entire field with the exception of Seb and Charles and Ferrari was some three-quarters of a lap back.
Going to be an interesting summer break.
Nice to see three different manufacturers on the podium. Good attitude by Max on the radio, and the interviews at the end. Should be some good results from him after the break. Max has really matured. Congrats to Seb on the podium. Two consecutive mistake free races. Impressive.
Really would have enjoyed RBR not being caught off guard by the undercut.
Here’s hoping Ferrari can come up with a few good ideas during the break.
Nice to see three different manufacturers on the podium. Good attitude by Max on the radio, and the interviews at the end. Should be some good results from him after the break. Max has really matured. Congrats to Seb on the podium. Two consecutive mistake free races. Impressive.
Really would have enjoyed RBR not being caught off guard by the undercut.
Here’s hoping Ferrari can come up with a few good ideas during the break.
A brilliant strategy by Mercedes.
But one only a world champion could have pulled off.
There are many valid criticisms one could level at Formula One. But today's racing was the most exciting, vibrant, and engaging sort of sports entertainment one can reasonably ask for. I was literally out of my seat, yelling at the TV screen in excitement and glee as Hamilton passed Verstappen.
Mercedes had a horrible weekend last week. They got things wrong, their drivers messed up. The makes them human. What makes them champions is shrugging that off, and figuring out a way to win - when that wasn't guaranteed, a week later.
Great finale; Lewis pulled off a strategy from Mercedes that changed the race completely, and it wasn’t surprising that James Vowles went up for the manufacturer award. It'll have been a cathartic result after Germany (though the front wing change will have been a heart in mouth moment).
Bbaaahhhh Merc nailed the strategy today... I still found it a boring race though, last weekends and the one before I found to be much more exciting.
Also I think teams should be penalised for getting the pit crew out and then not putting, Mercedes did it twice today!!..
But the Red Bull and Honda matched Mercedes this weekend!..
I think Red Bull will come second this year splitting the Mercedes and beating Ferrari. Next year they’ll be out for the win..
[doublepost=1564938993][/doublepost]
Not really, it was obvious Mercedes would win when they pitted Lewis, Lewis didn’t make the strategy and it would have been a walk in the park by any team in that position. Max was just a sitting duck.. ‘World Champion’ has nothing to do with it. In fact Lewis spent the first few laps after his last pit stop moaning and complaining about the strategy not being right... he’s someone who’s not very confident in his team unless they win.
Also I think teams should be penalised for getting the pit crew out and then not putting, Mercedes did it twice today!!..
But the Red Bull and Honda matched Mercedes this weekend!..
I think Red Bull will come second this year splitting the Mercedes and beating Ferrari. Next year they’ll be out for the win..
[doublepost=1564938993][/doublepost]
Not really, it was obvious Mercedes would win when they pitted Lewis, Lewis didn’t make the strategy and it would have been a walk in the park by any team in that position. Max was just a sitting duck.. ‘World Champion’ has nothing to do with it. In fact Lewis spent the first few laps after his last pit stop moaning and complaining about the strategy not being right... he’s someone who’s not very confident in his team unless they win.
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The race itself was hugely interesting as soon as Mercedes' strategy became apparent. I'm not sure that there was anything that RBR could have done about it after Hamilton's pit stop. Beautiful strategy, Mercedes.
I wonder what the blowback about Hamilton's podium appearance will be, if any. If he were American and kept his hat on backwards, or on in any fashion whatsoever, during the playing of "The Star Spangled Banner", I doubt he would hear the end of the deafening criticism to follow for a year or two. I'm unaware of the British attitude concerning respect for their national anthem. Anyone?
I wonder what the blowback about Hamilton's podium appearance will be, if any. If he were American and kept his hat on backwards, or on in any fashion whatsoever, during the playing of "The Star Spangled Banner", I doubt he would hear the end of the deafening criticism to follow for a year or two. I'm unaware of the British attitude concerning respect for their national anthem. Anyone?
As a fellow Brit to Hamilton, it doesn’t bother me in the slightest. Bradley Wiggins stuck his tongue out during the national anthem at the last Olympics and nobody really gave a toss. Fantastic win for Hamilton today, he’s proving why he’s the best for me.
We don’t care. We are so used to hearing it!
Actually I couldn’t care less if they dropped the national anthems. Usually when I make the tea!
Great strategy by Mercedes that only worked because of the superb performance of Lewis.
Max didn’t put a wheel wrong. Very mature drive and comments after the race.
Fights all the way through the field was interesting to watch.
Bottas to Williams next year I think.
Yup. But they need to replace Kubica. Where else is Bottas going to get a drive?
I can’t see Mercedes keeping Bottas either to be honest, I don’t think he’s as good as Rosberg even despite showing signs of being good on his day. Get Russel in as number two I say. Sadly Bottas is a Barrichello, just less consistent.