2019 Formula 1 Season Thread

[Apple fanboy]

Haha, well I can’t tell if he’s styled as an F1 driver or a rap artist these days!!.. the hair, the gold and other bling... not so much an underdog look hehe.

The bugger can drive though lol! Also my thoughts of the Merc being unreliable seem unfounded so far.. hmm..

He’s one of the top drivers I think. He’s two championships behind Schumacher but for a terrible run of reliability would only be one.

Yes he has a good car, but he gets the best out of it. His biggest weakness is his starts. Generally he nails the pole positions. He can also overtake better than some of his rivals.

 

[apolloa]

He’s one of the top drivers I think. He’s two championships behind Schumacher but for a terrible run of reliability would only be one.

Yes he has a good car, but he gets the best out of it. His biggest weakness is his starts. Generally he nails the pole positions. He can also overtake better than some of his rivals.

I want to see him overtake! And then be overtaken and vice verse. 2021 can’t come soon enough. Get some real battles going then.

 

[BenTrovato]

He looks healthier this season as well now that the drivers are not required to maintain an artificially low body weight due to weight calculations.

Not as noticeable in others, however he has really bulked up in muscle mass.

I noticed it as well. I like how they don't have to maintain the lower body weights. Food for thought... Lewis changed his diet to plant based a few years ago and in the same time Seb's breasts have grown a bit. Not trying to be funny.. just been noticing his upper body jiggling a lot when they do the pit lane live talks and he's walking quickly. Lewis is racing the best he ever has, while Seb has been making some silly mistakes.

 

[CWallace]

Missed the end of Q2 and all of Q3 due the Red Flags, so had to check the web to see how it all panned out.

Spoiler

After trailing Ferrari all weekend, Valteri took pole with Lewis just behind him. Vettel managed third (three hundredths back) so I don't believe it was a case of Mercedes sand-bagging. So Vettel might have a chance if he can take them at the start...

 

[Apple fanboy]

Just caught up with the highlights.
Shame LeClerc won’t be in amongst it at the start.
Good pole for Bottas and unexpected. I thought Lewis had it in the bag.
Vettel not far off so could be a fun start.

Can’t possibly imagine there not being a SC tomorrow though. Someone will put it in the wall!

Got to feel sorry for Williams mechanics. First of all a drain cover takes them out in practise. Then the recovery lorry hits a bridge and covers the car in hydraulic fluid.
Then Kubica puts it into the wall.
Definitely picking up the overtime in their garage this week.

 

[pachyderm]

Missed the end of Q2 and all of Q3 due the Red Flags, so had to check the web to see how it all panned out.

Spoiler

After trailing Ferrari all weekend, Valteri took pole with Lewis just behind him. Vettel managed third (three hundredths back) so I don't believe it was a case of Mercedes sand-bagging. So Vettel might have a chance if he can take them at the start...

Well LeClerc hit the wall after he'd looked very dominant all day...

 

[CWallace]

Well LeClerc hit the wall after he'd looked very dominant all day...

Yeah I pad an extra 30 mins on my recordings for weather / red flags, but once LeClerc piled in I knew I was out of luck considering the delay clearing Kubica's earlier wreck there. So I just stopped and deleted the recording and headed to Google.

If he had not binned it, I think LeClerc probably could have had pole, but Vettel was not looking very strong compared to Lewis and Valteri. So I think we will see another Benz Win and at this point, the points are getting too high for Ferrari to come back to fight for the WCC and quite possibly the WDC.

 

[pachyderm]

This looks interesting:

5th Perez
6th Kvyat
7th Norris
8th Räikkönen
9th Leclerc - I bet he wins from there.
10th Sainz

 

[zagato27]

This looks interesting:

5th Perez
6th Kvyat
7th Norris
8th Räikkönen
9th Leclerc - I bet he wins from there.
10th Sainz

You wish! Ok, I wish too but think it's not remotely possible. Don't think there's a bunch of passing opportunities at Baku. However, lots of opportunity for the front runners to step on it. Fortunately the race is on early so I'll give it a go just to see the beautiful scenery. I'm not very hopeful that it will be an exciting race (hope I'm wrong here). I'm at the point that I'm losing interest in F1. It's "same o, same o" every race.

 

[pachyderm]

You wish! Ok, I wish too but think it's not remotely possible. Don't think there's a bunch of passing opportunities at Baku. However, lots of opportunity for the front runners to step on it. Fortunately the race is on early so I'll give it a go just to see the beautiful scenery. I'm not very hopeful that it will be an exciting race (hope I'm wrong here). I'm at the point that I'm losing interest in F1. It's "same o, same o" every race.

I love the surroundings was well. That old castle/fort is my favorite.

LeClerc will win.


LeClerc starts 8th because Kimi will start from the pits.

 

[BenTrovato]

I love the surroundings was well. That old castle/fort is my favorite.

LeClerc will win.


LeClerc starts 8th because Kimi will start from the pits.

I hope so! That would be a great story. The win snatched from him in Bahrain and he gets back by starting from 8th place on medium tyres. The Mercedes do look great today though.

 

[CWallace]

Well that ended up being mostly anti-climatic. Another Mercedes 1-2 with Ferrari 3rd and 5th. Mercedes just too dominant on a cold(er) track.

Mercedes has the WCC locked up and either Lewis or Valteri will be WDC.

Ferrari might as well just focus on 2020 if not 2021 as I think Mercedes will take it all next year, as well at this point. No reason to spend money developing the 2019 car now that the season is over. They should be able to keep Red Bull and Max at bay even just developmentally treading water for the remainder.

 

[apolloa]

Good grief what a dull boring race... utterly predictable result, and Ricardo needs to go back to basic driving school!

Beginning to lose interest now and I’ll stop watching..

 

[Glideslope]

Good grief what a dull boring race... utterly predictable result, and Ricardo needs to go back to basic driving school!

Beginning to lose interest now and I’ll stop watching..

Well, at least it was Bottas and not “The Man Child” in P1.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Well done Bottas. Soaked up the pressure with Lewis all over his tail pipe.

I think Ferrari kept LeClerc out too long hoping to slow up the Mercs for Vettel to catch. Or hoping for a SC.

Good to see both McLaren’s in the points. And both Williams finish!

 

[apolloa]

Well, at least it was Bottas and not “The Man Child” in P1.

Very true.. unfortunately the money difference between the teams became incredibly obvious during this race, aka LeClerk and his Ferrari simply walking all over anyone not in the top 5 with ease because those top 5 have the most money to spend on R&D and engines etc...

 

[pachyderm]

I hope so! That would be a great story. The win snatched from him in Bahrain and he gets back by starting from 8th place on medium tyres. The Mercedes do look great today though.

Yeah I knew it was a pipe dream but you have to admit he looked strong when he got up front.

I couldn't believe they made him stay that long.

 

[cube]

It is unwatchable on TV. They mix the commentary too high.

 

[BenTrovato]

Yeah I knew it was a pipe dream but you have to admit he looked strong when he got up front.

I couldn't believe they made him stay that long.

Yep.. a lot of questions being asked of Ferrari's strategies today. I think they gambled on a safety car and lost.

 

[Glideslope]

Yep.. a lot of questions being asked of Ferrari's strategies today. I think they gambled on a safety car and lost.

Would not be surprised to see a Team Principle Change. They have done it before. Camilleri is aggressive enough.
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It is unwatchable on TV. They mix the commentary too high.

No kidding, it’s akin to final into KJFK on a Sunday evening.

 

[jdechko]

It is unwatchable on TV. They mix the commentary too high.

I had the opposite problem. While working last night, I was trying to watch/ listen on my ipad with one earbud in. I could barely hear any of the commentary .

 

[CWallace]

Would not be surprised to see a Team Principle Change. They have done it before. Camilleri is aggressive enough.

But they already tossed Arrivabene for Binotto. To switch again within six months would just prove how dysfunctional people believe the Scuderia is.

 

[Glideslope]

But they already tossed Arrivabene for Binotto. To switch again within six months would just prove how dysfunctional people believe the Scuderia is.

Agreed, that being said, sometimes drastic intervention is required. They are in total dysfunction currently IMO. I agree it’s unlikely, however Camilleri is know for sudden drastic moves. Time will tell. I’m just hopeful 2021 brings some parity, not optimistic, just hopeful. Meanwhile I’m happy watching Formula E, and IMSA.

 

[cube]

I’m just hopeful 2021 brings some parity, not optimistic, just hopeful.

I hope they will not kill dual-hybrid.

 

[Glideslope]

I hope they will not kill dual-hybrid.

They won’t. Will be HV/12,000 rpm twin turbo V6. I’m expecting 1,000hp. Hopefully we will see racing like the old days with Prost and Senna in their 1,000+hp Hondas. Although the normally aspirated V10 cars are still my favorite of all time.