2020 Formula 1 Season Thread

[2984839]

Well I think the illegal advantage they had was obviously pretty significant. Then when they lost that, they can’t just fill the gap.
They say if you stand still in F1 (development) you go backwards. If you literally go backwards, whilst others improve, you fall further down the grid.

The other problem is that aero grip is hurt when the engine has less power. The aero package is designed to be most efficient at a certain range of speeds, and if you suddenly get your engine knocked down a few rungs, you can't get to that speed, so then your aero is all out of whack. In some of these corners this year you'll see them get sudden snap oversteer mid corner. That car is a mess.

Of course the team is also a mess with their legendary strategy blunders, poor communication to the drivers, indecisiveness on the pit wall, etc.

 

[Apple fanboy]

The other problem is that aero grip is hurt when the engine has less power. The aero package is designed to be most efficient at a certain range of speeds, and if you suddenly get your engine knocked down a few rungs, you can't get to that speed, so then your aero is all out of whack. In some of these corners this year you'll see them get sudden snap oversteer mid corner. That car is a mess.

Of course the team is also a mess with their legendary strategy blunders, poor communication to the drivers, indecisiveness on the pit wall, etc.

Such a shame! Not a big Ferrari fan.

 

[Moakesy]

Well I think the illegal advantage they had was obviously pretty significant. Then when they lost that, they can’t just fill the gap.
They say if you stand still in F1 (development) you go backwards. If you literally go backwards, whilst others improve, you fall further down the grid.

It’s certainly a useful lesson in how cheating only delivers short term gains. But it also shows how they appeared to have put all eggs into the one basket and had nothing, but nothing, behind it.
It’s one hell of a mess.
And whilst people moan about Mercedes domination, I personally think it is other teams job to match or beat them, not to bemoan the fact they did a better job.
Yes, money comes into it, but Red Bull and Ferrari should both be closer. Sad to see a season like this, but probably good in the long run to sort things out.

 

[CWallace]

And whilst people moan about Mercedes domination, I personally think it is other teams job to match or beat them, not to bemoan the fact they did a better job.

I agree, but with the FIA restrictions on engine modifications for multiple years at a time, if you get it "wrong" you're hobbled until the next Rules Change since you cannot correct your "mistakes". On the flip side, if you get it "right" (as Mercedes did), then you have the advantage until the next Rules Change since your competitors cannot compensate.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I hope Frank is in attendance. I grew up with Williams being the team. Such a shame to see where they are.

I thought before with keeping the name at least it would keep the legacy but now the family have stepped away, it’s really no longer Williams, so sad.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I thought before with keeping the name at least it would keep the legacy but now the family have stepped away, it’s really no longer Williams, so sad.

I’m sure the name will be hyphenated next season. Then the traditional colours will be gone. Before you know it, it’s just a different team.

 

[Moakesy]

I agree, but with the FIA restrictions on engine modifications for multiple years at a time, if you get it "wrong" you're hobbled until the next Rules Change since you cannot correct your "mistakes". On the flip side, if you get it "right" (as Mercedes did), then you have the advantage until the next Rules Change since your competitors cannot compensate.

This is true.

I do hope F1 can find the magic again. I still look forward to each race, but have to admit it’s getting harder to keep the excitement each year.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I’m sure the name will be hyphenated next season. Then the traditional colours will be gone. Before you know it, it’s just a different team.

That might be best in this situation. At least the legacy remains with the rightful owners that way.

 

[2984839]

I thought before with keeping the name at least it would keep the legacy but now the family have stepped away, it’s really no longer Williams, so sad.

It really is sad, especially now that they've finally caught up to Ferrari.

 

[BenTrovato]

It likely means little to the factory team as they have the best chassis so they likely only use "party mode" for their "real lap" during qualifying and on their hot lap into and out of the pits during the race. The rest of the time they probably don't need it and not using it extends the engine life / reliability.

It could impact Racing Point vis-a-vis McLaren and Renault, though they will still have an overall advantage from (effectively) running the 2019 factory Mercedes chassis. Williams will likely suffer, as well.

And it's probably going to really hurt the Ferrari-powered cars considering how weak that PU is.

You called it! Vettel doesn’t make it out of Q1 and Williams are dead last.

Crofty on the broadcast: “You’d have to go back to 1984 for the last time both Ferrari’s qualified outside the top 10 at their home Grand Prix”. Dark times for the Scuderia. Looking forward to the Italian media comments later today.

 

[michael9891]

At least in qualifying, the changes look to have maybe affected Red Bull the most. See how it affects the engines over the course of a race.

 

[CWallace]

You called it! Vettel doesn’t make it out of Q1 and Williams are dead last.

I think Vettel had the pace to get out of Q1 (he was only 0.047 seconds off), but the absolute shambles that was that last lap of qualifying by the field caught him - and everyone else - out (good strategic move on Ocon's part, though, in blocking said field - if nobody else can improve, he knew he was safe). But Ferrari showed their true (lack of) pace in Q2.

Will be an easy win for Mercedes tomorrow - Bottas on medium tires and no tow 1.3 seconds faster on his first Q1 lap then Vettel with a tow and on softs. So I'll watch until the first round of pit stops than FF to the end as is my norm in 2020.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Mercedes lock out of the front row. No surprise at all. Not expecting much other than a Mercedes 1-2.
Good lap from Carlos. Good to see. Shame that the Williams family will end their 40 year time in F1 in last place.

 

[pachyderm]

Again, no injuries, but It'd be good for me, and the sport, if 44 & 77 bump into each other in the first chicane.

GO SAINZ!

1	44	Lewis Hamilton	MERCEDES	1:19.514	1:19.092	1:18.887	18
2	77	Valtteri Bottas	MERCEDES	1:19.786	1:18.952	1:18.956	18
3	55	Carlos Sainz	MCLAREN RENAULT	1:20.099	1:19.705	1:19.695	16
4	11	Sergio Perez	RACING POINT BWT MERCEDES	1:20.048	1:19.718	1:19.720	17
5	33	Max Verstappen	RED BULL RACING HONDA	1:20.193	1:19.780	1:19.795	17
6	4	Lando Norris	MCLAREN RENAULT	1:20.344	1:19.962	1:19.820	18
7	3	Daniel Ricciardo	RENAULT	1:20.548	1:20.031	1:19.864	16
8	18	Lance Stroll	RACING POINT BWT MERCEDES	1:20.400	1:19.924	1:20.049	19
9	23	Alexander Albon	RED BULL RACING HONDA	1:21.104	1:20.064	1:20.090	19
10	10	Pierre Gasly	ALPHATAURI HONDA	1:20.145	1:19.909	1:20.177	20
11	26	Daniil Kvyat	ALPHATAURI HONDA	1:20.307	1:20.169		14
12	31	Esteban Ocon	RENAULT	1:20.747	1:20.234		12
13	16	Charles Leclerc	FERRARI	1:20.443	1:20.273		15
14	7	Kimi Räikkönen	ALFA ROMEO RACING FERRARI	1:21.010	1:20.926		14
15	20	Kevin Magnussen	HAAS FERRARI	1:20.869	1:21.573		14
16	8	Romain Grosjean	HAAS FERRARI	1:21.139			8
17	5	Sebastian Vettel	FERRARI	1:21.151			5
18	99	Antonio Giovinazzi	ALFA ROMEO RACING FERRARI	1:21.206			9
19	63	George Russell	WILLIAMS MERCEDES	1:21.587			7
20	6	Nicholas Latifi	WILLIAMS MERCEDES	1:21.717			8

 

[Apple fanboy]

Again, no injuries, but It'd be good for me, and the sport, if 44 & 77 bump into each other in the first chicane.

GO SAINZ!

1	44	Lewis Hamilton	MERCEDES	1:19.514	1:19.092	1:18.887	18
2	77	Valtteri Bottas	MERCEDES	1:19.786	1:18.952	1:18.956	18
3	55	Carlos Sainz	MCLAREN RENAULT	1:20.099	1:19.705	1:19.695	16
4	11	Sergio Perez	RACING POINT BWT MERCEDES	1:20.048	1:19.718	1:19.720	17
5	33	Max Verstappen	RED BULL RACING HONDA	1:20.193	1:19.780	1:19.795	17
6	4	Lando Norris	MCLAREN RENAULT	1:20.344	1:19.962	1:19.820	18
7	3	Daniel Ricciardo	RENAULT	1:20.548	1:20.031	1:19.864	16
8	18	Lance Stroll	RACING POINT BWT MERCEDES	1:20.400	1:19.924	1:20.049	19
9	23	Alexander Albon	RED BULL RACING HONDA	1:21.104	1:20.064	1:20.090	19
10	10	Pierre Gasly	ALPHATAURI HONDA	1:20.145	1:19.909	1:20.177	20
11	26	Daniil Kvyat	ALPHATAURI HONDA	1:20.307	1:20.169		14
12	31	Esteban Ocon	RENAULT	1:20.747	1:20.234		12
13	16	Charles Leclerc	FERRARI	1:20.443	1:20.273		15
14	7	Kimi Räikkönen	ALFA ROMEO RACING FERRARI	1:21.010	1:20.926		14
15	20	Kevin Magnussen	HAAS FERRARI	1:20.869	1:21.573		14
16	8	Romain Grosjean	HAAS FERRARI	1:21.139			8
17	5	Sebastian Vettel	FERRARI	1:21.151			5
18	99	Antonio Giovinazzi	ALFA ROMEO RACING FERRARI	1:21.206			9
19	63	George Russell	WILLIAMS MERCEDES	1:21.587			7
20	6	Nicholas Latifi	WILLIAMS MERCEDES	1:21.717			8

Can’t see it really. The race for third could be exciting.

 

[pachyderm]

Can’t see it really. The race for third could be exciting.

Yeh it's incredibly rare that these two bump into each other. If it were Perez v Ocon... I'd have money on it.

Love to see Sainz hang onto that podium but I suspect Max will take it by the 5th or 6th lap.

 

[Madonepro]

Yeh it's incredibly rare that these two bump into each other. If it were Perez v Ocon... I'd have money on it.

Love to Sainz hang onto that podium but I suspect Max will take it by the 5th or 6th lap.

It's going to be a cracker of a race. Fast circuit, lot's of drafting opportunities, two Mercedes that whilst quicker, have no modes to play with. Did they gamble the mode they chose to qualify on, will last the race, or will reliability become an issue. The others, well Red Bull don't have the speed, but the Renault's do. Racing Point and AlphaTauri will also be in the mix, I doubt you'll get much beyond lap 2 and they'll be a safety car.

 

[michael9891]

You can use a lot of words to describe this race, boring is certainly not one of them. Doesn't matter how dominant you usually are, anything can happen. A Mercedes win is almost certainly impossible now.

It's gone from Lewis being miles out in front to having to battle through the field. Hopefully today will satisfy those that don't like how far in front Mercedes are.

 

[michael9891]

And glad to see Leclerc ok, that was a heavy impact. The Mercedes pit wall should have told Lewis not to pit. The podium places could be anyone today.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

You can use a lot of words to describe this race, boring is certainly not one of them. Doesn't matter how dominant you usually are, anything can happen. A Mercedes win is almost certainly impossible now.

It's gone from Lewis being miles out in front to having to battle through the field. Hopefully today will satisfy those that don't like how far in front Mercedes are.

As a Hamilton fan I can safely say it’s bloody great not seeing him walk to victory for once. Even those of us who support Mercedes want to see them be challenged and these guys as much as they want records, also want to feel the hunger of fighting for it. It’s sad that a penalty seemed to be the only way we’d see a challenge though.

Glad LeClerc is ok after that rather heavy impact.

 

[michael9891]

As a Hamilton fan I can safely say it’s bloody great not seeing him walk to victory for once. Even those of us who support Mercedes want to see them be challenged and these guys as much as they want records, also want to feel the hunger of fighting for it. It’s sad that a penalty seemed to be the only way we’d see a challenge though.

Glad LeClerc is ok after that rather heavy impact.

The Mercedes doesn't look capable of many overtakes.

 

[michael9891]

Great win for Gasly. And I think the weekend went far worse for Ferrari than expected.

 

[Glideslope]

Well, throw my vote in for reverse grid race days.

On a serious note Hats off to Gasly. Great young driver, great win, great Honda out back.

Well done to Carlos as well. Although I doubt he could have gotten past Gasly with another lap. The Alpha Tauri simply had too much drive off grip.

Days like this give me moments of hope for F1.

 

[gautampw]

Wow I didn't know Macrumors had F1 thread. Awesome race it was!

 

[2984839]

I was hoping for another Mercedes 1-2 but whatever.