2020 Formula 1 Season Thread

[CWallace]

Finally a race worth watching, even if it required both Mercedes' drivers screwing up royally to allow it.

Great job by Gasly (who must now be a serious contender to replace Albon at RBR in 2021) and both Sainz and Stroll.

Good job by LeClerc to get where he was when he stuffed it. I was a bit skeptical Ferrari could make the points, but a double-DNF was not in my predictions.

 

[zagato27]

Racing, who knew?

 

[2984839]

Another win for the Scuderia in their home race, just as we expected.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Anybody made the connection Toro Rosso that was have won 2 races and both at Monza, 12 years apart too.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Well they tore up the script today didn’t they? Happy to see McLaren on the podium. Just wish he’d got the win!
But I also like Gasley so well done to him.

The positioning of the pit lane closed light looked very questionable to me. Why not have a light on the dash like they do with blue flags?

Anyway I’m sure Lewis will bounce back!

Ferrari looks like an accident waiting to happen. Also can’t remember the last red flag race, but what a stupid idea? A grid start on cold tyres? Can’t believe they think that’s safe.

Not sure what happened to Max. He was nowhere today. Same for Bottas. I’m sure there will be a problem reported on there cars post race.

 

[michael9891]

Also can’t remember the last red flag race, but what a stupid idea? A grid start on cold tyres? Can’t believe they think that’s safe.

Stupid idea? Did you not see how much damage to the safety barriers LeClerc did? They needed repairing before it was safe to continue racing. That took at least 30 mins, so was better to have them repaired safely, than have cars going around for 30 mins while it was done.

And how was the restart any different to the start of any race? All the cars had the tyre warmers on prior to restarting and they did a steady lap before they got going again. Just like any other start.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Stupid idea? Did you not see how much damage to the safety barriers LeClerc did? They needed repairing before it was safe to continue racing. That took at least 30 mins, so was better to have them repaired safely, than have cars going around for 30 mins while it was done.

And how was the restart any different to the start of any race? All the cars had the tyre warmers on prior to restarting and they did a steady lap before they got going again. Just like any other start.

Not saying the red flag was a bad idea. Understood why they did that. It was the restart with cold tyres. I’d missed the fact they had tyre warmers on at the pause. On the highlights show they just showed them lined up in grid order rather in garages. So if they had them on then yes it’s the same as the start.

 

[Moakesy]

First race I’ve not watched this season due to being away. Sounds fantastic.

Will have to watch on catch up when I’m back.

 

[CWallace]

Standing (Re-)Starts from Red Flags came into force a few seasons ago, as I recall. I personally prefer it to a rolling re-start like after a Safety Car.

 

[pachyderm]

I looked at my wife and said, "Sainz shouldn't pit yet..." I could be wrong but I feel like that stop cost him the win.

 

[Apple fanboy]

First race I’ve not watched this season due to being away. Sounds fantastic.

Will have to watch on catch up when I’m back.

You missed a good one.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Standing (Re-)Starts from Red Flags came into force a few seasons ago, as I recall. I personally prefer it to a rolling re-start like after a Safety Car.

Rolling re starts are a waste of time. The lead car has too much advantage after the SC pulls off. I’d prefer the start to happen at the start finish line. Cars lined up three a breast. That would be fun!

 

[BenTrovato]

Rolling re starts are a waste of time. The lead car has too much advantage after the SC pulls off. I’d prefer the start to happen at the start finish line. Cars lined up three a breast. That would be fun!

Haha I agree.

Monza turned out to be exciting but before the incident it may have been the worse race of the year. The DRS train was strong, nothing was happening at all. The ending was fantastic, probably because none of the front runners were involved 👍🏻

 

[Madonepro]

Rolling re starts are a waste of time. The lead car has too much advantage after the SC pulls off. I’d prefer the start to happen at the start finish line. Cars lined up three a breast. That would be fun!

But there is a good reason why the cars are in the order they are in the restart, and why the lead car is out front. Should the driver leading have to be penalised for getting there?

 

[Apple fanboy]

But there is a good reason why the cars are in the order they are in the restart, and why the lead car is out front. Should the driver leading have to be penalised for getting there?

Not at all. But as they chose when to go, it would be like the pole sitter being in charge of when the lights go out at the start. Gives them too much of an advantage. Especially with all the false starts they do. As soon as the second guy breaks, they hit the throttle.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Not saying the red flag was a bad idea. Understood why they did that. It was the restart with cold tyres. I’d missed the fact they had tyre warmers on at the pause. On the highlights show they just showed them lined up in grid order rather in garages. So if they had them on then yes it’s the same as the start.

That is the problem with highlights, it’s misses vital parts of races and how they can expect 90% of F1 fans to put up with that is beyond me.

Chuffed for Gasly though, he’s a good driver and really showing his potential. Just hope he never goes back to Red Bull and finds a decent team with the support needed. It would have been a boring race had Hamilton not got his penalty but the fact he went from dead last to seventh shows how good he and the package is. In fact I think it highlighted it more than any other race this year. If he’d started from the back at the start, he probably would have won!! Mental really.

 

[Apple fanboy]

That is the problem with highlights, it’s misses vital parts of races and how they can expect 90% of F1 fans to put up with that is beyond me.

Chuffed for Gasly though, he’s a good driver and really showing his potential. Just hope he never goes back to Red Bull and finds a decent team with the support needed. It would have been a boring race had Hamilton not got his penalty but the fact he went from dead last to seventh shows how good he and the package is. In fact I think it highlighted it more than any other race this year. If he’d started from the back at the start, he probably would have won!! Mental really.

Not at the back. 23 seconds behind everyone else. Or to put it another way, after that penalty he only finished two places behind Bottas in the same car (who couldn’t get past those in front).

 

[nebo1ss]

Really funny how Red Bull was the biggest complainer about so called "Party Mode" and got no benefit or may even have been hurt by its restriction. They have a reputation as a bit of a complainer. They were the ones complaining about Ferrari last year and i believe also the ones complaining about the pink Mercedes brake ducts.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Really funny how Red Bull was the biggest complainer about so called "Party Mode" and got no benefit or may even have been hurt by its restriction. They have a reputation as a bit of a complainer. They were the ones complaining about Ferrari last year and i believe also the ones complaining about the pink Mercedes brake ducts.

Well that is true. I suppose the qualifying mode was a bit of an unknown quantity. No one knows what extra benefit Mercedes we’re getting. But as everyone had one, all that’s happened us we have been robbed of seeing the ultimate these cars can do over one lap.
What’s next? No top gear for Mercedes? 1 extra lap required for race distance if you are in a Mercedes?
The problem isn’t how prolific they are. It’s his those behind can’t catch up. Why? Because engine tokens and development caps make it impossible.
I’m know Ferrari fan but when halfway through 2020 they tell you they won’t be competitive until 2022 you know something is wrong.
Mind you exploding brakes have nothing to do with engine power, so clearly there is a lot wrong with that car.

 

[Madonepro]

Not at all. But as they chose when to go, it would be like the pole sitter being in charge of when the lights go out at the start. Gives them too much of an advantage. Especially with all the false starts they do. As soon as the second guy breaks, they hit the throttle.

But the pole sitter has an advantage, is on the best line, and is slightly ahead, essentially what the rolling start offers. Either way that driver can muck it up, but they got to the position on the track due to merit, and so should remain there until passed. It's a competitive sport, with billions at stake, the best drivers get the best cars, and as much as we don't always enjoy the spectacle, it's because we usually have bias for one driver or team. I'm a Brit who lives in Australia, so for the Vettel years I didn't enjoy it that much, but what I did enjoy, as true motorsport fans do, is the technological battle that F1 brings. Interpretation and new technologies, which they say is for the future of all vehicles, although let's hope we don't have to wear Hans devices and have HALO's fitted to our vehicles anytime soon.

 

[Moakesy]

What’s next? No top gear for Mercedes? 1 extra lap required for race distance if you are in a Mercedes?
The problem isn’t how prolific they are. It’s his those behind can’t catch up. Why? Because engine tokens and development caps make it impossible.
I’m know Ferrari fan but when halfway through 2020 they tell you they won’t be competitive until 2022 you know something is wrong.
Mind you exploding brakes have nothing to do with engine power, so clearly there is a lot wrong with that car.

This.
Mercedes are not the bad guys in F1. They are outclassing the competition by some margin and it is for others to catch up. Budgets may mean that only applies to Ferrari and RedBull, but neither can do it. Someone will though, someone somewhere will become the new king.
What will be interesting is what happens to Williams with a new person on charge. I really liked Claire Williams and thought it was good to have a woman heading a F1 team. Sorry to see her move aside. Think she brought a different spirit to the team.

 

[Madonepro]

This.
Mercedes are not the bad guys in F1. They are outclassing the competition by some margin and it is for others to catch up. Budgets may mean that only applies to Ferrari and RedBull, but neither can do it. Someone will though, someone somewhere will become the new king.
What will be interesting is what happens to Williams with a new person on charge. I really liked Claire Williams and thought it was good to have a woman heading a F1 team. Sorry to see her move aside. Think she brought a different spirit to the team.

The tributes by both Nicholas Latifi and George Russell from their cars, after the finish line was truly dignified and emotional. The sport, despite the billionaires and millionaires that frequent it, has a heart and soul and a sense of place and loyalty.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Yes very sad to see the Williams family leave the sport.
With such an upward down race yesterday I’d have lived to have seen them in the points somehow. But there car is so out paced. Feel sorry for the drivers. Starting a race weekend knowing it’s going to be the back row of the grid and no points again must be challenging.
Hopefully with some more investment, 2022 might bring about a change in fortune. But even if it does, it won’t be the Williams I grew up with.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Really funny how Red Bull was the biggest complainer about so called "Party Mode" and got no benefit or may even have been hurt by its restriction. They have a reputation as a bit of a complainer. They were the ones complaining about Ferrari last year and i believe also the ones complaining about the pink Mercedes brake ducts.

To be fair, complaining is something all teams do at some point. I agree Red Bull are very hypocritical in the way they are happy to benefit from things they think of but are the first to claim something is not in the spirit of the rules’ when it’s someone else.

Ferrari spent decades threatening FIA with pulling out of the sport and complaining about the British teams being better but it became part of their heritage as the temperamental marque who produce stunning cars lol.

 

[Apple fanboy]

To be fair, complaining is something all teams do at some point. I agree Red Bull are very hypocritical in the way they are happy to benefit from things they think of but are the first to claim something is not in the spirit of the rules’ when it’s someone else.

Ferrari spent decades threatening FIA with pulling out of the sport and complaining about the British teams being better but it became part of their heritage as the temperamental marque who produce stunning cars lol.

I think that’s one of the reasons I’ve always disliked Ferrari. That and they get a bigger check than everyone else.