Has there been a Formula One discussion thread? If not, there is now

[NaZa]

Similar to the Eurovision thread I'd created four? years ago I think... here's another for a (relatively) niche fanbase. With the recent surge of F1 fans numbers (partly due to DTS, which is a topic in itself that I don't want to get into), I think it's worth a shot.

 

As the AUSGP is over, the tifosi in me is quite happy to see Leclerc make it 3/3 podiums and seriously emerge as a contender for the title, as well as being disappointed it's not Sainz but oh well guy overshot it today and went too aggro. Will be curious to see how many races until we hear "I am stupid" again. Glad to see George profit from the SC and defend well from Hamilton though it's humorous to see him P2 in WDC standings. Checo as always clockwork and I was genuinely happy to see Bottas and especially Albon in that bin of a car make it to the tail end of the Top 10. Not sure where the McLarens found all this pace, they were bringing up the rear in Bahrain.

 

Can't help but wonder what's with the Aston Martins, however. Stroll Sr. is seriously rich, Otmar was a good engineer (as evidenced by the Alpines being potentially fourth on pure pace this year) and a great brand with potential sponsors, being last in the constructors should be a disaster and impossible. But, here we are. Watching Vettel, my favourite driver on the grid (or up there with Valtteri this season though) lose his mojo over the last 4 years has been difficult and just as it was looking like he's settling well in the AM comes the worst weekend I've seen from his side. At least he took it well and didn't cause any controversy, unlike his teammate. Stroll slamming stewards for "funny decisions" is potentially the most humorous thing I've read all week... coming after crashing Latifi out (Latifi not crashing on his own for once!), making Bottas brake on the straight and then pushing him off is just... yeah. The car itself also looks undriveable but at least it's beautiful to see it on the track. Just like the Ferrari. However, the Ferrari at least sees a checkered flag; AM has to settle in for blue flags.

 

 

One thing I would not like to drag into a thread like this, though, is the Masigate controversy. It's happened last year, we're over it by this point. Whether you think Max is deserving of his title is not relevant anymore. As I was firmly on Max's side last year, I really can't not feel for him this year, though; had there not been engine issues he would be sitting at 61 points and not that far off Leclerc. Then again, had Perez not had abysmal luck two weeks ago...

Edited April 10, 2022 by NaZa

[leejacksonaudio]

I'm a bit surprised that Ferrari is capable of racing at such a pace when they've got as bad a porpoising issue as they have. If you've seen their HelmetCam images from the world feed, it's horrendously bad down the straights. Either everyone else is tremendously slow everywhere else, or their drivers are in a galaxy of their own.

 

It's going to be a very interesting race come Imola in two weeks time.

[leejacksonaudio]

ALPINE BLAME A £1.50 PART FOR RUINING ALONSO’S AUSTRALIAN GP PODIUM CHANCES

 

https://wtf1.com/post/alpine-blame-a-1-50-part-for-ruining-alonsos-australian-gp-podium-chances/

[NaZa]

Man, that's really tough luck. Reminds me of when Leclerc's spark plug failed in Bahrain 3 years ago. I don't particularly enjoy the sensationalism in the title, though, even if it's WTF1; while Alonso was around a tenth away from Leclerc, by the end of the lap he'd be well off, and by the end of Q probably slipped into a P5 (because Sainz would not have gotten his lap invalidated). Then again, that could have turned into a podium come the race because Max... but I don't think his race pace matched RB's and MB's. 

 

Also, I agree with your earlier post about the porpoising. Watching Sainz and Leclerc in qualifying hurt me, and I was sitting in a sofa! Mad stuff that they're able to drive 58 laps straight with that. (Well, at least Leclerc...)

[Redneckerz]

On 4/10/2022 at 12:57 PM, NaZa said:

One thing I would not like to drag into a thread like this, though, is the Masigate controversy. It's happened last year, we're over it by this point. Whether you think Max is deserving of his title is not relevant anymore. As I was firmly on Max's side last year, I really can't not feel for him this year, though; had there not been engine issues he would be sitting at 61 points and not that far off Leclerc. Then again, had Perez not had abysmal luck two weeks ago...

If you are over it, then why are you mentioning it???

 

• Ferrari has a seriously good car.
• Leclerc proves once more to be seriously good
• Mercedes have a seriously shit car.
• Verstappen is seriously kicking the curb on reliability with RB (Back once again!)
• Haas/Magnussen seriously kick ass
• Alonso being in Berserk form is seriously something else
• Stroll seriously needs to quit, as does Latifi
• Zhou is seriously a respectable debut-driver
• Checo seriously does wonders with RB

[leejacksonaudio]

Magnussen, Haas aiming for a top finish in Imola sprint race:

 

https://racer.com/2022/04/19/magnussen-will-go-all-out-for-extra-points-in-f1-sprint-race/

[NaZa]

Hope he does. Always had a soft spot for him, he's reckless but he's damn quick. 

 

 

On 4/12/2022 at 10:11 PM, Redneckerz said:

If you are over it, then why are you mentioning it???

Good point, sorry. Just wanted to distance myself from it if it eventually became the topic. I agree with your point about Zhou, though - I had reservations for him because pay-driver bad but he's really consistent and has 10-11-11 finished. Decent stuff. Hope Valtteri mentors him well.

[NaZa]

Well that was fun to watch. Broke the record for most red flags in a Q, I believe. Sad to see Bottas's bad luck continue, but my pure Viking man K-Mag is just gunning for it and I'm glad we were proven right about him. No idea where McLarens found all this time, though, considering they were 9th/10 in Bahrain on pure pace. Also incredibly happy for Seb, he deserved this <3 and Sainz... yeah....

 

Let's hope the sprint tomorrow will be somewhat good. I'm not a fan of the format, but the grid is really mixed up, so it could be somewhat fun, them also having changed how the points are given out. Seeing Mercedes outside the Top 10 makes me anxious about how they can progress through traffic, they usually can't do that easily.

Edited April 22, 2022 by NaZa

[Daytime Waitress]

I thought the porpoising would get less noticeable as the season went on, but down to the fourth race and it's still nauseating...

 

But yeah, that final pass by Verstappen was great to watch. I know it's only a sprint, so the knives aren't out, but it was still enjoyable.

[Redneckerz]

Mercedes's pace is amazing at how poor it is.

[leejacksonaudio]

I'm a bit baffled at Haas and K-Mag - they do well in qualifying, but in the actual race, K-Mag can barely keep his position. He lost four positions in the sprint, and after a quick nabbing of three positions at the start of the feature, he gave all three positions back. This is a trend, unless I'm mistaken. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

 

And yes, I'm tracking Haas all season long. :)

Edited April 25, 2022 by leejacksonaudio

[leejacksonaudio]

Schedule for this weekend's Miami Grand Prix:

 

https://www.formula1.com/en/racing/2022/Miami.html

[Redneckerz]

2 hours ago, leejacksonaudio said:

Schedule for this weekend's Miami Grand Prix:

 

https://www.formula1.com/en/racing/2022/Miami.html

Looking forward to this one (Having the flu so i can do whateveR). Nobody raced on this track yet so everyone is fair game.

[NaZa]

It'll be fun. Red Bull could have the upper hand if it's a quick circuit, but we don't know. Thank you for the schedule @leejacksonaudio. Hopefully Haas can do well here, though I'm keen to see Alfa go up the order again, they're slowly becoming my favourite team this season. Bottas ftw. Hopefully Sainz has a good weekend as well.

[NaZa]

Boring race till Gasly and Norris collected each other... Was sad that Mick plowed into Seb, them both scoring points would have been memorable for both. Seb had some special moves throughout the race. Was actually glad to see Lance score points, guy did really well and drove quite a wide car. Bottas as usual. Haas gotta ask themselves how they screwed this race up. Also gutted for Checo.

Edited May 11, 2022 by NaZa

[leejacksonaudio]

Monaco is apparently a go, despite the heavy rain that aborted the start. They're still expecting more rain, but apparently the FIA's weather radio is not working(???). They're predicting a rolling start, and they've kicked in the two hour clock, so it's a timed race according to the Sky announcers. Should be an interesting race. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll see the end of it, since I'll be tuning over to see the Indianapolis 500 coverage when it starts.

 

And the carnage has already begun, with Latifi and Stroll crashing on the first lap out of the pit lane. This does not bode well.

[leejacksonaudio]

...and there goes Haas's race, with both K-Mag and Mick out. WTF knocked Mick's transmission off???

 

They've red flagged the race to fix the barrier.

Edited May 29, 2022 by leejacksonaudio

[Redneckerz]

Well, that was an interesting one.

Leclerc yelling over the radio, and the move turned to be fatal. Why is Ferrari still so scared of other team tactics that they tend to go haywire?

[NaZa]

Sadly couldn't catch it, but the result made me happy. Perez win AND Vettel and Bottas in the points? Beautiful stuff! Saw the highlights and yet another Ferrari strategy masterclass. As someone who rooted for Seb in 17 and 18, I've gotten used to those... still, can't not feel for Leclerc.

[leejacksonaudio]

Here are the results from today's Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix:

 

Spoiler

 

From NBC Sports:

 

https://motorsports.nbcsports.com/2022/05/29/sergio-perez-monaco-f1-grand-prix-charles-leclerc-max-verstappen-carlos-sainz/

 

 

[NaZa]

I lust for the day in which Carlos Sainz won't make a mistake while being under pressure. Probably won't come, but we can hope. Brilliant race from Max, Charles and Zhou, though.

[Daytime Waitress]

Cracker of a race with a tonne of wheel-to-wheel action and Hamilton's gorgeous "thank you very much" fourth to second pass. But, fuck me, Zhou's stack was sickening - absolutely mad that we live in an age where someone can slide an open-wheeler upside down at that speed and say "lol see y'all next week".

[Redneckerz]

This was the best race of this season so far. It had everything:

• Unpredictable changes
• Crashes (But man, Zhou... Albon also got quite a few hits)
• AMAZING overtakes. Like that was some ace racing and it made my heart race again. This is why i have been watching this sport since age 5.
• Amazing race. Just wow.

[leejacksonaudio]

Agreed on Zhou's wreck. The longer the world feed goes without showing the crash, the more you've gotta worry about the guy in the car.

 

Mad props to Haas, at long last! After almost 3 years, a double points day, with K-Mag in 8th and Mick in 10th! And Mick breaks it open with his very first F1 point! You've gotta love it.

[NaZa]

I think it's the other way round, Mick was 8th. Definitely deserved 7th, had some borderline fair racing with Max there at the end. What a turnaround from 19th!

 

As for the crash, I saw it before the camera showed Zhou sliding and thought he's injured. After no camera feed (there was some for Grosjean before for Zhou) I even thought he actually passed so it was incredible to hear he was OK. Great sportsmanship from Russell.

 

Statement from my last post still holds true. Sainz can't lead without mistakes (see: lap 10 I think? Goes wide), though his overtake on Leclerc after the restart was brutal, yet fair. Glad to see him win, maybe this gives him more confidence. Lewis drove really well and Checo did as well, 17th at the end of lap 2 to 2nd, with some rather creative interpretation of the limits of the track but it was good racing. Charles gets fucked every time, I'm getting worried. I understand why they didn't pit him but at the same time they could've exited with +19 on Max if they pit Charles and let Carlos stay out. Or if they doublestacked. Now they have +6.

 

Either way, best race I remember watching, or at least up there with Germany 2019 and Brazil 2012.

[NaZa]

Not gonna lie, another good race and another good sprint. The Haases were flying and I was glad Kevin nursed that car home. They're on a proper streak. As for Ferrari... Man, their reliability sucks. Carlos was on fire until he was literally on fire and I can't begin to say how many nerves I've lost seeing Leclerc on the team radio. Mercs were good too, but Aston, man... They suck big time. Poor Vettel. Was especially sad Bottas just barely missed out on points after starting from the pitlane.

 

I'll be in the minority here but Perez had easy space on the outside and could have avoided contact with an understeering Russell but still a racing incident, no penalty should have been given imo. Track limits were funny but I'm glad they're finally becoming strict with them. I just hope the fans present on the grandstands can become more civil, their behaviour has been almost unacceptable for a few races now, booing in Silverstone and then cheering when Hamilton crashed.

[Daytime Waitress]

Watching the Haases defend was the highlight for me - some gorgeous moves.

 

I actually do agree with you on the Perez/Russell thing: both in terms of Perez moving over and it just being a racing incident. Nobody seemed to want to concede on that shit of a corner, though, no matter where they were angled, both races.

 

And I definitely agree with you about the hooliganism. I'd give the peanut gallery a pass if they're having a chuckle when someone parks it in the kitty litter, but that was a stack, and no-one had any idea if he was okay. Fuck right off with that attitude. But I'd also be evicted from an event if someone lit a flare next to me at a race, so maybe don't take my words on etiquette as gospel...

 

 

[NaZa]

What the absolute fuck Ferrari? How do you manage to fuck a podium up? Poor Carlos, he drove his heart out there. Charles again crashing out of the lead and Max once again capitalizing on it, though I wonder was it a throttle related issue or simply a human error. Checo was a snail at the restart but quite aggressive in defending.

 

Somewhat entertaining race but still boring.

[DSC]

3 hours ago, NaZa said:

What the absolute fuck Ferrari? How do you manage to fuck a podium up? Poor Carlos, he drove his heart out there. Charles again crashing out of the lead and Max once again capitalizing on it, though I wonder was it a throttle related issue or simply a human error. Checo was a snail at the restart but quite aggressive in defending.

 

Somewhat entertaining race but still boring.

Agreed, seeing Leclerc crash live on TV was quite something, as expected as it was. Dude went twenty straight laps with a single set of medium wheels, those things had nearly melted by the time he was out. Can't believe he threw it like this... At least Sainz had a pretty spectacular performance to save Ferrari's ass. That one reckless pit stop leave though...

[Daytime Waitress]

I know it's easy to be an armchair general when you're not making split-second decisions at the top level of a particular field, but... what in the French-fried tittyfuck was that? From Sainz's pit release*, bleating at him when he's in the middle of a pass that he's been attempting for the last six turns, and finally the call to bring him in so late. I'd have a hard time believing he didn't blister the team after that lot.

 

*Not sure how much is driver fault, and how much is team fault, there.

 

Also, I only watched highlights because that run-off on that track makes me physically ill. Ick.