Community ManagerI feel like the current FP1 and FP2 results can't really be trusted yet. Teams are surely still trying to test some things out. McLarens results are all over the place.
@P4st3l1ak Btw, it will be the same for next week's GP in Saudi Arabia as well.
@Blackbird90/ @EA_Vendcera thanks for update, I didn't realise that.
Re FP1/2, we'll see who was sandbagging tomorrow afternoon. Quali is time when they show true colours 😉
Community ManagerCommunity ManagerWelcome back to reality, my friends. ✌️There's Max and his RB and there's Perez and his 5th grade meh car.))
I'm happy with it! Max is in his prime, top form. And Leclerc's Q2 time was a 1:29.165, that would have handed him the pole in Q3 considering Max's 1:29.179 (+0.014).
Looking forward to the race tomorrow!
@mariohomohThat's it!
I got the impression that the field is less spread. On Q1 the 20 cars were in the same second and the differences in Q3 were minimal - and, considering Sahkir is no short circuit, this means a lot.
Also on "impressions", Lando was shown on the broadcast talking on the phone after the session ended and he seemed to be really upset. In fact, I was hoping McLaren to be in better position, even fighting wheel to wheel with the Ferraris.
Yes, maybe not a perfect lap by Charles in Q3 but overall similar qualifying performance to last year, all the pack within 1 second, a nice Q session! 😎
The feeling is that top teams are closer to RB than last year in race pace, but still Max ahead. Hopefully we’ll have a bit of fight this season, at least in soma races, fingers crossed 🤞
Tomorrow Max should have big advantage at the start and first stint with the new (S), then we’ll see if the others can match his pace on (H)
@Nuvolarix wrote:perfect lap by Charles
equals a non win finish result, that's for sure.)
Awesome start by Charles “Lourdes” Leclerc: only a brake issue this year, in 2023 retire and already in penalty at the 2nd race!!! 🥳
Well that’s that then…. With Perez be able to finish second… The rest have no chance. I thought Schumachers records would never be beat. Definitely never expected them to be beaten by someone before he even legit retired. So I was positive Hamiltons records be stand the test off time. The way it’s going Hamilton will still be racing in F1 when Maxs beats all his records 🙄
We were fooled once again. Great season is upon us.😵💫 Can't wait for it to come to an end. 🏁
@mariohomoh wrote:
When I throw my F1 comeback party none of you downers are getting any invites 😝
Race was ok, unfortunately. None of the teams could piece together and/or execute a plan to wrestle that podium out of a sharp Red Bull team. Russell is no #1 driver and Leclerc took half the race to wrestle that car into conformity.
Now normally I find us agreeing on a lot of things, but that race was duller than ditchwater!
I tend to agree that if Perez can finish 2nd from the third row then that RB is in a class of its own. It doesn’t seem to have one lap pace but it will evolve to have that as well. Genuinely thought VER was driving on autopilot with plenty in reserve,
Waited until the C4 coverage, most of which was “watched” on FF. Seriously lost its way since being a Sky offshoot, it’s like contractually they have to bore the pants off you so Lazenby et al look like a proposition.
A Saturday race that clashed with a 3pm KO wasn’t the best plan. Two outliers to start the season, I’m not looking forward to Jeddah because it’s another terrible street circuit, the only thing that could make it worse would be a sprint weekend.
@SteveJackson by ok I mean a 6/10? The sort of grade that makes a father go "at least he's not in jail".
I'm usually fond of Bahrain. But today was indeed boring. Only memorable action I'll take from it is Leclerc with his brake issues trying to hold on, Sainz and Perez marching forward, Russell blazing like satellite debris disintegrating re-entering the atmosphere.
I do believe Max is on another dimension, but I'm still not convinced this will be a boring season. It seemed more like Red Bull being sharp and not putting a foot wrong instead of simply cruising.
Not that I see anyone challenging Max in the short term. But I think it can still be exciting.
@mariohomoh wrote:@SteveJackson by ok I mean a 6/10? The sort of grade that makes a father go "at least he's not in jail".
I'm usually fond of Bahrain. But today was indeed boring. Only memorable action I'll take from it is Leclerc with his brake issues trying to hold on, Sainz and Perez marching forward, Russell blazing like satellite debris disintegrating re-entering the atmosphere.
I do believe Max is on another dimension, but I'm still not convinced this will be a boring season. It seemed more like Red Bull being sharp and not putting a foot wrong instead of simply cruising.
Not that I see anyone challenging Max in the short term. But I think it can still be exciting.
Ha maybe Max in jail would be 10/10 😁
Danny Ric to the A team!
@mariohomoh wrote:I do believe Max is on another dimension, but I'm still not convinced this will be a boring season.
As long as he driving such a dominant car no doubt he is. Who wouldn’t. Perez is just super exceptional. 🤣
We had Merc of 2014-2016 with title battle between the teammates at least.
We had Merc of 2017-2019 with actual title battle with Ferrari.
We had 2021 the last fiery title battle between Hamilton and Verstappen.
None of those are seem to be happen this season either.
In fact we now have even more depressed state of F1 ever. 🤧
@SteveJackson wrote:
@mariohomoh wrote:
When I throw my F1 comeback party none of you downers are getting any invites 😝
Race was ok, unfortunately. None of the teams could piece together and/or execute a plan to wrestle that podium out of a sharp Red Bull team. Russell is no #1 driver and Leclerc took half the race to wrestle that car into conformity.Now normally I find us agreeing on a lot of things, but that race was duller than ditchwater!
I tend to agree that if Perez can finish 2nd from the third row then that RB is in a class of its own. It doesn’t seem to have one lap pace but it will evolve to have that as well. Genuinely thought VER was driving on autopilot with plenty in reserve,
Waited until the C4 coverage, most of which was “watched” on FF. Seriously lost its way since being a Sky offshoot, it’s like contractually they have to bore the pants off you so Lazenby et al look like a proposition.
A Saturday race that clashed with a 3pm KO wasn’t the best plan. Two outliers to start the season, I’m not looking forward to Jeddah because it’s another terrible street circuit, the only thing that could make it worse would be a sprint weekend.
So time ago I completely switched to F1 tv coverage. Somehow their squad outweighed the meta Sky for me. 👌
Can’t say if it’s young blood that makes the difference, though. 🤭
@Blackbird90 wrote:
@SteveJackson wrote:
@mariohomoh wrote:
When I throw my F1 comeback party none of you downers are getting any invites 😝
Race was ok, unfortunately. None of the teams could piece together and/or execute a plan to wrestle that podium out of a sharp Red Bull team. Russell is no #1 driver and Leclerc took half the race to wrestle that car into conformity.Now normally I find us agreeing on a lot of things, but that race was duller than ditchwater!
I tend to agree that if Perez can finish 2nd from the third row then that RB is in a class of its own. It doesn’t seem to have one lap pace but it will evolve to have that as well. Genuinely thought VER was driving on autopilot with plenty in reserve,
Waited until the C4 coverage, most of which was “watched” on FF. Seriously lost its way since being a Sky offshoot, it’s like contractually they have to bore the pants off you so Lazenby et al look like a proposition.
A Saturday race that clashed with a 3pm KO wasn’t the best plan. Two outliers to start the season, I’m not looking forward to Jeddah because it’s another terrible street circuit, the only thing that could make it worse would be a sprint weekend.
So time ago I completely switched to F1 tv coverage. Somehow their squad outweighed the meta Sky for me. 👌
Can’t say if it’s young blood that makes the difference, though. 🤭
Yeah we can't get F1TV in the UK because of Sky. Or add a VPN to the monthly cost.
Alternatively....
@mariohomoh
Charles overdrove his car at the start, too keen to stay with Max. Once he calmed down, he could climb back up.
So I don;t think he had any brake issue.
@P4st3l1ak wrote:
@SteveJackson
I still prefer C4 coverage to Sky. But I am disappointed that they don't care about junior series or F1 Academy. (or did I miss it somehow?)
You might get features during the coverage but junior series F2/F3 are Sky exclusives. F1 Academy unsure but possibly website or YT, TV deal won’t be done until audience is verified I guess. W Series was on C4 but that’s folded.
