|
|
Post by Big Blue on Mar 21, 2022 9:40:59 GMT
Let’s see if we can maintain a chat for each race.
Well, Red Bull. I’m still laughing my arse off.
Great to see the red cars 1-2 and LeClerc showed that it’s not just Max that can push to the front. Hard not to say Merc were lucky not to be 8th and 9th because they have two exceptional drivers - I reckon they’re going to need them. As to Surrey’s finest: WTAF happened there? Dreadful weekend for Lando and Daniel.
Haas were strong and showed what having a proper driver adds and as ever Sauber/ Alfa will start strong and then lose ground.
Not a bad season opener but lm looking through rose tinted glasses because Red Bull got nil points. 😂 🤣
|
|
|
|
Post by humphreythepug on Mar 21, 2022 10:26:17 GMT
I actually cheered when Verstappen retired, cannot stand the wide mouthed fucker, then Perez went, gutted for him but overall pleased for Red Bull, lol, not sure what the issue is I am hearing different things but possibly ran out of fuel or a fuel pump issue.
I put an EW bet on Sainz winning and also a bet on Hamilton getting a podium, ok was only £10 in total but I won just over £30, happy days.
Happy for Ferrari and LeClerc, Mercedes have a bit of work to do, WTF is going on with McLaren, happy for Haas and K-Mag, I can see him wiping the floor with Schumacher.
It appears that the cars can now follow each other far better than previous, not sure on the design though, they do look a bit "Hot Wheels", however it looks like we are set for a goods season.
|
|
|
|
Post by PetrolEd on Mar 21, 2022 12:17:24 GMT
Decent race to kick off 2022. Shame for Red Bull as I want competition not one team running away with the title and it all sown up by mid season, even if they are Ferrari.
In fact the prospect of LeClerc and Verstappen having a ding dong all season could make it an even better spectacle then last year. I'm still surprised about the negativity towards Verstappen, he's the best thing to happen to the sport since Hamilton. The Ferrari boys actually have a similar driving style to Verstappen so it'll be interesting to gauge the reaction from folk if they start beating on Hamilton.
One things for sure Merc have certainly lost is the Engine dominance. Mercedes must have a decent chassis as all other Merc runners looked dreadfully slow, McLaren are in desperate need otherwise they're going to be battling Williams from the cheap seats this year.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2022 12:20:31 GMT
Thoroughly enjoyed those highlights. Mercedes were definitely lucky and imho, driven beyond ability of the car.
I too, laughed my arse off when Maximum fell apart before retiring although he is more mature in reaction post race so far.
The LeClerc/Verstappen mix up was brilliant and made me remember why I got into watching F1 in the first place with a field of action rather than two or three overtakes.
I am really happy with F1 right now.
|
|
|
|
Post by Big Blue on Mar 21, 2022 14:14:04 GMT
I'm still surprised about the negativity towards Verstappen, he's the best thing to happen to the sport since Hamilton. The Ferrari boys actually have a similar driving style to Verstappen so it'll be interesting to gauge the reaction from folk if they start beating on Hamilton. Hard to disagree but it’s not possible to be objective about sport. All the stuff I’ve read about Max is about what a fabulous driver he is, with ex drivers noting his natural car control etc. Hopefully having got the title he probably thought he had deserved for a couple of years, and on reflection deserved last year as much as Lewis did, he can look at other aspects of his mood, behaviour and occasional over-exuberance as he’s no longer the mad puppy that can’t control his limbs. Hunt always said he was a much better driver in ‘77 than his title winning season ‘76 as he’d lost the desperation of the need for the title and could use his knowledge more rationally. I think Max would like to be the next Kimi: not caring what he says on the radio, walking away without a word if he feels there’s no point, not seeming to give a fuck but he’s a Red Bull product so that’s never going to wash. He is a good driver and I agree he’s boosted the sport but he’s a bit “I am” which no doubt Horner pushes him along to be. Vettel was a far better person when he left RBR but was also a Red Bull product and then got older and saw the world outside the bubble. It’s like playing for a Mourinho team for a football analogy. |
|
|
|
Post by Sav on Mar 21, 2022 22:53:15 GMT
It was a fantastic race. Great battles throughout; at the front, the mid-pack, drivers at the back fighting for nothing but their egos – it was great to see. It almost resembled a junior category race in away with the Alfas’ and Williams’ were squabbling, and that is meant in an entirely positive way.
Easy for me say, but I thought that Verstappen quite simply mismanaged the race and his tyres. He was too eager into turn 1 on several laps, going tight in but leaving him very vulnerable on exit, allowing Leclerc to get him back on each occasion. Verstappen’s raw speed is stunning, but I felt that Lerclerc simply outdrove Verstappen. He didn’t throw any desperate lunges or blocks, he kept it clean and got rewarded.
The Red Bull’s straight-line speed was stunning. I’m sure further developments will happen, and the balance between aero and drag is a fine one, but nevertheless the way that Verstappen gained on Leclerc wasn’t just due to DRS. As an example, Hamilton had DRS on Sainz and Perez at various points but couldn’t do anything with it. Talking of Hamilton, it was a decent drive even before the Red Bull retirements. I couldn’t quite comprehend how he was hassling Sainz in the opening laps, in a much slower car. His charge fizzled out, but he definitely drove the maximum out of the Merc. Its almost like there is a fast car there, but that pace needs to be unlocked. Russell is a driver who prefers a slightly more understeery-balance. Hamilton can live with a slightly more oversteery balance. And at the moment with the way that the Merc is pitching under braking, I think Hamilton looks slightly more at ease. But perhaps when the porpoising is fixed on the Merc, the cars handling will come to Russell.
Generally-speaking, it was fantastic to see Ferrari back to winning-ways. The balance of the car looks great in slow-speed turns, and considering how much longer the drivers are now spending negotiating slow-speed turns compared to last year, that counts for a lot.
|
|
|
|
Post by Alex on Mar 22, 2022 6:56:09 GMT
I was very pleased for Ferrari and looking at the speed of the Red Bulls it does seem like we could have a fight on our hands this year again which is great and could be a three way battle given how upset Sainz was with second. To me it looked like the Ferrari is the best car and LeClerc showed he is the most talented of the two drivers. Carlos will be chomping at the bit to prove that theory wrong.
My animosity to RB is probably just slightly biased Hamilton supporting but I won't apologise for that, I've been a fan since he came back into the sport and the 2007 season really made me regain interest after the Schumacher years. Max is very up himself, I agree, but tbh it's Horner I find the more dislikable character and his face after the double DNF was amusing. They'll be back and I doubt they'll have the same problems again so I don't see Ferrari running away with it.
As for Merc. Oh dear. They claim its the porpoising that's the problem but seeing all their customer teams at the back of the pack should be a massive worry. Their engine has clearly not adapted to the new E10 fuel as well as the Ferrari and Honda units so their will be a lot of work to be done if they're not to be left stuck with an underpowered lump when all the engine freezes set in.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2022 12:20:33 GMT
With a generally faster circuit this coming weekend we will get a better idea of the overall balance of the different cars.
Interesting to see how they all do.
|
|
