Ferrari’s looking quick on a proper race track, shame about the cigarette advertising, interesting interview with Ross Brawn saying the current Cars lose 50% of their downforce when following another car, they are targeting 5% by 2021.
Meanwhile, the world of Carlos Sainz just got worse:
https://www.pitpass.com/64208/Furthe...ents-for-Sainz
Sainz is the first driver to succumb to major component failure this season. One race into the season.
Is this even worse than McLaren's record with Honda? Having to replace the MGU-K, Internal Combustion Engine and MGU-H after the first race implies that there's an underlying problem - have McLaren packaged everything too tightly again?
Although no trees were harmed during the creation of this post, a large number of electrons were greatly inconvenienced.
Ferrari’s looking quick on a proper race track, shame about the cigarette advertising, interesting interview with Ross Brawn saying the current Cars lose 50% of their downforce when following another car, they are targeting 5% by 2021.
Hamilton complaining about traffic...
And your point is what? Merecedes were out performed all practice by the Ferraris, so it was hardly to shock to anyone (including Lewis) that they are one and two on the grid.
Also can you provide a linky because I cannot find anything about Hamilton complaining about traffic.
What however will be much more interesting is how they finish the race, and more importantly whether Leclerc is asked to move aside for Vettel or whether they are allowed to race - with all the associated risk. Hopefully the latter. It would be nice to actually see a couple of Ferraris actually racing each other.
Last edited by Andyg; 30th March 2019 at 21:34.
Whoever does not know how to hit the nail on the head should be asked not to hit it at all.
Friedrich Nietzsche
I'd put good money on Vettel and Leclerc not being on speaking terms by the end of the season.
Only just caught up with quali, a brilliant result for both Ferrari and Leclerc and McLaren must be chuffed as well. Very much looking forward to seeing how the race unfolds.
How broken is Vettel, will the Ferraris take each other out
Good race pace from the Fezza's ATM.
When you look long into an abyss, the abyss looks long into you.........
Moto3 just finished with the top 16 within 8 motorcycle lengths.
Fingers x-ed F1 succeeds in limiting loss of downforce for the car behind.
Double Renault DNF with what sounded like major engine issues. Not great for them this early in the race season.
When you look long into an abyss, the abyss looks long into you.........
Gutted. Absolutely gutted.
A nail biter to the end, a shame that the wrong driver won.
That was interesting...ups and down for more than one driver.
Watching that race I think DRS should be available from the start,
It's good to see the new kids doing well. Is verstappen an elder statesman yet?
What of Williams?
Lots of talk about lack of spares for Bahrain, they really are not in a good place right now. I hope Patrick Head has a positive impact from here on in.
Interesting dynamic at Ferrari now - LC is clearly the man of the moment and I for one hope this continues, Vettel was described by some of the Motorsport pundits as 'making a newcomer's mistake'. Clearly Lewis was pushing him, but I would have thought he has enough races/miles under his belt, perhaps the psyche of Hamilton got to him?
When you look long into an abyss, the abyss looks long into you.........
Not a bad race
Indeed - in order to finish first, first you have to finish and all that. Good to see and hear Lewis talk up Leclerc, I think the Mercedes driver had always been gracious in such circumstances.
Are you seriously suggesting that the Safety Car intentionally guaranteed Leclerc's podium? There was also some good hard racing out there, particularly between a number of teammates.
A quick check of the odds straight after the race has Leclerc as 2nd favourite for the DC after Hamilton. Vettel has demonstrated time and time again he can't handle pressure, Leclerc could well show up the German's weakness for what it is this season.
Last edited by CardShark; 31st March 2019 at 20:39.
To finish first, first you have to finish.
I have not seen the race yet (sounds exciting), but hopefully Leclerc will learn from this, but he is not the first (nor I doubt the last) driver who have had victory snatched from them because of car problems or accidents. What however it has demonstrated is that Mercedes have a very quick and reliable car and Ferrari has an even quicker car, which currently seem less reliable. It had also demonstrated that Vettel might not be the number 1 Ferrari driver for much longer.
In fairness to Lewis I think he is managing his races. He seems more happy these days to tuck in (save the car) and beat his immediate competition, but still had the brains and skill to take his opportunities as and when they occur. The sign of a multiple WDC.
As for Norris - what a prospect.
Whoever does not know how to hit the nail on the head should be asked not to hit it at all.
Friedrich Nietzsche
Really enjoyable race. The position of the stranded Renault meant the sc had to come out.
Vettel looks a bit broken. No doubting the speed, but falling off the road under pressure.
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As an aside, Ferrari paint choice looks a bit naff IMHO, do not like the current fad of matt/'frozen' paintwork.
When you look long into an abyss, the abyss looks long into you.........
Whoever does not know how to hit the nail on the head should be asked not to hit it at all.
Friedrich Nietzsche
I think Leclerc is going to show Seb up this season. Sebastian is fast out front but his race craft leaves something to be desired. Leclerc breezed past him early on and should have won that race easily.
I felt a bit sorry for him but I think that as long as the Ferrari is reliable, he’s going to get plenty of wins.
Leclerc has one of those unfortunate names that makes presenters and commentators feel an uncontrollable urge to demonstrate their prowess at pronouncing French. So it was an unending stream of 'Char-le-clair'. It hasn't been this bad since Justine 'Ennann' was playing tennis, and Francois 'Ollondde' was president.
Another thing that strikes me is that as Hamilton becomes ever more mature and assured as a driver, his sense of personal style is getting worse and worse.
Last edited by hogthrob; 1st April 2019 at 09:19.
What is wrong with trying to pronounce someone's name correctly rather than using an anglicised version or worse, as sometimes happens, saying it phonetically? Rather than "an uncontrollable urge to demonstrate their prowess at pronouncing French", might it not be an effort to get it right?
English speakers can't even decide on how to pronounce David Coulthard's name
Isn't it 'Cooltard', like 'retard' (that thing you do to engine timing)?
Lando Norris is named after Lando Calrissian from Star Wars.
Last edited by hogthrob; 1st April 2019 at 09:52.
Looks like our Charles is a bit of a fan of ‘Allo ‘Allo
https://mobile.twitter.com/charles_l...149253?lang=en
Bad luck for Leclerc, I thought Hamiltons comments were spot on, both about him and to him.
Mercedes clearly have some work to do although I have heard speculation that Ferrari had turned the wick up too high which overstressed the engine.
Leclerc said he was marginal on fuel, it would have been much worse if he had retired completely due to running out of fuel.
Basic mistake by Vettel probably cost him the win given the cicumstances.
Last edited by JeremyO; 1st April 2019 at 17:08.
The weekend according to Mark Hughes:
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/r...378YTL,28341,1
Leclerc certainly announced his arrival in Formula 1 this weekend, and Ferrari certainly appear to have a new star, so the relationship between him and their €30m+ de facto number 1 driver will take some managing.
Lewis Hamilton has obviously realised the threat from Leclerc,, and was commendably gracious in what was a fortuitous victory, but you have to be in it to win it, as the saying goes.
I'm not sure how track conditions (windy, with sand being blown on to the most abrasive surface of any track currently in use for a Grand Prix) affected things, but there was certainly a lot happening during the race, and it was a good antidote to Melbourne. China will be different again, a few convoluted corners and that unnecessarily long straight, which combine to cause the engineers some problems with set-up. I'm looking forward to the season unfolding, because it seems that Mercedes might have the second fastest car at last.
Although no trees were harmed during the creation of this post, a large number of electrons were greatly inconvenienced.
Plenty of detail in that report, and plenty to report on as well.
Ref the potential spark plug issue that sullied Leclerc's race, it was a spark plug failure that pretty much finished off Vettel's title chance at Suzuka in 2017. I wonder if Ferrari will be open about what the exact nature of the failure was?
If Hamilton manages to win the Championship with being in a slower car over the season it would be some achievement. Ferrari reliability will be a question and how they manage Vettel. I fear Ferrari will tinker too much this season to give Vettel the best chance which could very much backfire.
It was widely agreed that Mercedes had the second fastest car for the first half of last year.
Ferrari just failed to capitalise on it.