senorgregster
Last Newbie Standing
That was a fun quali. Hope the full season is back and forth between the top teams.
Are they full out yet on the engine?But has known issues, if this was Mercedes admittedly at their best then 7 tenths is a mammoth gap but they know it's got issues.
If they fix it and it's still 3-4 tenths off then they will find it hard to bridge that gap, it's clear Ferrari/Red Bull have very quick cars and I don't think anyone will be out developing huge amounts with the budget cap. The most worrying thing surely is the relative weakness of the engine, that's locked in.
Handbags galore! I'm salivatingOh please@SirAnderson
Can only assume so, no reason not to be full wick in Q3.Are they full out yet on the engine?
Disagree with the last line - he made one mistake, otherwise pretty similar sector times no?I’m so glad Ferrari is competitive. Now the question is can they maintain this and push on. Red Bull will develop strongly, Ferrari need to ensure they match that and if possible stay ahead.
Apparently Red Bull looked quicker on race runs. Let’s see tomorrow though.
Great also to see Haas make a jump. So happy for Magnusson.
And it seems so strange to say, but Mercedes’ probably won’t be too sad. They’re clearly dealing with problems with that car in terms of set up. In that light, being .6 off the pace may actually mean that when they get it all sorted out, they’ll be right up there. Realistically that might not be until race 3? Be interesting to see how they do at full race pace tomorrow.
And finally this is a reminder why it was all too premature to think Russell would jump out the Williams, into the Merc, and suddenly overthrow Hamilton. It’s much harder delivering, consistently, when it’s at the front rather than when it’s with nothing to lose. He’s a great talent and he will be there or there abouts but it’s too much to ask / assume he will be usurping Hamilton’s this year.
They changed the fuel I think perhaps this has impacted merc more ?So why is the Merc engine performing so weakly? Of all the things we were expecting, that wasn’t one. Especially since engine regs haven’t changed so much?
1. Similar but was a tenth or so slower overall. Small margin, yes. But also difference between Sainz in 3 and Le Clerc in 1.Disagree with the last line - he made one mistake, otherwise pretty similar sector times no?
Yeh almost identical. And George was giving Lewis a tow every single run.Disagree with the last line - he made one mistake, otherwise pretty similar sector times no?
It may be down to the slow speed corners at this track and power coming out of them compared to the Ferrari. It might be very different around some of the other tracks like Silverstone or Barcelona.So why is the Merc engine performing so weakly? Of all the things we were expecting, that wasn’t one. Especially since engine regs haven’t changed so much?
There was like 3 seconds between them on the track. Must be the longest tow in history.Yeh almost identical. And George was giving Lewis a tow every single run.
Only difference is George pushed too hard on his last outlap and had no grip in turn 1.
They changed the fuel I think perhaps this has impacted merc more ?
Both good points, thanks.It may be down to the slow speed corners at this track and power coming out of them compared to the Ferrari. It might be very different around some of the other tracks like Silverstone or Barcelona.
Could be coincidence as Merc and McLaren have specific problems whilst AM and Williams may just be slow.
We need a few races for things to settle.
Yep. Likeable drivers, too. But also very very fast. Sainz must be one of the most underrated drivers on the grid, honestly.I'm so hyped for Ferrari this season. Leclerc and Sainz are such a fantastic pair of drivers.
I have not wrote him off yet, a few races and Mercedes could have their problems sorted and the car will be a rocket, we dont really know.Poor Lando.
feel for Hamilton too. I don’t think he will get that elusive 8th title.
I am pretty sure at some point the Merc will be competitive this year. The real question is 1) how quickly, and 2) will the time spent getting their set up right cost them on development later in the year.I have not wrote him off yet, a few races and Mercedes could have their problems sorted and the car will be a rocket, we dont really know.
I did say before the Merc engine was poor, agreed it was a harsh comment.
2 very good points.I am pretty sure at some point the Merc will be competitive this year. The real question is 1) how quickly, and 2) will the time spent getting their set up right cost them on development later in the year.
They can fix his car, otherwise if someone had a crash in quali then they would be out of the race.Will Haas be able to fix that hydraulic issue/ whatever caused Magnusson to stop after his lap, or can't they touch the car at all?
You need to remember that Mercedes have the least amount of wind tunnel time this Year. When Ferrari and redbull are in and arms race with each other upgrading their cars, Mercedes is trying to just fix it with a handicap. It's a huge huge problem.But has known issues, if this was Mercedes admittedly at their best then 7 tenths is a mammoth gap but they know it's got issues.
If they fix it and it's still 3-4 tenths off then they will find it hard to bridge that gap, it's clear Ferrari/Red Bull have very quick cars and I don't think anyone will be out developing huge amounts with the budget cap. The most worrying thing surely is the relative weakness of the engine, that's locked in.
Ah that makes sense, I guess they just have to fix it to the same spec it was at the start, not change anything?They can fix his car, otherwise if someone had a crash in quali then they would be out of the race.
He will learn alot from racing with Hamilton. Interesting to see how he develops.Russell will learn what it takes and the level of commitment required to be a champion. And one of the best ever if not the very best. That will be his biggest takeaway and will help h in the long run.
Loved this.Haas in q3 on pure merit. Amazing
He deserves nothing less.Hopefully Leclerc and Sainz sandwich Max tomorrow and remove him from the race.
Absolutely. We have an asterix champion, the FIA less trusted than ever and they come with these bland empty reports trying to whitewash what happened.Exactly. How do they know that he made those incorrect decisions in good faith. And anyway, what does that even mean.
But the bottom line is that he was completely wrong in how he mishandled and mismanaged the last part of the race.
And let there be no doubt. The outcome of that race and the WC was wrong. And always will be whatever the record says. It was wrong.
Definitely. The more misery inflicted on the asterix champion the better.Hopefully Leclerc and Sainz sandwich Max tomorrow and remove him from the race.
I think they are trying to say that there was no bias in Masi, however they know that they don't expand. Fully agree with the rest.Exactly. How do they know that he made those incorrect decisions in good faith. And anyway, what does that even mean.
But the bottom line is that he was completely wrong in how he mishandled and mismanaged the last part of the race.
And let there be no doubt. The outcome of that race and the WC was wrong. And always will be whatever the record says. It was wrong.
Does the pope shit in his hat?I think they are trying to say that there was no bias in Masi, however they know that they don't expand. Fully agree with the rest.
How can you come up with a report that invalidates a winning season but invalidates the last needed points?
Last question, will Horner apologise for his part n this?
Especially the head and neck. They are under enough pressure from just cornering.It cannot be good to race for nearly 2 hours with that bouncing on the human body as well as shaking the car to bits.
Mercedes will be very worried if that is indicative of overall pace.Don't think Merc will be worried - they can pull that sort of gap back in-season. Key will be securing 6th/7th each race and being reliable enough to snag podiums when Leclerc/Verstappen inevitably tangle.
Mercedes have said repeatedly that they are still understanding the car as it's currently configured, and they expect rapid gains once it clicks. I could see it being a McLaren 09 scenario. But they have a better platform to work with.Mercedes will be very worried if that is indicative of overall pace.
Firstly, you seem to be under the impression that this is two years ago and teams can throw a shitload of money at the wall and hope something sticks. They can no longer do that.
You also seem to be under the impression that the cars ahead of them will not evolve either?
Right now Merc are closer to Haas, Alfa and Renault than they are Ferrari and McLaren.
Totto said they are 0.5 off in race pace at the moment, which is huge. However they have alot of speed to find on the track to match the simulation predictions. There is a huge amount of untapped potential in the car apparently.Mercedes will be very worried if that is indicative of overall pace.
Firstly, you seem to be under the impression that this is two years ago and teams can throw a shitload of money at the wall and hope something sticks. They can no longer do that.
You also seem to be under the impression that the cars ahead of them will not evolve either?
Right now Merc are closer to Haas, Alfa and Renault than they are Ferrari and McLaren.