He always put in great performances at Mclaren also. Getting a few podiums in an average car was a great sign.
He's definitely right up there.
F1 2022 Season
- Thread starter pauldyson1uk
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He's definitely right up there.
This is what I meant, the car has its problems but get them sorted and it will be right up there, my post was badly worded.
Sainz was so close to making it a Ferrari front row there, 0.006 off Max.
Yeah it's 0.7 over a hot lap, sure they have got the brains to close that down within a couple of races, they need Ferrari and RBR to scrap it out and take points off each other for now so neither team pulls away.
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.
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.
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?
Great to see Ferrari back in the mix. Race will be interesting with added weight and new tires.
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.
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.
Handbags galore! I'm salivatingOh please@SirAnderson
Can only assume so, no reason not to be full wick in Q3.
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?
Disagree with the last line - he made one mistake, otherwise pretty similar sector times no?
They changed the fuel I think perhaps this has impacted merc more ?
I'm so hyped for Ferrari this season. Leclerc and Sainz are such a fantastic pair of drivers.
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.
2. You’re missing the point. The point is that he made that mistake. It’s only one mistake, but there is a reason the likes of Max and Lewis were so far ahead of the field last year and that’s because they never make mistakes which cost them 0.8 seconds on a key fast lap. It was easy to forget how incredible and rare it is for drivers to put in the level of high pace as consistently as Lewis and Max did last year. Most drivers can be quick on and off over a lap. It’s the consistency that separates these guys.
Poor Lando.
feel for Hamilton too. I don’t think he will get that elusive 8th title.
feel for Hamilton too. I don’t think he will get that elusive 8th title.
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.
There was like 3 seconds between them on the track. Must be the longest tow in history.
Both good points, thanks.
Yep. Likeable drivers, too. But also very very fast. Sainz must be one of the most underrated drivers on the grid, honestly.
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.
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.
2 very good points.
Sort the problems out and I think it wall be up there, dont see any reason for it not to be.
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?
They can fix his car, otherwise if someone had a crash in quali then they would be out of the race.
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.
Ah that makes sense, I guess they just have to fix it to the same spec it was at the start, not change anything?
He will learn alot from racing with Hamilton. Interesting to see how he develops.
Loved this.
He deserves nothing less.
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.
It might even work if there is no FIA controversy this season.
Finally got round to watching qually. Delighted for Ferrari. So glad leclerc beat max to pole. Thats made my evening. Mercedes should be happy with that. I thought they would be further away then they are. The traction of that Ferrari engine is amazing. Be interesting to see what its like on other tracks.
Should be fun watch tomorrow, no doubt the ferrari boys and Mercedes boys will have their elbows out when racing max this season.
Should be fun watch tomorrow, no doubt the ferrari boys and Mercedes boys will have their elbows out when racing max this season.
Definitely. The more misery inflicted on the asterix champion the better.
This thread is setting up nicely for a meltdown tomorrow
Bottas is a class act. Happy for him to flex on these fools.
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 validates a winning season but invalidates the last needed points?
Last question, will Horner apologise for his part n this?
Does the pope shit in his hat?
Especially the head and neck. They are under enough pressure from just cornering.
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.