The Official 2018 French Grand Prix Thread **SPOILERS**

[Dr Z]

Vaud said:

Jasandjules said:

Not read the thread yet but am I the only one who thought Vettel ought to have no penalty?!?! First few corners on the first lap, surely we want them to try ?!?!

I think it was marginal but probably the right penalty overall.

I agree...Vettel wasn't fully under control but we've seen drivers do that on cold tyres in the first corner many times. Surely, Bottas on the outside also risked such an outcome?

The Mercs did a nice box in manoeuvre I thought.

[anonymous-user]

Dr Z said:

Vaud said:

Jasandjules said:

Not read the thread yet but am I the only one who thought Vettel ought to have no penalty?!?! First few corners on the first lap, surely we want them to try ?!?!

I think it was marginal but probably the right penalty overall.

I agree...Vettel wasn't fully under control but we've seen drivers do that on cold tyres in the first corner many times. Surely, Bottas on the outside also risked such an outcome?

The Mercs did a nice box in manoeuvre I thought.

Me too. Nothing nasty, damaged his own race too. Could have been a much more boring race than it was if Bottas had got cleanly in behind Hamilton to give him cover.

Still think it’s a poor track for actual racing, especially F1.

Stroll met expectations again..........

[LaurasOtherHalf]

Dr Z said:

Vaud said:

Jasandjules said:

Not read the thread yet but am I the only one who thought Vettel ought to have no penalty?!?! First few corners on the first lap, surely we want them to try ?!?!

I think it was marginal but probably the right penalty overall.

I agree...Vettel wasn't fully under control but we've seen drivers do that on cold tyres in the first corner many times. Surely, Bottas on the outside also risked such an outcome?

The Mercs did a nice box in manoeuvre I thought.

We were commenting on the long run down to T1 as the lights went out I shouted the same, just box him in! It was said his tyres would get him 8 metres at the start and all LH and VB needed to do was close him out-and they seemed to do a great job of it (signs of VB being firmly in No2 category with that?).

For wrecking VB's race SV deserved a drive through penalty but I do understand why they don't want to stop the drivers from trying.

Can they even hand out drive throughs these days?

[ZX10R NIN]

I like the way the press are spinning the comments from Max as him attacking Seb, when he was actually having a go at the Media.

IMO Sebs penalty was fair most people get 5 seconds as long as they don't have previous.

[Graveworm]

Piginapoke said:

This is undoubtedly true, but what I don't like in that the hybrid era has given LH an on-paper performance better than Senna, Prost, Mansell etc and he is just not that good.

Maybe but I watched him in F3 in 2005 where they all basically drive the same car. He won 15 out of 20 races (16 if you were the count one which he was disqualified for a non drier related tech issue). He won at least one race at each event and in the remaining 4 had 2 thirds a 12th and retirement. He had 13 poles and again at least one at each venue. Vettel was in that championship as well and it's a field of 23. It's impossible to really compare eras but he is a up there if you take cars out of the equation as far as is possible.

Edited by Graveworm on Sunday 24th June 22:53

[37chevy]

ZX10R NIN said:

I like the way the press are spinning the comments from Max as him attacking Seb, when he was actually having a go at the Media.

IMO Sebs penalty was fair most people get 5 seconds as long as they don't have previous.

Max needs to be careful. While I like his comments, and he was bang on it could come across as a bit childish....and last thing you want to do is attack the media.....they can turn on you in an instant

[HustleRussell]

The Vambo said:

Sam993 said:

Oh, it's di Restie with his 720p screen and Nokia N95 graphics.

Where?

As well as Anthony Davidson?

That’s ‘Anthonie Davidsonie’ to you...

[HustleRussell]

Another deservedly pointless weekend for Grosjean, amateurish spin in qually, crashing into Ocon before the first corner...

Edited by HustleRussell on Monday 25th June 07:09

[Vaud]

37chevy said:

Max needs to be careful. While I like his comments, and he was bang on it could come across as a bit childish....and last thing you want to do is attack the media.....they can turn on you in an instant

To be fair they had already turned on him... he has responded with some very clean races.

[Otispunkmeyer]

Pretty dull race, even with cars out of place. Bottas/Vettle overtaking more of a formality. Most of the overtaking looked far too synthetic thanks to the long DRS straight. Never liked PR circuit. Don't mind the bright colours though.

Hamilton off on his Todd. No challenge.

Alonso and McLaren - dire. Absolutely dire.

Kimi - doing his usual spurt of performance when contract time comes about.

Vettle - got off lightly.

[hairyben]

37chevy said:

Max needs to be careful. While I like his comments, and he was bang on it could come across as a bit childish....and last thing you want to do is attack the media.....they can turn on you in an instant

mrs hairy: he was doing so well until then...

He needs to reign it in, a clean race by dint of having no-one to hit does not a recovered race driver make. Was an odd interview though, he was okay for a bit then something just seemed to trigger him and off he went.

[Derek Smith]

REALIST123 said:

Dr Z said:

Vaud said:

Jasandjules said:

Not read the thread yet but am I the only one who thought Vettel ought to have no penalty?!?! First few corners on the first lap, surely we want them to try ?!?!

I think it was marginal but probably the right penalty overall.

I agree...Vettel wasn't fully under control but we've seen drivers do that on cold tyres in the first corner many times. Surely, Bottas on the outside also risked such an outcome?

The Mercs did a nice box in manoeuvre I thought.

Me too. Nothing nasty, damaged his own race too. Could have been a much more boring race than it was if Bottas had got cleanly in behind Hamilton to give him cover.

Still think it’s a poor track for actual racing, especially F1.

Stroll met expectations again..........

I think there could have been a decent race between Vettle and Bottas. I know there would have been tyre management and attempts to pass during a pit stop, but I wouldn't bet money on which would have come out on top. Bottas is good, they say, on circuits such as this, and it showed in qually. Vettel, despite the poor error in this is race, is generally good at all of them.

I assume you are criticising the ease of overtakes at this circuit, and I have to agree. Poor visually and practically. The FIA GT race recently was quite exciting though, so perhaps it is merely poor for the current F1 regs.

Also, I would agree that we see a number of cars locking up on cold tyres into the first corner. I expected it. If I can see the problem, one wonders why drivers being paid £multi-millions find it difficult to crack. Bottas had Vettel. I thought it a great move by the former. As everyone says, we want drivers to have a go, especially moves like Bottas', but if they have to back out because another driver might drive into them then we are all the losers.I had the feeling that move had been planned, with no attempt by LH to break the tow. Shame it ended in disaster for the much improved Bottas.

As it was it allowed LH to disappear into the distance, at least a distance in front of the chasing Verstappen that felt comfortable, and the race for the lead, and second as it turned out, was over.

The crash was irritating. No reason for it at all. Vettel had backed off, allowing Bottas through.

[snowen250]

In between all the squabbles, one thing I am sure we can agree on; that Leclerc lad isn't bad is he?

[37chevy]

snowen250 said:

In between all the squabbles, one thing I am sure we can agree on; that Leclerc lad isn't bad is he?

Looks solid. Get him in a Ferrari and see how he copes with the pressure.

Talking of which there’s some exciting young talent coming with Norris, Russell, setecamera (sp?)....question is, who will be given the boot? Driver market is so clogged right now

[Derek Smith]

snowen250 said:

In between all the squabbles, one thing I am sure we can agree on; that Leclerc lad isn't bad is he?

Driver of the race for me. What will he be in next season?

[Vaud]

Derek Smith said:

snowen250 said:

In between all the squabbles, one thing I am sure we can agree on; that Leclerc lad isn't bad is he?

Driver of the race for me. What will he be in next season?

Tricky. With an improving Sauber, and Kimi performing "ok" - I'd be inclined to give him two full seasons in Sauber first and keep the pressure off, then lock him into a 3+1+1 deal at Ferrari to cover 2020-2025.

[MartG]

Otispunkmeyer said:

Alonso and McLaren - dire. Absolutely dire.

Certainly not the sort of performance to make Ricciardo consider their offer seriously, while making Alonso's departure to Indycar even more likely - with or without McLaren

[ghost83]

I enjoyed the race and I thought vettel hammering through the pack was sublime!

When you look at leclarke he’s a bright star ain’t here and then you have the likes of vandoorne who’s crap and does absolutely nothing!

Edited by ghost83 on Monday 25th June 10:43

[Nickp82]

snowen250 said:

In between all the squabbles, one thing I am sure we can agree on; that Leclerc lad isn't bad is he?

The young Monegasque Charles Leclerc? Very impressive, I am looking forward to seeing him mixing it with the front-runners in the future.

[cuprabob]

ghost83 said:

I enjoyed the race and I thought vettel hammering through the pack was sublime!

When you look at leclarke he’s a bright star ain’t here and then you have the likes of vandoorne who’s crap and does absolutely nothing!

Edited by ghost83 on Monday 25th June 10:43

I think you are being a bit harsh on Vandoorne. He has Alonso as his team mate and it must be soul destroying to be at McLaren at the moment.