The Midfield battle
Discussion
Ok, I’ll be honest, as much fun as it is to see two 4x world champs duke it out in quali and the race...and the other 4 follow them around, I think I would rather see in the tv cameras show the wheel to wheel action in the middle of the pack.
Personally Ive become a hulkenberg fan, but also like what Magnusson is doing at present.
Any thoughts out there...
Personally Ive become a hulkenberg fan, but also like what Magnusson is doing at present.
Any thoughts out there...
I'm quite interested to see if Haas have a representative WCC result come the end of the season having had a poor start relative to the pace of the car, they certainly seem to have a mor competitive package than the likes of Renault but have a self-inflicted/Grosjean-inflicted handicap to make up. Kmag is a mixed bag of strong pace and occasional handy racecraft combined with toe-curling moments.
Renault need some development to guarantee the 4th team status that they probably should be occupying given their size, but their PU just doesn't cut the mustard in a field of Merc/Fez-powered machines. Probably one of the strongest driver lineups in the midfield though with Hulk and Sainz.
FI continue to punch above their financial weight, and it will be interesting to see what daddy Stroll's involvement means for the team- they have wavered a little this year compared to their past performance relative to the bigger teams but are still picking up some impressive results.
Toro Rosso- the testbed team. I have to admit I haven't been too impressed by Gasly, he's been good but not great and I think wants another year or two down the grid before being considered for a big drive. The Honda seems to be a bit better this year, but still not quite a match for the Renault. I imagine there's a lot going on behind the scenes building up to next year and the big boys playground with RB.
I'm really enjoying Sauber this year, the car has some real speed in it but looks a little unwieldy sometimes which only serves to highlight how fantastic LeClerc has been- a real young talent, but whether he's Ferrari ready I'm not sure. I'm one of the few it seems who thinks Ericsson is a half decent driver, maybe not quite up to the standard of others in the midfield but certainly not the hopeless pay driver some seem to believe he is (he'd be in my F1 car ahead of Lance Stroll any day of the week).
McLaren and Williams- urgh.
This season's midfield battle is a real stonker IMO
Renault need some development to guarantee the 4th team status that they probably should be occupying given their size, but their PU just doesn't cut the mustard in a field of Merc/Fez-powered machines. Probably one of the strongest driver lineups in the midfield though with Hulk and Sainz.
FI continue to punch above their financial weight, and it will be interesting to see what daddy Stroll's involvement means for the team- they have wavered a little this year compared to their past performance relative to the bigger teams but are still picking up some impressive results.
Toro Rosso- the testbed team. I have to admit I haven't been too impressed by Gasly, he's been good but not great and I think wants another year or two down the grid before being considered for a big drive. The Honda seems to be a bit better this year, but still not quite a match for the Renault. I imagine there's a lot going on behind the scenes building up to next year and the big boys playground with RB.
I'm really enjoying Sauber this year, the car has some real speed in it but looks a little unwieldy sometimes which only serves to highlight how fantastic LeClerc has been- a real young talent, but whether he's Ferrari ready I'm not sure. I'm one of the few it seems who thinks Ericsson is a half decent driver, maybe not quite up to the standard of others in the midfield but certainly not the hopeless pay driver some seem to believe he is (he'd be in my F1 car ahead of Lance Stroll any day of the week).
McLaren and Williams- urgh.
This season's midfield battle is a real stonker IMO
You only have to look back as far as the last race to see an example of great midfield racing being missed by the television director while they show the Mercedes running line astern. There was a great battle with Grosjean, Hartley, Ericsson and Hulkenberg which didn't get the attention it deserved. Grosjean made up four places in the closing laps.
HustleRussell said:
You only have to look back as far as the last race to see an example of great midfield racing being missed by the television director while they show the Mercedes running line astern. There was a great battle with Grosjean, Hartley, Ericsson and Hulkenberg which didn't get the attention it deserved. Grosjean made up four places in the closing laps.
Agreed, hopefully F1 full fat tv will let me watch what I want to watch!CanoeSniffer said:
McLaren and Williams- urgh.
This season's midfield battle is a real stonker IMO
Pedantry alert - Williams are not midfield.This season's midfield battle is a real stonker IMO
Pedantry alert - Williams are not midfield.
Edited to add: other than that, I agree the midfield has seen some great battles this season, and like the OP, am a Hulkenberg fan: not just his driving, but also the fact he went off and did Le Mans, and I enjoy the laconic style of some of his radio messages.
Edited by Europa1 on Thursday 26th July 12:21
Steamer said:
He is an interesting guy to watch - also in interviews too.
Likewise watching the Saubers return to form is great to see.
Fred Vasseur's decision to ditch Honda and stay with Ferrari was so good for Sauber. I'm really happy to see them back in the midfield battle, although it can't be denied that Leclerc is probably extracting more out of that car than it should be able to do.Likewise watching the Saubers return to form is great to see.
I would love Renault to win the midfield battle and cement their 4th place, although it would be tricky with the speed that the Haas car keeps showing on fast tracks. The Renault ascendancy is somewhat reminiscent of their previous return in 2001, when they struggled with an underpowered engine for the first few years with that 111 degree V10, and then gradually returned to the front and started winning when they sorted their PU issues by going back to a conventional 72 degree angle. Such an improvement would be more difficult now, however, unless the 2021 rules allow to change the current formula.
I didn't have the TV on for the last race and instead followed in on 5Live, https://f1.tfeed.net and PH of course.
The midfield battle was very close and if I looked away, I missed a change. It was hardly mentioned on 5L nor on PH. Up until the last few laps I thought it was the battle, or battles, of the race.
The midfield battle was very close and if I looked away, I missed a change. It was hardly mentioned on 5L nor on PH. Up until the last few laps I thought it was the battle, or battles, of the race.
Wow great stuff!
I can only imagine the strategy guys looking at what each of the other teams are doing, it’s really balanced.
I know that some of the teams have been criticised for “letting” the Front runners through when they are displaced, but they really can’t afford to defend for too long as that is not there race.
I can only imagine the strategy guys looking at what each of the other teams are doing, it’s really balanced.
I know that some of the teams have been criticised for “letting” the Front runners through when they are displaced, but they really can’t afford to defend for too long as that is not there race.
Current standings minus the big 3. Renault miles ahead in the constructors due to the points system weighted heavier at the top and one of their drivers usually finishing up near the big 3.
Slightly different order in the drivers compared to how they sit in reality, would be a cracking season! KMag is having a belter despite various issues this season.
And I'd be first to say this had somebody else put this together, but I know reality would be completely different if you actually removed the big 3.
Slightly different order in the drivers compared to how they sit in reality, would be a cracking season! KMag is having a belter despite various issues this season.
And I'd be first to say this had somebody else put this together, but I know reality would be completely different if you actually removed the big 3.
Edited by ukaskew on Monday 30th July 11:06
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