Official 2020 Austrian & Styrian Grand Prix Thread *Spoilers
Discussion
TwentyFive said:
Latifi doesn't look like a paid seat, he is one. But I think its a little early to be too critical.
It's a very difficult season for anyone to start an F1 career. He certainly hasn't shown that he has what it takes yet, but I don't think it's fair to write him off yet either. TwentyFive said:
I think Max needs to be more worried about Norris at the start than thinking about challenging Lewis. Don't forget that Max is starting on the medium tyre so Norris should all things being equal get off the line slightly better as he has the softer tyres.
To me, the Redbull looked considerably faster than the McLaren on race pace (as did the Racing Point I think). I have little doubt that Verstappen will beat Norris across the race distance, but if Norris does get ahead off the line (which is not unlikely given the tyre difference) he could certainly remote any chance of Verstappen being able to mix with the Mercedes drivers. Unless someone gets tangled up unexpectedly, I think Verstappen is likely to have a fairly lonely race in third once he's past Norris (if Norris does indeed get ahead off the line).
TwentyFive said:
Either way he did a solid job in F2 where the cars are equal against guys now rated well in F1 so he deserves a more of a chance before being judged.
It's an interesting and fair observation. We've seen several drivers who absolutely dominated in the lower forumulae come into F1 and perform poorly, then sink without a trace. Is F1 really on such a higher plane then the other formulae, or are the cars themselves more polarising (ie. the difference between a competitive car and a crap car is much greater)?
Clockwork Cupcake said:
Is F1 really on such a higher plane then the other formulae, or are the cars themselves more polarising (ie. the difference between a competitive car and a crap car is much greater)?
I think the big difference is the importance of tyre management in F1. It plays a role in the lower formulae, but a far smaller one. kambites said:
To me, the Redbull looked considerably faster than the McLaren on race pace (as did the Racing Point I think). I have little doubt that Verstappen will beat Norris across the race distance, but if Norris does get ahead off the line (which is not unlikely given the tyre difference) he could certainly remote any chance of Verstappen being able to mix with the Mercedes drivers.
Unless someone gets tangled up unexpectedly, I think Verstappen is likely to have a fairly lonely race in third once he's past Norris (if Norris does indeed get ahead off the line).
I wonder how aggressive Max will be to stay ahead of Norris, he won't like to concede at the early stage even though it makes sense to utilise the mediums and play the long game.Unless someone gets tangled up unexpectedly, I think Verstappen is likely to have a fairly lonely race in third once he's past Norris (if Norris does indeed get ahead off the line).
Zoobeef said:
I wonder how aggressive Max will be to stay ahead of Norris, he won't like to concede at the early stage even though it makes sense to utilise the mediums and play the long game.
I guess that depends on who he thinks he's fighting. If he serious thinks he can push the Mercedes pair, he'll let Norris (and possibly others) go with minimal defence and concentrate on his own race. If he thinks he's got no chance of catching the Mercs, he'll probably do everything he can to keep the cars behind him, behind. It Albon ends up directly behind him on the faster tyre, it'll be interested to see if Redbull swap them over.
kambites said:
To me, the Redbull looked considerably faster than the McLaren on race pace (as did the Racing Point I think). I have little doubt that Verstappen will beat Norris across the race distance, but if Norris does get ahead off the line (which is not unlikely given the tyre difference) he could certainly remote any chance of Verstappen being able to mix with the Mercedes drivers.
Unless someone gets tangled up unexpectedly, I think Verstappen is likely to have a fairly lonely race in third once he's past Norris (if Norris does indeed get ahead off the line).
Do we know the relative top speeds / aero setups? Forgot to check top speeds yesterday.Unless someone gets tangled up unexpectedly, I think Verstappen is likely to have a fairly lonely race in third once he's past Norris (if Norris does indeed get ahead off the line).
Norris was saying in post-quail interviews that he would be looking behind most of the race, which leads me to believe McLaren have a lap-time setup, and may feel vulnerable in a straight line.
Fortitude said:
Fizzy drinks company and British Supercar manufacturer… …they beat Forza Ferrari…
That's something worthy of a British tabloid. The money comes from a "fizzy drinks manufacturer" but that's where it ends. It's not as though they're building F1 cars on the same production line for the cans is it? ajprice said:
Vettel also did the interview after quali shown on C4 with no mask (C4 aren't there at the track so they're using Sky interviews). The shaped masks they all have a version of do look a pain though, most of the drivers in those interviews were adjusting them a lot as they were talking.
more suggests an unfamiliarity with them..Clockwork Cupcake said:
It's an interesting and fair observation. We've seen several drivers who absolutely dominated in the lower forumulae come into F1 and perform poorly, then sink without a trace.
Is F1 really on such a higher plane then the other formulae, or are the cars themselves more polarising (ie. the difference between a competitive car and a crap car is much greater)?
My view was that as a multiple F2 race winner (against George Russell) you would expect him to get a handle on the Williams and bring himself closer to Russell as the season progresses but not immediately given the oddity of 2020. I think it would be unfair to judge this weekend alone. Not only is it an F1 debut but he is the only new F1 driver who has ever had to wait nearly 4 months from having winter testing to then actually start his first race. That is a tough start for him and will only emphasise the gap as he doesn't have experience to fall back on. He is bound to be more rusty than others with the muscle memory for want of a better phrase. Is F1 really on such a higher plane then the other formulae, or are the cars themselves more polarising (ie. the difference between a competitive car and a crap car is much greater)?
But you are right that someone like Vandoorne who really looked like the real deal didn't make the jump. I don't think it is about F1 being on a higher plane so much as the added technicalities that only experience will teach you such as tyre management etc. Quite clearly F1 has the added variable of different cars which will always impact on what a driver can achieve but the direct comparison to your team mate will always be the best gauge of performance. I will wait to see if Latifi closes that gap to Russell before considering him to be out of this depth.
Kraken said:
Fortitude said:
Fizzy drinks company and British Supercar manufacturer… …they beat Forza Ferrari…
That's something worthy of a British tabloid. The money comes from a "fizzy drinks manufacturer" but that's where it ends. It's not as though they're building F1 cars on the same production line for the cans is it? If this time last year you'd tried to convince a room full of tifosi that this year they'd be down on pace to racing point...
Teddy Lop said:
more suggests an unfamiliarity with them..
The money has bought expertise and, crucially, they’ve left the experts to the job. There’s speculation that the ex-Merc engine guy is going to Ferrari. Would he be given free reign to sort the PU or is he going to be fighting bureaucracy the whole time.I wish the FIA or whoever does the broadcast timing graphics would I dunno, employ someone who has an understanding of the sport perhaps?
watching someone pop a lap in with this:
OUT LAP
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1.04.460
OUT LAP
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DOES NOT TELL US WHAT WE NEED TO f
kING KNOW.
watching someone pop a lap in with this:
OUT LAP
OUT LAP
OUT LAP
OUT LAP
OUT LAP
OUT LAP
OUT LAP
OUT LAP
1.04.460
OUT LAP
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DOES NOT TELL US WHAT WE NEED TO f
kING KNOW.kambites said:
On the one hand if they were breaking the rules (even if it was in a way the FIA couldn't prove) then they clearly needed to me made to stop. On the other hand you have to feel sorry for the customer teams.
Completely agree. They’ve screwed the customer teams with their cheating. Gassing Station | Formula 1 | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff