Haas chose Russia’s Nikita Mazepin
Discussion
M5-911 said:
Sandpit Steve said:
M5-911 said:
SpudLink said:
I think the drivers who manhandled the ’80s turbo cars around the track might laugh at the suggestion 2021 cars are hard to drive.
Do you really think that 80s turbo cars were more difficult to drive? I really doubt. https://youtube.com/watch?v=wQgP9nugt5I
Oh, and when they go out for qualifying, with a special engine designed to last just the one lap, it’s got 600bhp more than it had in the practice session!
One my clients is a f1 collector and racer (pretty good!) and he is no were near able to drive a modern f1.
Brundle himself said that the last few year, the cars have been brutal to drive and much more difficult to handle than anything he drove before. I think that I will go with people who have experienced the real deal on that one... Lol
We are both using insular opinions and remarks to try to compare two very different animals.
Martin Brundle was a F1 driver in the 80s and is now over 60.
80s turbo cars had appalling manners and it would be very difficult for any driver to jump in and do a push lap without losing control or breaking the car.
Current cars are ‘less difficult to drive’ (which is the simple question you originally asked) but place a much higher physical demand upon the driver during braking and cornering.
TheDeuce said:
The problem mazepin has now is that the pressure to not make a similarly embarrassing mistake next outing is so great that he probably will make such a mistake.
In fact, in fairness, if he can get through the entirety of the next quali and GP without making a fool of himself again, I would actually say that is quite impressive.
I was expecting Mazepin to be a threat to the more methodical and ‘slowly building’ Mick Schumacher for much of this season, and I still think he might be. In fact, in fairness, if he can get through the entirety of the next quali and GP without making a fool of himself again, I would actually say that is quite impressive.
There is no doubt who the stronger driver was throughout the first race weekend though, and I’d love to see that continue.
HustleRussell said:
There is a big difference between pootling around on a sighting lap and actually trying to go quick.
We are both using insular opinions and remarks to try to compare two very different animals.
Martin Brundle was a F1 driver in the 80s and is now over 60.
80s turbo cars had appalling manners and it would be very difficult for any driver to jump in and do a push lap without losing control or breaking the car.
Current cars are ‘less difficult to drive’ (which is the simple question you originally asked) but place a much higher physical demand upon the driver during braking and cornering.
Yes, a different type of skill. We are both using insular opinions and remarks to try to compare two very different animals.
Martin Brundle was a F1 driver in the 80s and is now over 60.
80s turbo cars had appalling manners and it would be very difficult for any driver to jump in and do a push lap without losing control or breaking the car.
Current cars are ‘less difficult to drive’ (which is the simple question you originally asked) but place a much higher physical demand upon the driver during braking and cornering.
One of the recurring themes of the Netflix show was how today’s drivers are properly fit athletes - they were always in the gym or with their trainer, when out of the car. It’s one of the reasons that F1 is more of a young man’s sport now, than it used to be.
Sandpit Steve said:
HustleRussell said:
There is a big difference between pootling around on a sighting lap and actually trying to go quick.
We are both using insular opinions and remarks to try to compare two very different animals.
Martin Brundle was a F1 driver in the 80s and is now over 60.
80s turbo cars had appalling manners and it would be very difficult for any driver to jump in and do a push lap without losing control or breaking the car.
Current cars are ‘less difficult to drive’ (which is the simple question you originally asked) but place a much higher physical demand upon the driver during braking and cornering.
Yes, a different type of skill. We are both using insular opinions and remarks to try to compare two very different animals.
Martin Brundle was a F1 driver in the 80s and is now over 60.
80s turbo cars had appalling manners and it would be very difficult for any driver to jump in and do a push lap without losing control or breaking the car.
Current cars are ‘less difficult to drive’ (which is the simple question you originally asked) but place a much higher physical demand upon the driver during braking and cornering.
One of the recurring themes of the Netflix show was how today’s drivers are properly fit athletes - they were always in the gym or with their trainer, when out of the car. It’s one of the reasons that F1 is more of a young man’s sport now, than it used to be.
However - with the cars being so evenly matched its essential that the driver is at the very top of their physical & mental game too (not so much a factor in the 70's & 80's)
TheDeuce said:
Petrus1983 said:
Nikita could have won the race and I still wouldn’t like him. So this was just perfect 
Quite. "Give the kid a chance..." Ok... Spin, spin, second behind team mate in quali, spin... Lights out and... Crash.Fairs fair
HustleRussell said:
TheDeuce said:
The problem mazepin has now is that the pressure to not make a similarly embarrassing mistake next outing is so great that he probably will make such a mistake.
In fact, in fairness, if he can get through the entirety of the next quali and GP without making a fool of himself again, I would actually say that is quite impressive.
I was expecting Mazepin to be a threat to the more methodical and ‘slowly building’ Mick Schumacher for much of this season, and I still think he might be. In fact, in fairness, if he can get through the entirety of the next quali and GP without making a fool of himself again, I would actually say that is quite impressive.
There is no doubt who the stronger driver was throughout the first race weekend though, and I’d love to see that continue.
TheDeuce said:
I know what you mean - although to be honest mazepin has been so terrible all weekend, so far off Mick, it could well be that he's simply one of those drivers that can't make the step up to F1. Which wouldn't be a total shocker as he's hardly there on merit is he? He was a decent, above average F2 driver but not at the level I'd typically expect to see get bumped up to F1.
True, but he didn't really have a choice. He took time to mature in F2 so let's give him a season or 2.vaud said:
TheDeuce said:
I know what you mean - although to be honest mazepin has been so terrible all weekend, so far off Mick, it could well be that he's simply one of those drivers that can't make the step up to F1. Which wouldn't be a total shocker as he's hardly there on merit is he? He was a decent, above average F2 driver but not at the level I'd typically expect to see get bumped up to F1.
True, but he didn't really have a choice. He took time to mature in F2 so let's give him a season or 2.Steamer said:
Sandpit Steve said:
HustleRussell said:
There is a big difference between pootling around on a sighting lap and actually trying to go quick.
We are both using insular opinions and remarks to try to compare two very different animals.
Martin Brundle was a F1 driver in the 80s and is now over 60.
80s turbo cars had appalling manners and it would be very difficult for any driver to jump in and do a push lap without losing control or breaking the car.
Current cars are ‘less difficult to drive’ (which is the simple question you originally asked) but place a much higher physical demand upon the driver during braking and cornering.
Yes, a different type of skill. We are both using insular opinions and remarks to try to compare two very different animals.
Martin Brundle was a F1 driver in the 80s and is now over 60.
80s turbo cars had appalling manners and it would be very difficult for any driver to jump in and do a push lap without losing control or breaking the car.
Current cars are ‘less difficult to drive’ (which is the simple question you originally asked) but place a much higher physical demand upon the driver during braking and cornering.
One of the recurring themes of the Netflix show was how today’s drivers are properly fit athletes - they were always in the gym or with their trainer, when out of the car. It’s one of the reasons that F1 is more of a young man’s sport now, than it used to be.
However - with the cars being so evenly matched its essential that the driver is at the very top of their physical & mental game too (not so much a factor in the 70's & 80's)
Stewart said he won most of his races in the first five laps, because while everyone else was getting really hyped up and nervous, his preparation before the start of a race was all about making himself calm. While the other drivers were psychologically maxed out before a wheel turned, he had mental capacity to spare.
I reckon someone with Schumacher's attitude to fitness and preparation could have changed the game in any era. Given them an edge over their team mate, which makes them look like a driver with something extra, which leads to a seat in a top car. Obviously you need talent too, but there are so many things that can have an impact on race performance that the team that covers the most of them wins. That's what Ross Brawn recognised with his strategy committed to print as Total Performance.
vaud said:
Plus he can blame the car for 2021, which for pace is probably fair.
All he needs to is have some clean races and beat Mick about half of the time.
I don’t think he needs to do even that. If he out qualifies Schumacher a few times and beats him in 7 or 8 races, many people will think he’s doing ok. Personally I don’t yet see any reason to think Schumacher is special, but there seems to be a body of opinion that he’s the most exciting thing since Verstappen. So Mazepin only needs to look like he’s close. All he needs to is have some clean races and beat Mick about half of the time.
Right now it’s more about perception that actual ability.
vaud said:
Plus he can blame the car for 2021, which for pace is probably fair.
All he needs to is have some clean races and beat Mick about half of the time.
He came 18th in 2019 and 5th in 2020. 2020 also showed he binned it - a lot. Nothing in his background suggests greatness, even with the bank balance he’s had supporting him. All he needs to is have some clean races and beat Mick about half of the time.
Petrus1983 said:
vaud said:
Plus he can blame the car for 2021, which for pace is probably fair.
All he needs to is have some clean races and beat Mick about half of the time.
He came 18th in 2019 and 5th in 2020. 2020 also showed he binned it - a lot. Nothing in his background suggests greatness, even with the bank balance he’s had supporting him. All he needs to is have some clean races and beat Mick about half of the time.
I suspect Gene is more than done with F1 and wants a way out.
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