Official 2023 Saudi Arabia Grand Prix Thread ***SPOILERS***

[Piginapoke]

vaud said:

Still Mulling said:

Folks, can we move on please? This is the 2023 thread.

Indeed.

So Villeneuve and Pironi? Who was at fault?

Pironi, obvs

[Byker28i]

Frimley111R said:

sociopath said:

vaud said:

Dingu said:

A grid penalty for the second race due to parts used is pretty good going.

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/leclerc-set-for...

That is quite an achievement.

Just shows the rules are a bit naff if we're at penalties on race 2.

I agree, they've taken a front running car out of the competition of the race already. Everyone loses out. How far will we be into the season before half the grid is serving penalties? It's all got a bit excessive. I understand why they do it but the execution needs looking at

How much of the electronics are standard parts used by all teams now?

[Byker28i]

vaud said:

Byker28i said:

Stinky bait is obvious

Where is the bait? From a sample of 3 days testing and one race, the RB is fast, reliable and had a lot in hand in the first race. Still 22 to go, but from the data available the RB is impressive, whichever team you support.

(I'm not tribal for F1 these days)

It was more the idea that No one can hold a candle to Max, based on how tribal some are with him. I'm not disputing he has the best car currently.
If seems I owe an apology to PD9

[Sandpit Steve]

Byker28i said:

How much of the electronics are standard parts used by all teams now?

I was thinking that myself. The engine ECU is definitely a spec part, and has been for decades since the Benetton traction control incident - but does ‘control electonics’ now also encompass prototype components related to the battery store and electric motor?

[Mark-C]

Piginapoke said:

vaud said:

Still Mulling said:

Folks, can we move on please? This is the 2023 thread.

Indeed.

So Villeneuve and Pironi? Who was at fault?

Pironi, obvs

Yeah, but ... FISA this, FOCA that ... etc and so on ...

Race threads always start like this at the moment but tend to change once there are cars on track (although revert quite quickly when the race stops)

[Byker28i]

Sandpit Steve said:

Byker28i said:

How much of the electronics are standard parts used by all teams now?

I was thinking that myself. The engine ECU is definitely a spec part, and has been for decades since the Benetton traction control incident - but does ‘control electonics’ now also encompass prototype components related to the battery store and electric motor?

2008 wasn't it when a standard ECU was introduced, meaning all teams must use the same part with no modifications, after cheating with traction control, engine braking and launch control.
McLaren Applied still supply it
https://www.pmw-magazine.com/news/race-series-news...

So whats the different bit?

[PhilAsia]

PhilAsia said:

Piginapoke said:

PhilAsia said:

Sandpit Steve said:

paulguitar said:

That 2021 Saidi Arabia GP was properly stressful. Verstappen had binned it in quali and was acting properly unbalanced throughout the race. I was genuinely relieved after it was over that nobody had been injured.

Yep, it was a massive relief at the end of that race, that somehow no-one ended up in the hospital.

I’ve never seen a clearer case for a black flag in F1, than brake-testing another driver around a 300km/h unsighted curve.

Looked to see Lewis was close enough to hit him before stomping on the brakes too...

Hamilton had absolutely no intention of over taking Verstappen before the DRS line. I agree it was dangerous but it wasn’t 100% on Max, Lewis knew what he was doing and could have easily overtaken if he wanted to.

Here it is again: https://youtu.be/QS4Z38HhsMc

Edited by Piginapoke on Wednesday 15th March 08:22

If you recall correctly, Lewis received instruction to pass late. Lewis was behind Max, who was pretty much in the middle of the track and not off to one side to make his intention obvious. Also, Lewis was directly and closely following Max when he stomped on the brakes at 69bar/2.4G.....THAT CLOSE AND SLOWING THAT MANY FEET PER SECOND DID NOT GIVE LEWIS ANY TIME TO AVOID A COLLISION!!

As was reported at the time by the stewards "The driver of Car 33 stated that he was wondering why Car 44 had not overtaken and the driver of Car 44 stated that, not having been aware at that stage that Car 33 was giving the position back, was unaware of the reason Car 33 was slowing. In deciding to penalise the driver of Car 33, the key point for the Stewards was that the driver of Car 33 then braked suddenly (69 bar) and significantly, resulting in 2.4g deceleration."

Apologies for replying to PiaP's forgetful and/or rose-tinted incorrect assertion that Lewis "knew what he was doing" on his thread.

[The Hypno-Toad]

vaud said:

Still Mulling said:

Folks, can we move on please? This is the 2023 thread.

Indeed.

So Villeneuve and Pironi? Who was at fault?

You need to ask Nigel Roebuck about that, he has quite a strong opinion. Which he lets everyone know about in nearly every article he has ever written.

(Along with the Senna press conference after he drove Prost off the track at Japan.)

There is actually an entire movie about the Villeneuve & Pironi rivalry coming soon. I would guess it won't mention one of those two watching the white lines in his mirror a little too closely or the heated discussions one of them had in his motorhome with a lady who wasn't his wife in the middle of a qualifying session.

Allegedly...

[Smollet]

Here’s hoping for an exciting race.

[Deesee]

Max is ill, Dani must be licking his chops..

[vaud]

Deesee said:

Max is ill, Dani must be licking his chops..

Is this one of Dani's reserve races? or is Liam Lawson there?

[ajprice]

Max has been ill with a stomach bug and he'll get to the track tomorrow. Damn Red Bull catering



https://twitter.com/redbullracing/status/163630689...

[Still Mulling]

vaud said:

Still Mulling said:

Folks, can we move on please? This is the 2023 thread.

Indeed.

So Villeneuve and Pironi? Who was at fault?

[HustleRussell]

PR working well, not a single mention of rocket attacks

[Byker28i]

HustleRussell said:

PR working well, not a single mention of rocket attacks

Has there been any lately?

More likely to die from public execution there aren't you? 147 last year.

[FourWheelDrift]

Testing the board in the media centre, they have put drivers into different teams, except Stroll

And they have brought Latifi and Ricciardo back.

[Niponeoff]

FourWheelDrift said:

Testing the board in the media centre, they have put drivers into different teams, except Stroll

And they have brought Latifi and Ricciardo back.

It's the future!

[Byker28i]

So, can anyone explain how Ferrari are having problems with the engine ecu, seeing as its a standard part used by all teams - or is it another bit? Packaging again, getting too hot?

Didn't they have similar issues in 2020?

[carinaman]

Lando would beat Danny Ric. in the Alpine too.

And I am a Danny Ric. fan.

[vaud]

Byker28i said:

So, can anyone explain how Ferrari are having problems with the engine ecu, seeing as its a standard part used by all teams - or is it another bit? Packaging again, getting too hot?

Didn't they have similar issues in 2020?

One source: "It's been revealed that there was an issue with the wiring loom, agitated by the movement and temperature of the car under race conditions."