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

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

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

Total Members Polled: 168

Verstappen: 60%
Perez: 11%
Leclerc: 3%
Sainz: 1%
Hamilton: 7%
Russell: 1%
Alonso: 15%
Stroll: 3%
Author
Discussion

thegreenhell

15,108 posts

218 months

Monday 13th March 2023
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Last year I voted for Sainz at every race, and although he often disappointed he did come through to win one. This year I am voting Alonso at every race in the hope that he can again win at least one. I don't think RBR are as unstoppable as some people are saying, and no team has ever done a whole season clean sweep, especially in such a long season as this. They are obviously clear favourites for the season right now, but others will have their day along the way.

HustleRussell

24,602 posts

159 months

Monday 13th March 2023
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parabolica said:
Rumours are the Jeddah circuit will suit the Astons more than Bahrain did, which if true means I'd expect them to be battling with Ferrari on merit. Otherwise, hard to see past a RB 1/2 again.
They were battling the Ferraris on merit on Bahrain, Alonso passed Sainz and was gunning for Leclerc when Leclerc's engine failed.

It will be interesting to see how the competitive order changes though, as it is a very different circuit from Bahrain.

I thought I heard that the Aston carried quite a lot of downforce and was quite slow on the straights compared to other cars, which to my mind should make the going a bit harder for them at Jeddah vs. Ferrari. Maybe their biggest advantage over Ferrari is tyre deg, but that will count for less as the Jeddah circuit has a much more sealed surface. Also both Ferraris seemed to out-qualify the Astons quite comfortably.

Maybe Aston will have more of a job with Mercedes this weekend?

Will be interesting to see where Alpine and Mclaren will find their level once they sort out their operations and reliability respectively. Surely we won't see Gasly starting last and Mclaren running right at the back again.

Sandpit Steve

9,885 posts

73 months

Monday 13th March 2023
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Is it bad to hope that a certain Dutchman again bins it in qualifying, therefore starting out of position and giving us a small chance of a good race?

BrettMRC

4,037 posts

159 months

Monday 13th March 2023
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Can't see beyond a RB1-2 here.

Thanks again Mr.Pig! smile

SoulGlo

79 posts

30 months

Monday 13th March 2023
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Leaving aside the politics this race has produced some exciting battles and dramatic action in both years its been on the calendar. Looking forward to the action behind Max and Checo.

PhilAsia

3,696 posts

74 months

Monday 13th March 2023
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Sandpit Steve said:
Is it bad to hope that a certain Dutchman again bins it in qualifying, therefore starting out of position and giving us a small chance of a good race?
Unfortunately, no.

Max' Achilles heel is, imho, his inability to see further than winning the next corner. He just has to prove himself 100% of the time - win it or bin it!

2022, 2023 and beyond, his car is unassailable and therefore Max will not require his "try and pass me at your peril" and/or "try and stop me pass at your peril" unacceptably unsportsmanlike (to many) approach to wheel-craft, as he will be on the horizon on his own.

sidewinder500

1,094 posts

93 months

Monday 13th March 2023
quotequote all
thegreenhell said:
Last year I voted for Sainz at every race, and although he often disappointed he did come through to win one. This year I am voting Alonso at every race in the hope that he can again win at least one. I don't think RBR are as unstoppable as some people are saying, and no team has ever done a whole season clean sweep, especially in such a long season as this. They are obviously clear favourites for the season right now, but others will have their day along the way.
Same for me, Alonso at every race.

I was actually surprised by the percentage of Alonso votes the last time, so let's hope for the best

HustleRussell

24,602 posts

159 months

Monday 13th March 2023
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I don't know much about Alpine this year apart from the fact that they have 4th place aspirations and their car it is apparently very stiff. They might go a lot better at Jeddah than they did in Bahrain. Stating the bleedin' obvious but the two circuits are very different.

parabolica

6,703 posts

183 months

Monday 13th March 2023
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HustleRussell said:
parabolica said:
Rumours are the Jeddah circuit will suit the Astons more than Bahrain did, which if true means I'd expect them to be battling with Ferrari on merit. Otherwise, hard to see past a RB 1/2 again.
They were battling the Ferraris on merit on Bahrain, Alonso passed Sainz and was gunning for Leclerc when Leclerc's engine failed.

It will be interesting to see how the competitive order changes though, as it is a very different circuit from Bahrain.
Yeah I didn't mean to take anything away from Alonso or the team; but Sainz was on old tyres and LeClerc was adamant that he would have had enough in reserve to hold off Alonso had his car not let him down. Taking all that with a pinch of salt, I think Alonso was wringing the neck of the Aston at the last race which is why he got the podium; there is a theory that the smoother, non-abrasive surface in Jeddah will let the Astons be right there with Ferrari in quali and the race.

One can only hope; I do want to see Ferrari do well but I do love an underdog story.

thegreenhell

15,108 posts

218 months

Monday 13th March 2023
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If Alonso could have stayed ahead of the Mercedes at the start then he would have been a lot closer to Perez and Leclerc at the end, if not challenging for their positions. He spent a large portion of the Bahrain race fighting back past both Mercedes on the track after his relatively poor opening lap.

LivLL

10,772 posts

196 months

Monday 13th March 2023
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I’m going for Percy Leclerc , he’s fast around here, due some luck and the clown team must surely get their act together at some point.

Charles for the win!

RZ1

4,316 posts

205 months

Monday 13th March 2023
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I think the top spot is taken but im looking forward to the battle for 2nd onwards.

Im hoping for Alonso and Sainz to take the remaining podium steps.

Niponeoff

2,074 posts

26 months

Monday 13th March 2023
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thegreenhell said:
If Alonso could have stayed ahead of the Mercedes at the start then he would have been a lot closer to Perez and Leclerc at the end, if not challenging for their positions. He spent a large portion of the Bahrain race fighting back past both Mercedes on the track after his relatively poor opening lap.
I think AM were also being a bit conservative in their strategy in the first stints. I think their car will allow them to be more aggressive and attack harder instead of managing Deg and waiting for the race to come to them. They'll know their car better and what they can do with it.

I think they also have quite a comprehensive upgrade plan for the car too.

anonymous-user

53 months

Monday 13th March 2023
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RZ1 said:
I think the top spot is taken but im looking forward to the battle for 2nd onwards.

Im hoping for Alonso and Sainz to take the remaining podium steps.
Realistically there shouldn’t be a fight for second, Perez should have it all wrapped up but if I were a Red Bull fan, I’d be seriously embarrassed that Perez is in for a real fight to get second in the WDC. For many, it will make for an entertaining season however

thegreenhell

15,108 posts

218 months

Monday 13th March 2023
quotequote all
pablo said:
Realistically there shouldn’t be a fight for second, Perez should have it all wrapped up but if I were a Red Bull fan, I’d be seriously embarrassed that Perez is in for a real fight to get second in the WDC. For many, it will make for an entertaining season however
Well we already know he won't get any help from his teammate, because reasons.

suffolk009

5,344 posts

164 months

Tuesday 14th March 2023
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thegreenhell said:
Well we already know he won't get any help from his teammate, because reasons.
I'm not sure that his team wouldn't hobble his car if he was somehow beating MV every Sunday afternoon.

Niponeoff

2,074 posts

26 months

Tuesday 14th March 2023
quotequote all
thegreenhell said:
pablo said:
Realistically there shouldn’t be a fight for second, Perez should have it all wrapped up but if I were a Red Bull fan, I’d be seriously embarrassed that Perez is in for a real fight to get second in the WDC. For many, it will make for an entertaining season however
Well we already know he won't get any help from his teammate, because reasons.
Like in in 2018 when bottas came 5th.

paua

5,648 posts

142 months

Tuesday 14th March 2023
quotequote all
Niponeoff said:
thegreenhell said:
pablo said:
Realistically there shouldn’t be a fight for second, Perez should have it all wrapped up but if I were a Red Bull fan, I’d be seriously embarrassed that Perez is in for a real fight to get second in the WDC. For many, it will make for an entertaining season however
Well we already know he won't get any help from his teammate, because reasons.
Like in in 2018 when bottas came 5th.
Bottas came there because he couldn't pass or defend against a dump-truck on bin day.
Edit - despite being pretty good on Saturday.

Edited by paua on Tuesday 14th March 08:08

shirt

22,506 posts

200 months

Tuesday 14th March 2023
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PhilAsia said:
Unfortunately, no.

Max' Achilles heel is, imho, his inability to see further than winning the next corner. He just has to prove himself 100% of the time - win it or bin it!

2022, 2023 and beyond, his car is unassailable and therefore Max will not require his "try and pass me at your peril" and/or "try and stop me pass at your peril" unacceptably unsportsmanlike (to many) approach to wheel-craft, as he will be on the horizon on his own.
I don’t think his ‘yield or we crash’ approach will work any more. Was only valid when others had more to lose.

cgt2

7,092 posts

187 months

Tuesday 14th March 2023
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Anyone have any insight into whether the huge tourism push is actually working for SA "reinventing" itself. I haven't seen much evidence other than lots of glossy advertising.

Safety cars may favour Aston as their title sponsor just happens to be the state oil company!