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

[BrettMRC]

Clockwork Cupcake said:

epom said:

Will Perez get far enough ahead as Max is coming through the field ? That probably the only thing needing working out tomorrow.

My prediction is that Perez will compfortably stay ahead of the field and in the lead, Max will work his way up into P2, and then Perez will either a) let him past or b) something will happen to gift Max P1

I dunno why the teams even bother with (b) these days, given that Team Orders are no longer illegal.

Used to amuse me no end the obvious Team Orders when they were ostensibly banned.

"Fernando is faster than you. Can you confirm you understood that message?".

An unexpectedly long pit stop is my bet!

[Oneball]

Clockwork Cupcake said:

"Fernando is faster than you. Can you confirm you understood that message?".

I’d put a bit of money on him being in the lead on lap 2.

[48Valves]

BrettMRC said:

Clockwork Cupcake said:

epom said:

Will Perez get far enough ahead as Max is coming through the field ? That probably the only thing needing working out tomorrow.

My prediction is that Perez will compfortably stay ahead of the field and in the lead, Max will work his way up into P2, and then Perez will either a) let him past or b) something will happen to gift Max P1

I dunno why the teams even bother with (b) these days, given that Team Orders are no longer illegal.

Used to amuse me no end the obvious Team Orders when they were ostensibly banned.

"Fernando is faster than you. Can you confirm you understood that message?".

An unexpectedly long pit stop is my bet!

He’ll already have been told to hold the pack up until Max gets through them all, then to politely move aside.

[oobster]

I hope we get to see a Max v Alonso battle tomorrow on the track instead of an overcut or undercut via the pits.

[GiantCardboardPlato]

carlo996 said:

hammo19 said:

George is class, honest, straightforward, uncomplicated and polite.

Probably all the things you admire in max verstappen too?

[GiantCardboardPlato]

paulw123 said:

Something not right with LH this weekend. Still expect him to put in a decent showing tomo but that’s a big gap to his teammate.

Deciding whether to stay with Mercedes or not, I reckon.
Edit: deciding too strong a word, pondering, perhaps.
And recedes could be substituted with f1.

Edited by GiantCardboardPlato on Saturday 18th March 21:42

[Clockwork Cupcake]

GiantCardboardPlato said:

Deciding whether to stay with Mercedes or not, I reckon.

I thought Toto's recently-quoted comments were fair.

Basically Toto said that if Merc can't deliver the car that Lewis needs to get his 8th WDC then he would not blame him in the least for seeking a team that can. But that he hopes that they can deliver that car to him.

[Leithen]

hammo19 said:

George is class, honest, straightforward, uncomplicated and polite.

If he could only politely and straightforwardly get rid of the PR team that keeps stuffing media full of airbrushed pics of him striding purposefully somewhere whilst looking up in the air, to the left or right, and pouting.

Apart from anything else it’s bloody dangerous. He’s going to trip over an air hose and do a Stroll.

Unshaven (does he have any stubble or is it only bumfluff?), fag in the mouth, dishevelled hair and and distinct evidence of a hangover would be good. Kimi needs to give him a few pointers.

He’s so close to hero status, just needs to get with the programme.

[paulguitar]

Leithen said:

hammo19 said:

George is class, honest, straightforward, uncomplicated and polite.

If he could only politely and straightforwardly get rid of the PR team that keeps stuffing media full of airbrushed pics of him striding purposefully somewhere whilst looking up in the air, to the left or right, and pouting.

Apart from anything else it’s bloody dangerous. He’s going to trip over an air hose and do a Stroll.

Unshaven (does he have any stubble or is it only bumfluff?), fag in the mouth, dishevelled hair and and distinct evidence of a hangover would be good. Kimi needs to give him a few pointers.

He’s so close to hero status, just needs to get with the programme.

[Murghee]

Another season where there will be no mercedes battling

Looks like i will be cheering on alonso this season

[Murghee]

Also why do these forums descend into a lewis vs max battle of which forum poster can outsmart the other

I dont see why people get so riled up defending thier favourite celebrity...its not like that celebrity even knows you exist so why waste your time defending them and arguing to people about them?

Like i say if your mother died that celebrity wouldnt care less..

[snotrag]

Leithen said:

Unshaven (does he have any stubble or is it only bumfluff?), fag in the mouth, dishevelled hair and and distinct evidence of a hangover would be good. Kimi needs to give him a few pointers.

He’s so close to hero status, just needs to get with the programme.

If he did that, he'd be Jenson Button.

Maybe he should buy a boat?!

[dunc_sx]

snotrag said:

If he did that, he'd be Jenson Button.

Maybe he should buy a boat?!

No need he's driving one

[Clockwork Cupcake]

Leithen said:

Kimi needs to give him a few pointers.

Kimi is having a st.

Also, leave Kimi alone; he knows what he's doing.

[dobly]

paulw123 said:

Something not right with LH this weekend. Still expect him to put in a decent showing tomo but that’s a big gap to his teammate.

He’s missing Ange.

[Hub]

Murghee said:

Another season where there will be no mercedes battling

Looks like i will be cheering on alonso this season

How times have changed, he used to be the villain!

[maz8062]

paulw123 said:

Something not right with LH this weekend. Still expect him to put in a decent showing tomo but that’s a big gap to his teammate.

It’s the beginning of the end for him I’m afraid. GR is very fast and knows how to play the game; keep one’s cards close to the chest during FP and Q1/Q2 and let it rip for Q3. LH will have to dig deep to match him which in a car that’s far off WDC material, is a hard task.

My view, and I’m often wrong, is that LH will retire at the end of this season and become a Merc ambassador.

[Heathwood]

maz8062 said:

My view, and I’m often wrong, is that LH will retire at the end of this season and become a Merc ambassador.

I think you may be right. Or as a wildcard, a straight swap with CLC as I think he’s had it with Fez.

[paulguitar]

maz8062 said:

paulw123 said:

Something not right with LH this weekend. Still expect him to put in a decent showing tomo but that’s a big gap to his teammate.

It’s the beginning of the end for him I’m afraid. GR is very fast and knows how to play the game; keep one’s cards close to the chest during FP and Q1/Q2 and let it rip for Q3. LH will have to dig deep to match him which in a car that’s far off WDC material, is a hard task.

My view, and I’m often wrong, is that LH will retire at the end of this season and become a Merc ambassador.

I'm starting to think that's a possibility too. He's 38, the most successful driver in history, and not really interested in fighting for minor places. What a shame his record-breaking 8th title was stolen from him.

[Gazzab]

hammo19 said:

George is class, honest, straightforward, uncomplicated and polite.

It’s funny how people see things differently and how our perceptions can change.

I find George dull and annoying - even when he isn’t speaking and his face is covered by his helmet. I make an effort to avoid his interviews.

Then again people are still animated by Hamilton - so far this season he is fast becoming a midfield irrelevance.

Alonso however has moved from villain to hero.

Verstappen continues to prove that he’s up there with the greatest on many counts. The anti max seems to have simmered down.

So for me this season is going to be about cheering on alonso. Not something I thought I would say.