Official 2023 Saudi Arabia Grand Prix Thread ***SPOILERS***
Poll: Official 2023 Saudi Arabia Grand Prix Thread ***SPOILERS***
Total Members Polled: 168
Discussion
Gazzab said:
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.
A agree about Alonso, I am rooting for him too. A complex character, humbled by a rookie Hamilton in 2007, but still a very fine driver at 41. Respect.
2 schools of thought with Max (and Charl) for the race. Both quick and competent enough to chop through the field to the podium places in say 20 laps, however this is not Spa, it’s flat for 80% of the lap distance and just how powerful will the DRS train be over 3 sectors.
15th position, only one driver has won from p15 on the Grid, Alonso Singapore, that’s a record that would be nice to go TBH.
Quali, was expecting a 1.27/7 1.27/8, the track cooled so should be faster than the 1.28/2 and I think Max not being in Q3 had the rest of the field back off slightly. Max Q1 pace would have been good enough for P4, his FP3 pace good enough for P2 (on 14 lap old tyres)!
A little shocked with both Alonso and Hamiltons pace in Q3, perhaps younger drivers have an advantage with the high speed nature of the circuit, or perhaps more GP set up from the experienced pair.
Piastri, great lap..
Likely one stopper, Overcut strong here, 2x very fast cars out of position.
Should be fun! Expect retirements!
15th position, only one driver has won from p15 on the Grid, Alonso Singapore, that’s a record that would be nice to go TBH.
Quali, was expecting a 1.27/7 1.27/8, the track cooled so should be faster than the 1.28/2 and I think Max not being in Q3 had the rest of the field back off slightly. Max Q1 pace would have been good enough for P4, his FP3 pace good enough for P2 (on 14 lap old tyres)!
A little shocked with both Alonso and Hamiltons pace in Q3, perhaps younger drivers have an advantage with the high speed nature of the circuit, or perhaps more GP set up from the experienced pair.
Piastri, great lap..
Likely one stopper, Overcut strong here, 2x very fast cars out of position.
Should be fun! Expect retirements!
So I’ve stuck to my guns and I haven’t watched a second of this weekends GP or read any articles until the morning of the race, what a pleasant surprise reading.
Not that it matters, but I’ve took the approach of seeing if a Sunday is worth wasting by the weekends reading, seems this Sunday is about worth it, however the sun is shining up north and worth getting out in nature instead, YouTube highlights it is!
Without sounding harsh, hear me out: I’m glad max has suffered a mechanical, he’s a phenomenal racer when it’s not against LH (so history would show) and it will be amazing to see him carve through and show us just how fast that RB is, can see him pulling a podium but I can’t see him catching Alonso and Perez!
Happy for Russell to be up there, seems all in vain though I fear, can only see a downwards fall through the race.
What’s happened to Lewis eh? He’s seemed downtrodden for a while now in my opinion, 2021 might be a distant memory but the impact it would of had to an aging driver (who was probably imagining retiring at 8x wdc) will be massive. As a Brit I’d love him to get 8 but I think it’s time to give up the goose, run free little bird.
Pleasantly surprised to see Piastri up there, too early to tell how his maiden will turn out but here’s to some good viewing.
I’ve spun a tale on Albon in the past, think his youth and his pressure at RB turned him into something sour, what a change of a person he is at Williams, maturing and understanding the sport more it seems.
Hope the race is eventful for all those tuning in, DRS train could be problematic, is this the year there needs to be a discussion on the future of DRS or a change in the regs? (Sounds like a promising thread topic)
Not that it matters, but I’ve took the approach of seeing if a Sunday is worth wasting by the weekends reading, seems this Sunday is about worth it, however the sun is shining up north and worth getting out in nature instead, YouTube highlights it is!
Without sounding harsh, hear me out: I’m glad max has suffered a mechanical, he’s a phenomenal racer when it’s not against LH (so history would show) and it will be amazing to see him carve through and show us just how fast that RB is, can see him pulling a podium but I can’t see him catching Alonso and Perez!
Happy for Russell to be up there, seems all in vain though I fear, can only see a downwards fall through the race.
What’s happened to Lewis eh? He’s seemed downtrodden for a while now in my opinion, 2021 might be a distant memory but the impact it would of had to an aging driver (who was probably imagining retiring at 8x wdc) will be massive. As a Brit I’d love him to get 8 but I think it’s time to give up the goose, run free little bird.
Pleasantly surprised to see Piastri up there, too early to tell how his maiden will turn out but here’s to some good viewing.
I’ve spun a tale on Albon in the past, think his youth and his pressure at RB turned him into something sour, what a change of a person he is at Williams, maturing and understanding the sport more it seems.
Hope the race is eventful for all those tuning in, DRS train could be problematic, is this the year there needs to be a discussion on the future of DRS or a change in the regs? (Sounds like a promising thread topic)
danp said:
Killer2005 said:
What's the odds on Max getting a podium?
Will be interesting to see how patient he is at this stage of the season, out of position and on a track with consequences - I think there’s a very good chance he’ll bin it.Anyway, as the C4 highlights are late on tonight I'll be watching the race tomorrow.
paulguitar said:
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.
He has been a slow season starter when at Merc, and doesn't seem to start firing on all cylinders until race 3 at the earliest, so we might be seeing just more of LH norm.
However, he won't go on forever, and the 8th title might be his only motivation. Until the Merc is competitive, he might be thinking, 'What's the point?' Also, promises of major upgrades to come on the car. He might be just ticking over. Mind you, there's the splitting with his masseuse, at race 2. There's more to this than we know. It might be that he's off, unless Wolff pulls something out of the R&D department. There's nothing wrong with the mechanicals, as Alonso has proved.
Could be a great race. MV out of place. There's a McLaren at the back of the field that is well out of place and Norris can, and has frequently, mixed it with the best. Could be a fun drive from him. He's got Sargeant beside him. Impressive this season. Leclerk should be well worth watching. Bottas? I'm not sure. I like Gasly and he should be with Ocon rather than 3/10ths down.
Piastri in 9th. Out of place? We'll soon know.
This could be real fun. Or the race could be peppered with pace cars and free pit stops. We'll soon know. I'm expecting some excitement.
Alonso has said that he's not battling with Perez, so watch for some outrageous fun into the first corner.
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. 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.
Sergeant not getting a clean run put him outside the 107% rule. Williams had to get permission for him to race, stating that practice session times were on par with qualifying times and he's fast enough to be on the grid. https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formula-1/logan-sar...
ajprice said:
danp said:
Killer2005 said:
What's the odds on Max getting a podium?
Will be interesting to see how patient he is at this stage of the season, out of position and on a track with consequences - I think there’s a very good chance he’ll bin it.Anyway, as the C4 highlights are late on tonight I'll be watching the race tomorrow.
My money would still be on a comfortable win for Verstappen. Gassing Station | Formula 1 | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff