Official 2024 Chinese Grand Prix Thread ***SPOILERS***

[axel1990chp]

Always liked this track, especially when monsoon weather can sometimes appear, although these days, they don't drive in any sort of wet weather!

Hard to see anything other than RB 1-2 with the aero advantages they have and the absolute rocket of DRS they can use down the mad straight, slingshot into there is great to watch!

Plenty of DRS overtakes into the end of the straight for the bulk of the racing but there's some good spots in the bends when fresh tyres come into play

1st Max
2nd Perez
3rd Sainz

[RZ1]

Like others have mentioned like to be another 1-2 for RB.
I can see Charles doing something silly here to try and get one up on Sainz

[Derek Smith]

Thanks, as ever, PiaP.

RZ1 said:

I can see Charles doing something silly here to try and get one up on Sainz

In one way, there's no pressure on him. His drive is safe for 2025. However, it doesn't do to continually be beaten, and by some distance, by the driver kicked out in your favour. Is such performance, likely to mean CLC will be firmly #2, rather than practically?

[Crudeoink]

Hoping for some points for Williams this weeked, assuming both drivers keep the car out the wall that is. Long straights, slippery car, come on!

[Mark-C]

Crudeoink said:

Hoping for some points for Williams this weeked, assuming both drivers keep the car out the wall that is. Long straights, slippery car, come on!

Wishful thinking ... but I'm hoping too!

Suspect a dull DRS-dominated race will happen some distance behind the Red Bulls.

[thegreenhell]

Crudeoink said:

Hoping for some points for Williams this weeked, assuming both drivers keep the car out the wall that is. Long straights, slippery car, come on!

At least most of the walls are a long way from the track, so less chance of hitting them this time.

[CT05 Nose Cone]

thegreenhell said:

Crudeoink said:

Hoping for some points for Williams this weeked, assuming both drivers keep the car out the wall that is. Long straights, slippery car, come on!

At least most of the walls are a long way from the track, so less chance of hitting them this time.

Logan will find a way.

[geeks]

CT05 Nose Cone said:

thegreenhell said:

Crudeoink said:

Hoping for some points for Williams this weeked, assuming both drivers keep the car out the wall that is. Long straights, slippery car, come on!

At least most of the walls are a long way from the track, so less chance of hitting them this time.

Logan will find a way.

I dunno, hasn't Albon (who I usually rate) been the cause of the last two chassis based dramas? (though I accept over their time together Logan is definitely leading the damage board)

[Sandpit Steve]

geeks said:

I dunno, hasn't Albon (who I usually rate) been the cause of the last two chassis based dramas? (though I accept over their time together Logan is definitely leading the damage board)

Albon broke the car in Australia, then Sargeant bent the same chassis again in Japan.

Do we know if they’ve got a third one made yet? (The suggestion was that there’s at least four teams who didn’t have a spare in Japan, so it could have happened to anyone).

[phil1979]

thegreenhell said:

Crudeoink said:

Hoping for some points for Williams this weeked, assuming both drivers keep the car out the wall that is. Long straights, slippery car, come on!

At least most of the walls are a long way from the track, so less chance of hitting them this time.

[BrettMRC]

Expecting a Max win, with Perez on the podium...but have a feeling it will be the third step with a Ferrari in 2nd.

[suffolk009]

By the law of averages something must come along to ruin the Max parade. I know he's had one dnf recently, perhaps he's due another. Maybe Perez will out qualify him (technical problems, of course) and they'll take each other out at the first corner.

[Jasandjules]

BrettMRC said:

Expecting a Max win, with Perez on the podium...but have a feeling it will be the third step with a Ferrari in 2nd.

I think with two long straights and DRS Perez could start 10th and still come 2nd. THe only question will be how "large" a gap do they have to the third car, I expect they will want to keep it at 12-15 seconds to not make it look like they have such an advantage in performance....

[geeks]

Sandpit Steve said:

geeks said:

I dunno, hasn't Albon (who I usually rate) been the cause of the last two chassis based dramas? (though I accept over their time together Logan is definitely leading the damage board)

Albon broke the car in Australia, then Sargeant bent the same chassis again in Japan.

Do we know if they’ve got a third one made yet? (The suggestion was that there’s at least four teams who didn’t have a spare in Japan, so it could have happened to anyone).

I thought Albons first lap shunt broke the second chassis or am I confusing that with Sargeant bending the repaired Albon chassis? I dont remember Sargeant having a shunt

[Sandpit Steve]

geeks said:

Sandpit Steve said:

geeks said:

I dunno, hasn't Albon (who I usually rate) been the cause of the last two chassis based dramas? (though I accept over their time together Logan is definitely leading the damage board)

Albon broke the car in Australia, then Sargeant bent the same chassis again in Japan.

Do we know if they’ve got a third one made yet? (The suggestion was that there’s at least four teams who didn’t have a spare in Japan, so it could have happened to anyone).

I thought Albons first lap shunt broke the second chassis or am I confusing that with Sargeant bending the repaired Albon chassis? I dont remember Sargeant having a shunt

Ah yes, Albon’s race crash was the second chassis, so that might also need repairing. The other two were both the first chassis, Albon in practice in Melbourne and Sargeant in practice in Suzuka.
Sargeant’s crash:

[Crudeoink]

Sandpit Steve said:

Ah yes, Albon’s race crash was the second chassis, so that might also need repairing. The other two were both the first chassis, Albon in practice in Melbourne and Sargeant in practice in Suzuka.
Sargeant’s crash:

The chassis was ok after the crash with DR as far as I'm aware. Whether they have enough spare front wings and stuff though... Who knows

[thegreenhell]

Crudeoink said:

The chassis was ok after the crash with DR as far as I'm aware. Whether they have enough spare front wings and stuff though... Who knows

It was reported that they had to ship one chassis back to base for further repair rather than sending it directly from Japan to China.

[PhilAsia]

Jasandjules said:

BrettMRC said:

Expecting a Max win, with Perez on the podium...but have a feeling it will be the third step with a Ferrari in 2nd.

I think with two long straights and DRS Perez could start 10th and still come 2nd. THe only question will be how "large" a gap do they have to the third car, I expect they will want to keep it at 12-15 seconds to not make it look like they have such an advantage in performance....

They have set up a sundial for all the other teams timing information.

[Dusty964]

No mention on the OP of the number of executions that have been carried out as per the Saudi race thread.
Its believed to be in the thousands annually.

[Byker28i]

Oh God, it's the first sprint weekend.