Official 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix Thread ***SPOILERS***
Poll: Official 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix Thread ***SPOILERS***
Total Members Polled: 127
Discussion
DOCG said:
PlywoodPascal said:
It’s not strange. It’s a way to understand how unlucky Hamilton was in terms of the level of unreliability and how extreme a set of circumstances (distribution of failures) Rosberg needed to be able to bear Hamilton.
How unlikely the retirement was to occur is irrelevant in comparing the performance difference between the drivers. Supposing Roberg had 3 engine failures and Hamilton 4, would that make any difference to the comparison? No. TheDeuce said:
Lewis certainly drove fantastically yesterday. It's a real shame he f
ked up his Q3 lap, because on merit and pace he would have won the GP yesterday I think, had he not started so far back. I never really expected him to have much 'luck' in the second half of this season as he was always going to be cut out of certain technical discussions and also always going to be at a disadvantage to his team mate when it comes to new parts, or being used as a guinea pig to test certain ideas for next season's car... But actually, he's done better than I thought - credit to him and also Merc for apparently keeping things as fair as they likely can.
When has he been at a disadvantage regarding new parts (bearing in mind new parts don't necessarily meant faster)? If he's a 'guinea pig' for new parts then that completely contradicts what you just said. And 'cut out of certain technical discussions' lol, what does that even mean? This sort of Ham fanboy bullsked up his Q3 lap, because on merit and pace he would have won the GP yesterday I think, had he not started so far back. I never really expected him to have much 'luck' in the second half of this season as he was always going to be cut out of certain technical discussions and also always going to be at a disadvantage to his team mate when it comes to new parts, or being used as a guinea pig to test certain ideas for next season's car... But actually, he's done better than I thought - credit to him and also Merc for apparently keeping things as fair as they likely can.t has been doing the rounds since GR started beating him in 2022.Greg_B said:
Nova Gyna said:
Congrats, Max - four on the bounce, somehow.
Enjoyed the race, though. George drove well, but Lewis was even better.
That post-race stuff, though? Absolute crime scene.
Well, I'm not sure about that, but the lack of cheering crowds during the post-race was a bad look. It must have been slightly awkward in the Rolls back seat and on the interview stage for Lewis and Carlos to be so close together given that Lewis took his job. Carlos is such a class act though. Congrats to Max on #4!Enjoyed the race, though. George drove well, but Lewis was even better.
That post-race stuff, though? Absolute crime scene.
Someone clearly missed the memo about what makes a great Vegas show.
Whoever signed off on this s
t, for the second year running btw, needs dragging out to the Nevada desert for a quiet chat - with a shovel. 
Nova Gyna said:
No… that post-race stuff was a cringy farce. A slow trundle in a hard-top Rolls where the crowd couldn’t even see the drivers? By the time they made it to the podium, any energy left in the place was long gone.
Someone clearly missed the memo about what makes a great Vegas show.
Whoever signed off on this st, for the second year running btw, needs dragging out to the Nevada desert for a quiet chat - with a shovel.
It was half an hour on my watch, from the chequered flag to the spraying of the Champagne. It’s usually done in half that time. Someone clearly missed the memo about what makes a great Vegas show.
Whoever signed off on this s
t, for the second year running btw, needs dragging out to the Nevada desert for a quiet chat - with a shovel. If you have a sponsor requirement for moving the drivers to a remote podium, then at least provide open-top cars so the drivers can interact with the fans, and don’t have them move along at funeral procession speed so the whole thing takes forever.
Sandpit Steve said:
Nova Gyna said:
No… that post-race stuff was a cringy farce. A slow trundle in a hard-top Rolls where the crowd couldn’t even see the drivers? By the time they made it to the podium, any energy left in the place was long gone.
Someone clearly missed the memo about what makes a great Vegas show.
Whoever signed off on this st, for the second year running btw, needs dragging out to the Nevada desert for a quiet chat - with a shovel.
It was half an hour on my watch, from the chequered flag to the spraying of the Champagne. It’s usually done in half that time. Someone clearly missed the memo about what makes a great Vegas show.
Whoever signed off on this s
t, for the second year running btw, needs dragging out to the Nevada desert for a quiet chat - with a shovel. If you have a sponsor requirement for moving the drivers to a remote podium, then at least provide open-top cars so the drivers can interact with the fans, and don’t have them move along at funeral procession speed so the whole thing takes forever.
It is purely a money thing to keep VIP’s happy at the Bellagio part. But that long move and the atmosphere during the chat with the drivers was so flat.
Then a move back to the start for the podium, which I don’t think works that well either as a spectacle. Though perhaps a rare occasion where the seated grandstands on the start are given prime viewing for the podium.
If they have to do that move, I’d much rather see the podium also being done at the Bellagio fountain bit. That would actually be a unique podium setting and probably look good on the TV.
A lot of the ‘YEAH VEGAS!’ stuff was toned down, which was good this year. Actually quite good circuit for some action. The late night cold probably also helps in making the cars a bit less predictable on their tyres also.
Not sure how Sainz avoided a penalty.
LM240 said:
Sandpit Steve said:
Nova Gyna said:
No… that post-race stuff was a cringy farce. A slow trundle in a hard-top Rolls where the crowd couldn’t even see the drivers? By the time they made it to the podium, any energy left in the place was long gone.
Someone clearly missed the memo about what makes a great Vegas show.
Whoever signed off on this st, for the second year running btw, needs dragging out to the Nevada desert for a quiet chat - with a shovel.
It was half an hour on my watch, from the chequered flag to the spraying of the Champagne. It’s usually done in half that time. Someone clearly missed the memo about what makes a great Vegas show.
Whoever signed off on this s
t, for the second year running btw, needs dragging out to the Nevada desert for a quiet chat - with a shovel. If you have a sponsor requirement for moving the drivers to a remote podium, then at least provide open-top cars so the drivers can interact with the fans, and don’t have them move along at funeral procession speed so the whole thing takes forever.
It is purely a money thing to keep VIP’s happy at the Bellagio part. But that long move and the atmosphere during the chat with the drivers was so flat.
Then a move back to the start for the podium, which I don’t think works that well either as a spectacle. Though perhaps a rare occasion where the seated grandstands on the start are given prime viewing for the podium.
If they have to do that move, I’d much rather see the podium also being done at the Bellagio fountain bit. That would actually be a unique podium setting and probably look good on the TV.
A lot of the ‘YEAH VEGAS!’ stuff was toned down, which was good this year. Actually quite good circuit for some action. The late night cold probably also helps in making the cars a bit less predictable on their tyres also.
Not sure how Sainz avoided a penalty.
And I'm sure when Terry Crews interviewed George Russel, his first question wasn't about the stonking victory he'd just achieved but was instead about what it's like racing in Vegas. I know TC is reading from a script but this stuff just comes across so terribly.
Gad-Westy said:
I guess the issue with having the podium at the fountain as well is that there would be nobody else there. No other team members etc. There is a good reason why just about every other motor race I can think of (other than Miami!) has all the post race celebration right there next to the finish line. F1 has obviously always been heavily money driven but there are subtle ways of disguising that and then there is the naff side of doing a bizarre little 10 mile per hour taxi ride to another landmark location just to do an interview and then drive back again. Utterly crass.
And I'm sure when Terry Crews interviewed George Russel, his first question wasn't about the stonking victory he'd just achieved but was instead about what it's like racing in Vegas. I know TC is reading from a script but this stuff just comes across so terribly.
it was crass but it's 'Merica. And I'm sure when Terry Crews interviewed George Russel, his first question wasn't about the stonking victory he'd just achieved but was instead about what it's like racing in Vegas. I know TC is reading from a script but this stuff just comes across so terribly.
DOCG said:
Gad-Westy said:
Keep reading this view. But CLC consistently our scores Sainz. He finished marginally behind Sainz in their first year together and assuming nothing dramatic happens this season will have been ahead the last three seasons. He might not be perfect but a bit like the Norris vs piastri views on here, people seem to just ignore actual results.
Piastri and Norris is different because of the experience gap between them. At the start of this season Norris had already started over a hundred Grand Prix, so following a normal improvement pattern Piastri will be able to easily overtake Norris in terms of ability and performance. And that's not even mentioning Norris' failures at wheel-to-wheel combat and race starts. To me normally a driver will improve in results over some seasons, but that's typically because they get into better cars over their first few seasons if good enough. The properly fast drivers already put big pressure on their team mate immediately. Piastri does that sometimes, but is far too inconsistent so far.
That's not to say I think Norris is a WDC - he will do it if in the right place and the right time, but he makes too many mistakes when under pressure.
Neither jump out as being a clear future WDC like Lewis or Max did, that once in a generation talent.
Byker28i said:
The Vegas circuit works though on TV, just not for the crowds? Good racing, overtaking opportunities
Pretty much but it won't stop the showy people dropping $150k on VVVIP stuff so I guess it works all round. Still, another good race, one championship decided and despite a few things that we all probably generally agree we miss from the old days and would perhaps make this even more entertaining this is probably one, if not the, most exciting championship in the last 15 odd years.
Quick note on Alpine, were has that pace come from? Also on Williams, where has theirs gone and didn't Vowles say like 3 races ago they don't have the parts to keep rebuilding cars etc? Are they slow now because they're using 2 year old bits glued on?
nordboy said:
I am finding it increasingly difficult to get behind Russell. There's just something about him I don't like, but can't quite put my finger on it? He's like the kid in school who tries too hard to be friendly and funny, and just comes off as a bit of a knob.
So, now he's going to be the main driver, I may have to go look elsewhere with my team support. Just not sure where, certainly not RB, as I can't abide Horner.
My views also, I can't like the guy. The over celebration, and I get the vibe he's probably not been told "no" in the past - maybe wrong but that's the way it comes across.So, now he's going to be the main driver, I may have to go look elsewhere with my team support. Just not sure where, certainly not RB, as I can't abide Horner.
I also wouldn't support RB, didn't mind them in the Vettel. LH is my driver, but I'm not a big Ferrari fan either.
McLaren maybe, like both drivers - a "home" team as I grew up 10 miles from HQ.
TikTak said:
<clip> one championship decided and despite a few things that we all probably generally agree we miss from the old days and would perhaps make this even more entertaining this is probably one, if not the, most exciting championship in the last 15 odd years....
With the WDC decided with 2 races to go and Verstappen pretty well nailed on to win all season I can't see that. Yes, Sky have been upping the anti by suggesting Lando could catch him but we all knew it was never going to happen. Hopefully Red Bull's period of dominance is over, rather like it was when Vettel's era of dominance ended. Byker28i said:
The Vegas circuit works though on TV, just not for the crowds? Good racing, overtaking opportunities
Were there any crowds? I only watched the C4 highlights, but all I saw of the track was grey tarmac, grey concrete barriers and grey catch fencing. I don't recall seeing any crowds or anything that identified it as Las Vegas. It could have been the middle of any desert in the world from what it looked like on TV.NRS said:
..
To me normally a driver will improve in results over some seasons, but that's typically because they get into better cars over their first few seasons if good enough. The properly fast drivers already put big pressure on their team mate immediately. Piastri does that sometimes, but is far too inconsistent so far.
That's not to say I think Norris is a WDC - he will do it if in the right place and the right time, but he makes too many mistakes when under pressure.
Neither jump out as being a clear future WDC like Lewis or Max did, that once in a generation talent.
Apart from being some ridiculous age when he first started, was Verstappen's initial year at Toro Rosso being (slightly) better than Sainz (who was also a F1 rookie iirc) considered outstanding enough to be obvious that he was a clear future world champion?To me normally a driver will improve in results over some seasons, but that's typically because they get into better cars over their first few seasons if good enough. The properly fast drivers already put big pressure on their team mate immediately. Piastri does that sometimes, but is far too inconsistent so far.
That's not to say I think Norris is a WDC - he will do it if in the right place and the right time, but he makes too many mistakes when under pressure.
Neither jump out as being a clear future WDC like Lewis or Max did, that once in a generation talent.
thegreenhell said:
Byker28i said:
The Vegas circuit works though on TV, just not for the crowds? Good racing, overtaking opportunities
Were there any crowds? I only watched the C4 highlights, but all I saw of the track was grey tarmac, grey concrete barriers and grey catch fencing. I don't recall seeing any crowds or anything that identified it as Las Vegas. It could have been the middle of any desert in the world from what it looked like on TV.isaldiri said:
NRS said:
..
To me normally a driver will improve in results over some seasons, but that's typically because they get into better cars over their first few seasons if good enough. The properly fast drivers already put big pressure on their team mate immediately. Piastri does that sometimes, but is far too inconsistent so far.
That's not to say I think Norris is a WDC - he will do it if in the right place and the right time, but he makes too many mistakes when under pressure.
Neither jump out as being a clear future WDC like Lewis or Max did, that once in a generation talent.
Apart from being some ridiculous age when he first started, was Verstappen's initial year at Toro Rosso being (slightly) better than Sainz (who was also a F1 rookie iirc) considered outstanding enough to be obvious that he was a clear future world champion?To me normally a driver will improve in results over some seasons, but that's typically because they get into better cars over their first few seasons if good enough. The properly fast drivers already put big pressure on their team mate immediately. Piastri does that sometimes, but is far too inconsistent so far.
That's not to say I think Norris is a WDC - he will do it if in the right place and the right time, but he makes too many mistakes when under pressure.
Neither jump out as being a clear future WDC like Lewis or Max did, that once in a generation talent.
I say this as a big fan of Carlos who hopes he'll do really well at Williams next year.
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