Formula 1 - F1 - Current Season Discussion

[Texasmade]

Not too exciting today except for the blue flags. Ferrari with another strategy blunder for Vettel. Ferrari and Vettel have to be getting increasingly frustrated with each other at this point.

 

[sugarbutch]

Yeah, zzzzzzzzzz...

Vettel's mistake in FP2 kept them from gathering quali sim info during the one practice session with conditions similar to qualifying. He has to shoulder some of the blame, too. He claims that they didn't miss anything because they made the ultras last, but he gained 1.5s between FP3 and Q3, whereas Hamilton gained 2.5s.

Max also deserves credit for a quali lap that may well have been better than Hamilton's considering the power unit issues he was having.

 

[sugarbutch]

Giovinazzi in at Sauber. Vandoorne reportedly entertaining offers to drive in Indycar.

 

[Joffrey]

I'm perfectly fine with how the driver line up is shaping up. Ericcson had plenty of time in the sport and didn't light the world on fire. Vandoorne had two whole years and couldn't even match or beat Alonso from time to time. Ocon's predicament is a bit of a puzzle but appears to be completely Mercedes' doing, so ho-hum he sits out a year.

 

[Texasmade]

I'm not really shedding any tears over anyone either. Sucks that some of these guys are losing their seats but if they were better, they would've been retained. Plus it's always good to see fresh talent come through to see how well they stack up.

 

[sugarbutch]

Ocon may yet get a Williams seat (long shot), but it's hard to say that his current predicament is because of Mercedes. It's almost 100% because of Ricciardo's wildcard decision to go to Renault where Ocon was about to be signed. That's really no one's fault, just bad luck. Had Danny signed earlier for either RBR or Renault, there likely would have been time to find Ocon a seat.

 

[sugarbutch]

Verstappen needs to stop running into people. Vettel needs to work on his impulse control.

 

[Texasmade]

On the plus side, I’ll most likely get to see Lewis clinch thr WDC when I’m in Austin in a couple of weeks.

Ferrari and all of the Italians have to be hating Max right now. He’s been a thorn in their side for several seasons now.

 

[sugarbutch]

Yeah, if Mercedes has anything like the same advantage at CoTA, the odds of another 1-2 are high.

 

[Texasmade]

That amazing Ferrari engine has looked pretty ordinary since Monza.

 

[sugarbutch]

The FIA boost was only intended to make it a close championship, but they were doing too well with it.

 

[Schwazer]

If Esteban Ocon does not get a seat for the 2019 F1 season, that just shows how unfair this sport is can be.

Only 22 and has clearly proven his talent and worth.

 

[sugarbutch]

Blame Danny Ric! Seriously, though, I think his worst case is a year of testing, then in at Mercedes for 2020.

Anybody remember when spinning and falling to the back of the field actually required effort to recover? F1 has to do something to make the field more broadly competitive.

 

[Texasmade]

Great race. I was in the main grandstands 4 rows up near P19/P20 line up. The start is something else when you’re right there even with the quieter V6 turbo PU’s.

 

[Joffrey]

Blame Danny Ric! Seriously, though, I think his worst case is a year of testing, then in at Mercedes for 2020.

Anybody remember when spinning and falling to the back of the field actually required effort to recover? F1 has to do something to make the field more broadly competitive.

Do you mean when there was no DRS?