The F1 Thread

[Paddingtonwolf]

I think you are right. Suggests the Merc is going to ace the speed circuits but struggle in places like Monaco, Baku etc

 

[Kenny]

I think you are right. Suggests the Merc is going to ace the speed circuits but struggle in places like Monaco, Baku etc

Same as every other year since they became the top team then.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Looks like that doesn't it. The Merc doesn't perform as well on the twisty stuff.

 

[Kenny]

Somehow managed to win a few of them though. Easy at Monaco. Set the car up to nail pole and then keep everyone behind you for 2 hours. Singapore...just hope Vettel is having a breakdown and decides to wipe out the front 3.

 

[Freddeno]

Best looking car for me is the Haas...really nice

 

[Carrotdude]

I find it funny that Toro Rosso managed well over 100 laps today with Honda engines after their pathetic attempts with Mclaren in the last 2 years

 

[The Bear]

Watching Ted's Testing Notebook, and the Renault and Torro Rosso really do look fantastic.

 

[Freddeno]

Agree on the Todo Rosso, does also look great

 

[Carrotdude]

So after all their insistence that all of their problems were because of Honda, Mclaren’s car has broken down 4 times in 2 days and had quite limited running in the testing so far. Meanwhile Toro Rosso with the Honda engine seems pretty reliable and not too shabby pace wise either.

I hope Mclaren sort things out and have a good season but they are looking a bit silly at the moment.

Meanwhile the early signs are that red bull will be competitive from the start this season which would be nice, I expect the fight for 4th place to be quite tight between everyone else

 

[Nando]

Honda are changing the engine in the Toro Rosso every evening apparently.

Not too concerned about McLaren. Their main problems have been things you typically expect in testing when you don't have a full dyno that you can iron out such issues on. Given how tightly packaged that car is with a complete new powertrain, issues are to be expected on that front.

 

[Carrotdude]

All the teams managed a hell of a lot of laps today and Vettel set a marker with a very quick lap. Definitely looks like it’ll be close in the midfield, haas and Toro Rosso look improved, Renault and Mclaren look quicker and force India always manage to make the most of their resources. I expect sauber to be more competitive too

Most telling thing so far is Kubica wiping the floor with Sorotkin and Stroll in the Williams but they need the money from those drivers

 

[Nando]

That Ferrari lap was 1.9s quicker than pole here last season. Even considering that the track has been resurfaced, that is fecking quick.

Mercedes were clearly running with heavy fuel loads for most of the day and with Allison pretty much saying their car is considerably better than last seasons, it is hard to look beyond them still at this stage.

 

[The Bear]

Haas' time yesterday on the softs indicates there's still a good bit more performance to come from the top teams.

 

[Kenny]

A stunner of a lap from Lewis in Q3 to take the 1st pole of the season. Was looking like there was nothing between the Merc, Ferraris and Red Bulls until that lap.

 

[Carrotdude]

A stunner of a lap from Lewis in Q3 to take the 1st pole of the season. Was looking like there was nothing between the Merc, Ferraris and Red Bulls until that lap.

Seeing as Bottas binned it we don’t know how much of that time is the car and how much is Lewis being phenomenal. I think it’ll be closer in the race, Verstappen has a good chance I think.

 

[Tredman]

This genuinely might have to be the season I give up on F1. What an utterly pointless race, decided on location during a virtual safety car, impossible to overtake.

 

[Kenny]

This genuinely might have to be the season I give up on F1. What an utterly pointless race, decided on location during a virtual safety car, impossible to overtake.

Yep. What is the point of having cars get within .5 of a second and then they can't do anything and after 2 laps have to back off. The 3 engine rule this season will be a farce. Basically stopping any thoughts of proper racing.

 

[Carrotdude]

It was a bullshit VSC as well, was always going to need a full safety car to get a telehandler onto the track to remove the Haas.

Tbf Melbourne is always hard to overtake on, will probably be better at more conventional tracks

 

[Tredman]

It's nonsense like this, from a a commentator I usually really like, which shows how bad its got:

[QUOTE ]#AskCrofty I love Melbourne it's a great place to come, but often we don't get a lot of overtaking and as a result, not the best race to start the season https://t.co/K736ueSOYR[/QUOTE]

Millions of people should put up with a terribly boring race because it's a 'great place to come'. Utter tosh.

 

[Dublin Drummer Wolf]

The new F1 branding and logo is like AIDS for the eyes. Look at the state of this...