Formula 1

[Wedgie]

Very rough on Sainz but apparently there was no wriggle room in the rules.

[dedja]

Yes, true, but there were suggestions that the teams could have agreed to let it pass, although Mercedes weren’t going to let that happen.

[dedja]

Starting grid after qualifying. Sainz qualified P2, but gets rimmed by the regulations.

In unknown territory with a new track, although hard to see Verstappen not winning again and Ferrari finding a new way to clutch defeat from the jaws of victory. Hope that Sainz can somehow make it on the podium.

1. Charles Leclerc

2. Max Verstappen

3. George Russell

4. Pierre Gasly

5. Alex Albon

6. Logan Sargeant

7. Valtteri Bottas

8. Kevin Magnussen

9. Fernando Alonso

10. Lewis Hamilton

11. Sergio Perez

12. Carlos Sainz *

13. Nico Hulkenberg

14. Daniel Ricciardo

15. Lando Norris

16. Esteban Ocon

17. Zhou Guanyu

18. Oscar Piastri

19. Lance Stroll *

20. Yuki Tsunoda

Penalties:

Sainz: 10 place grid penalty for component changes
Stroll: 5 place grid penalty for overtaking under double waved yellows

[dedja]

LOL, Max has been shitcanning the event all weekend and then turns up in an Elvis themed racing suit for the race.

[dedja]

Elvis wins, Leclerc 2nd, Perez 3rd.


Sainz 6th.

[Bandit]

Watched a lot of the practice & qaul sessions and then the race highlights which are all free on kayo, handy time for us in AUS. Track seemed surprisingly good for racing, certainly enough passes to keep it interesting. PIA raced well, RIC did enough and I cant believe LEC passed PER on the last lap. I would say that it was one of the better races this season despite the stuff up in P1 and all the show that goes along with it - also love Max's stance on it all, so blunt now. Nice of you to fire up the F1 thread with 2 races to go dedja!

[Booney]

Was like watching a video game at times.

The sphere eye following the cars....!

[Booney]

Watched a lot of the practice & qaul sessions and then the race highlights which are all free on kayo, handy time for us in AUS. Track seemed surprisingly good for racing, certainly enough passes to keep it interesting. PIA raced well, RIC did enough and I cant believe LEC passed PER on the last lap. I would say that it was one of the better races this season despite the stuff up in P1 and all the show that goes along with it - also love Max's stance on it all, so blunt now. Nice of you to REV up the F1 thread with 2 races to go dedja!

[dedja]

I have friends!!!

In the end it was definitely one of the best races of the season.

The predictability and dominance of Red Bull has threatened the spectacle this year, not unlike Mercedes have previous done for a number of years.

All we hope is for as many cars to be competitive as possible and to have close racing. Verstappen is obviously a freak, but the emergence of McLaren and Aston Martin during the season, together with Mercedes at times, and then the unpredictable Ferraris is good to see. Other teams like Alpine, Williams, Haas and Alpha Tauri also have also had their moments.

F1 isn’t dead just yet.

[Corona Man]

I have watched both Singapore & Vegas, in the past few months. The night racing aspect adds to the spectacle.

[dedja]

That Sphere is insane, but not sure it’s worth US$2.3B.

[dedja]

Guenther Steiner sacked by Haas.

What a bunch of wankers.

[dedja]

Latest rumour is that Lewis Hamilton will sign with Ferrari from 2025 to partner Charles Leclerc

*edit* now confirmed.

Carlos Sainz waking up with a very sore arse.

[Bandit]

Very rough on Sainz, cannot understand whats in it for Ferrari? Hamilton is old and getting older, Sainz won them a race last year, they dont need a big name to increase their brand - they are already as big as it gets. Cannot see this being a positive for Ferrari.

Big shake up to the driver market though and very early call with a season to run.

[dedja]

Will end in tears, only outcome will be Lewis adding to his considerable bank account.

[tigerpie]

He hasn't fluked 7 championships.
He knows how to develop a race car.
Ferrari has botched strategy he'll fix that.
He knows what's required to win consistently.
And yep his super balance has just been propped up massively.
I think it's great for racing.

[dedja]

Respectfully disagree on most points.

Mercedes have had a horror 2 years by their standards but were still 2nd in the constructors championship, ahead of Ferrari.

Ferrari are one of the worst teams on the grid with respect to race strategy, Lewis isn’t going to fix that. Whilst there’s no doubt Lewis has had a fantastic career, he relies heavily on his engineer during a race. Carlos, on the other hand, is arguably one of the smartest race day drivers despite the merde he receives from his team.

Yes, this move may provide a sugar hit, but in the long run, Ferrari are better off with Carlos.

Time will tell.

[dedja]

Kills me to say this ... this will be Ricciardo's last year in F1. Yuki is outperforming him so far this year so he has to do something special very soon, or the end will be very near.

Dedja's KOD ...

- Lewis at Ferrari will be a disaster, other than the coin he'll pick up as his best is far past him.
- Red Bull would be mad not to pick up Carlos next year.

[tigerpie]

Kills me to say this ... this will be Ricciardo's last year in F1. Yuki is outperforming him so far this year so he has to do something special very soon, or the end will be very near.

Dedja's KOD ...

- Lewis at Ferrari will be a disaster, other than the coin he'll pick up as his best is far past him.
- Red Bull would be mad not to pick up Carlos next year.

I tend to agree. If he can't keep up with tsunoda then he's finished.
Don't worry about him taking Checas seat, he'll be racing supercars if this continues.

[dedja]

In Japan, it’s Verstappen, daylight, then daylight again, then Checo.

Checo has done everything right to renew his contract next year.

It’s astonishing that Red Bull can be so dominant with a civil war raging in the pits.

Ferrari methinks will begin to regret turfing Sainz for an ageing Hamilton.

Russell is the no.1 driver at Mercedes.

Ricciardo should enjoy whatever is left of his career over the next few races, very sad to watch someone implode before your very eyes. I doubt he’ll survive the mid year break.