Formula1

[Gaz]

Perez shouldn't have been in Q3, hope he gets that time deleted and sent back to wherever he was.

Leclerc is so far behind in the championship he really needs to get his elbows out now so could be fireworks tomorrow and Sunday.

Really promising from the Mercedes before the incidents so hopefully bodes well for the rest of the season.

[westham,eggyandchips]

How light are those mercs that wind puts them both in a wall?

[wolf359]

How light are those mercs that wind puts them both in a wall?

Odd both effected like that, however if they are going to happen best it happen on a track you can overtake and on a sprint weekend. Lewis did look competitive at least, be interesting to see if he can get up to (at least) George for the race.

Seemingly very unlucky. (First reply)

[Johnny Byrne's Boots]

Downforce is proportional to airspeed, not groundspeed. A car doing 150mph in zero wind produces a given amount of downforce. If it does 150mph into a 20mph wind it produces 170mph worth of downforce, and with the same speed tailwind the airspeed is only 130mph with proportionately reduced downforce. If you pile into a corner on the limit and are expecting a certain amount of downforce, and that downforce suddenly reduces because the wind drops or changes direction, you're first to the scene of the accident.

[wolf359]

Still nothing on Perez’s penalty for the stewards inexplicably missing his out of bounds lap. Be peak F1 is George gets more of a penalty for walking across an empty track.

Edit after three hours it ‘seems’ he will start tenth or maybe 13th. Different reporters saying different things. One day the F1 will sort the sport out, even their ‘findings’ are opaque.

It’s 13th …some justice I suppose.

[Gaz]

13th was where he was before the illegal lap IIRC, removes Max’s wing man and leaves him vulnerable to the Ferraris, also great that Russell bins it and still gets 4th, if the Merc is competitive it adds another dimension.

Almost hoping for a clean sprint so this is where they all start for the race.

[szola]

The best way to beat a Ferrari in F1 is to place another Ferrari alongside it.

If Red Bull don't win the double this season, they never will.

[wolf359]

The best way to beat a Ferrari in F1 is to place another Ferrari alongside it.

If Red Bull don't win the double this season, they never will.

Sadly it all looks done and dusted. The main entertainment of the season will be how Ferrari can mess up today.

Perez cut through the grid like butter. Expect him to finish at least third tomorrow. Red Bull likes this track, Max could lap the whole pack tomorrow I reckon.

[Bend it like Repka]

Leclerc has to get up alongside Max at the start. Pretty much the only chance they have.

[westham,eggyandchips]

It's Red Bulls track, so can't see anything other than a 1-2.

But the beauty of this sport says you never can predict what will happen.

[Rio]

Really not enjoying these sprint races. Add no value and largely processional. Just gives additional points to the usual suspects.

[wolf359]

Really not enjoying these sprint races. Add no value and largely processional. Just gives additional points to the usual suspects.

Well the offical line is EVERYONE loves them and there will be 6 next year with plans for even more. They are going ahead with them regardless of people thoughts. Almost none one who had watched the sport for more than 5 minutes likes them but they keep claiming almost unanimous enthusiasm from the public (must have used the same company Brady used when polling about the LS move)

As per type (old white man who has watched the sport for 30 odd years) they are bloody awful and do the opposite of what is intended. If they did a reverse grid F3/F2 style then we might have something on our hands but the big boys will never sign that off.

Shame the rain from this morning seems to have passed, might have livened up the race later and given someone else other than Max a chance.

Lastly a lot of reports of very bad behaviour in the stands, sexism.. calling, groping, drunk mobs etc. Twitter full of stories (and some videos) this seems to be mainly orange shirt wear blokes.. not a good look. F1 have made a statement this morning we'll see if anything come from it. Not a good look for Red Bull (it is their track). They are going well lately on the diversity and equality front.

[Gaz]

Re sprint races, for me they detract from the main event. Take yesterday, Max used his tyres to build a +1 second gap as early as he could before DRS was enabled which compromised his race a bit later. The Ferraris managed their tyres for the distance and we're starting to catch Verstappen towards the end.

Both teams have now learnt from this and will use that info and rivals data to inform their race strategies for today, whereas before, they would have chosen a strategy and adapted during the race. Everyone has now seen everyone's race pace and will use the night to analyse and plan.

[jastons]

The sprint races are a completely unnecessary 'gimic'. That being said, why have them at some tracks and not others?

[Johnny Byrne's Boots]

The sprint races are a completely unnecessary 'gimic'. That being said, why have them at some tracks and not others?

By and large the teams don't want them but the FIA think they're wonderful, so this is the compromise.

[simon hammer]

Oh look...an exploding Ferrari!

Glad Sainz got out of that eventually...car looks an absolute mess.

[Johnny Byrne's Boots]

LeClerc passed Verstappen three times in that race...

[wolf359]

Charlie gets home, praying the Italian engineering holds out. Max one more place for than it looked, clearly second best team today. Mercedes’ in no man’s land as third best team. Good recovery from George after his penalty at the start.

Mick with points again, that Haas is useful when it suits the track and conditions.

[Bend it like Repka]

Lots of stories about the behaviour of drunken dutch fans. Racism and sexism in abundance.



FIA investigating.

[Denbighammer]

Poor old Melanie...she went to watch a race and got "genuinely bummed".