Great to see Ferrari back at the top. Great to see Verstappen go out. I do have a feeling Mercedes will unlock the potential within a few races and if so these points could be very valuable to them.
This is a really important point. If Merc can fix their issues and be genuine race contenders soon, then they’ve lost much less ground than expected during this period with a vastly inferior car.
Got a feeling that Lewis doesn't like being behind Russell - Am glad that Mercedes aren't telling the latter to let him past.
Although given the radio exchange prior to Perez getting past Russell - I dont actually think that he would listen.
A bit too early in the season to really mean anything, but it’s nice that both Hamilton and Verstappen are behind their teammates in the standings.
Neither of them will like that and I’m sure they’ll both continue to get the priority treatment from their teams, but it would be interesting if Perez and/or Russell are still ahead later in the season - would Verstappen and Hamilton be forced to suck it up and play second fiddle?
Perez is having a great season in that regard, he's not being slaughtered in Quali this season
Just needs to try and get closer with his race craft.
True, but he was really unlucky with the safety car in Saudi. Yes he cocked up with the overtake on Sainz’s pit exit, but had the cards fallen better with the safety car timing, that win may well have been his, not Verstappen’s.
From what I've seen of these cars, and how easy they seem to be to put in the wall, especially at turn 11, it wouldn't surprise me to see someone lower down make a charge up the field and take a podium. Sainz in 9th is the obvious one, or Alonso, who's car looked really dialled in before he hit the aforementioned wall
Naturally Sainz spun out after a couple of laps, and Alonso pitted at the wrong time and finished way down the order
Verstappen 46 points behind Leclerc after 3 races. As long at the Ferrari stays reliable, Verstappen already has a mountain to climb to win back to back titles.
Verstappen 46 points behind Leclerc after 3 races. As long at the Ferrari stays reliable, Verstappen already has a mountain to climb to win back to back titles.
Max to push him into a wall then. Rather Leclerc won, but would be great to have red bull, ferrari and Mercedes all fighting for wins
I know Charles is way out in front, but I don't have all that much faith in Ferrari not finding some spectacularly stupid way to mess this advantage up.
This sprint could be quite interesting, although I expect Lando and KMag to get absolutely left in the dust by Max and Charles . With Imola being quite narrow and that run to T1 being treacherous, could we possibly see our first Max and Charles coming together?
Leclerc miles ahead of everyone in practice although the weather probably provided greater disparity, but even so, Ferrari's pace looks in a league of its own this year.
Verstappen only on pole because of timing of all the red flags, I suspect over the race and a half that we get over the next couple of days the Ferrari will streak ahead. Again I'm going to jinx him, but I expect Sainz to come through the field a bit in sprint race and get himself a better starting position for the race
I really want Sainz to do well but he's made mistakes two weekends running, trying too hard maybe
He’s not really giving the Ferrari team much of a problem deciding who their number one driver is. Although I suspect LeClerc was always expected to be their number one, there were some (including me) who thought Sainz might outperform his teammate. There’s still time, but he’s not looked great so far this year, while LeClerc has been close to flawless.
Verstappen only on pole because of timing of all the red flags, I suspect over the race and a half that we get over the next couple of days the Ferrari will streak ahead. Again I'm going to jinx him, but I expect Sainz to come through the field a bit in sprint race and get himself a better starting position for the race
Verstappen is on a bit of a lucky streak when it comes to those unpredictable incidents that are just about timing.
I’m not talking about things in his (or his team’s) control like driving errors or car reliability. I mean things like red flags coming out in quali just before a rival puts in a great lap, or just after Verstappen puts one in. The timing of rain combined with yellow flags and red flags yesterday was extremely fortunate.
Even going back to that race at the end of last season, the timing of Latifi’s accident - One lap later, and the whole controversy would never have happened. I always think luck goes in cycles though. He had some bad luck last year too and he’ll get some more this year.
To be clear: He’s still a very very good driver. To be even more clear: He’s still a very very massive bellend. 😎
He's getting outclassed by Russell all season so far, let alone this weekend - The only mistake George has made all season was his Quali lap @ Bahrain.
He's getting outclassed by Russell all season so far, let alone this weekend - The only mistake George has made all season was his Quali lap @ Bahrain.
Even then he recovered to finish behind Hamilton.
Tbf George had some good fortune thrown in there in Australia and Hamilton some bad luck in Saudi Arabia.
But he looks every inch a 37 yr old who doesn’t want to be doing this every weekend at the moment
Stuff like that makes me worry for Leclerc and Ferrari over the course of the season, he has a mistake in him and they have always had problems with strategy and calls under pressure. There was no need to go for the fastest lap there, and I'm sure taking third place and another podium would have been sweeter than 6th and not getting the fastest lap anyway.
Hamilton looking a bit of a spent force this season, can't catch a break and Russell is showing him up so far
Also I said I'll jinx Sainz again, got to 4th in the sprint, then has an iffy start (mainly because he was behind his even worse starting teammate on the grid) then gets tagged by Danny Ric and is beached in the gravel
Imola not a great track for these cars. Big mistake by Leclerc. Both drivers making mistakes this weekend cost them.
I wouldn't write Hamilton off just yet as finished, the car isn't a race winner. He's had a bit of bad luck in Melbourne and Saudi as well with safety cars
That was great at the end before the podium - seeing Max, Checo and Lando all informally chatting about the race. Much better than the official interviews!
That was great at the end before the podium - seeing Max, Checo and Lando all informally chatting about the race. Much better than the official interviews!
Yeah great to have the cooldown room back, even though there is a camera there you learn so much more from the race than from the actual interviews.
Stuff like that makes me worry for Leclerc and Ferrari over the course of the season, he has a mistake in him and they have always had problems with strategy and calls under pressure. There was no need to go for the fastest lap there, and I'm sure taking third place and another podium would have been sweeter than 6th and not getting the fastest lap anyway.
Hamilton looking a bit of a spent force this season, can't catch a break and Russell is showing him up so far
This is exactly what I thought might happen , Leclerc still has those silly mistakes in his driving that could ultimately cost him in a close title fight.
As for Mercedes I'm not entirely sure what's going there , is it down to George being able to extract more from a car that's a bit compromised as that's all he's ever really had with the Williams? Lewis being that far off the pace and not ever really looking like he was genuinely going to overtake Gasly is very odd. Far from me to write him off however because I'm sure he's going to find a win from somewhere but things really aren't looking good.
Do they have to be on site? Surely it's a job that can be done remotely/in isolation as long as they can get access to the servers to see camera angles and radio feeds?
It hasn't been the world's biggest secret but I'm surprised both Audi and Porsche are entering Formula 1 - I had assumed it would just be one of the VW brands, and my guess would have been Porsche.
Comments
Although I suspect LeClerc was always expected to be their number one, there were some (including me) who thought Sainz might outperform his teammate. There’s still time, but he’s not looked great so far this year, while LeClerc has been close to flawless.
I always think luck goes in cycles though. He had some bad luck last year too and he’ll get some more this year.
To be clear: He’s still a very very good driver.
To be even more clear: He’s still a very very massive bellend.
😎
I know Mercedes car is a mess this season but Russell is 5th.
as ever lots of circumstances but fact remains he has been outclassed by Russell this weekend
Even then he recovered to finish behind Hamilton.
But he looks every inch a 37 yr old who doesn’t want to be doing this every weekend at the moment
Hamilton looking a bit of a spent force this season, can't catch a break and Russell is showing him up so far
I wouldn't write Hamilton off just yet as finished, the car isn't a race winner. He's had a bit of bad luck in Melbourne and Saudi as well with safety cars
This is exactly what I thought might happen , Leclerc still has those silly mistakes in his driving that could ultimately cost him in a close title fight.
As for Mercedes I'm not entirely sure what's going there , is it down to George being able to extract more from a car that's a bit compromised as that's all he's ever really had with the Williams? Lewis being that far off the pace and not ever really looking like he was genuinely going to overtake Gasly is very odd. Far from me to write him off however because I'm sure he's going to find a win from somewhere but things really aren't looking good.
Could be an interesting telephone call to Michael Masi