Slightly less of a margin after FP2, but with Ferrari and Merc well off the pace and, in peak Ferrari fashion, Leclerc already with a grid penalty to contend with. It looks like another RB procession.
With Jeddah being a high speed street circuit I guess there's always the chance of safety car chaos but, even then, RB seem to have such a margin of comfort that they'd likely be able to make up any loss in pure pace. They look like they could probably win from last on the grid right now. I think reliability or a major crash is pretty much the only thing that will stop them.
It's particularly galling as someone who can't stand anything about that team (except Checco seems ok), but also not good for the sport overall. Even Netflix struggled to make last season seem interesting and this one could be even worse. It's a shame that this is what has followed one of the best season's ever and that the old regs were ditched just as we'd finally reached the point where teams were evenly matched enough that we'd could get close racing most weeks. I imagine quite a few people, who had been drawn back into the sport, after we'd had similar problems with over dominance from Merc, will be switching off again over the course of this season.
Slightly less of a margin after FP2, but with Ferrari and Merc well off the pace and, in peak Ferrari fashion, Leclerc already with a grid penalty to contend with. It looks like another RB procession.
With Jeddah being a high speed street circuit I guess there's always the chance of safety car chaos but, even then, RB seem to have such a margin of comfort that they'd likely be able to make up any loss in pure pace. They look like they could probably win from last on the grid right now. I think reliability or a major crash is pretty much the only thing that will stop them.
It's particularly galling as someone who can't stand anything about that team (except Checco seems ok), but also not good for the sport overall. Even Netflix struggled to make last season seem interesting and this one could be even worse. It's a shame that this is what has followed one of the best season's ever and that the old regs were ditched just as we'd finally reached the point where teams were evenly matched enough that we'd could get close racing most weeks. I imagine quite a few people, who had been drawn back into the sport, after we'd had similar problems with over dominance from Merc, will be switching off again over the course of this season.
I do wonder what the new American owners think. Sure F1 has always been dominated by a single team for periods. But with interest at a high I doubt they want Red Bull to dominate for the next 3 years before the next rule changes come in. And this Red bull looks like it could go a whole lot quicker if they really let go
Slightly less of a margin after FP2, but with Ferrari and Merc well off the pace and, in peak Ferrari fashion, Leclerc already with a grid penalty to contend with. It looks like another RB procession.
With Jeddah being a high speed street circuit I guess there's always the chance of safety car chaos but, even then, RB seem to have such a margin of comfort that they'd likely be able to make up any loss in pure pace. They look like they could probably win from last on the grid right now. I think reliability or a major crash is pretty much the only thing that will stop them.
It's particularly galling as someone who can't stand anything about that team (except Checco seems ok), but also not good for the sport overall. Even Netflix struggled to make last season seem interesting and this one could be even worse. It's a shame that this is what has followed one of the best season's ever and that the old regs were ditched just as we'd finally reached the point where teams were evenly matched enough that we'd could get close racing most weeks. I imagine quite a few people, who had been drawn back into the sport, after we'd had similar problems with over dominance from Merc, will be switching off again over the course of this season.
I do wonder what the new American owners think. Sure F1 has always been dominated by a single team for periods. But with interest at a high I doubt they want Red Bull to dominate for the next 3 years before the next rule changes come in. And this Red bull looks like it could go a whole lot quicker if they really let go
They're certainly not having to drive on the ragged edge with everything turned up to 11, so crashes and reliability issues made even less likely.
Great Sprint race, apart from Pouchaire's stupid move... He's not getting close to F1 on that attitude.
Victor Martins looks the one to watch at the moment, unlucky not to win today
Will be fun seeing him against Bearman tomorrow, although expect him to have too much pace compared to Ollie. Doohan should be worried about him, with them both in the Alpine Academy.
Great Sprint race, apart from Pouchaire's stupid move... He's not getting close to F1 on that attitude.
Victor Martins looks the one to watch at the moment, unlucky not to win today
Will be fun seeing him against Bearman tomorrow, although expect him to have too much pace compared to Ollie. Doohan should be worried about him, with them both in the Alpine Academy.
Pourchaire had no need to go for the move. He seemed to have the pace to do it and just follow Martins through. Whatever setup ART running looks mega!
Shame Martins is with Alpine because he's very unlikely to graduate with them anytime soon.
Dreadful F2 race by Victor Martins so far, with a poor getaway from pole and then a dreadful restart after the VSC, handing a two second lead to Olly Bearman. Lead now reducing and currently just over a second.
Commentators saying Martin with a possible penalty not Bearman. Don't see that. Bearnan has a spin and drops to net sixth, make that net fifth as Martins also spins!
Remember Monza last year when Prema had to tell him to calm down during the red flag as he was ranting and raving about the contact with Maloney
He's not let the lead go against Martins, and has buggered his race here.
That's how I see it. Sometimes you just have to let them past and try to get them back later. Drivers probably see Verstappen getting away with defending like that and think that they should do it too.
Comments
The usual London GP rumours are back again - track around the Royal Dock and Excel
With Jeddah being a high speed street circuit I guess there's always the chance of safety car chaos but, even then, RB seem to have such a margin of comfort that they'd likely be able to make up any loss in pure pace. They look like they could probably win from last on the grid right now. I think reliability or a major crash is pretty much the only thing that will stop them.
It's particularly galling as someone who can't stand anything about that team (except Checco seems ok), but also not good for the sport overall. Even Netflix struggled to make last season seem interesting and this one could be even worse. It's a shame that this is what has followed one of the best season's ever and that the old regs were ditched just as we'd finally reached the point where teams were evenly matched enough that we'd could get close racing most weeks. I imagine quite a few people, who had been drawn back into the sport, after we'd had similar problems with over dominance from Merc, will be switching off again over the course of this season.
Victor Martins looks the one to watch at the moment, unlucky not to win today
Will be fun seeing him against Bearman tomorrow, although expect him to have too much pace compared to Ollie. Doohan should be worried about him, with them both in the Alpine Academy.
Pourchaire had no need to go for the move. He seemed to have the pace to do it and just follow Martins through. Whatever setup ART running looks mega!
Shame Martins is with Alpine because he's very unlikely to graduate with them anytime soon.
Fully expect barring a T1 disaster that Max comes through to at least P3
Hamilton had a bit of a shocker today
Lead now reducing and currently just over a second.
Bearnan has a spin and drops to net sixth, make that net fifth as Martins also spins!
Bearman gets too frustrated I find.
Remember Monza last year when Prema had to tell him to calm down during the red flag as he was ranting and raving about the contact with Maloney
He's not let the lead go against Martins, and has buggered his race here.
Drivers probably see Verstappen getting away with defending like that and think that they should do it too.