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The collective sigh of relief for the sake of F1, Austrian Grand Prix Awards

Discussion in 'Formula 1' started by cosicave, Jun 30, 2019.

  1. cosicave

    cosicave Well-Known Member

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    Best Driver:
    Worst Driver:
    LuckiestDriver:
    Unluckiest Driver:
    Best Rookie/New Driver:

    Best Team:
    Surprise Team:
    Worst Team:
    Best Strategy:
    Worst Strategy:

    Best Overtake/Defence (Racecraft):

    Most Surprising:
    Least Surprising:
    Funniest moment:
    Excuse of the weekend:

    Special Mention:

    Race Rating: ?/10
     
    #1
    Last edited: Jul 2, 2019
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  2. moreinjuredthanowen

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    Best Driver: ermmm... le clerc did everything right.ferrari let him down again. Verstappen had a terrible start but his team positioned him to attack and he did.
    Worst Driver: magnussen
    LuckiestDriver: vettel that his team didn t manage to put the tyres on the wrong way. Clearly were not ready.
    Unluckiest Driver: cant say as I saw much bad luck tbh.
    Best Rookie/New Driver: norris

    Best Team: red bull got tactics for one driver perfect.
    Surprise Team: McLaren over all.
    Worst Team: Haas, burning up rubber faster than any car should be able to.
    Best Overtake: hmmmm I thought verstappen one on kimi showedforesight and astute use of systems. I think he had it worked out cos he repeated trick as well. Into turn 3, get Drs trigger, pass then open Drs and sail off

    Biggest Surprise: ferrari being quickest but being caught by a Honda engine.
    Most expected result: ferrari **** it up. Vettel especially
    Funniest moment: nothing exactly funny par se
    Excuse of the weekend:

    Special Mention: Norris did very very well.

    Race Rating: 6/10 it's maybe harsh but it's still a Drs dominated race so for me there's a case that max should prob have struggled to pass bottas. Id give him vettel the Way he caught him. Good race
     
    #2
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  3. Quite Possibly Raving

    Quite Possibly Raving Well-Known Member

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    Disclaimer: I actually listened to the full race on the radio which was unusual for me [long drive today] and have watched the full highlights only. Felt I should comment anyway after not feeling able/willing to post after the French GP.

    Best Driver: Hard to call between Norris and Verstappen. Can I say both? If pushed, Norris, but only due to the controversial overtake from Max...
    Worst Driver: Gasly. Come on RBR, it's time. Make it quick and clean.
    Luckiest Driver: Not sure - perhaps Bottas due to Ferrari messing up Vettel's chances, and Hamilton messing up his own?
    Unluckiest Driver: LeClerc. Really like the guy - that win will come!
    Best Rookie/New Driver: Norris.

    Best Team: McLaren. Great to see their progress. Can't be RBR with Gasly, can't be Ferrari based on strategy, and certainly not Merc this weekend.
    Surprise Team: If this can be for negative surprises, probably how poor the Mercedes was in the heat.
    Worst Team: Sadly and predictably, Williams.
    Best Overtake: Loved the Vettel/Norris battle, but will probably have to go for Verstappen on Vettel a little later on.

    Biggest Surprise: Mercedes struggling as much as they did.
    Most expected result: Gasly not delivering.
    Funniest moment: Struggling to think of this on...
    Excuse of the weekend: Again, struggling.

    Special Mention: A little left field, but....the McLaren team in 1988, who won 11 races in a row. After such a dominant Merc start to the season, with even F1 nuts starting to get very bored, Mercedes were unable to match the record of 11 wins in a row. Shows what an incredible feat that was in '98!

    Race Rating: 8/10
     
    #3
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  4. cosicave

    cosicave Well-Known Member

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    Both great posts.
    Hey, QPR: no need to worry about "struggling". I usually have to scratch my head too and sometimes have to leave things blank.
     
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  5. Julius Caesar

    Julius Caesar Well-Known Member
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    Best Driver: Max Verstappen
    Worst Driver: Pierre Gasly
    LuckiestDriver: Luck didn't seem a big factor today
    Unluckiest Driver: Vettel. Mechanical failure in qualy, followed by not having the tyres for the pitstop.
    Best Rookie/New Driver: Lando Norris. After a slightly underwhelming F2 season, he's back to looking like the next big thing

    Best Team: McLaren
    Surprise Team: Alfa Romeo
    Worst Team: Haas - Magnussen got beaten by a Williams...
    Best Overtake: Leclerc retaking his position from Verstappen
    Biggest Surprise: Hamilton 5th
    Most expected result: Kubica last
    Funniest moment: Lando on the radio
    Excuse of the weekend: Didn't see anything too egregious this weekend.

    Special Mention: Charles Leclerc. Must be gutting for him. He'll get one eventually

    Race Rating: 10/10 - There have been better races, but they've always been either rainy or crash-filled. This race had strategic intrigue, great wheel to wheel combat, the toppling of a dominant team, a bit of controversy and a comeback to take the win after an incredibly tense last 10 laps. What more can be asked of a dry race?
     
    #5
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  6. Le Tissier's Laces

    Le Tissier's Laces Well-Known Member

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    Agreed on the Leclerc re-take of the position. That was balls out brilliant in a car with zero grip left.
     
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  7. Justjazz

    Justjazz Well-Known Member

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    Best Driver: Max Verstappen...unfortunately
    Worst Driver: Pierre Gasly, lapped, he needs to go.
    LuckiestDriver:
    Unluckiest Driver: LeClerc, I was saying when Verstappen was still behind Bottas that LeClerc maybe should go onto a softer tyre, He would have lost position but could probably have taken the lead back. Might have seemed like a ganble but so was leaving him out there with Verstappen clearly on a charge. Also Lando, Mclaren should have been the Honda works team, and why weren't they? Too much emotion in the decision on Honda.
    Best Rookie/New Driver: Lando Norris,

    Best Team: McLaren
    Surprise Team: Alfa Romeo
    Worst Team: Haas, what has happened to Haas, they have fallen back
    Best Overtake: Several were good.
    Biggest Surprise: We, the mob, were entertained.
    Most expected result: Kubica last
    Funniest moment:
    Excuse of the weekend: i didn't hear excuses.

    Special Mention: Charles Leclerc and Lando. My somewhat wishful forecast of Le Clerc, Mad Max and Lando on the podium was nearly true.

    Race Rating: 9/10 - I actually felt a surge of emotion watching today.
     
    #7
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  8. El_Bando

    El_Bando Can't remember, where was I?
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    Best Driver: Verstappen. Although start was poor and overtake for lead was iffy. Still did a brilliant job to get back there.

    Worst Driver: Kubica

    LuckiestDriver: Verstappen for not getting penalised. I suspect Canada and the Dutch fan invasion had something to do with it.

    Unluckiest Driver: leclerc. Another chance of first win slips away.

    Best Rookie/New Driver: Norris. He's really starting to mature now. Let's hope McLaren push on.

    Best Team: McLaren had best team result.

    Surprise Team: Alfa Romeo. They have been struggling this year with tyres so maybe they just need more heat.

    Worst Team: HAAS. What's happened to them?

    Best Overtake: Verstappen was very clever with the DRS on many occasions

    Biggest Surprise: Hamilton off the boil. But I suppose it always happens after 4 wins in a row.

    Most expected result: Ferrari to be quick.

    Funniest moment: Lando: What like.... Forever????

    Excuse of the weekend: the Ferrari tyre guys not being ready when the rest of the pit team were out. Wake up lads.

    Special Mention: sainz started last and getting 8th is worth a pat on the back.

    Race Rating: 8/10 a proper race. Not expecting these every race but should happen more than it currently is. Expecting Silverstone to be a bore again.
     
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  9. eddie_squidd

    eddie_squidd Well-Known Member

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    I don't do these often but this was such an interesting race I though I'd give it a go.

    Best Driver: Verstappen, Leclerc or Norris could all stake a claim on this. In a differet sort of race Norris probably did enough to claim it, he looked very racey and very capable of pushing that McLaren to the limit as it continues to improve. Trouble is, you can't see past Verstappen for best driver in that race, controversy or no it was a great charge.

    Worst Driver: Well it seems obvious to metnion Kubica, which makes me sad. Bottas was lacklustre and offered no resistance whatsoever to Verstappen.
    LuckiestDriver:
    Unluckiest Driver: Lerclerc had his maiden win snatched again. Actually both Ferrari drivers were compromised by their own team through no fault of their own.
    Best Rookie/New Driver: Norris

    Best Team:Mclaren for the biggest improvers.
    Surprise Team: In a good way Mclaren, in a bad one Mercedes.
    Worst Team:Haas
    Best Overtake:Verstappen's first overtake on Leclerc, much better than the second one = Leclerc's brilliant overtake back. I was on the edge of my seat for that exchange, great great racing.

    Biggest Surprise: No 1 or 2 for Mercedes. Williams not last and second last.
    Most expected result: Bottas making no real impact.
    Funniest moment:
    Excuse of the weekend:

    Special Mention: Leclerc and Norris

    Race Rating: 9/10
     
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  10. ched999uk

    ched999uk Well-Known Member

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    Best Driver: LeClerc - his team let him down, otherwise he might have won, again!
    Worst Driver: Pierre Gasly - sorry but to have no mechanical issues and get lapped by your team mate!
    Unluckiest Driver: LeClerc - let down by Ferrari again. They could have pushed but chose to not pull a gap so they had no safety margin when max came charging.
    Best Rookie/New Driver: Norris

    Best Team: McLaren
    Surprise Team: Alfa Romeo heat seemed to help them
    Worst Team: Haas - it's like they haven't got a clue.
    Best Overtake: Norris on Kimi.
    Biggest Surprise: Merc not at the front due to design issues!
    Most expected result: Kubica being last
    Funniest moment: Max bogging down at the start.
    Excuse of the weekend: Ferrari mechanics not hearing that Seb was coming in for tyres!!!!!

    Special Mention: LeClerc and Norris.

    Race Rating: 9/10 - from start to finish, front to back there were battles.
     
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  11. cosicave

    cosicave Well-Known Member

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    Nice write-up, Eddie. Please do it more often!
    ;-)
     
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  12. Justjazz

    Justjazz Well-Known Member

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    Cosi, while there is room to put many comments would it be worth a Best Strategic Decision in the questions. I say this based on this last race.
    The win by Verstappen hinged primarily on tyre choice, started on mediums rather than soft, later pit stop fresher tyres. Obviously he is a fast driver but principally tyre choice. Strategically a good choice, while other teams took more of a tactical decision with softs. Just a thought, assumes the audience is not lost with a return to the boring feast we have been feed at the start of this season. 2 out of 3 of the last races have been worth watching,
     
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  13. cosicave

    cosicave Well-Known Member

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    Absolutely.
    Although some may see it as similar to best and worst teams, I will generalise two new categories: "Best (and Worst) Strategy". This will provide for those - perhaps like yourself - who may perceive a difference.

    To that end, I will edit the original post in order to include your suggestion - and I'm sure others, like me, will be interested to see your nomination(s)!

    To all members: there is no requirement to fill out every category if you prefer to focus on just a few. That said, as mentioned at the start of the year, when the curtain falls, my intention is to sum up every category as a comparison to the normal "End of Season Awards" thread, as I think it will be interesting to see any differences…
     
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  14. moreinjuredthanowen

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    Sounds like a good one. Could be worst strategic decision too. It depends if thats whats wanted from F1 racing.

    I would say yes, passing more so but a strategy is certainly part.

    Ferrari utterly blundered in my view reacting to bottas stop rather than racing their won race.

    Red bull went the different way and it paid off.

    You just have to feel that theres room for more than the obvious strategy at times. and sadly the obvious strategy now is use the hardest possible tyre in Q2 to get through to top 10 then race conservatively in race saving fuel, tyres and engine... subject to being competitive.
     
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  15. WestCoastBoogaloo

    WestCoastBoogaloo Well-Known Member

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    Best Driver: Grudgingly I'll say Verstappen
    Worst Driver: Gasly, you have to wonder if Danny Ric could be welcomed back with open arms should things keep going the way they are.

    Luckiest Driver:
    Unluckiest Driver: LeClerc
    Best Rookie/New Driver: LAAAAAAANDOOOOO!!!!

    Best Team: Shared between McLaren and Alfa for getting both cars in the points
    Surprise Team: Alfa
    Worst Team: Haas, what's going on there!?
    Best Strategy: Sainz
    Worst Strategy: LeClerc getting let down by Ferrari again

    Best Overtake/Defence (Racecraft): Very impressed with LeClerc's defense against Verstappen's charge in the final laps. Lando's duelling with Hamilton on the opening lap was good too.

    Most Surprising: The FIA taking 3 hours to make a decision on LeClerc/Verstappen overtake
    Least Surprising: Kubica waaaay at the back
    Funniest moment: Kubica erroneously being given "Driver of the Day"

    Excuse of the weekend:

    Special Mention: Honda, regardless of whether it was them or McLaren who were more to blame for their disastrous partnership it's great to see them earn some success. They've evidently been putting in the hours and it's great to see.

    Race Rating: 8/10
     
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  16. Big Ern

    Big Ern Lord, Master, Guru & Emperor

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    Special Mention Russell, he was legitimately racing people on the track at some point pre pit-stops.
     
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  17. cosicave

    cosicave Well-Known Member

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    Best Driver: Verstappen. And Sainz was very very close to topping the bill this time out. Both were superb.
    Worst Driver: Kubica, Gasly and Magnussen. In terms of results, the first two are not justifying a place on an F1 grid. Magnussen was very messy this weekend and contributed to the embarrassment for Haas.

    LuckiestDriver: Although it seems odd to nominate driver of the day, one can only come up with Verstappen. I think what he did with Leclerc was very, very close to warranting a penalty – but not quite! He had the corner and Leclerc should not really have expected to be able to turn in from the outside twice in successive laps, especially since in 'round 2' his positioning on approach was less effective than the previous lap and invited an attack. Now, although very robust, so far as I'm concerned, Verstappen just won the argument under the present guidelines… Enough!…

    Unluckiest Driver: Probably Leclerc. He had a great weekend and really ought to have won but for falling victim to poor strategy which made him vulnerable to a stomping Verstappen.
    Best Rookie/New Driver: Norris. He gave Hamilton a run for his money and served notice that he can really race (unlike Gasly). So, I'd say he's looking pretty handy…

    Best Team: McLaren. Not only did the team perform very well as a whole but the partnership of drivers was second to none on the day.
    Surprise Team: In the positive sense, I'll go with Alfa Romeo. 'Best of the rest' while the likes of Renault, Toro Rosso, Racing Point and Haas all seemed to go backward. In the negative sense, I was surprised at Renault.
    Worst Team: Haas. Very poor with both cars, especially Magnussen. And Grosjean just came across as a bit random, again.
    Best Strategy: Red Bull at least put Verstappen in with a chance, although the Dutchman exceeded all expectations. Also McLaren and Sainz – who came up with one of his best ever drives.
    Worst Strategy: I have to nominate Ferrari again. Never mind the lack of luck
    *, the team's decisions are looking extremely wooden this season.

    Best Overtake/Defence (Racecraft): The Verstappen / Leclerc battle, round 1 - when it was clean and feisty. Russell also worth a mention here: the Williams is well adrift but he was able to capitalise on Haas' lacklustre performance. In fact, I have him down as sixth best driver of the weekend.

    Most Surprising: Hamilton damaging his car and finishing behind Bottas despite being quicker throughout the weekend.
    Least Surprising: Kubica in a Williams is the most likely to be the last to finish until he calls it a day. Shame on you, Williams, for trying to grab headlines with someone you knew was no longer good enough.

    Funniest moment: Hmm. I always find this category a bit tricky. I rarely see misfortune as funny unless some kind of karma is involved. Reading through the posts of others, I should thank JC for reminding me of Lando Norris's celebrations. His genuine enthusiasm is most refreshing and tends to make me smile.

    Excuse of the weekend: Ferrari must still be looking for something – probably under a tyre blanket in the garage…

    Special Mention: Honda deserve this. The way that team has stuck with it through thick and thin despite being ripped off by punitive regulations is a credit to the whole organisation – and they've done it with scarcely a whisper of complaint. Very honourable. Very admirable.

    Race Rating: 9.44/10. One of the best for a long time. As someone said elsewhere (forgive me not remembering who right now) for a dry race, this was quite exceptional.


    - - -o 0 o- - -
    *(Rightly or wrongly, there's an argument that in motor racing, one makes one's own luck; and this season, Ferrari seems to be doing its level best to win nothing but wooden spoons).
     
    #17
  18. allsaintchris.

    allsaintchris. Well-Known Member

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    Best Driver: Verstappen gets it, no one gave him a chance after the start and he snuck in on the blind side. It could be argued that his start means he shouldn't get DotD, but the recovery drive was exceptional
    Worst Driver: Gasly and Kubica. Both way off the pace of their teammates still and showing no signs of improving.
    Luckiest Driver: Verstappen, got away with a tardy start and his overly robust move on Leclerc, which if Vettel and Ricciardo hadn't preceeded him would probably have resulted in a penalty.
    Unluckiest Driver: LeClerc
    Best Rookie/New Driver: Norris.

    Best Team: Have to agree with McLaren and Alfa for both having good weekends.
    Surprise Team: Alfa
    Worst Team: Haas have lost the plot. Williams is too obvious now, though Russell didn't finish last and they were a bit closer.
    Best Strategy: Sainz
    Worst Strategy: Leclerc, Ferrari reacted to the wrong car.

    Best Overtake/Defence (Racecraft): Leclerc did well, and would have probably defended again if not for the 'racing line' being taken.
    Most Surprising: The FIA taking 3 hours to make a decision on LeClerc/Verstappen overtake, it shouldn't take that long
    Least Surprising: The FIA taking 3 hours to make a decision on LeClerc/Verstappen overtake, I forget, it's the FIA stewards............

    Funniest moment:
    Excuse of the weekend:


    Special Mention: Honda's return to the top step. What a different it has made since they moved from McLaren

    Race Rating: 8/10 Why we keep coming back to F1 as it still throws up races like this :)
     
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