I thought the same. It's always risky voting before a wheel has been turned but I have a feeling in my pipes.
There's always the option to change it prior to 30mins before Q1, wish I did that more often, I've missed 3 or 4 votes this year and I do the thread. yeah, it will be Interesting to see how Albon does this weekend, as they will be on equal footing for the first weekend. Will he be Gasly, or get amongst the top 4 in Q.
I tend not to change it because on the odd occasions where I vote this early it's nice to feel like a smarty pants when you vote before Friday and manage to pick the winner. Although in fairness I have only managed to do this once!
I agree. Although I tend not to do these, I'd have thought that within this forum - and with no regard to others - it would be more fun to choose a winner before qualifying begins.
Having said that, I admit to having made a rare appearance whilst the vote is still valid! So, Hamilton, Verstappen or Leclerc? - I'd be surprised if any respective team mates beat these three. -And this time, at this venue, my vote would be for Hamilton.
I am currently leaning towards Lewis. Merc have shown their car has pace, using Ferrari as the benchmark. It is good in the corners and lewis is hungry still, if not, more so, his challengers have given him a new lease of motivation. I will break with tradition and vote now. I think I have only got one right all season, I kept voting Charles and then accidentally voted Lewis when Charles won.
I went for Max, this is a RBR circuit, and Honda have improved the PU enough for them to win on 2 of the power power reliant circuits. Just have to hope he doesn't crash for the 3rd race in a row.
As true as any reasoning. I think it may not be a slam dunk for any driver. I was looking at race pace vs qualifying pace last year in Singapore. Over the entire race the cars are, on average, approximately 23 kph (14 mph) slower in race vs qualifying, over the 61 laps, undoubtedly much slower at the beginning. We glibly talk about race pace a times but the impact of the extra weight, ride of the car and how it reacts as the dynamics change during the race is the challenge they all have to deal with, some better than others. Would love to see Max/Lewis and Charles all going at it in this race but don't think the Ferrari will be up there with Redbull or Merc but hope I am proved wrong.
Over 3 seconds off last years pole, I would not read much into this. I am watching the C4 highlights at 6.30 so will avoid looking at any comments from the start of quali.
wow, Mercedes nowhere near pole. Edit: sandbags off, but still only good enough for 2nd & 5th. Have Ferrari turned a corner?
Full credit to Ferrari. To be on pole here is incredible. Most remarkable mid-season update since McLaren in 2009. Nobody thought they'd be anywhere near here. Leclerc is a monster over one lap as well. He now has the most poles of anyone this season. Looked like Vettel had it for a while there as well. Yet another big blow for him, losing out like this on his best track.