Grand Prix thread Monza - Formula 1 Heineken Gran Premio D’italia 2021

I mean, starting dead last would remove the potential of disaster in the the first chicane. A good strat could maybe see him still in a good points position.... But, there's a potential win on the cards. Would be a bit of a gamble.

 

Wake me up

James , it’s Toto .

You’re fired ……

 

Why was the sprint race 18 laps but the slower F2 sprint race 21 laps?

 

Lando will win after Max & Ricci come together at T1.

 

I like the idea of sprint races but I don't think it works for forming the grid. It should be in its own right with a bigger points spread. The risk factor deters the incentive to attack.

But I'm not going to poo poo it just because of my favourite driver not doing well in it.

 

Now a Lando win would be superb. I can get behind that!

 

Totally. All risk, little reward for the drivers. No pit stops so no strategy other than tyre choice. Have we seen a meaningful overtake in one?

It irks me a bit that you have qualifying and then the sprint race changes the grid order. Qualifying is qualifying for the main race for me, otherwise it's BS.

 

I'm certainly not poo pooing it because Hamilton muffed it up. But the whole format is just crap. We have qualifying to qualify, so qualifying is diminished, a race where it's barely worth taking any risks, and about the only thing it can potentially do is jigger the actual race come Sunday.

It just doesn't work for me.... So I hope they take it back to the drawing board.

 

Also...it's fixing a problem that just doesn't exist. Only point can be money.

 

It might be fixing the problem you don't see. The aim was to get more people watching on Saturday.

 

So money....

There are so many other problems that need serious attention in the sport that might increase viewership.... If somebody tunes in for their first race, and it's an absolute borefest of a procession, then they're likely lost. No amount of shorter borefests on a Saturday will remedy that.

Concentrate on sorting out bad venues, get the cars closer in performance, increase overtaking, make sure everyone has the funds to compete and not only will viewership go up, but the chance to attract sponsorship across the field. I know they're attempting some of those things, bit sort those out before dicking with the format of the race weekend.

And if they really want a spirit race, make it a race in it's own right. Give everyone a single lap to qualify for it, give points from 1-10 and give it some value and worth risking a move.

Sorry for the moan...it's just fluff in my view.

 

You could even spice up existing qualifying by incorporating sprint qualifying in to it.

Q1 becomes sprint qualifying. Every driver gets one set of the same tyres and gets to do one single flying lap, going in order of the finishing positions of the last race.

The results form the grid for the sprint, then, then then eliminations and Q2/Q3 carry on as normal.

Downside is, would probably have to take place Friday.... Or, combine qualifying and sprint race in to a single TV event, and if you bin it in qualifying, then you're crap out of luck.

 

When you get to my age, having fluff in one's view is something to celebrate.

 

I am staying silent on Mr B's comment.

However, I don't know if Lewis has got this lond covid thing sorted out or if it is a problem still or he is simply messing things up this season. If Verstappen beats Lewis this weekend I am going to believe Max will win the championship this year.
Bottas, this weekend, I think he is a more relaxed individual after the announcement, with nothing needing to be proved, and has performed. Really think his performamnce issue has all been in the mind.

 

I think you are right that mental health issues play a big part in getting a good weekend. I agree that Lewis is suffering from long covid. I think Lewis is going to have to out stratigise red bull to win.

 

Long and short...he muffed the start. The starting position is totally self inflicted.

 

As a big Lewis fan that just feels like an easy excuse to me. If he can't win this weekend I won't hold out much hope for the title.

Hard to remember Max putting a foot wrong all year and so far he'll have much deserved his title if he gets it.

 

Watching Lewis at, I think, Hungary he was visibly weak and not breathing very well. So I am sure it is effecting him but maybe not enough to make a difference.
I agree that Max and Red Bull have been very very good. If Max hadn't had the tyre blow out, and been taken out twice he would probably be about 50 points ahead. Much as I don't like Max's character I do think he deserves the title this year so far anyway.

 

I'm just hoping for that Lando win that Ern mentioned... Come on, get a belting start!

 

Lewis on hard tyres! Interesting choice.