Grand Prix thread Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2021

Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2021

51 laps of the 6.003-kilometre Baku City Circuit

04th June Practice 1 09:30 - 10:30
04th June Practice 2 13:00 - 14:00
05th June Practice 3 10:00 - 11:00
05th June Qualifying 13:00 - 14:00
06th June Race 13:00 - 15:00

All times are UK times
Poll closes before quali.

So this race might be messed up at the end with protests and counter protests so who ever crosses the line first might not end up being the winner!!!

 

I've gone early, and I've gone for Max. It's a street circuit, so I can't see the Mercs being any better round here than in Monaco, and I can see it suiting the Red Bull. Plus hopefully the curse of my vote will strike again.

 

Hmmm..no votes visible yet Count Dracula…

 

street circuits, yes, but nowhere near the same, S1 & S3 are fast, S2 is a bit more twisty but more like abu dhabi S3 than monaco

 

McLaren are meant to be quite excited about low drag format- so I am interested in this weekend. That said, there is a really tricky section that is more Monaco than Monza.

McLaren at Monza might be the exciting opportunity for them but depending on how they can handle the slow speed sector, they could be nippy here.

 

Interesting bit on Sky showing Mercs Baku rear wing is flexing!!!! So no way they can protest Red Bull!!! I wonder if it's a case of if you can't beat them join them? Also Lewis seems to be playing the flexi wings down a bit this weekend saying they won't make much difference. Well they won't if Merc have one as well!!!

 

I really don't get the Monaco comparisons.

 

Boo. They have ruined the best bit of the track

 

Mercedes are sandbagging alot so far

 

If they are not then they are in big trouble.

 

I was going to vote Verstappen but reading on here that Merc have a flexi rear wing I have gone with Lewis. Merc are a strong team and they will respond to the Monaco upset for them.
Sanbagging? Probably understanding how the change to the rear wing affects performance. I voted Verstappen last time but going for Lewis this time.
Seeing my middle daughter for only the second time in 18 months this weekend so doubt I will watch anything live. Long walks, pub food and meaningful chats beckon.

 

Good luck, hope it goes well. F1 will wait.

 

Thanks.

 

Yeah. Enjoy your weekend!

As for Merc. I've had a hectic day and not been able to keep up. What's their major malfunction? Have they shot themselves in the foot trying to cobble together a flexiwing?

 

Lewis was 0.7 off the pace FP1, a whole 1 sec FP2, while Bottas was 1.7 sec off FP1 and 2 secs off FP2. That feels far too much for a performance issue at Merc, more likely they are experimenting with the handling IMHO.

 

just updated the time differences

 

Sounds like they have a bit of a problem on their hands.

 

They already have a flexiwing.... maybe they removed it to put themselves in a position to protest?

 

Wonder if that'll open the door a little to stop it being a Red Bull cakewalk. in danger of swapping one teams domination for another here.

 

Blimey, they’re all yellow flagging!!