Grand Prix thread LENOVO GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE 2022

Moveable aero is against the rules as far as I am aware. This talk about 'spirit' of the rules is a bit mad to me, either a rule is a rule or it's not, I don't believe in 'spirit' of the rules.
Not having a go at you but the F1 teams who talk of 'spirit' of rules.

 

Verstappen looked very good in FP3.

After Austria you would say it’s down to tyre deg but RBR looked fast in long runs yesterday. I think as usual it will be close between the two of them.

Im intrigued to see how Merc go in the race.

McLaren could steal row 4 if they perfect everything - there looks to have been some progress in their update but they’re just dialling it in still.

 

Track limits costs Schumacher.

 

Sainz tops Q2, I'm guessing he'll be towing Charlie in Q3.
Ricci out early again.

 

It’s not so much that Sainz was top but he was 9/10th faster than Verstappen.

 

tbh I had to edit it as I originally had 'sainz tops Q2 by almost a second', but then Charlie stuck in one only .1 off.

 

RBR have 2nd & 3rd minimum, need to sacrifice Perez's 2nd run to give Max tow imo.

 

If Ferrari’s tyre deg is bad as they say , Max will win this race without breaking sweat.

 

I'm obviously just a muggle when it comes to these things but this feels like an easy Max win. A shame (from my biased seat at least) that Merc doesn't look to have moved forwards comparatively, in qualifying at least.

 

Can I assume that the teams will have to announce any upgrades before Belgium, which will include those who have to redesign the floor?

 

Track limits are becoming a joke. Why make the curbs wider than the cars. Its dumb

 

If Friday’s pattern is repeated, a fairly straightforward win for Max you would think. This race might need a fortunately timed safety car to enliven it and hopefully to bring Carlos and Kevin back into it as well. The most interesting aspect for me is the “Battle of Britain”, just behind the lead pack, hopefully Lando has the tools to compete with the Mercs on Sunday.

 

Yeah I’m hoping Lando can give them a race too but George was sounding very confident of the Mercs having McLaren covered off.

From the data available on Friday you’d imagine he’s right, although the major caveat to that is that this was McLarens first session with both drivers running the upgrades and of course they are trying to dial it in and optimise.



They made a step forward in Quali compared to practice so if they can do similar in the race they might go okay but I think Merc will see them off this weekend before maybe a little closer in Hungary on that twisty circuit.

What I hope to see is the McLaren looking handier in a straight line - there were some slightly more promising speed traps data on Friday compared to the season so far so this would help them on race day. They have been sitting ducks a lot this year.

In the end though, for Lewis to be only 0.6 off Verstappen in quali, it’s a tall order for McLaren to beat him or George today.

Le Clerc feels his car felt better on long runs than one lap pace and said he only hooked up the one lap in Q3 and thanked Carlos for the tow. Also, Verstappen looked epic in Austria on the sprint race and then Sunday was different so maybe Ferrari have a better handle on it than we think. Wouldn’t be surprised to see contact between Charles and Max as the season really hots up now

 

So glad I pay all that money to Sky to watch live. Sky box has lost its network connection. :-(

 

Back up now! Great starts from Ham and Alo.

 

Ham such a sitting duck here.

His only hope is his tyres last better than Checo's.

Edit - seems to have dropped him out of DRS. Perhaps tyres are working out for Ham. Sadly they'll just undercut him.

 

Kmag, possible points finish?

 

His pace is picking up. I wonder if those tyres are coming up to temp.

 

OK so race leaders are close but directors missing lots of overtakes like George on Alonso and Carlos

 

I literally didn't even notice this until you just said it. The TV direction is so awful absolutely pony.