Grand Prix thread QATAR AIRWAYS AZERBAIJAN GRAND PRIX 2025

[Big Ern]

Hopefully Sainz got driver of the day

I think Lawson deserves it more tbh.
Or Max, who was, once again, supreme.

 

[Viva_Giggsy]

Very much looking forward to new regulations now. It's been pretty boring on track this year honestly. Where's the racing?

In terms of the title, Oscar had an abysmal weekend, but with Lando gaining less than they get from a normal 1-2 weekend, he still feels like the bigger loser of the two

McLaren need to sort there Pitstops out, cost Norris at least 3 or 4 positions today.had slow ones last few weekends now.

 

[Sportista]

Bit of a strategic battle today rather than any real on track action. Also one of those occasional races where everyone got what they deserved, such that there’s really not much to say.

Terrible weekend from Piastri, but strangely I guess he’ll be delighted Norris didn’t take advantage. Verstappen now only 7.5 points a race back back with back to back wins on admittedly outlier circuits. A third, very differ outlier in Singapore next, if he wins there I am going to start getting “He couldn’t could he?” vibes.

 

[Big Ern]

Bit of a strategic battle today rather than any real on track action. Also one of those occasional races where everyone got what they deserved, such that there’s really not much to say.

Terrible weekend from Piastri, but strangely I guess he’ll be delighted Norris didn’t take advantage. Verstappen now only 7.5 points a race back back with back to back wins on admittedly outlier circuits. A third, very differ outlier in Singapore next, if he wins there I am going to start getting “He couldn’t could he?” vibes.

He's 69 behind with 7 left, so 10 points a race to win by 1 point.

 

[Sportista]

He's 69 behind with 7 left, so 10 points a race to win by 1 point.

Thanks, bit of a brain fade there! It’s not really on either way, this is going to go down as a Senna 1993 or Schumacher 1996 year for Max I think, where the driver leaves nobody in any doubt the best driver isn’t the year’s WDC.

I realised Sainz got a podium for his new team before Hamilton - I wonder what odds you could have got on that at the start of the season? I think he has to win, before the curse gets lifted though!

 

[Big Ern]

Thanks, bit of a brain fade there! It’s not really on either way, this is going to go down as a Senna 1993 or Schumacher 1996 year for Max I think, where the driver leaves nobody in any doubt the best driver isn’t the year’s WDC.

I realised Sainz got a podium for his new team before Hamilton - I wonder what odds you could have got on that at the start of the season? I think he has to win, before the curse gets lifted though!

No, not unless Yuki suddenly finds some more pace.

 

[Sportista]

No, not unless Yuki suddenly finds some more pace.

I can’t see the a situation where the RedBull has an advantage over the McLaren, except maybe Vegas, which shares traits with Monza/Baku. So best case scenario (for him) Max can battle for the win at each event, and maybe Yuki can be up there to help him actually win (e.g by spoiling McLaren tactics), but I can’t see Yuki being a factor more than once more in terms of taking points off the McLarens. The “chance” I guess is that the McLaren/Merc has been a bit more fragile than normal this year, Oscar and Norris fighting might take each other out, and their inexperience fighting for an F1 championship leads them to underperform their potential. Ultimately even if the Max RedBull is competitive going forward, he’d need to be perfect and probably still needs some luck to go his way.