Grand Prix thread The GP Down Under

[eddie_squidd]

Anybody else miss the days when doing a "Shoey" simply meant that a German bloke was going to conduct the Italian national anthem

I sort of don’t miss that. Much prefer today’s more competitive driver pool. Schuey doing a shoey would have been fun though.

 

[Justjazz]

Gutted for Carlos- the last thing he needed was a DNF with your team mate leading the championship- could find himself de facto second driver before too long and I think he knows that hence the pressure on himself.

He may already be feeling that pressure.

 

[Mark Blow]

He may already be feeling that pressure.

Carlos has never been regarded as the next world champion in waiting, Charles has and Charles with a good car is showing us why. I honestly think George Russell is a better / faster drive than Carlos and once the Merc is up to speed ( which won’t be until next season at the earliest imo) he will show it. We already know about Max and Lewis. Sergio is like Carlos, very good, but doesn’t have the speed in a car that Lewis, Max and Charles can maintain. Sergio Perez will win races, just like Bottas did for Mercedes, but for me just lacks the 1% or so to go that one step further.

 

[Justjazz]

F1 must be doing something right. We are seeing more emotion being expressed by followers of the sport.

 

[El_Bando]

Russell performing level or ahead of Hamilton is being hugely underestimated. I guess he feels more comfortable and confident after the 3 years at Williams which had a lack of downforce, perfect experience. Hamilton though who ha publicly said he hates driving the car and feeling the team are not preferable to him. I wonder what he will do...

 

[ched999uk]

Russell performing level or ahead of Hamilton is being hugely underestimated. I guess he feels more comfortable and confident after the 3 years at Williams which had a lack of downforce, perfect experience. Hamilton though who ha publicly said he hates driving the car and feeling the team are not preferable to him. I wonder what he will do...

As you say Russell is used to a poorly handling car, Lewis is used to a stable platform and just knowing how good the car should be is probably unnerving him.
I would guess Merc will sort the bouncing and then we can see their relative performances.
I can't imagine Merc haven't got a big upgrade in the pipeline, 2 weeks to Italy, so easy logistically and not too far from home if they need tweaking. I live in hope

 

[moreinjuredthanowen]

Mr Saturday has a rep for being well.... Mr Saturday.

Hamilton is a racer as well as fast so I think this is more about stern orders to not go near each other from on high than anything else.

For the first races I think we have seen mercs line astern just trying to maximise return. They certainly are not racing here.

Hamilton out qualified Russell yesterday and honestly a big slice of safety car luck gave Russell the 3rd place.

This is a battle in quali all season imo.

 

[moreinjuredthanowen]

Just checked.

Quali 2-1 to Hamilton.
Race results two 3rd and 4ths which have been shared.

The jeddah set up is all that's put Hamilton behind Russell on points.

Mercedes have maximised every scrap of points out of these cars imo.


Red bull blow ups have helped big time

 

[moreinjuredthanowen]

As you say Russell is used to a poorly handling car, Lewis is used to a stable platform and just knowing how good the car should be is probably unnerving him.
I would guess Merc will sort the bouncing and then we can see their relative performances.
I can't imagine Merc haven't got a big upgrade in the pipeline, 2 weeks to Italy, so easy logistically and not too far from home if they need tweaking. I live in hope

I think you are right. I think merc wrote this race off for upgrades and will be delighted with the results.

I think they are talking down any upgrades but everyone will be bringing new stuff for the first European race after 3 away races.

A new floor is a must for merc.

Even ferrari will be having to deliver something on the floor as the bouncing at top speed is unsustainable and imola will be more than half a lap bouncing along.

Most are too flexible rather than too stiff.

Red bull by contrast are out to shed weight but not lose the stiffness of the floor.

 

[ched999uk]

Just watching C4 highlights and you can see the McLaren floor flexing down on the corners!!!

 

[Big Ern]

Is it that pesky 3rd party fuel pump again?

 

[eddie_squidd]

Is it that pesky 3rd party fuel pump again?

No, according to Horner.

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/v...-totally-separate-to-bahrain-problem/9773205/

Although it's Horner, so maybe yes.

 

[ched999uk]

No, according to Horner.

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/v...-totally-separate-to-bahrain-problem/9773205/

Although it's Horner, so maybe yes.

He also says that the AlphaT issues are different as well!!! So they have lots of issues to deal with!!
He mentioned that the PU's are going back to Japan to be looked at! I thought RedBull spent millions on their own PU facility and transferred some staff from Honda to MiltonK?

 

[SgtBhaji]

Saw something about a fuel leak or something. So still something in the fuel system possibly.

 

[eddie_squidd]

Saw something about a fuel leak or something. So still something in the fuel system possibly.

Well Max was reporting a funny smell in the car and had suggested he knew of a potential issue before the race started. He seemed to suggest some sort of fluid leak. The back of the car was a bit on fire as well, so may be related or just overheating once the car had stopped.

 

[ched999uk]

Well Max was reporting a funny smell in the car and had suggested he knew of a potential issue before the race started. He seemed to suggest some sort of fluid leak. The back of the car was a bit on fire as well, so may be related or just overheating once the car had stopped.

Horner says the nose was off on the grid to top up the hydraulic fluid! So sounds like they might have had a leak before they started. I would be surprised if Max didn't know the smell of a fuel leak as it's basically petrol isn't it? I do wonder if now it's Red Bull Power Trains that Horner will just try and lay the blame on anything that isn't Red Bull's?

 

[DHCanary]

I think you are right. I think merc wrote this race off for upgrades and will be delighted with the results.

I think they are talking down any upgrades but everyone will be bringing new stuff for the first European race after 3 away races.

Apologies if it's already been discussed here, Hamilton completed the entire race weekend with an extra 1.5 kg of sensors fitted to the car, monitoring airflow. Sounds exactly like they were prepared to use the race as a test session if necessary. Maximised their result whilst hopefully collected a lot of useful data.

 

[moreinjuredthanowen]

Apologies if it's already been discussed here, Hamilton completed the entire race weekend with an extra 1.5 kg of sensors fitted to the car, monitoring airflow. Sounds exactly like they were prepared to use the race as a test session if necessary. Maximised their result whilst hopefully collected a lot of useful data.

It's a good point. Hamilton out quali'd Russell in heavier car, but you'd hope it's for confirmation to finalise.new floor not to start on one.

 

[El_Bando]

Apologies if it's already been discussed here, Hamilton completed the entire race weekend with an extra 1.5 kg of sensors fitted to the car, monitoring airflow. Sounds exactly like they were prepared to use the race as a test session if necessary. Maximised their result whilst hopefully collected a lot of useful data.

Maybe they should keep them on? They seem to be working...

 

[Mark Blow]

As you say Russell is used to a poorly handling car, Lewis is used to a stable platform and just knowing how good the car should be is probably unnerving him.
I would guess Merc will sort the bouncing and then we can see their relative performances.
I can't imagine Merc haven't got a big upgrade in the pipeline, 2 weeks to Italy, so easy logistically and not too far from home if they need tweaking. I live in hope

It’s a bit like when the rules changed from the double diffuser and Ricciardo outperformed Vettel the first season without it.