F1/ Formula E/ Motorsport Thread

One thing I can't get my head around from the Austrian Grand prix was the use of flares & smoke at the start. OK so it's Red Bulls home track and the Max fans were there in huge numbers. I assume someone on social media said "lets bring orange flares to celebrate Max being handed the title last year"?

Was it just me or is covering an F1 circuit in smoke not the brightest move? What does it tell you about some of Max's fans?

 

Smoke bombs in general are only for the dimmest 'fans' anyway. Disgusting acrid smoke that lingers and so blocks the view of the thing you're there to watch.

Plus you're right, it looked ever weirder at the end on Sunday when Max had been beaten all ends up by Le Clerc and only got 2nd because Sainz's engine went pop to see all the orange smoke being set off. What were they celebrating?

 

The FIA has stuck to its guns and decided to implement restrictions on how much a floor can flex and how much cars can porpoise from Spa after the mid-season break:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/62177972

 

Nothing makes whinger spice happier than having something to moan about.

 

Keep Leclerc out on dodgy tyres when a pit stop would have guaranteed him to be ahead of Max, and then watch his tyres give up mid corner and crash into the barriers at 100mph?

 

I’m not a huge RB fan, but their decision making is amazing.

Ferrari make every call wrong. Mercedes pits stops are awful.

 

Excellent move by Sainz. Ferrari are embarrassing themselves.

If they were going to pit, why not do it when he was stuck behind Perez?

 

Interesting to hear LeClerc say it was his mistake when twice we've heard it was a throttle issue
Seems like they're scared to criticize the car or team.

 

My favourite F1 driver. An all round excellent person and his record speaks for itself. Loved the sport and all he really wanted was to emulate his hero and win with Ferrari. Really appreciate his mentoring of Mick, he always asks "how did Mick get on" at the end of each race. I have so much time for that. Hard to believe he was on the receiving end of such unwarranted abuse during his time with RB, I guess nobody likes a serial winner.

 

Red Bull's, bullishness (forgive the pun) did rub off on him earlier in his career. A bit like Michael Schumacher who was alos a little bit of an arse in his early years. Possibly needed to get to where they did. Both mellowed towards the end of their career. There's no denying he's a decent chap now and one of the top talents of all time. Respect is due. The oldies lending their support and experience to lower tier teams at the ends of their careers can only help the sport going forward. Far better than getting in a huff when the end is neer and doing a Nico.

 

Looks like we could have an entertaining race tomorrow?

 

Quite a hard track to overtake on so more likely entertainment will come from strategy or safety car incidents this outright racing.

 

Mercedes now solidly back in the game. It's been a while since we've seen 6 different cars have a chance.

 

You'd also think the reg changes will move RB and Ferrari closer to Mercedes.

The issue is the difference in performance with the Mercs in different conditions that shifts them between either fighting for the lead or fighting Alpine.

 

That's a good shout. I wouldn't be surprised if Hamilton jacks it in at the end of the season. Certainly the end of next.

 

Super Max, Max, Max, Max.

Thoroughly enjoyable race, a shame that rain didn't start a bit earlier! Weird decision by Ferrari to put Leclerc on hards, it's almost like they don't want to win at times.

 

If the hards had been able to get temperature he could have 1 stopped.

 

They got boxed in by Red Bull’s strategy and left themselves vulnerable and forced to react. Couldn’t stay on mediums and too long left to go for softs.

Hards went on at his second stop. He ended up the only driver in the top 15 to make 3 stops.

 

Ferrari really need to trust their drivers. Reliability is one thing but it is just painful to watch the strategy.

Max is a phenomenon. Some seriously talented young drivers on the grid. Lando and George will surely be looking for titles in the coming years.

 

Really was odd then.

 

I got the impression at the time they were hoping for rain, so only had to use the hards for a few laps and then everyone dives in for inters. Obviously didn't turn out that way!

 

Alonso replacing Vettel at AM.

Surprised as he's doing a fantastic job at Alpine - they are finding real consistency.

 

Odd move imho unless Stroll has thrown a load of money at him. Will he take being a no. 2 as I'm sure the aim with Lance is for him to be the man.