F1 2021

[Tubey]

Think that goes back to the conversation earlier in the week about whether Vettel was in that top bracket of drivers. Its that ability to perform beyond the cars estimated capabilities.

You have the Hamilton's, Schumachers etc. In a class of their own.

Vettel is a long way behind that, in the Mansell sort of class.

Then you have the likes of Rosberg as the almost fluke winners.

 

[evilwebby]

When he lit the tyres up after letting Lewis pass was probably what costed him.

Yes, quite conceivably. It's those small areas of weakness that Hamilton has continually sought to eliminate, together with his huge experience which can make the difference.

Verstappen is now in his prime and possibly just as fast as Hamilton if not faster, but Hamilton has molded himself into a relentless machine over the years and Max isn't yet at that level of completeness.

 

[longers]

lol

 

[evilwebby]

Think that goes back to the conversation earlier in the week about whether Vettel was in that top bracket of drivers. Its that ability to perform beyond the cars estimated capabilities.

Another ludicrous blunder from Vettel today, ramming into Ocon. No sign since his switch to AM that he's any closer to rediscovering the sort of form that once made him so formidable. He's almost a Grosjeanesque liability at this point.

 

[The binman chronicles]

Yes, quite conceivably. It's those small areas of weakness that Hamilton has continually sought to eliminate, together with his huge experience which can make the difference.

Verstappen is now in his prime and possibly just as fast as Hamilton if not faster, but Hamilton has molded himself into a relentless machine over the years and Max isn't yet at that level of completeness.

Just that one bit of youthful eagerness in an otherwise perfect performance. I don't blame him going round the outside before being pushed out - he probably thought it was done at that point. But he lost crucial time with that enthusiastic application of the throttle and had he just tried to nicely follow he would have had two DRS zones to attack and probably would have been there or thereabouts by turn 4 again.

As you said earlier he is a hell of a lot more mature now and he will know and learn from it. Hopefully from a British point of view he doesn't get too much chance to use it this year.

 

[The binman chronicles]

Got to give credit to Hamilton for keeping up his incredible record of at least 1 win in a season. I know always likely to do it this year but still it's an amazing feat.

 

[Lapeno77]

Another ludicrous blunder from Vettel today, ramming into Ocon. No sign since his switch to AM that he's any closer to rediscovering the sort of form that once made him so formidable. He's almost a Grosjeanesque liability at this point.

Bit harsh on Vettel that, Grosjean was / is his own level of dangerous stupidity. Although it looks like Mazepin fancies a crack at that title and the signs are looking good.
As for Vettel, i just think Ferrari has broken him. Doesn't look bothered by any of it now. Maybe he thought going to the Merc B team might be fun but the regulation changes seem to have put paid to that.

 

[PhilM]

Got to give credit to Hamilton for keeping up his incredible record of at least 1 win in a season. I know always likely to do it this year but still it's an amazing feat.

He has a 35.9% win rate in F1 and a whopping 62.54% podiums.

 

[Philw]

Pretty good race that! Crazy first couple of laps, then a great finish. Can't believe Hamilton pulled off the win. Still think RB/Ver might be favourites, but it's gonna be hard for them if Lewis can keep doing that. Perez could be a real difference maker if they can avoid making mistakes in Q2! And good to see Merc making good strategy calls. They've been dubious on that kind of thing in the past, but not really had any pressure the last couple years, so it will be interesting to see how that pans out this season.

Also thought Sainz did well in the second Ferrari, and Lando smashed it again. I really rate him and Russell. Hopefully they can get in competitive cars sooner rather than later and give Max (and LeClerc) some new British rivals to worry about!!

I'm not even going to pretend to know the answers to my question, but I do feel something has to be done to help amend the current imbalance.

While I don't want all the cars to be carbon-copies (e.g. same specification), perhaps highly-standardised engines or power trains could be a measure.

If 70-85% of the parts are from the same source or standardised design, you'd only be allowing teams to squeeze out higher performance in the other parts.

The big teams could probably generate more power, but it wouldn't be a massive difference; teams would have to focus on aerodynamics and other parts.

Would that, however, be something the big teams would go for because Mercedes and Ferrari like the prestige and it's also a small part of their wider R&D?

Look at Russell: he's squeezing everything out of a Williams car and is still often near the back, yet one drive in a Mercedes and he's right at the front.

It would be nice for drivers to not be so heavily shackled by their car or, like Bottas, be helped so much to the point it covers their ineptitude.

I'm not advocating an absolutely level playing field; rather, I simply want it to be a closer race overall: more challenge at the front, middle and at the back.

I like the sprint race format tbh, it works well in lots of other series and having the grid reversed in some way would definitely make F1 consistently more entertaining. There would still be qualifying as well as the main feature race... we lose 1 (maybe 2) practice sessions and gain an extra race. I hope they try it out at Silverstone as rumoured, cant go any worse than that time they pointlessly changed the quali format in 2016





Id say there are more wrecks primarily because of the reverse grid format they use and also because the cars are much more racey than F1 cars due to the decreased downforce and ability to stay in dirty air without their tyres getting murdered, this means everyone is in closer proximity for longer periods of time. The standard of drivers is admittedly lower though which also adds to the wrecks.

Think the changes next year will make a decent job of fixing some of that next year, but you can't go too far with those kind of changes. Make too much of the car standardised and it loses what makes it F1 in the first place - it's about the teams and the drivers, not just the drivers. If you do change too much you risk losing teams like Mercedes, maybe Renault/Alpine.

If he hadn't been in the Mercedes for the past few seasons, he'd be mid-grid or less. Mercedes have liked him because he's a quiet yes-man.

After the Rosberg/Hamilton years you can't really blame them. Up until now it has worked perfectly for them. Think you may have seen them get someone else in if another team had been able to consistently push them for WCC/WDCs.

Think that goes back to the conversation earlier in the week about whether Vettel was in that top bracket of drivers. Its that ability to perform beyond the cars estimated capabilities.

Another ludicrous blunder from Vettel today, ramming into Ocon. No sign since his switch to AM that he's any closer to rediscovering the sort of form that once made him so formidable. He's almost a Grosjeanesque liability at this point.

Bit harsh on Vettel that, Grosjean was / is his own level of dangerous stupidity. Although it looks like Mazepin fancies a crack at that title and the signs are looking good.
As for Vettel, i just think Ferrari has broken him. Doesn't look bothered by any of it now. Maybe he thought going to the Merc B team might be fun but the regulation changes seem to have put paid to that.

Yeah, bad mistake from Vettel, and one he's made a number of times the last couple of years. But up until then I thought he'd done a good job, especially holding Alonso up and giving Stroll the chance to pull away. Had a good little battle there, and some better wheel to wheel fighting than he's shown in the past.

You have the Hamilton's, Schumachers etc. In a class of their own.

Vettel is a long way behind that, in the Mansell sort of class.

Then you have the likes of Rosberg as the almost fluke winners.

I think Mansell and Rosberg might be better tbh. If that had been nearly any other driver than Lewis alongside Rosberg he might have 2/3 WDCs, and iirc Mansell was unlucky not to win more of them as well. Vettel was extremely lucky to get his 4 imo.

 

[The binman chronicles]

Vettel is a long way behind that, in the Mansell sort of class.

You take that back right away!!!

Mansell was a racer, someone who you could go wheel to wheel with. Vettel is a run and hide type. The 91 season ebbed and flowed but the McLaren and Williams were pretty even machinery all considered and Mansell was keeping Senna honest. I don't think Sebastian would have been anywhere close. Nigel gets a bad rep imho because it was deemed his technologically advanced active suspension FW14B did all the work for him - had it not been for the Williams gearbox live beta testing going wrong the previous season he might have won that year without it.

 

[ClausThomsen]

Great race with plenty of very good performances.

Away from the battle in the podium places Perez was brilliant and a very impressive debut for Tsunoda. I think a lot of people quite enjoyed Mazepin's early exit as well.

The best of the rest tussle potentially between McLaren & Ferrari could be as entertaining as the scrap between Mercedes and RB as well.

 

[Nobby Nobbs]

Just goes to show you what the F1 watching fans think of Hamilton he wasn’t even mentioned in the top 3 as driver of the day, ridiculous he drove brilliantly and wasn’t even mentioned I don’t get it. Thought Tsunoda was excellent that Alpha looks a car.

 

[Dom1878]

I absolutely hate Hamilton, but fair enough it was a superb win, albeit thought Max should have done better. Thank god we're going to have some competitive racing eh? Good to see Perez climb the ranks too, will do his confidence good and we may finally see a team battle as opposed to Max vs 2 Mercedes.

Other points:
- Gutted for Gasly. He seemed like he was in a great position for 4th. Great to see Tsunoda find his feet. The Alpha looks like it'll be a force
- Ferrari vs McLaren? Yes please. This is going to be exciting...
- Vettel - so frustrating! Really wanted him to get a good start.
- Mazepin - Hahahahahahahaha.

 

[longers]

Perez drive is a bit overrrated tbh, fifth is exactly where you’d have predicted he’d finish before the race started given he had the quickest car on the grid. His pace was nothing special relative to his team mate. If Bottas had done the same no one would big him up for it. All these drives that people do from the back are a bit overrated tbh if it’s a top car doing it... if they manage to get top 3 and beat another car at the front on pure pace then fair enough but in a 90 minute race you would expect any competent driver in the best car to finish top 5 when starting from the pits.

Just goes to show you what the F1 watching fans think of Hamilton he wasn’t even mentioned in the top 3 as driver of the day, ridiculous he drove brilliantly and wasn’t even mentioned I don’t get it. Thought Tsunoda was excellent that Alpha looks a car.

the only people who vote on that are kids/teenagers, no one takes it seriously

 

[Kantareller]

Looking forward to the rest of the season now. Great race, hoping RB can sustain this level of performance now.