Del Boy
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Post by Del Boy on Mar 19, 2023 7:43:08 GMT
Saudi Gp The grid was shaken up with the lead Red Bull having a failure. Alonso and Russell look particularly quick here. They could potentially beat Sainz today and that will be a good result. Perez looks to be safe in the quickest car but you never know around here. There's bound to be a few incidents.
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Del Boy
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Post by Del Boy on Mar 22, 2023 16:31:08 GMT
The race was a bit of a let down really. I thought we would have quite a few incidents to shake the field up considering the previous years here. Another Red Bull lock out was inevitable with their current pace, still glad to see Alonso take another podium. Ferrari had dreadful race pace didn't expect them to go backwards. Mercedes had decent pace, both drivers did their best really. What the heck is going on with McLaren ? never seen them so far off the pace and languishing around the back of the grid, still Piastri looks very quick despite the dog of a motor.
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Post by Gene Hunt on Mar 22, 2023 17:26:36 GMT
Really sad to see McLaren trailing round at the back of the field. Such a waste of Lando Norris who for my money is a World Champion quality driver. Ferrari were woeful and have not justified theie getting rid of Binotto at all. Mercedes have not made any advance with their car at all from last year. In fact, I think they have gone backwards. Hard times after years of success. I'm happy to see a new team acheiving success now but wish wish wish it wasn't Red Bull. I loathe the team, those that run it and half of their drivers.
Gene.
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Post by Sam Tyler on Mar 22, 2023 18:48:35 GMT
It was another dull race again. Formula 1? More like formulaic!
Yes MV did well to recover up to 2nd but that was inevitable anyway. Once again a fantastic drive by Alonso and the odd flourish by Lance Stroll with a superb overtake but yet again the penalties did the race no favours at all. Okay Alonso wasn't in the start grid box fully but did he gain any advantage from being to the left slightly? Not a bit, then to get a 10 second penalty as a follow-up was just ridiculous and soured it all for me.
I'll give the next race a chance but I'm really losing interest in F1 at the moment which is a shame as I've loved the sport for many years. Red Bull, race control, DRS - all candidates for Room 101.
Sam.
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Del Boy
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Post by Del Boy on Mar 22, 2023 22:30:07 GMT
Let's hope the teams playing catchup bring some quality upgrades soon to improve matters.
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Batgirl
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Post by Batgirl on Mar 24, 2023 5:05:55 GMT
Still if it is a Red Bull whitewash we've had it with other teams in the past and it's up to rivals to raise their game and take them on too. Problem I have with that harks back to RB's cost cap breach which is believed to have given them an advantage not only last year, but also into this year. I fear for the sport as it is right now as it has been a mess since Massi changed the rules on the fly in the 2021 season finale to give Verstappen the title. Gene. Yes agree completely. I'll never forget those "It's not right Michael. It's not right!" words over the radio from Toto Wolff. Max didn't win that race, it was handed to him, and though the Red Bull team get shirty when the media still mention the controversial end if the shoe was on the other foot, Christian Horner would still be moaning about it. The cost cap penalty may affect their car development next year.
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Batgirl
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Post by Batgirl on Mar 24, 2023 5:11:53 GMT
Really sad to see McLaren trailing round at the back of the field. Such a waste of Lando Norris who for my money is a World Champion quality driver. Ferrari were woeful and have not justified theie getting rid of Binotto at all. Mercedes have not made any advance with their car at all from last year. In fact, I think they have gone backwards. Hard times after years of success. I'm happy to see a new team acheiving success now but wish wish wish it wasn't Red Bull. I loathe the team, those that run it and half of their drivers. Gene. I only liked Mark Webber and Dan Ricciardo as Red Bull drivers. I do think Sergio Perez has talent and integrity but I don't like to see that Max follows his own orders rather than the Team instructions whereas Perez is expected to follow team instructions. What ever happened to humility in winning and losing? Max V has no idea on that front. I fear it will get worse as the season progresses.
Ferrari made some odd team strategy calls last year but removing Mattia Binotto wasn't going to improve their car reliability and performance.
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Batgirl
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Post by Batgirl on Mar 24, 2023 5:38:07 GMT
The Australian F1 race is on in one more week. It is interesting that Red Bull has not had much success at this track.
Past winners
2022 - Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
2019 - Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes
2018 - Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari
2017 - Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari
2016 - Nico Rosberg, Mercedes
2015 - Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
2014 - Nico Rosberg, Mercedes
2013 - Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus-Renault
I am attending on the Friday practice day only. The race for tickets is greater than it has ever been! I was a bit too late to get my usual Fangio 4 day grandstand seat so I decided to pick one day to watch the cars on the track. I'll watch the qualifying and race from the comfort of the sofa.
They have certainly increased the ticket prices and decreased the benefits for long term fans. Back in 2019 I could buy and select my grandstand seats six months in advance becoming a GP Advantage member. As a reward for paying upfront a pit lane walk and main straight walk was included on the Thursday afternoon at no extra cost. A private area along the track with a hospitality tent was also only available to GP Advantage members. (That used to be so good particularly on hot days, with food and a bar undercover in a marquee.) I'm glad I got to experience that and enjoyed two nights of pit lane walks.
These experiences now cost an extra $150- as you buy 'bonuses' and selecting an aisle seat will cost you an extra $15-. I suppose we hadn't caught up with the 'real world' prices. I hope the race is a competitive one.
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Post by Dirty Epic on Mar 24, 2023 14:06:52 GMT
Some good write up's there BG, yes it's interesting that Red Bull haven't had much success in Albert Park over the years maybe that'll change this year but is their power unit a bit of a achilles heel right now? Ferrari have had a good record in Melbourne and a lot of Italian/Aussie support but I think they'll be hard pushed to break into the podium this year let alone win but Leclerc can push much more out of a dog of a car as seen in 2019-20 it's possible. Likewise the Mercs may, may have a chance if like Ferrari they pull something out but can't really see both of them beyond top 5 right now... maybe later this season. Fernando Alonso's not really had a good time of it in Aus perhaps he could get a good result this time out? Like the Aus race hopefully I'll do it one day.
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Post by Dirty Epic on Mar 24, 2023 14:12:41 GMT
It was another dull race again. Formula 1? More like formulaic! Yes MV did well to recover up to 2nd but that was inevitable anyway. Once again a fantastic drive by Alonso and the odd flourish by Lance Stroll with a superb overtake but yet again the penalties did the race no favours at all. Okay Alonso wasn't in the start grid box fully but did he gain any advantage from being to the left slightly? Not a bit, then to get a 10 second penalty as a follow-up was just ridiculous and soured it all for me. I'll give the next race a chance but I'm really losing interest in F1 at the moment which is a shame as I've loved the sport for many years. Red Bull, race control, DRS - all candidates for Room 101. Sam. Fully agree Sam even in the Schumacher era we had some kind of excitement or chain of events modern F1 doesn't have and I include the period of Merc dominance in there too. Still the BTCC is back in April.
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