[HeelToeShift]

Originally Posted by TheBingoBalls

The sheer speed of the Ferrari's will have RUS passed on the first lap at the earliest. But once DRS is enabled, there's is absolutely no way he can defend 1 Ferrari, never mind two.

In order for RUS or even HAM to win, Ferrari would have to Ferrari themselves and RB has some issue with their car where they have no race pace to climb back from P10 and P11 and even if that were to happen, it would still need a huge effort to have the W13 finish ahead McLaren or even Alpine. That's how underperforming the W13 despite the achievements with their car this year.

Hopefully Max can get in there and crush through the little bit of the field to secure a podium or win.

Anyone know if he's getting a new engine or what's going on?

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by Killed by Death

Russell Boy

He will finish in the Ferrari dust , and maybe from MAX as well ...

Hope he won't do his dirty trick with the Ferraris like he did with Checo

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by HeelToeShift

Hopefully Max can get in there and crush through the little bit of the field to secure a podium or win.

Anyone know if he's getting a new engine or what's going on?

Mate . Check out my post # 91

[GuidoK]

If you like seeing drivers results being influenced by technical difficulties.....you're not a true fan of the sport...

No surprise there I guess

[swhat]

Originally Posted by GuidoK

If you like seeing drivers results being influenced by technical difficulties.....you're not a true fan of the sport...

No surprise there I guess

I would have to disagree. I think F1 is both driver and engineering. I appreciate the aerodynamics and precision engineering as well as the skill of a driver. If a team pushes their power unit to the brink with reliability issues, that's an engineering risk. Much like how if you put the fastest driver in a shitty car, they will never be a champion.

[GuidoK]

Originally Posted by swhat

I would have to disagree. ... If a team pushes their power unit to the brink with reliability issues, that's an engineering risk.

It can just as well be a standard supply component that fails.

Anyway I'd rather see a nice battle on track or a well mastered strategic move that determines the outcome.

[MontyB1]

Originally Posted by HeelToeShift

Rus will likely DNF. My guess first corner racing incident. Other than that he is not going to have the race pace to win and also don't think he's got it in him to win...he'll blow it somehow or get passed by Max/Lec.

You do realise that F1 drivers have raced in hundreds if not thousands of races mostly from the age of 6. So by the time they get to F1 they are mostly mentally and physically up to the job.

I also don’t remember Russell struggling to nearly win before in a single race for Merc and completely out classing Bottas in the process. He has made mistakes p, all drivers do from time to time but he has been one of the most consistent F1 drivers this year.

Also in virtual racing he beat, Norris, Leclerc and co convincingly through the pandemic. Race pace has been great up to now but will this setup change mean they get more deg, time will tell tomorrow they don’t seem to have a clue on that front.

Also Norris yet again having a great performance, the McLaren updates seem to be doing well at last, fingers crossed for the race.

[HeelToeShift]

Originally Posted by MontyB1

You do realise that F1 drivers have raced in hundreds if not thousands of races mostly from the age of 6. So by the time they get to F1 they are mostly mentally and physically up to the job.

I also don’t remember Russell struggling to nearly win before in a single race for Merc and completely out classing Bottas in the process. He has made mistakes p, all drivers do from time to time but he has been one of the most consistent F1 drivers this year.

Also in virtual racing he beat, Norris, Leclerc and co convincingly through the pandemic. Race pace has been great up to now but will this setup change mean they get more deg, time will tell tomorrow they don’t seem to have a clue on that front.

Also Norris yet again having a great performance, the McLaren updates seem to be doing well at last, fingers crossed for the race.

My point wasnt that he doesnt have experience, but that I think he is an entitled hothead who's ego (not sure why he'd have one) gets the better of him.
In the last three races, he causes a severe crash with Zhou, crashed Perez off track with a dirty move (when he has plenty of room), and then again drove his car to an area with no room and tried to bumper car Perez off only to act like a cry baby when he realized his move didnt work.
I think he's starting to feel the pressure and making mistakes. He expected to go to MB and be winning because he thought he'd have a car so fast no one could beat him and now he is just quicker than the mid-pack and well off the pace of the RB and Ferrari cars/drivers.
Also, virtual racing means absolutely nothing...that stuff doesn't translate to the real world with plenty of examples of that.

[kring]

Originally Posted by HeelToeShift

My point wasnt that he doesnt have experience, but that I think he is an entitled hothead who's ego (not sure why he'd have one) gets the better of him.
In the last three races, he causes a severe crash with Zhou, crashed Perez off track with a dirty move (when he has plenty of room), and then again drove his car to an area with no room and tried to bumper car Perez off only to act like a cry baby when he realized his move didnt work.
I think he's starting to feel the pressure and making mistakes. He expected to go to MB and be winning because he thought he'd have a car so fast no one could beat him and now he is just quicker than the mid-pack and well off the pace of the RB and Ferrari cars/drivers.
Also, virtual racing means absolutely nothing...that stuff doesn't translate to the real world with plenty of examples of that.

I generally agree with you - Zhou was totally caused by Russell, and that dive on Perez was total BS move last week, he is dangerous out there. But the Austria Perez crash was 200% Perez’s fault absolutely zero of that was Russell, you can’t include that, Russell was totally over the inside line, nailed the apex flawlessly and Perez total yanked over and caused that entire accident.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Russell crashes out in first lap and possible take down a Ferrari trying to keep 1st position But this is a by-product of Max’s trash driving… Max set the tone for being dirty and his “get out of my way, I’m entitled” style racecraft was overlooked. George see’s that type of driving and the stewards letting Max drive that way with zero repercussions and he says… “well clearly that is allowed, and that’s how you get a championship” so he follows suite. Last year I have no idea how Max didn’t hit 12 points on his license and get suspended for being so dangerous. He was a total menace last year almost killing Hamilton and doing stupid moves like break check and cut-offs and he’s rewarded by being handed a championship he didn’t actually win.

Now I will say Max is 1000x better this year and I’m impressed… either someone spoke to him or he realized in retrospect, and being a bit wiser now that he really didn’t win that championship and his racecraft was dangerous and he better get himself in check. So good for him and glad Max is coming around, I just hope Russell doesn’t turn into the old Max.

[kring]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

What do you think my friend ? Rumble in the Ferrari jungle ?

Agree with you, I think it will get scrappy. Carlos is driving better with a faster car. I think both Ferrari’s will fly right past George by 2nd lap and then whoever is the 2nd place car will have to constantly fend off attack and the first place car will just pull away.

Now what will be interesting is if there are undercut pitstops within team Ferrari!!

[Rono63]

I have been watching some older races on F1 TV. Max isn't even close to how aggressive Senna, Schumacher and Alonso were in their early days.

[kring]

Originally Posted by kring

I don’t think MB is able to pass top 4 cars of Ferrari & RB… have they yet this year? Can’t count Russell well played VSC end, I am talking about being able to actually pass a car under racing conditions. Seems to me both cars are only putting out enough power to let them keep or slightly drift off pace.

I’ll go with:
1.) Chaz
2.) Max
3.) Carlos
4.) Checo
5.) Ham
6.) Mag

RUS looks to be a little frustrated and feels heat of Lewis pulling ahead of him... I wouldn’t be surprised if he crashes out and takes someone with him on an overly aggressive and rushed move. Depending where he qualifies it could be Checo, but I’d guess his qualifying will be closer to 12th.

The MB engine seems like they went for way too much reliability over performance and it’s costing them. Now that they got aero issues mostly squared away they lost all that time to bring the engine up to speed.

Well it’s amazing what a few practices and a quali can change the outlook so much! I still think George has a fair probability he will crash out and possible take someone with him. It’s clear Ferrari is solid and MB is in much better shape than they led on, they clearly have some pace. Based on the fact no one really is able to move up on this track I will guess this lineup:
1.) Carlos
2.) Charles
3.) Russell
4.) Hamilton
5.) Alonso

I could see Alonso keeping Hamilton at bay, his move to 4th would have to come via a pitstop undercut.

[GuidoK]

Originally Posted by Rono63

I have been watching some older races on F1 TV. Max isn't even close to how aggressive Senna, Schumacher and Alonso were in their early days.

Yes they were all out a-holes on track.

Imho some of which was also the result that it was just too hard to overtake without DRS.

So the only way to get in the lead or up the ranks was to take insane risks, and if another took them, insane aggressive maneuvres were needed to counterattack them.
Nowadays there is of course also way better media coverage, so Stewards can exactly see what's happening with virtually everyone all the time.

[NickyC]

Wow, now that was an unexpected qualifying result. The announcers weren't even following George on this final lap!

Looking forward to the race tomorrow!

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by Rono63

I have been watching some older races on F1 TV. Max isn't even close to how aggressive Senna, Schumacher and Alonso were in their early days.

Senna was known to be ruthless on track.

Arguably the greatest F1 driver of all time.

See 05:58 - 09:03 ("Another weapon in Senna's armory was his utter ruthlessness"):

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by NickyC

Wow, now that was an unexpected qualifying result. The announcers weren't even following George on this final lap!

Looking forward to the race tomorrow!

It's gonna be an interesting race.



Will it be only heavy cloud (like during the qualies), or will it also rain ? The rain front will be heading South. Circuit is the blue dot (source: here).

[Blindside_137]

New engines for both redbulls.

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by Blindside_137

New engines for both redbulls.

See here (FIA) (PDF document).

CE = Control Electronics
ES = Energy Store
EX = Exhaust system
ICE = Internal Combustion Engine
MGU-H = Motor Generator Unit – Heat
MGU-K = Motor Generator Unit – Kinetic
PU = Power Unit
TC = Turbo Charger

[Chappers 71]

Ferrari 1st & 2nd
MB 3rd & 4th
RB 2 x DNF's that's my prediction

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by Artemis

See here (FIA) (PDF document).

CE = Control Electronics
ES = Energy Store
EX = Exhaust system
ICE = Internal Combustion Engine
MGU-H = Motor Generator Unit – Heat
MGU-K = Motor Generator Unit – Kinetic
PU = Power Unit
TC = Turbo Charger

Yeah . It was planned for Spa or Zandvoort , seen the current issues I think this was the right moment for the new PU's .

[GuidoK]

So the potential for rain might see some interesting tyre straties.
It's gonna be an interesting race I think.
The low track temperature is also interesting. I wonder how many will start on reds and who's gonna start on yellows.
I think starting on reds is the right choice, especially for Max and Checo.

[GuidoK]

...and it rains... (at least I see umbrellas)

Lets hope the mega crash from last year won't repeat itself...