planetf1.com

Tomorrow should be a great race!

I'd have preferred qualifying to be a little closer at the front. Unless race pace is vastly different it looks like it will be a processional race

Will we finally see the long honeymoon of Mercedes teammates to end?

I say this every race but pole sitter will be vulnerable into turn 1 although Bottas has been making great starts.

Johnson wrote:I say this every race but pole sitter will be vulnerable into turn 1 although Bottas has been making great starts.

Yes, like when people said he'd be a sitting duck into the first corner in russia last year when that is about the longest strait after the start if i am correct. He got away with it there. I think Bottas will have to do some defending, but I think he'll manage. His launch has usually been pretty good. And you have to go back 15 races before the last time he finished lap 1 in a lower position than he qualified. He almost always is in the same position, or higher sometimes. But often looses them later on which i hope he can change this year.

froze wrote:Will we finally see the long honeymoon of Mercedes teammates to end?

Given Hamilton's recent slow starts it won't be the case. Bottas 1st and Hamilton 3rd or 4th after the 1st corner. Mark my words.

Race sets available with all the drivers:


Source - www.imgur.com

Pit Stop Strategies as per Pirelli:

Quickest Strategy (1 stopper):
Start on soft for 18 laps, then hard to the end.

Second Quickest Strategy (1 stopper):
Start on medium tyre for 19 laps before going on to the hard.

Slowest Strategy (2 stopper):
Start on soft for 15 laps, another soft stint for 15 laps, and hard to the finish.

In this track and with DRS there will be overtaking but usually with more pit stops the race is little more unpredictable. If most or all go for 1stop it might be little boring.

froze wrote:Will we finally see the long honeymoon of Mercedes teammates to end?

I still have trouble envisioning Valtteri racing elbows out in the manner of 2016 era Nico Rosberg. He is too much of a team player. I also don't see him as someone who will try to get inside Lewis's head.

It will be interesting to watch as it does seem that Bottas has found some speed over the winter and is legitimately challenging Lewis on pace.

Just remember that historically from mid-August on it has been "Hamilton Hammer Time" for quite a few years. You better have some points in hand over Lewis when running down the end of the season.

Any idea on how the weather is gonna go?

Mort Canard wrote:

froze wrote:Will we finally see the long honeymoon of Mercedes teammates to end?

I still have trouble envisioning Valtteri racing elbows out in the manner of 2016 era Nico Rosberg. He is too much of a team player. I also don't see him as someone who will try to get inside Lewis's head.

It will be interesting to watch as it does seem that Bottas has found some speed over the winter and is legitimately challenging Lewis on pace.

Just remember that historically from mid-August on it has been "Hamilton Hammer Time" for quite a few years. You better have some points in hand over Lewis when running down the end of the season.

I completely agree Mort!

For this race, I am very looking forward to how Max deals with the Ferraris. Leclerc is in the dark as he has not done any long runs this weekend. And I think the Redbull might be a match for the Ferrari in race pace. At the front I think Bottas will have the pace and stay ahead of Lewis. Hopefully someone is daring and goes for an agressive 2 stop strategy. One stop would be very boring. Anyway, should be interesting.

Verstappen spun on warm up lap. Kubica as well.

Tyres too cold, 1st corner will be a mess xd

Low grip out there, gonna be a wild first few laps. Look for the track to dial in though.

finally Hamilton has a good start

That's how you knock the Mclarens out in one go.

How the hell can you give kvyat a drive through penalty for that? That's shameful

Kvyat's penalty is the sort that really annoys me. What is the point in penalising him. He's not made a stupid error or been dangerous. He just had a snap of oversteer and was unlucky to have two cars on the outside of him. It's one of those situations that if you replayed it there's nothing he could do differently.

mikeyg123 wrote:Kvyat's penalty is the sort that really annoys me. What is the point in penalising him. He's not made a stupid error or been dangerous. He just had a snap of oversteer and was unlucky to have two cars on the outside of him. It's one of those situations that if you replayed it there's nothing he could do differently.

Exactly, yet last week verstappen divebombing and headbutting Sainz off the track and giving him a puncture was okay

Bad stewarding so far. Dani didn't do anything nearly as bad as Verstappen. Sadly, he has a reputation, and I think you see human bias at work here.

Really Ferrari... lol

Vettel used drs when he was 1.1* secs behind at the detection point. He was also 1.1* behind at the activation point.

Also- agreed about kyvat. Did nothing wrong.

simonr23 wrote:Vettel used drs when he was 1.1* secs behind at the detection point. He was also 1.1* behind at the activation point.

Also- agreed about kyvat. Did nothing wrong.

Yes, I also noticed that, for a couple of laps.

Leclerc with finish ahead of vettel in this race. Vettels tyres are getting worked hard whilst Leclerc is lapping at the same pace whilst saving his tyres

Pointlessly let vettel ahead when he doesn't even have pace

Bacus wrote:

simonr23 wrote:Vettel used drs when he was 1.1* secs behind at the detection point. He was also 1.1* behind at the activation point.

Also- agreed about kyvat. Did nothing wrong.

Yes, I also noticed that, for a couple of laps.

I'm not sure that's even possible. I think they are electronically controlled and cannot open if more than 1s behind another car

All the stupidity i expected that Ferrari would do in this season have come true. Merc will have it easy this year.

Zoue wrote:

Bacus wrote:

simonr23 wrote:Vettel used drs when he was 1.1* secs behind at the detection point. He was also 1.1* behind at the activation point.

Also- agreed about kyvat. Did nothing wrong.

Yes, I also noticed that, for a couple of laps.

I'm not sure that's even possible. I think they are electronically controlled and cannot open if more than 1s behind another car

That was my understanding too.

That DRS isn't long enough on the straight.

Ferrari just making idiots from themselves.... really pathetic

FormulaFun wrote:Leclerc with finish ahead of vettel in this race. Vettels tyres are getting worked hard whilst Leclerc is lapping at the same pace whilst saving his tyres

Pointlessly let vettel ahead when he doesn't even have pace

He's in the dirty air so don't think he can be saving that much.

Vettel was on Leclerc's tail and it looked like Leclerc was holding him up. Ironically, now the situation is reversed and it looks like Vettel is holding Leclerc up. Strange that neither Vettel nor Leclerc are able to pull away from each other while being perfectly capable of hanging onto each others' coat tails.

One thing is certain, Vettel's driving is looking pretty ragged

Ferrari have really compromised their race more than I think they realise by swapping the cars to appease vettel. They're now in a battle with verstappen

In fairness, Vettel was solidly in the DRS constantly whilst Leclerc cannot get into the DRS zone. TBH he needs to get his head down and work on getting closer.

FormulaFun wrote:Ferrari have really compromised their race more than I think they realise by swapping the cars to appease vettel. They're now in a battle with verstappen

How? Leclerc appears to be dropping back a bit and is 1.6s behind now. How has it compromised Ferrari's race?

Zoue wrote:

FormulaFun wrote:Ferrari have really compromised their race more than I think they realise by swapping the cars to appease vettel. They're now in a battle with verstappen

How? Leclerc appears to be dropping back a bit and is 1.6s behind now. How has it compromised Ferrari's race?

Well, they have now, by pitting Vettel first they really have sacrificed Leclerc. I would be surprised if he is so willing to play the team game again.

Zoue wrote:

FormulaFun wrote:Ferrari have really compromised their race more than I think they realise by swapping the cars to appease vettel. They're now in a battle with verstappen

How? Leclerc appears to be dropping back a bit and is 1.6s behind now. How has it compromised Ferrari's race?

The lead Ferrari effectively dropped back about 3 seconds on track so he will 100% come out behind, they've literally had to sacrifice his race now

Might aswell change Leclerc's strategy now, sounds familiar to Kimi

Verstappen Always exciting

Honda, the power of dreams?

mikeyg123 wrote:

Zoue wrote:

FormulaFun wrote:Ferrari have really compromised their race more than I think they realise by swapping the cars to appease vettel. They're now in a battle with verstappen

How? Leclerc appears to be dropping back a bit and is 1.6s behind now. How has it compromised Ferrari's race?

Well, they have now, by pitting Vettel first they really have sacrificed Leclerc. I would be surprised if he is so willing to play the team game again.

well the other way around would have sacrificed Vettel. The claim was that Ferrari have been compromised but either way Ferrari looked vulnerable with one car