2019 French Grand Prix Race Thread

UnlikeUday · Post by **UnlikeUday** » Sat Jun 22, 2019 2:22 pm

Apart from Hamilton winning, hoping for a good race for 3rd between McLaren & Red Bull.

Invade · Post by **Invade** » Sat Jun 22, 2019 2:29 pm

I expect a Mercedes to win the race. Bold prediction.

Mercedes-Benz · Post by **Mercedes-Benz** » Sat Jun 22, 2019 3:19 pm

Lots of drivers were making mistakes. So I hope it is good race. Not sure what happened to Vettel. He probably is still hot headed but I think he will catch Max and Charles in the race. In midfield I think it is between Renault and Mclarens. Albon in P11 can also get into points.

FrusEldar · Post by **FrusEldar** » Sat Jun 22, 2019 5:25 pm

Hamilton to win from the first corner of the first lap. There might be some interesting scraps for lower positions, but with the WDC already decided what is the point?

I predict to fall asleep or switch channel midway through the race

Asphalt_World · Post by **Asphalt_World** » Sat Jun 22, 2019 5:58 pm

Phew. It's a relief that nobody is getting penalised for impeding others in F1 these days. Kimi has not been penalised for getting in the way of Grosjean!

KingVoid · Post by **KingVoid** » Sat Jun 22, 2019 6:20 pm

Unfortunately this season is a write-off. It’s a guarantee that tomorrow will be boring.

Option or Prime · Post by **Option or Prime** » Sat Jun 22, 2019 8:03 pm

I think this season is going to interesting actually, we are seeing a resurgence in both McLaren and Renault, McLaren have yet to introduce the upgraded Renault engine so more to come.

Mercedes look like they will win the WDC but Norris, Leclerc and Ricciardo are making it interesting further back. Will DR reignite his rivalry with MV in a different car? Can Leclerc split the Mercedes.

Ignore the podium the fun is further back!

Lt. Drebin · Post by **Lt. Drebin** » Sat Jun 22, 2019 8:51 pm

KingVoid wrote:Unfortunately this season is a write-off. It’s a guarantee that tomorrow will be boring.

I don't see fighting for 5th place in the race as anything that would set me on fire.

sandman1347 · Post by **sandman1347** » Sat Jun 22, 2019 9:04 pm

KingVoid wrote:Unfortunately this season is a write-off. It’s a guarantee that tomorrow will be boring.

This season is starting to feel like 2002. Only Hamilton or Mercedes fans (or die-hard F1 fans who never miss a race) will continue to tune in this year. I only hope that Red Bull and/or Ferrari can gain ground and make for some interesting races later in the season.

Asphalt_World · Post by **Asphalt_World** » Sat Jun 22, 2019 9:38 pm

And having just watched a brilliant quali session in Indy Car and a truly brilliant looking circuit, the issues with F1 look even more obvious.

UnlikeUday · Post by **UnlikeUday** » Sun Jun 23, 2019 5:39 am

Race sets available with all drivers:

Source - www.imgur.com

UnlikeUday · Post by **UnlikeUday** » Sun Jun 23, 2019 5:43 am

Pit strategy options as per Pirelli:

A one-stopper (fastest strategy):
- Start on the medium tyre for 22 to 27 laps, then switch to hard until the end.
- Starting on soft for 14 to 16 laps, then hard to the end.

A two-stopper (slower strategy):
- Start on the soft for five to eight laps, then run the medium for 22 to 27 laps, and finally medium again to the end.

UnlikeUday · Post by **UnlikeUday** » Sun Jun 23, 2019 7:22 am

The revised grid:

1 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:28.319
2 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 0.286s
3 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 0.646s
4 Max Verstappen Red Bull 1.090s
5 Lando Norris McLaren 1.099s
6 Carlos Sainz McLaren 1.203s
7 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 1.480s
8 Daniel Ricciardo Renault 1.599s
9 Pierre Gasly Red Bull 1.865s
10 Antonio Giovinazzi Alfa Romeo Racing 5.101s
11 Alex Albon Toro Rosso 1:30.461
12 Kimi Raikkonen Alfa Romeo Racing 1:30.533
13 Nico Hulkenberg Renault 1:30.544
14 Sergio Perez Racing Point 1:30.738
15 Kevin Magnussen Haas 1:31.440
16 Romain Grosjean Haas 1:31.627
17 Lance Stroll Racing Point 1:32.789
18 Robert Kubica Williams 1:33.205
19 George Russell Williams 1:31.726 *
20 Daniil Kvyat Toro Rosso 1:31.564 *

* grid penalties due to multiple power unit element changes

BMWSauber84 · Post by **BMWSauber84** » Sun Jun 23, 2019 10:58 am

Gasly and Giovanazzi are the only guys in the top 10 starting on the soft tyres so they could potentially be a bit of a nuisance to Ricciardo, or even Seb and the Mclarens with that run to turn one.

Ferrari having a new set of softs could potentially be very handy in the event of a lateish race safety car, or in the unlikely event that they fancy trying an aggressive two stopper. More likely is that it will give one of them a shot at fastest lap at the end if the Mercs are home and hosed and a gap behind opens up.

Black_Flag_11 · Post by **Black_Flag_11** » Sun Jun 23, 2019 11:05 am

Looking forward to seeing what the McLaren guys can do in the race and with Vettel out of position we may get some good action between him and Verstappen.

Battle at the front will likely be pretty boring, hopefully Bottas can jump Hamilton off the start as I think that's our best bet of an actual battle but even then I think the likelihood is that whichever Mercedes leads into T1 will win the race relatively uncontested.

FormulaFun · Post by **FormulaFun** » Sun Jun 23, 2019 11:22 am

Really hope McLaren have the race pace to fight.

Would be amazing to get a glimpse of Sainz Vs Norris Vs Verstappen

mikeyg123 · Post by **mikeyg123** » Sun Jun 23, 2019 11:24 am

FormulaFun wrote:Really hope McLaren have the race pace to fight.

Would be amazing to get a glimpse of Sainz Vs Norris Vs Verstappen

The Mclaren would need to have a decent speed advantage for Sainz and Norris to be able to fight Verstappen.

Option or Prime · Post by **Option or Prime** » Sun Jun 23, 2019 11:40 am

mikeyg123 wrote:
FormulaFun wrote:Really hope McLaren have the race pace to fight.

Would be amazing to get a glimpse of Sainz Vs Norris Vs Verstappen
The Mclaren would need to have a decent speed advantage for Sainz and Norris to be able to fight Verstappen.

Yes, very true but I get the impression that the McLaren is pretty good at getting the tyres to work optimally that offsets the speed advantage, that would work over one or two laps but can they keep it up?
In addition McLaren are not using the uprated Renault power unit apparently that might make a difference or alternatively it migh unbalance the tyre advantage. Either way its good to see them back, even if it is temporary. I wouldn't discount Ricciardo either.

Rockie · Post by **Rockie** » Sun Jun 23, 2019 11:40 am

mikeyg123 wrote:
FormulaFun wrote:Really hope McLaren have the race pace to fight.

Would be amazing to get a glimpse of Sainz Vs Norris Vs Verstappen
The Mclaren would need to have a decent speed advantage for Sainz and Norris to be able to fight Verstappen.

Or to even keep Vettel behind.

F1_Ernie · Post by **F1_Ernie** » Sun Jun 23, 2019 11:44 am

Looks like a 1 stop race for a change

pokerman · Post by **pokerman** » Sun Jun 23, 2019 11:57 am

KingVoid wrote:Unfortunately this season is a write-off. It’s a guarantee that tomorrow will be boring.

Speak for yourself.

mikeyg123 · Post by **mikeyg123** » Sun Jun 23, 2019 12:07 pm

Rockie wrote:
mikeyg123 wrote:
FormulaFun wrote:Really hope McLaren have the race pace to fight.

Would be amazing to get a glimpse of Sainz Vs Norris Vs Verstappen
The Mclaren would need to have a decent speed advantage for Sainz and Norris to be able to fight Verstappen.
Or to even keep Vettel behind.

They would have to have a big advantage over the Red Bull to keep Vettel in a Ferrari behind them?

JN23 · Post by **JN23** » Sun Jun 23, 2019 12:18 pm

FormulaFun wrote:Really hope McLaren have the race pace to fight.

Would be amazing to get a glimpse of Sainz Vs Norris Vs Verstappen

My prediction on this is that there is contact between two of them on lap one.

Option or Prime · Post by **Option or Prime** » Sun Jun 23, 2019 12:20 pm

JN23 wrote:
FormulaFun wrote:Really hope McLaren have the race pace to fight.

Would be amazing to get a glimpse of Sainz Vs Norris Vs Verstappen
My prediction on this is that there is contact between two of them on lap one.

You could add Vettel into that equation as he will be pretty keen to to get left too far behind the leaders.

TheGiantHogweed · Post by **TheGiantHogweed** » Sun Jun 23, 2019 12:51 pm

brundle first comment to Gasly: "decent grid slot"

I just don't understand what brundle was thinking when he said that. As Gasly said, it is not where he wanted to be. 9th is not good for Red bull. It is like saying Bottas did a decent job qualifying last time out...

j man · Post by **j man** » Sun Jun 23, 2019 12:55 pm

TheGiantHogweed wrote:brundle first comment to Gasly: "decent grid slot"

I just don't understand what brundle was thinking when he said that. As Gasly said, it is not where he wanted to be. 9th is not good for Red bull. It is like saying Bottas did a decent job qualifying last time out...

It's always a tough balancing act between being truthful and being polite. I guess Brundle maybe erred a bit too far towards being polite there...

j man · Post by **j man** » Sun Jun 23, 2019 12:58 pm

F1_Ernie wrote:Looks like a 1 stop race for a change

I think the 1 stop races became much more prevalent once Pirelli starting bringing 3 tyre compounds to each race. If the tyres are falling to bits then they always have a hard compound available that will do the race distance.

FormulaFun · Post by **FormulaFun** » Sun Jun 23, 2019 1:00 pm

JN23 wrote:
FormulaFun wrote:Really hope McLaren have the race pace to fight.

Would be amazing to get a glimpse of Sainz Vs Norris Vs Verstappen
My prediction on this is that there is contact between two of them on lap one.

I think max and Lando have really high respect for other, they're friends and spend a lot of time sim racing together

Rockie · Post by **Rockie** » Sun Jun 23, 2019 1:04 pm

mikeyg123 wrote:
Rockie wrote:
mikeyg123 wrote:
FormulaFun wrote:Really hope McLaren have the race pace to fight.

Would be amazing to get a glimpse of Sainz Vs Norris Vs Verstappen
The Mclaren would need to have a decent speed advantage for Sainz and Norris to be able to fight Verstappen.
Or to even keep Vettel behind.
They would have to have a big advantage over the Red Bull to keep Vettel in a Ferrari behind them?

This isn't too hard to comprehend, they would need to keep Vettel behind before they can think of fighting Max!

UnlikeUday · Post by **UnlikeUday** » Sun Jun 23, 2019 1:09 pm

Tyres selected from 9th position downwards. Top 8 are on mediums.

Source - www.imgur.com

Option or Prime · Post by **Option or Prime** » Sun Jun 23, 2019 1:12 pm

FormulaFun wrote:
JN23 wrote:
FormulaFun wrote:Really hope McLaren have the race pace to fight.

Would be amazing to get a glimpse of Sainz Vs Norris Vs Verstappen
My prediction on this is that there is contact between two of them on lap one.
I think max and Lando have really high respect for other, they're friends and spend a lot of time sim racing together

Sainz is way better at Fifa20 apparently!

mcdo · Post by **mcdo** » Sun Jun 23, 2019 1:12 pm

I'm about as pumped for this race as I am for Monday morning at work

I hope McLaren have a strong double points finish

Mort Canard · Post by **Mort Canard** » Sun Jun 23, 2019 1:13 pm

Formation lap underway

Option or Prime · Post by **Option or Prime** » Sun Jun 23, 2019 1:22 pm

Top four are getting away!

lucifers · Post by **lucifers** » Sun Jun 23, 2019 1:24 pm

vettel now in 5th

mikeyg123 · Post by **mikeyg123** » Sun Jun 23, 2019 1:25 pm

So frustrating to see the front runners parked in a line 2 seconds apart every race whilst the midfield can follow each other easily.

Mort Canard · Post by **Mort Canard** » Sun Jun 23, 2019 1:25 pm

lucifers wrote:vettel now in 5th

...and in pursuit of Max. What will happen there???

mikeyg123 · Post by **mikeyg123** » Sun Jun 23, 2019 1:31 pm

My god Crofty is being thick.

Asphalt_World · Post by **Asphalt_World** » Sun Jun 23, 2019 1:32 pm

I hope to eat my words and this race suddenly comes alive, but so far I can see a boring circuit, no atmosphere due to lack of spectators and processional racing.

Come on F1!

TheGiantHogweed · Post by **TheGiantHogweed** » Sun Jun 23, 2019 1:33 pm

Regarding this penalty on Perez, i saw no need for him to go off like he did. I don't think he needed to do it - but it did give him an advantage so i understand the penalty.