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Third straight win for Leclerc wouldn't be all that bad but Hamilton is a monster around this track. Expecting a wild race tomorrow with atleast 1 safety car instance for sure.

Hamilton was quicker in the race simulations - so fingers crossed its a tasty affair. Track position is king.

UnlikeUday wrote:Third straight win for Leclerc wouldn't be all that bad but Hamilton is a monster around this track. Expecting a wild race tomorrow with atleast 1 safety car instance for sure.

Hell yeah, hopefully nothing decided with a fortunately timed safety car in the pitstop window

Isn't this track a curse in a way for those midfield teams qualifying from 6th to 10th? They will be starting on softs (qualy tyres), will have to put earlier & lose track position.

Star will be interesting! If Hamilton and Max get a decent start the have the inside line over the Ferraris, I'll be surprised if they all get through turn 1 unscathed. I can also see Bottas and Vettel tangling early. Looking forward to it, Leclerc is now the man to beat!

If they go unscathed through the first couple of turns I expect Vettel to attack Lewis in the main straight. Lewis better cover the inside early because with the Ferrari straight line speed it's a guarantee Vettel will be coming. It's gonna be a tough race for Lewis to win regardless, sandwiched between 2 ferraris, if he tries to go long they will try undercutting him as long as there is clean air behind. If he wants to win this race he is going to have to pass a Ferrari or 2 on track. Don't think that's possible here but with Lewis you never know. Then again there's always a high chance of a safety car.
Verstappen is the wild card for me. He may become a nuisance for the trailing Ferrari. No idea what his race pace will be but if he is faster than the Ferraris it should get very interesting. Bottas I expect to be a spectator, unless Albon can keep him busy.

Lewis said after Monza that this new generation of drivers (Charles, Max) get away with more and that he will change his approach.

I guess we’ll find out at the start.

Race sets left with each driver:


Source - Imgur

Danny ricciardo excluded from quail. So will be interesting toonsee how he can fight back from the back today.

Luckily for McLaren they have good race pace as well otherwise for a midfield team to qualify between 7th - 10th on softs is a bad situation. Those starting from 11th-14th are in a better place due to free tyre choice & option of starting on mediums.

The provisional grid:

1 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:36.216
2 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 0.191s
3 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 0.220s
4 Max Verstappen Red Bull 0.596s
5 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 0.929s
6 Alex Albon Red Bull 1.194s
7 Carlos Sainz McLaren 1.601s
8 Nico Hulkenberg Renault 2.047s
9 Lando Norris McLaren 2.112s
10 Antonio Giovinazzi Alfa Romeo 1:38.697
11 Pierre Gasly Toro Rosso 1:36.699
12 Kimi Raikkonen Alfa Romeo 1:38.858
13 Kevin Magnussen Haas 1:36.650
14 Daniil Kvyat Toro Rosso 1:39.957
15 Sergio Perez Racing Point 1:38.620 *
16 Lance Stroll Racing Point 1:39.979
17 Romain Grosjean Haas 1:40.277
18 George Russell Williams 1:40.867
19 Robert Kubica Williams 1:41.186
20 Daniel Ricciardo Renault **

* five-place gearbox change penalty
** disqualified from qualy, races at stewards’ discretion

Are we expecting Mercedes to be much faster in the race here? Friday practice seemed to suggest so, and the recent trend in races is that Mercedes, or Hamilton, is better than Ferrari in race pace.

At this very moment Norris is streaming the driver's parade, on Twitch

Schumacher forever#1 wrote:Are we expecting Mercedes to be much faster in the race here? Friday practice seemed to suggest so, and the recent trend in races is that Mercedes, or Hamilton, is better than Ferrari in race pace.

I reckon so but if Hamilton isn't in clear air we probably won't see it.

JN23 wrote:

Schumacher forever#1 wrote:Are we expecting Mercedes to be much faster in the race here? Friday practice seemed to suggest so, and the recent trend in races is that Mercedes, or Hamilton, is better than Ferrari in race pace.

I reckon so but if Hamilton isn't in clear air we probably won't see it.

Ferrari's performance on Friday was way below the Saturday performance, I wouldn't assume Mercedes are faster in any way!

It will be hard to go through first two corners without a crash, yet I hope they all pass it unscratched. Hard to predict, but I guess Hamilton and Max will still steal the show. I hope Vettel surprises. too.

Just to rake over old coals, but interesting to hear Ant Davidson just say when discussing the black & white flag use & reviewing incidents this year on the Skypad that Verstappen deliberately drove Leclerc off the track in Austria.

KingVoid wrote:Lewis said after Monza that this new generation of drivers (Charles, Max) get away with more and that he will change his approach.

I guess we’ll find out at the start.

I agree. More than that, I fancy that with his 6th WDC just about inevitable now, and with the FIA's renewed use of the black 'n white flag, Hamilton may well be inclined to lay down a marker to Leclerc or anyone else with ideas of claiming the high ground.

Interesting stuff.

Ricciardo unlucky to be DQ'd from qualifying.

Rules are rules, but common sense surely. It over revved for a milisecond.

Damn that Ferrari's quick

Wow I got lucky, went to watch Moto GP and missed it, then nearly missed F1 expecting a 2pm start time. Race will be at the one and only pitstop now.

Leclerc's driving really slow, eking out the tyres?

pokerman wrote:Leclerc's driving really slow, eking out the tyres?

More than likely, you cant overtake and let Hamilton have the dirty air.

Someone do something!

jimmyj wrote:Someone do something!

Did you radio that directly to Hamilton?

tootsie323 wrote:

jimmyj wrote:Someone do something!

Did you radio that directly to Hamilton?

Hahahaha

Ok.

Race starts now

This is such an interesting race.

So if Mercedes had pitted Hamilton the same lap as Vettel then Hamilton would have taken the lead.

It was pretty obvious Vettel would be leading, just had to look at everyone else lap times.

Wow this could go so many ways now

Don't get Merc strategy here... Hamilton ending up fourth.

pokerman wrote:So if Mercedes had pitted Hamilton the same lap as Vettel then Hamilton would have taken the lead.

Hamilton go for the undercut, never. Hamilton even had to tell them.

JN23 wrote:Don't get Merc strategy here... Hamilton ending up fourth.

Has to be a mistake. So odd

Have Mercedes been played?

Should play to Ferrari, but positions are reversed.

pokerman wrote:Have Mercedes been played?

Are they hoping Vettel will get stuck behind the midfield?

They have to pit Hamilton the next lap.

Schumacher forever#1 wrote:

pokerman wrote:Have Mercedes been played?

Are they hoping Vettel will get stuck behind the midfield?

That, or a safety car.

Ferrari done Leclerc, very naughty.