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Tomorrow it looks like Verstappen versus Mercedes cars for the top step!

You counting Ferrari out?

I expect Verstappen to outrace the Ferrari pair tomorrow, though the first few corners should be squeaky bum time.

I expect both Ferrari's to pass Vestappen into turn 1.

Clarky wrote:I expect both Ferrari's to pass Vestappen into turn 1.

Could easily happen but also could be at least one shunt in the 1,2,3 complex of turns. Both Ferraris are going to be trying to get around him and you know Max will be doing his blocking moves.

Will be looking to see if Valtteri has to take a penalty for replacement components or has to start from the pit lane.

Mort Canard wrote:

Clarky wrote:I expect both Ferrari's to pass Vestappen into turn 1.

Could easily happen but also could be at least one shunt in the 1,2,3 complex of turns. Both Ferraris are going to be trying to get around him and you know Max will be doing his blocking moves.

Will be looking to see if Valtteri has to take a penalty for replacement components or has to start from the pit lane.

Toto has said they are 90% confident they can fix the car without taking a penalty.

Will Bottas race? I don't know what the protocol is around who determines if a driver is fit enough to drive but given the impact, the audible heavy breathing from Valterri after on the radio, I would be surprised if he raced.

da4an1qu1 wrote:Will Bottas race? I don't know what the protocol is around who determines if a driver is fit enough to drive but given the impact, the audible heavy breathing from Valterri after on the radio, I would be surprised if he raced.

I assume the FIA doctors at the medical centre? He was in and out of there quite quickly so assumed they didn't have any concerns.

It seems Max will be starting from 4th now. Still, expect a tasty opening few corners of the race!

JN23 wrote:

da4an1qu1 wrote:Will Bottas race? I don't know what the protocol is around who determines if a driver is fit enough to drive but given the impact, the audible heavy breathing from Valterri after on the radio, I would be surprised if he raced.

I assume the FIA doctors at the medical centre? He was in and out of there quite quickly so assumed they didn't have any concerns.

I was a bit distracted watching the session, but it did look a lot longer than usual. Sky showed an instant replay, and when they returned he was still in the car. And also Brundle mentioned that the medical car had been deployed. So there was concern enough

da4an1qu1 wrote:

JN23 wrote:

da4an1qu1 wrote:Will Bottas race? I don't know what the protocol is around who determines if a driver is fit enough to drive but given the impact, the audible heavy breathing from Valterri after on the radio, I would be surprised if he raced.

I assume the FIA doctors at the medical centre? He was in and out of there quite quickly so assumed they didn't have any concerns.

I was a bit distracted watching the session, but it did look a lot longer than usual. Sky showed an instant replay, and when they returned he was still in the car. And also Brundle mentioned that the medical car had been deployed. So there was concern enough

Just watched a replay. I timed it at 115 second from the car stopping in the barrier to Bottas jumping out of the car.

da4an1qu1 wrote:

da4an1qu1 wrote:

JN23 wrote:

da4an1qu1 wrote:Will Bottas race? I don't know what the protocol is around who determines if a driver is fit enough to drive but given the impact, the audible heavy breathing from Valterri after on the radio, I would be surprised if he raced.

I assume the FIA doctors at the medical centre? He was in and out of there quite quickly so assumed they didn't have any concerns.

I was a bit distracted watching the session, but it did look a lot longer than usual. Sky showed an instant replay, and when they returned he was still in the car. And also Brundle mentioned that the medical car had been deployed. So there was concern enough

Just watched a replay. I timed it at 115 second from the car stopping in the barrier to Bottas jumping out of the car.

Sorry I meant that it seemed like he went to the medical centre after getting out the car and then we were told he had left the medical centre quite quickly. I agree it did take him a while to get out the car though.

Invade wrote:It seems Max will be starting from 4th now. Still, expect a tasty opening few corners of the race!

After the penalty Max will be seeing Red regardless of whether the Ferraris are in view. I am almost expecting a collision in the turn 1,2,3 complex on the first lap.

Mort Canard wrote:

Invade wrote:It seems Max will be starting from 4th now. Still, expect a tasty opening few corners of the race!

After the penalty Max will be seeing Red regardless of whether the Ferraris are in view. I am almost expecting a collision in the turn 1,2,3 complex on the first lap.

I even wonder if Merc will be telling their drivers: "Listen... Max is probably in berserk mode so if he even hints at trying an overtake let him go and crash out the Ferrari's and we'll pick up the pieces."

I don't think the penalty is too bad for verstappen. Before I think if the ferraris got a good start they would slipstream their way past verstappen along with hamilton. Now him and hamilton will get the slipstream allowing them a better chance st the ferraris

Invade wrote:

Mort Canard wrote:

Invade wrote:It seems Max will be starting from 4th now. Still, expect a tasty opening few corners of the race!

After the penalty Max will be seeing Red regardless of whether the Ferraris are in view. I am almost expecting a collision in the turn 1,2,3 complex on the first lap.

I even wonder if Merc will be telling their drivers: "Listen... Max is probably in berserk mode so if he even hints at trying an overtake let him go and crash out the Ferrari's and we'll pick up the pieces."

Well Valteri will be starting even further back if I'm not mistaken so he won't have to worry about it. The drag to the first corner will be interesting with the Ferraris on the first row. I do think it's likely that there will be contact up front.

Invade wrote:

Mort Canard wrote:

Invade wrote:It seems Max will be starting from 4th now. Still, expect a tasty opening few corners of the race!

After the penalty Max will be seeing Red regardless of whether the Ferraris are in view. I am almost expecting a collision in the turn 1,2,3 complex on the first lap.

I even wonder if Merc will be telling their drivers: "Listen... Max is probably in berserk mode so if he even hints at trying an overtake let him go and crash out the Ferrari's and we'll pick up the pieces."

Valtteri is behind Max in any case. Lewis knows Max's shenanigans very well and will likely allow for them.

OTOH Max has a history with the red cars and both red cars have quite a history with Max.

Possible wild card in the mix is predicted possibility of rain late in the race. That would be fun to see.

JN23 wrote:

da4an1qu1 wrote:

da4an1qu1 wrote:

JN23 wrote:

da4an1qu1 wrote:Will Bottas race? I don't know what the protocol is around who determines if a driver is fit enough to drive but given the impact, the audible heavy breathing from Valterri after on the radio, I would be surprised if he raced.

I assume the FIA doctors at the medical centre? He was in and out of there quite quickly so assumed they didn't have any concerns.

I was a bit distracted watching the session, but it did look a lot longer than usual. Sky showed an instant replay, and when they returned he was still in the car. And also Brundle mentioned that the medical car had been deployed. So there was concern enough

Just watched a replay. I timed it at 115 second from the car stopping in the barrier to Bottas jumping out of the car.

Sorry I meant that it seemed like he went to the medical centre after getting out the car and then we were told he had left the medical centre quite quickly. I agree it did take him a while to get out the car though.

Nah, you're good. I realise now that I totally misread that. If that's the case, he should be ok. I was thinking of a driver who missed a race based off of a high g force impact. But it appears I am think of Alonso after Melbourne 2016. And in that instance he actually sustained injuries.

I seem to remember someone missing the grid more recently... Was it Kimi with a back injury???

Could be a good race, I imagine it will be a battle between the Ferrari's into T1 given the straight line speed. Then Max should be strong in the race.

Tyre sets available with each driver:


Source - Imgur

Clarky wrote:I expect both Ferrari's to pass Vestappen into turn 1.

So far so good

The provisional grid:

1 Charles Leclerc Ferrari
2 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari
3 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes
4 Max Verstappen Red Bull *
5 Alex Albon Red Bull
6 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes
7 Carlos Sainz McLaren
8 Lando Norris McLaren
9 Daniil Kvyat Toro Rosso
10 Pierre Gasly Toro Rosso
11 Sergio Perez Racing Point
12 Nico Hulkenberg Renault
13 Daniel Ricciardo Renault
14 Kimi Raikkonen Alfa Romeo Racing
15 Antonio Giovinazzi Alfa Romeo Racing
16 Lance Stroll Racing Point
17 Kevin Magnussen Haas
18 Romain Grosjean Haas
19 George Russell Williams
20 Robert Kubica Williams

* three-place grid penalty for ignoring yellows

This is interesting. The slowest pit stop strategy is a 1 stopper:


Source - Imgur

Clarky wrote:

Clarky wrote:I expect both Ferrari's to pass Vestappen into turn 1.

So far so good

Happened even before the lights went out!!

Mort Canard wrote:

Clarky wrote:

Clarky wrote:I expect both Ferrari's to pass Vestappen into turn 1.

So far so good

Happened even before the lights went out!!

Normal Vettel start then!

I wonder what will take place between the 2 Ferrari cars. I wonder if there will be any sort of team orders.

jimmyj wrote:I wonder what will take place between the 2 Ferrari cars. I wonder if there will be any sort of team orders.

There's a long enough drag to the first corner that Hamilton and Verstappen can get a good slipstream and attack them. I don't think they can afford to choreograph the start.

I wonder how Leclerc feels from knowing he will be able to slipstream Verstappen and have the Ferrari engine to now most likely be slipstreamed by his teammate and I reckon Vettel will be leading after turn 1.

jimmyj wrote:I wonder what will take place between the 2 Ferrari cars. I wonder if there will be any sort of team orders.

Why would they?

Blake wrote:

jimmyj wrote:I wonder what will take place between the 2 Ferrari cars. I wonder if there will be any sort of team orders.

Why would they?

Because its a long run to turn one and if they plan to slipstream one another then that gives them the best chance to be 1-2 after turn one. A bit like Russia.

Something interesting to look into:


Source - Imgur

F1_Ernie wrote:I wonder how Leclerc feels from knowing he will be able to slipstream Verstappen and have the Ferrari engine to now most likely be slipstreamed by his teammate and I reckon Vettel will be leading after turn 1.

Not so sure, Leclerc learns fast, he will defend correctly I would have thought. Verstappen will be on a charge though!

I will be surprised if there is not a bunch of carbon fibre shards on the track or runoff area by the end of Lap 1.

Mort Canard wrote:I will be surprised if there is not a bunch of carbon fibre shards on the track or runoff area by the end of Lap 1.

I wouldn't bet against it, all the way through turn 3. This should be good.

JN23 wrote:

Blake wrote:

jimmyj wrote:I wonder what will take place between the 2 Ferrari cars. I wonder if there will be any sort of team orders.

Why would they?

Because its a long run to turn one and if they plan to slipstream one another then that gives them the best chance to be 1-2 after turn one. A bit like Russia.

I don't have an opinion on this either way, but Ferrari has surprised us in the past. Another bit of intrigue that will make the race start even more interesting.

Option or Prime wrote:

F1_Ernie wrote:I wonder how Leclerc feels from knowing he will be able to slipstream Verstappen and have the Ferrari engine to now most likely be slipstreamed by his teammate and I reckon Vettel will be leading after turn 1.

Not so sure, Leclerc learns fast, he will defend correctly I would have thought. Verstappen will be on a charge though!

All you can do is take the inside line early which Leclerc didn't do in Russia. You can't stop the car behind from slipstreaming you, Vettel will follow and should come out ahead, unless the cars are equal going into turn 1 and Leclerc pushes Vettel out.

Will be a very feisty turn one... No idea what's gonna happen especially if Leclerc and Verstappen get near each other.

Concerned for Bottas that there will be some unseen damage to his car that results in a DNF

Is Vettel allowed to run Lewis off the track onto the grass?

Hamilton very feisty. Love it

Dirty Vettel, he knew Hamilton got a good start.