2020 70th Anniversary Grand Prix Practice & Qualifying Thread

[JN23]

Here we go again but this time with softer tyres.

BBC column from Jolyon Palmer on what to look out for this weekend: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/53657231

[JN23]

Perez is back*

*providing he tests negative today.

[Invade]

Perez is back*

*providing he tests negative today.

I was sure Hulk would get a second chance but yeah I'm reading this right now on the official Formula 1 website.

I'm surprised TBH. Has he served a 10-day quarantine already? I thought he was mandated to serve 10 and not 7 days.

[UnlikeUday]

Perez is back*

*providing he tests negative today.

I was sure Hulk would get a second chance but yeah I'm reading this right now on the official Formula 1 website.

I'm surprised TBH. Has he served a 10-day quarantine already? I thought he was mandated to serve 10 and not 7 days.

I did read somewhere if he would test negative twice, he would be granted a special permission to take part this weekend.

[Herb]

Perez is back*

*providing he tests negative today.

I was sure Hulk would get a second chance but yeah I'm reading this right now on the official Formula 1 website.

I'm surprised TBH. Has he served a 10-day quarantine already? I thought he was mandated to serve 10 and not 7 days.

Perez tested positive before the Public Health England rules were changed from 7 to 10 days, thus he scrapes in on a technicality (if his new test is negative).

[tootsie323]

Agh - I just put this on the Perez-Covid thread! Better edit it and direct to here...

[JN23]

I would have thought this is very much against the code of conduct as Vettel and Szafnauer will be in separate bubbles?

https://twitter.com/lukesmithf1/status/ ... 38240?s=21

[UnlikeUday]

Still no news whether it will be Checo or Hulk this weekend!

UPDATE - Checo has tested positive again. Hulk will race this weekend too.

[JN23]

Perez has tested positive again so Hulk drives again this weekend.

[mikeyg123]

Gutted for Perez. Nothing is going right for him. That being said it feels only right Hulk gets at least one race after being called up.

[Siao7]

Gutted for Perez. Nothing is going right for him. That being said it feels only right Hulk gets at least one race after being called up.

I'm worried about Perez, the potential for long-term complications for Covid survivors is worrying. Although he is a young athlete, you never know how it affects different people.

[Black_Flag_11]

It's a shame for Perez, but I have to admit after the issue for Hulk last weekend it is nice to see him get a second shot, only wish it was under better circumstances.

[Flash2k11]

I imagine Hulkenberg will be getting a go at Spain as well, and with all the noise surrounding Vettel and Perez' trip to the CRB i'm starting to wonder if his time at RP is done already. If say, Perez misses this weekend, Spain and then Belgium and Hulkenberg is then fully up to speed and doing a good enough job... who would you keep in the car?

[mikeyg123]

I imagine Hulkenberg will be getting a go at Spain as well, and with all the noise surrounding Vettel and Perez' trip to the CRB i'm starting to wonder if his time at RP is done already. If say, Perez misses this weekend, Spain and then Belgium and Hulkenberg is then fully up to speed and doing a good enough job... who would you keep in the car?

I was wondering about this but I'm not sure the 7 day quarantine process has to start again? I think as long as he can get a negative test before Spain then he should be OK.

I feel really sorry for the man. He's been one of the best midfield drivers for years and finally looks like he is in a situation where he is with a team who actually aspires to win things, a situation he partly engineered himself, and it looks like he is going to get immediately replaced whilst they weaker driver is kept on. If I was Perez, unless I was going to get a good drive for next year I think I'd call F1 a day and go and do something else. I don't see how you can come back from this blow and motivate yourself to be at your best for a team like Haas, or Alfa Romeo where you may luck in to the occasional point but that's about it.

[Flash2k11]

I imagine Hulkenberg will be getting a go at Spain as well, and with all the noise surrounding Vettel and Perez' trip to the CRB i'm starting to wonder if his time at RP is done already. If say, Perez misses this weekend, Spain and then Belgium and Hulkenberg is then fully up to speed and doing a good enough job... who would you keep in the car?

I was wondering about this but I'm not sure the 7 day quarantine process has to start again? I think as long as he can get a negative test before Spain then he should be OK.

I feel really sorry for the man. He's been one of the best midfield drivers for years and finally looks like he is in a situation where he is with a team who actually aspires to win things, a situation he partly engineered himself, and it looks like he is going to get immediately replaced whilst they weaker driver is kept on. If I was Perez, unless I was going to get a good drive for next year I think I'd call F1 a day and go and do something else. I don't see how you can come back from this blow and motivate yourself to be at your best for a team like Haas, or Alfa Romeo where you may luck in to the occasional point but that's about it.

Even with a negative test, I can't see Catalonia allowing him in with the way things are headed there right now, and thats assuming he doesn't have to now take the 10 day isolation that PHE say needs to be taken after a positive test.

Edit: And if I were him, i'd be having my agent ringing Horner non stop. Vettel wasn't jumping into Otmar's car for a cheeky McDonalds, the writing is on the wall even if he does get back in the car this year.

[Greenman]

.

Did they ever explain why Hulkenberg's car wouldn't start ?

.

[Greenman]

.

As it is so hot (for the UK) today - will the teams bother much if they use up their (softer) tyre allowances ?

.

[Clarky]

Mercedes so far ahead.

Already miles ahead of FP1's quickest time last week.

[JN23]

[cell][/cell]

Mercedes so far ahead.

Already miles ahead of FP1's quickest time last week.

Softer tyres remember.

[Option or Prime]

I realise its only first practice but Lando seems a bit quicker than Carlos again, I wonder if next season that will continue but with Lando in a McLaren/Mercedes and Carlos in a Ferrari?

Hulkenburg well up there as well, seems they can continue racing with the Mercedes brake duct for the rest of the season.

[Clarky]

[cell][/cell]

Mercedes so far ahead.

Already miles ahead of FP1's quickest time last week.

Softer tyres remember.

Merc was no where last week in these hot temps.

[Clarky]

Soft tyres blistering a lot.

[Option or Prime]

Consequence of a black car perhaps? What will they be like when the ambient is in the 30's I wonder, can you change livery mid season?

[UnlikeUday]

Hulk has put Stroll in the shade in FP1. Ironical as it sounds, Stroll's seat is safe nonetheless.

[Clarky]

Consequence of a black car perhaps? What will they be like when the ambient is in the 30's I wonder, can you change livery mid season?

Mercedes have said the colour has now baring on the heat.

[DFWdude]

Looks like everyone are burning up the Softs in FP1, so they can save Mediums and Hards for the rest of the weekend, save one set of Softs for the last 2 minutes of Q3 I assume.

Good to see Kubica participate in FP1 for Alfa Romeo. I assume it's just for FP1, and that GIO will return for FP2?

[pokerman]

I imagine Hulkenberg will be getting a go at Spain as well, and with all the noise surrounding Vettel and Perez' trip to the CRB i'm starting to wonder if his time at RP is done already. If say, Perez misses this weekend, Spain and then Belgium and Hulkenberg is then fully up to speed and doing a good enough job... who would you keep in the car?

Apparently Perez's sponsors are prepared to up the ante and the question is Vettel worth a Perez + $40/50M per season, the decision is now being put back into abeyance.

[pokerman]

Looks like everyone are burning up the Softs in FP1, so they can save Mediums and Hards for the rest of the weekend, save one set of Softs for the last 2 minutes of Q3 I assume.

Good to see Kubica participate in FP1 for Alfa Romeo. I assume it's just for FP1, and that GIO will return for FP2?

Yeah they're getting rid of the softs because they are not fit for purpose.

[TheGiantHogweed]

Something is getting very suspicious about the level of Vettel's problems. I think he did extremely well last race at trying to hide his true feelings. If he had acted like he did the years before when he gets angry, I think his radio will have been full of bad language all weekend. He's almost starting to look like he doesn't care - possibly knowing his backup plan for next year. I believe he's still trying his hardest, and if I'm honest, I think he's looked as good as Leclerc or bettter this year when able to compare them. But it is getting silly the level of problems that are all going his way. Especially last weekend, I simply don't know why they couldn't stop the same basic fault of "something being loose" fixed. I don't think last weekend was his true pace at all. His car looked totally different to drive compared to his team mates. And now he's had another issue.

[Black_Flag_11]

Saw someone suggest this on Twitter and couldn't resist





Sources: https://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/ ... title2.png

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ee0_xsPXoAE ... ame=medium

[pc27b]

ferrari took his name off his clothing....just seems petty. yes, certainly seems like neither side cares anymore, when it comes to ferrari/vettel shame

[Schumacher forever#1]

Saw someone suggest this on Twitter and couldn't resist





Sources: https://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/ ... title2.png

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ee0_xsPXoAE ... ame=medium

How long before he gets the deck chair ala Alonso in Brazil?

[pokerman]

Something is getting very suspicious about the level of Vettel's problems. I think he did extremely well last race at trying to hide his true feelings. If he had acted like he did the years before when he gets angry, I think his radio will have been full of bad language all weekend. He's almost starting to look like he doesn't care - possibly knowing his backup plan for next year. I believe he's still trying his hardest, and if I'm honest, I think he's looked as good as Leclerc or bettter this year when able to compare them. But it is getting silly the level of problems that are all going his way. Especially last weekend, I simply don't know why they couldn't stop the same basic fault of "something being loose" fixed. I don't think last weekend was his true pace at all. His car looked totally different to drive compared to his team mates. And now he's had another issue.

We only want to compare when Vettel is better?

The car has a compromised set up for Silverstone and Leclerc is highlighting the limitations of Vettel's driving.

[TheGiantHogweed]

Something is getting very suspicious about the level of Vettel's problems. I think he did extremely well last race at trying to hide his true feelings. If he had acted like he did the years before when he gets angry, I think his radio will have been full of bad language all weekend. He's almost starting to look like he doesn't care - possibly knowing his backup plan for next year. I believe he's still trying his hardest, and if I'm honest, I think he's looked as good as Leclerc or bettter this year when able to compare them. But it is getting silly the level of problems that are all going his way. Especially last weekend, I simply don't know why they couldn't stop the same basic fault of "something being loose" fixed. I don't think last weekend was his true pace at all. His car looked totally different to drive compared to his team mates. And now he's had another issue.

We only want to compare when Vettel is better?

The car has a compromised set up for Silverstone and Leclerc is highlighting the limitations of Vettel's driving.

The only fair chances we've really had to compare have been the first 3 races. Leclerc was obviously better in Austria, but the next 2, given all that happened including Leclerc's mistake, vettel was no question better. Last weekend just shouldn't be judged. Vettel didn't have a single practice session to test and get the car to his liking so I don't think qualifying or the race could be judged fairly either. I don't think vettel driving off track over 20 times is a problem with his driving, I think his car was just not set up right. Leclerc pretty much put the car where his pace looked to be in practice in Britain and given what happened with Bottas, a podium was to be expected really. I think Ferrari were a match for Mclaren last weekend They looked far closer than the races before. The only race that I though leclerc stood out in was the first race. At the times we've had that are fair to compare, I think vettel has looked to have better race pace.

[mmi16]

Feature Vettel is now being given the Alfa reject parts for his car now that is is known he won't be with Ferrari for 2021.

[Exediron]

This is silly. Ferrari is fighting for every spot they can get in the WCC; why would they sabotage one car to the extent that it isn't even scoring points? Vettel is already leaving, his replacement is already confirmed -- there's no reason for any funny business.

Ferrari is a hot mess, but I don't for a second believe they're putting bombs in Vettel's engine so it will blow on track and mess up his practice.

[UnlikeUday]

Hulk's helmet design:


Source - Imgur


Source - Imgur

[Exediron]

I like it. It feels like a natural progression from his Renault helmet -- very much keeping with the individual brand.

[Jezza13]

I like it. It feels like a natural progression from his Renault helmet -- very much keeping with the individual brand.

To me it looks like it a design for a box of washing powder.

"For whiter whites & brighter colours, use Hulk washing powder from BWT. Now with added Ravenol"

[JN23]

Because the softs need a really slow out lap, I can see the stewards being busy afterwards with people on flying laps being held up by those on slow laps.